MRS Social Inclusion Group launches in September
09 August 2022

“The lens of diversity has quite rightly been focused on making positive change within the marketing and research sector,” writes Steven Lacey, who sits on the MRS DI&E Council and co-founded the disability-oriented network MRS Unlimited last year. “However, class is something that is generally ignored.”

The MRS Social Inclusion Group (SIG) is for people working across research and communications who want to improve the opportunities and amplify the voices of those disadvantaged on the basis of their social background.

“The working class are often stereotyped and placed into a framework of being poor, uneducated and uncultured,” says Steven. “Having come from a working class background I find the prejudice very sad, and I am not alone.”

“In order to help drive change in the world of marketing and research, myself and a wonderful team of likeminded people have set up the MRS Social Inclusion Group to share insights, educate the sector and drive positive change.”

Please go to the webinar section to view the videos from the below sessions.

Day One: Working class and the world of work

This session looks at why there is a lack of working class talent within research. What are the barriers to entry into the sector? How can we change the recruitment of candidates? What initiatives can we put in place to maintain their interest and retain their talent?

Day Two: Researching working class audiences

Leading experts in researching the working class will provide tips and guidance into the best ways to research this audience. How do we address unconscious biases? What are the best methodologies? What are the pitfalls and how can we ensure the results and analysis creates a true and reflective picture?

Day Three: Working class representation - falsehoods and reality

Representation of the working class in advertising and media often slips into tired tropes and stereotypes. What is a ‘true’ representation of working class and how should this be conveyed? What codes should be reflected? What should media and brands do differently?

Day Four: The cost of living crisis

The cost of living crisis will hit all of us, but what does it mean for the working classes? How will it impact people’s lives? What does it mean for policy and brands? How should we research this area ethically?  

Day Five: Working class and ethnicity

This session will explore the intersection between ethnicity and class. How does this intersection play-out? How does it impact people’s lives? What are the barriers and specific cultural codes? How can we ensure that representation in marketing and media showcases this intersection correctly?