Fear of a drop in social status

The business newspaper Les Echos comments on the fears of French people that their social status will decline: "It's one of those French fears brought to the surface by the economic crisis: the fear of sliding down the social ladder. The fear of not being able to keep up. What sociologists call a drop in social status or, in opposition to advancement, they call social 'retreat'. ... This uncertainty at the beginning of the century was partially suppressed with the election of Nicolas Sarkozy in the spring of 2007, and with the indirect promise to the middle and lower-middle classes that they can improve their social status by working more and earning more. Is income not also the lever of social advancement? Unfortunately the majority of people are no longer afraid that their social advancement may slow down, but that the drop in their social status will accelerate."

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