Study of the Vulnerable Middle Class in Morocco: A New Approach

This study takes a new perspective to analyze the concept of the middle class that is, using the concept of occupational vulnerability. This perspective disagrees with many studies that sought to delineate and define the middle class based on specific criteria, such as income and standard of living. From a sociological perspective, nowadays, these quantitative standards seem outdated, since it is widely believed that the middle class is a social medium characterized by a special culture that concerns all those who possess a sense of belonging to it. Through recalling the transformations witnessed by the labor market in a number of countries, such as Morocco, this study offers the professional vulnerability paradigm as an entry point to the study of the vulnerable middle class. While studying the middle class, additional paradigms such as occupation, poverty line, subjective definition norm, or any other norm applicable to the discipline and the researcher’s experience might be considered.

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Abstract

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This study takes a new perspective to analyze the concept of the middle class that is, using the concept of occupational vulnerability. This perspective disagrees with many studies that sought to delineate and define the middle class based on specific criteria, such as income and standard of living. From a sociological perspective, nowadays, these quantitative standards seem outdated, since it is widely believed that the middle class is a social medium characterized by a special culture that concerns all those who possess a sense of belonging to it. Through recalling the transformations witnessed by the labor market in a number of countries, such as Morocco, this study offers the professional vulnerability paradigm as an entry point to the study of the vulnerable middle class. While studying the middle class, additional paradigms such as occupation, poverty line, subjective definition norm, or any other norm applicable to the discipline and the researcher’s experience might be considered.

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