Class continues to be a significant component of British society, influencing educational opportunities and the careers that people pursue. Thus, in assessing the role that men play in British society, it is impossible not to consider how class has an impact on perceptions of men. There are different expectations of boys who come from disadvantaged backgrounds compared to their middle-class counterparts, which continue to influence their lives as they get older.

There seem to be fewer expectations of boys who live in economically deprived areas and who may be raised in single-parent households. These boys may struggle to succeed at school, particularly if they don’t have the right kind of encouragement from their parents and teachers. If they don’t believe in themselves they may simply quit school at the first opportunity, reducing the options available to them when it comes to choosing a career and getting on with their lives.

Middle-class boys from stable family backgrounds and raised in affluent areas are probably not going to struggle as much when it comes to their studies. There are certain expectations of these boys to succeed, which these boys feel obliged to strive towards achieving. They are taught from an early age the value of a good education and may decide to continue their education in order to obtain a university degree so that they can enter a profession.

Whether middle-class or working-class, men both end up contributing to the economy in the form of taxes. There could be said to be an ‘underclass’ of men who have never worked and who have lived all their lives on state benefits. Most men, however, realise the need to work in order to pay for all of life’s essentials. Middle-class men obviously have more money to spend on luxury items and can probably afford more holidays and spend more money on the latest technology than working-class men.

It seems as though men from all backgrounds have come to be defined more by their ability to purchase consumer goods than their actual job, though this still has some bearing on how they are perceived. Although there are still families who have a sole breadwinner, usually male, most households have two incomes. Thus, there may be less pressure on men to provide for their families, although it has taken some adjustment over the years, as British men have had to get used to competing with women in the workplace.

Overall, men play a variety of different roles in British society by paying taxes, spending money on consumer goods, raising their children and supporting their families.