In a strict Marxist sense, the petite bourgeoisie represents the middle managers who are capable of purchasing the labor power of the proletariat (working
class), but also do not wholly own the means of production. The
key defining factor of this group involves the attitudes, values, and opinions they support and display. Members of this social group strive to mimic the behaviors and practices of the Haute Bourgeoisie (upper class,
the one percent if you
will), even though their own incomes are nowhere near the level of those they deify. They often have an aggressive disdain for the
poor even though most of them are a
single paycheck away from joining their ranks. Modernly, most of them purchase goods and services on credit, providing for the illusion that they have the same kind of purchasing power that the wealthy do. They use this artificial purchasing power to obtain nice clothes, cars, and jewelry (swag). Most of them are social/fiscal conservatives, Social Darwinists, Objectivists/Ayn Rand fans and/or libertarians. They also have nigh-psychotic delusions of grandeur, thinking that if they just "
work hard enough" that they too
will join the ranks of the economic elite someday.
"So my
buddy only makes 30k a year, just bought a house, a
BMW, a rolex, and has a full wardrobe of designer clothes. He also lectures me every day that he 'earned it' from 'working
hard' and that anyone who doesn't have what he's got is somehow inferior to him."
"petite bourgeoisie scum."
