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I think the U.S. society does have classes. The current pay disparities do indicate classes. The opposition might retort with how much easier it is in the US to quickly rise or fall in wealth. However, classes have less bias in America. In today’s society, wealth, gender, and race have no large say to who we love which supports the idea that there’s less class bias than ever before. People who disagree could argue the fact that there’s been an increase of violence against minorities across the board which supports the idea of class biasness in
One of the most critical observations about the state of our sociological health is observed by MacGillis of the Atlantic’s article entitled “The Original Underclass”. That is that the social breakdown of low-income whites began to reflect trends that African American’s were primary subjects of decades ago such as unemployment, and drug addiction.
Growing up in The United States, people are given this idea of an American Dream. Almost every child is raised to believe they can become and do anything they want to do, if one works hard enough. However, a majority of people believe that there is a separation of class in American society. Gregory Mantsios author of “Class in America-2009” believes that Americans do not exchange thoughts about class division, although most of people are placed in their own set cluster of wealth. Also political officials are trying to get followers by trying to try to appeal to the bulk of the population, or the middle class, in order to get more supporters. An interesting myth that Mantsios makes in his essay is how Americans don’t have equal opportunities.
Mantsios believes that Americans do not like to talk about the different classes, whether it is about the upper, middles or lower class. He outlines four myths that are widely held about class in the United States. Myth one the united states is fundamentally a classless society, myth two we are, essentially a middle class nation. Most Americans have achieved relative affluence in what is widely recognized as a consumer society. Myth three we are all getting richer. Each generation propels itself to greater economic well-being. And myth four, everyone has an equal chance to succeed. Requires no more than hard work sacrifice and perseverance (Mantsios).
In Mantsios’ “Class in America” he provides us with four myths about the United States. In one of these myths the idea is brought up that the United States is, at its core, a classless society. It is also states that whether rich or poor, everyone is equal in the eyes of the law. The myth also states that health care and education are provided to everyone regardless of their financial stability. This idea about a classless society is exactly what Mantsios claims it to be, a myth. It is untrue to state that everyone is equal in the eyes of the law, and to believe that whatever differences exist in financial standing are insignificant. There are clear distinctions between different groups of people depending on their economic and social standing.
The viewpoint of income being synonymous with class is perpetuated by the uninformed. As one approaches the highest echelons of society, there are two types of money, Old money and new money. Anyone who has read Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby should be aware of the distinction as it's made it out to be a prominent plot point throughout the novel. This would actually support Fussells assertion that there is a caste system in place our society, but only to an extent. Caste systems are defined as "a social structure in which classes are determined by heredity." What a caste would imply is that there exists almost zero chance of being able to advance. The American social class system would render this null in the sense that even new money would eventually age to become old money. But even that information is practically irrelevant as it only pertains to the highest echelons of
In the “Class Of America” article, the author Gregory Mantsios displays his point of view on what society says class individuals are in and how that affects their lives further than people in America think. Mantsios believes that citizens in the United States prefer not be put in different social categories like higher, middle, or lower class just because of the income value. Mantsios elaborates on his beliefs about class categories in America and disproves them by using statistics for evidence. In example, he claims that the class you are placed in will affect your lifestyle. Mantsios also debates that whatever class you fall under reflects on how well you will prosper in life, just like schools connecting test scores and the level of schooling the student receives. Whatever class a person is categorized in defining their future in life, even, if they choose to not see it that way that’s how it is.
People Like Us: Social Class in America. Dir. Louis Alvarez and Andy Kolker. Center for
...s citizens view them varies immensely. In a study, “55 percent of republicans blamed the poor for their poverty, while only 13 percent blamed the system for it; 68 percent of democrats, on the other hand, blamed the system, while only 5 percent blamed the poor”. The fact is one side will always blame the other if they don’t understand the other side, which is why adolescents need to be brought correct and relevant information in textbooks about social classes and how they function and who they are made up out of. Do we need a new system perhaps with new tax laws, new government leaders and new values, or can we fix what we have and make this country better for everyone. There will always be social classes in America but all citizens should be educated to know what each means and have the opportunity to strive to make their lives better, and their children’s as well.
Class in the American Culture is based on economic and social differences, and it remains a powerful force in American life and has come to play a greater role in today’s society. American culture classified social classes as three different levels, the higher class which is classified as the wealthier and have the most money and a certain lifestyles and clothes. The middle class more like the businesses, people who have a reasonable income. And the last class is the low class which are the working class people. Those in the upper middle classes enjoy better health and live longer than those in the middle classes, who live longer and better than those at the bottom. That 's because money, good jobs and connections help the better-off get the best medical care. People in the upper class also maintain a certain lifestyle and sometimes different clothing lifestyle than the ones in the lower classes.
People Like Us: Social Class in America. Dir. Louis Alvarez and Andy Kolker. Center for
Where would you consider yourself with your ranking in America 's social classes, are you upper class, middle class or even lower class? This is actually very important when it come to you receiving opportunities and in a sense special treatment. I’m referring to of course social inequality which is still very much alive in America and still affects a lot of families mostly in a negative way. This problem in America has grabbed the attention of two authors, Paul Krugman who wrote “Confronting Inequality” and Gary S. Becker and Kevin M. Murphy who wrote “The Upside of Income Inequality”. However, they both have different views on inequality Krugman believes that social inequality is only negative while on the other hand, Becker and Murphy believe
In his essay “Land of Opportunity” James W. Loewen details the ignorance that most American students have towards class structure. He bemoans the fact that most textbooks completely ignore the issue of class, and when it does it is usually only mentions middle class in order to make the point that America is a “middle class country. This is particularly grievous to Loewen because he believes, “Social class is probably the single most important variable in society. From womb to tomb, it correlates with almost all other social characteristics of people that we can measure.” Loewen simply believes that social class usually determine the paths that a person will take in life. (Loewen 203)
Class is often seen as the income or lifestyle that people fit into; but by creating such a vague definition for class, we lose sight of the reasons that the different classes exist. Even more than that, the general population has been led to believe that classes are a thing of the past-something that used to be important, but is now just a term economists use that has no effect our lives.
The idea or rule that I believe is the is the least “society sensible” is the idea of the abolition of property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes. As I believe strongly in the idea of equal work for all, I also believe strongly in a right to own, a right to work, in order to deserve this right to own. Ownership will develop a class society, and I think it should. I feel there is nothing wrong with a class system as long as it as developed on a work ethics principle. Educate yourself, in order to add more job options, in order to move up in the class system. My belief in a strong classification of wealth is based on the idea of getting what you deserve. If you are willing to advance yourself through education and hard work, your position in society will follow. Our society’s wealth is not equal, nor should it be.
Social classes have been part of this country’s history for a very long time. Social class and sometimes race play an important role determining the opportunities a person is able to receive. People from different social backgrounds live different lifestyles as well as have different opportunities in life. As a result of that, individuals in higher social class have an advantage over those in a lower social class. However, we as individuals are the masters of our own destiny. Just because someone is born in a lower social class it doesn’t necessarily mean they have to maintain that social status the rest of their lives. Education, hard work and the willingness to do whatever it takes to succeed are some of the traits that can make this change happen.