The strivers v skivers debate. We discuss how the Government has set the poor against the poor with its use of emotive language to describe modern poverty.

Strivers v Skivers

The language used to describe poverty in the UK has a vital bearing on how welfare policy is implemented, and how policies are perceived by the wider population. The strivers versus skivers debate has framed much of the Government's current discussion, and this is part of a process of demonisation of the working classes that has been evolving over the last 75 years. In addition, the stereotyping of class away from a purely economic definition has masked the obvious social divisions which are opening up. Owen Jones, the author of "Chavs: The Demonisation of the Working Class", and OU Senior Lecturer Gerry Mooney join Geoff Andrews of the OU in discussion.

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Strivers v Skivers

Strivers v Skivers

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