Figure 1.--The upper class is able to put on elaborate formal society weddings with elaborate catering and costumes. Perhaps the most watched society wdding of the 1950s was the marriage pf Prince Ranier of Monaco and the movie star Grace Kelly.

Fremch weddings are significantly affected by social clss. French social classes are divided into the three traditional elements. The tditional divisionis: 1) high or upper class, 2) middle (bourgeois), and 3) lower (working class). Since World War II there has been major changes in the French class structure. The upper class was originally composed of artistocrats with wealthy merchants gradually gaining in status. After the Revolution the upper class was composed of the aristocracy which survived the Revolution, important politicians, wealthy families, and successful businessmen. This continues to be the case today, although the growth of thecwelfare state has meant that there are fewer very successful businessmen. It is the upper-class that can afford expensive society weddings. These are the weddings will elaboately dressed wedding parties, including thee children. The middle-class since the Revolution has been very important in France. In fact, the term for the middle class in English is the French word 'bourgeoisie. The use of the term in English reflects both the importabce of the French language and French economy. Until after the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, france was single most important country in Europe with the largest population and economy. Traditically the middle-class was the merchants, artisans, and professions like doctors and lawyers. Gradually as the French economy grew in size and sophistication we see more merchants, shops, and in the 19th century the growth of business requiring clerks, accountants, and techniciams. The development of public education added teachers to the mix. And with the growth in government, many more civil servants. The growth in government jas continued after World War II, making civil servants a major component of the middle class. Another major addition to the middle class was former members of the working class who as a result of the economic expansion of France and other Common Market (modern European Union) countries enjpyed rising wages enabling them to enter the middle class. Most members of the middle class were practicing Cathlics, at least before World War II. They woukd generally have formal weddings, although economic circumstanxes determined just how elaborate the wedding was. The lower or working class is the class most changed in recen years. It was was inirially rural peasants and as cities developed the workers for merchants, artisans, and businessmen in the cities and farm workers in the countryside. Farmers owning the land they worked are sometimes difficult to categorize. They might have sizeable incomes and own land work a great deal of money, but lead a very modest lifestyle akin to the working class. With the industrial revolution (19th century), the urban working class grew substantially. And at the same time, socialist ideals became very influential with the working class, signifabtly weaking church affilition. This affecting the number of people having church weddings. Interestingly, even committedcSocialists, some times wanted to have church weddings because of the traditions. As in other modern economies, after Worldc War II we see fewer factory workers in the working class and an expansion of the service industries. Another change since World War II has been a growing Muslim population. They have not integrated with the French and the young people often do not pursue educations meaning that most have remained in the working class, often only able to find low paying jobs. Many are unemployed. They seem more resistent to Socialist thought and want Islamic weddings. The lower class comprises blue-collar jobs where many people are in food-service jobs or work in retail. The unemployment level and the low living standards are very common in this group. Due to the shift to industry, the number of blue-collar jobs has decreased and the workforce in the civil service section has steadily increased.

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Created: 9:47 PM 2/20/2012
Last updated: 9:47 PM 2/20/2012