The modern social structure of France is complex, but generally similar to that of other European countries. Traditional social classes still have some presence, with a large bourgeoisie and especially petite bourgeoisie, and an unusually large proportion, for modern Europe, of farming smallholders.

What are the current social classes in France?

How do you call the Various Social Classes in France?

  • la classe ouvrière, le prolétariat, les défavorisés – the workers.
  • les paysans, la paysannerie – farmers (who can be really rich or really poor in France… …
  • la classe moyenne, la petite bourgeoisie – some office employees, artisans, shopkeepers – middle income class.

What is the class structure in France?

Article. Society in the Kingdom of France in the period of the Ancien Regime was broken up into three separate estates, or social classes: the clergy, the nobility, and the commoners.

How many social classes does France have?





Public opinion surveys show that Frenchmen place themselves in four social classes; Americans only two, the working class and the middle class. Respondents describe these classes by criteria of achievement; the French bourgeois and peasant classes can be interpreted as based on criteria of ascription.

What are the three class systems in France?

Lesson Summary
The class system underwent some serious changes during the French Revolution. The Ancien Régime categorized French society into three estates: the First Estate consisted of the clergy, the Second Estate included the aristocracy, and the Third Estate was composed of the rest of the population.

Does France have a middle class?

The second group of countries includes Germany, France and Finland, with national median disposable incomes of about $40,000 to $41,000 and middle-class shares ranging from 72% to 75%.

What are the different grades in France?



Le Collège (Junior High School)

Age Grade US
11 -> 12 Sixième 6th Grade
12 -> 13 Cinquième 7th Grade
13 -> 14 Quatrième 8th Grade
14 -> 15 Troisième 9th Grade



How does the French education system work?

It is divided into the three stages of primary education (enseignement primaire), secondary education (enseignement secondaire), and higher education (enseignement supérieur). The main age that a child starts school in France is age 2. Two year olds do not start primary school, they start preschool.

What is the French upper class called?

bourgeoisie

Hence, since the 19th century, the term “bourgeoisie” usually is politically and sociologically synonymous with the ruling upper class of a capitalist society.

Who were the middle class in France?



In the eighteenth century, many persons who belonged to third estate and earned their wealth through overseas trade and manufacturing goods, were termed as middle class. It was a new social group, which also comprised of court officials, lawyers and administrative officials.

What are the 1st 2nd 3rd and 4th estates?

The first estate, which is the executive branch of a government. The second estate, which is the legislative branch of a government. The third estate, which is the judicial branch of a government. The fourth estate, which is mass and traditional media, sometimes called ”legacy media.

Why was the bourgeoisie unhappy?

Why were the bourgeoisie unhappy? They were frustrated because even though sometimes they were wealthier than the nobles, they could not become upper class.

What rights do the nobility class have in France?

Nobles also maintained certain judicial rights over their vassals, although with the rise of the modern state many of these privileges had passed to state control, leaving rural nobility with only local police functions and judicial control over violation of their seigneurial rights.

Is French school strict?



The French education system offers an inflexible approach to education; one where the teacher has absolute authority, tough grading and rote learning are the norm, and high academic standards are demanded in reading, writing and arithmetic. The French don’t expect children to have ‘fun’ at school.

Why is there no school on Wednesday in France?

Essentially, they teach 24 hours per week, typically from Mondays to Friday, and Wednesday is a half-day. That said, a minority of primary schools (in French) have chosen to swap out Wednesday mornings for Saturday mornings or have every Wednesday off.

How long are classes in France?

Generally speaking, the school day in France is from 8:30 until 4:30, but it varies depending on which area you live in. This is longer than the typical school day in the UK or America, but there is a longer lunch break and two other breaks during the day. There are 24 hours of lessons a week.

What was the lower class called in France?

Feudal France was neatly divided into three social classes, or Estates, with different jobs and privileges. The clergy was the First Estate, the nobles were the Second Estate, and the peasants were the Third Estate.

What is the lifestyle of middle-class?

The key ingredients of a middle-class lifestyle, according to the report, are to: own a home, be able to save for retirement, provide a college education for their children, have health security (insurance), a car for each adult, and a family vacation at least once a year.

How do you say middle-class in French?



middle-class

  1. [ people, family] de la classe moyenne. a middle-class family une famille de la classe moyenne. to be middle-class [person] être bourgeois(e)
  2. [ home, suburb, area] bourgeois(e)
  3. [ attitudes, values, culture, life] bourgeois(e)

What is classes in French?

French Translation. des classes. More French words for class. la classe noun. classroom, grade, category, classification, rating.

How does the French education system work?

It is divided into the three stages of primary education (enseignement primaire), secondary education (enseignement secondaire), and higher education (enseignement supérieur). The main age that a child starts school in France is age 2. Two year olds do not start primary school, they start preschool.

How was the social composition of France?



France under the Ancien Régime (before the French Revolution) divided society into three estates: the First Estate (clergy); the Second Estate (nobility); and the Third Estate (commoners).

What rights do the nobility class have in France?

Nobles also maintained certain judicial rights over their vassals, although with the rise of the modern state many of these privileges had passed to state control, leaving rural nobility with only local police functions and judicial control over violation of their seigneurial rights.

Do aristocrats still exist?

Aristocracies Today
Aristocracies are still alive and well in some societies throughout the world. Familial aristocracies, for example, control the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf. The aristocracies of Europe, however, have generally been reduced to being ceremonial, if they exist at all.

Does French royalty still exist?



France is a Republic, and there’s no current royal family recognized by the French state. Still, there are thousands of French citizens who have titles and can trace their lineage back to the French Royal Family and nobility.

Are there still counts in France?

The family still lives there today! There are also Henri d’Orléans (otherwise known as the Count of Paris), and Louis-Alphonse of Bourbon, who could claim the French throne if the monarchy was ever reinstated. Henri is a direct descendant of Louis-Philippe I, the last king of France.

Can you become nobility?

Membership in the nobility has historically been granted by a monarch or government, and acquisition of sufficient power, wealth, military prowess, or royal favour has occasionally enabled commoners to ascend into the nobility. There are often a variety of ranks within the noble class.

Are there any dukes in France?

The dynasts of Robert the Strong’s family are usually termed “Dukes of France” and their title evolved into the name for the French nation after one of their members, Hugh Capet, ascended the throne. Since the end of the monarchy, it has been used by pretenders to the French throne such as Prince Henri, Count of Paris.

Does Germany have nobility?

Today, German nobility is no longer conferred by the Federal Republic of Germany (1949– ), and constitutionally the descendants of German noble families do not enjoy legal privileges.

Is Archduke higher than duke?

It denotes a rank within the former Holy Roman Empire (962–1806), which was below that of Emperor and King, roughly equal to Grand Duke, but above that of a Prince and Duke.

What is a German woman called?

History and Etymology for Frau
German, woman, wife, from Old High German frouwa mistress, lady; akin to Old English frēa lord, Old High German fruma advantage — more at foremost.