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The term was used by Karl Marx and Marxist theorists to refer to a class of people that would include shop-keepers and professionals. This class is distinct from the proletariat, who rely entirely on the sale of their labor-power for survival, and the haute bourgeoisie , or Capitalist class, who own the means of production and buy the labor-power of others to work it. In contrast, although the petty bourgeois do buy the labor power of others, they typically work alongside their own employees; although they generally own their own businesses, they do not own a controlling share of the means of production.
Although used mainly academically in the past, the term has evolved and is now being embraced by a wider group of people that opposes these values. It is often considered an ideology of its own, that considers certain values to be necessary for happiness. These include family life, economic safety and social prestige.
The subject has recently been popularised by the motion picture American Beauty, by Hollywood director Sam Mendes, describing life in American suburbia.
The opposing factions are usually associated with Cultural Leftism, or even communismThis article is about communism as a form of society, as an ideology advocating that form of society, and as a popular movement. For issues regarding the organization of the communist movement, see the Communist party article. For issues regarding one-par.