Working class

[4][verification needed] The term, which is primarily used to evoke images of laborers suffering "class disadvantage in spite of their individual effort", can also have racial connotations, applying diverse themes of poverty and implications about whether one is deserving of aid.

[5] In other contexts the term working class refers to a section of society dependent on physical labour, especially when compensated with an hourly wage (for certain types of science, as well as journalistic or political analysis).

Karl Marx defined the working class or proletariat as those individuals who sell their labour power for wages and who do not own the means of production.

He argued that they were responsible for creating the wealth of a society, asserting that the working class physically build bridges, craft furniture, grow food, and nurse children, but do not own land or factories.

Wealthy members of these societies created ideologies which blamed many of the problems of working-class people on their morals and ethics (i.e. excessive consumption of alcohol, perceived laziness and inability to save money).

Some historians have noted that a key change in these Soviet-style societies has been a new type of proletarianization, often effected by the administratively achieved forced displacement of peasants and rural workers.

Additionally, countries such as India have been slowly undergoing social change, expanding the size of the urban working class.

[16][17] Diane Reay stresses the challenges that working-class students can face during the transition to and within higher education, and research intensive universities in particular.