The article analyses the role of moral boundaries in the definition of middle-class identity in contemporary Chile, from the theoretical perspective of "symbolic boundaries" proposed by Lamont (1992, Lamont & Fournier, 1992). The methodology used is qualitative, using an adaptation of the "pragmatics of judgement" proposed by Boltanski and Thévenot (1983) for the production of information and grounded theory as a technique of analysis. The results show that those who identify themselves as "middle class" recognise as moral boundaries a set of moral values and disvalues which, in turn, allow them to identify themselves and differentiate themselves from other social classes, namely the upper and lower classes. Thus, on the one hand, the values of the "work ethic", "effort" and "family" would be exclusive to the middle class. On the other hand, disvalues - such as "laziness" or "selfishness" - define the lower and upper classes, respectively. It is concluded that "moral boundaries" operate in two senses: positively - allowing the consolidation of middle-class identity - and negatively - allowing its differentiation from other social classes.
Keywords:
Moral boundaries, Middle class, Social identity, Social differentiation, Chile
Mella San Martín, C. (2015). The role of moral boundaries in the construction of middle-class identity in contemporary Chile. Revista Némesis, (12), 81–99. Retrieved from https://revistanemesis.uchile.cl/index.php/RN/article/view/66210
