Theoretical Framework THEORETICAL REVIEW

32 1. Upper class: mainly aristocracy and landowners, politically represented in the house of Lords, owning and administrating land. 2. Upper-Middle class: usually work as managers, civil servants, businessmen, become very important stratum in society, has a lot of influence in politic, administration and civil service. 3. Lower-Middle class: usually become the owner of small businesses, office workers, skilled workers, became the biggest stratum of British society, and they are the most expanding group in Britain. 4. Working class: usually become factory workers, waiters, shop assistants, the so called semi-skilled, cleaners, he unskilled, having close family and community ties. 5. Lower class: usually unemployed, the elderly, the disabled, unsupported mothers, casual labors, low paid, living below the poverty line, depending in state benefits. The lifestyle also shows the class differences. There are three groups which can be distinguished: The Rich and The Upper class lifestyle, The Well-to-do and The Middle Class lifestyle, and The poor and The Working Class lifestyle. Britain is also a multi-racial society. For Rich and the upper class lifestyle, many of them live in big country houses, they have double barrel names, play cricket, rugby, do horse riding and skiing. They are used to going to elite public schools and universities, all in all luxury. The Well – to – do and the middle class life style is the second group. Mostly both parents work, they have two cars, and can spend their holidays 33 abroad. This group is also very ambitious about the education of their children. Sometimes they make enormous financial sacrifices to send their child to public school. They prefer to live in modern suburbs and avoid contact with colored immigrants. The third group is the poor and the working class lifestyle. They live in terraced houses, often a council house close to their neighbors and mix easily with colored people. They spend their holidays, if they can afford any, in cheap holiday camps in Britain or in Mallorca. They separate themselves from the other groups. There is another social problem in London in 2006 era. “The growing problem of binge drinking among young women is one that must be dealt with at a societal level”, says Ian Gilmore ian.gilmorercplondon.ac.uk accessed on 19 August 2008. As women quite rightly seek greater opportunities for equality in the workplace and in other aspects of life, we see signs of them falling prey more and more to so called lifestyle diseases. Young women are all too commonly seen huddling outside enjoying a cigarette; and while lung cancer rates fall overall, they continue to rise in women. Women are also conspicuously heading for equality in their drinking habits. The United Kingdom has the heaviest drinking young women in Europe, nearly 40 of who admit to having drunk six or more units in one session in the previous week. But those who do not escape harm may have their life changed fundamentally under the influence of alcohol. Most first consensual sexual experiences and unwanted pregnancies occur in this way, and the distinction between rape and sex regretted the next day can become blurred when women are drunk. Some 34 young women will be scarred for life through drunken brawls and arguments. Scotland about 30 of women committing violent crime are drunk http:www.bmj.comcgicontentfull3367650952 accessed on 19 August 2008. Those situations of London’s society in 2006 era are revealed in Llewellyn’s novel, If I were You. Sophie, one of the main characters, is described as a smoking woman and she is used to drinking alcohol. She is also used to hanging out with her friends or boy friends and they usually have drinking. Meanwhile Natasha, the other main character, gets her habit of drinking since she has problems in her relationship with a man whom she loves. For the lifestyle, Sophie tends to be included in The Rich and The Upper class lifestyle. People in that class live in the town in modern houses and live in luxury ways, and they are accustomed to go to parties or hang out after work. But Sophie and Natasha have different social class. Natasha comes from higher class, Upper-Middle class. But Sophie comes from lower class, which is Lower-Middle class. Because of those differences, Sophie sometimes feels jealous with Natasha’s life. And vise versa, Natasha sometimes also gets jealous with Sophie who can easily get relationship with men.