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. …show more content…
Being in the upper class does not qualified them as people who are most educated. They often have an attitude of being better than others and this carries over into their family relationships. Being in the higher class in America have nothing to do about your education. A percentage of the higher class might be educated because they have enough money to afford college and help their kids reach a better education but in my opinion most kids who grow up wealthy do not really take the time to get an education because they do not see the point of going to school and reach an higher education since they do not really looking for any pay job because they already the amount of money that they need. While the other half might seem the necessity of going to college not for the higher pay but more because they want to better educate
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)
In the article, "Class in America", Gregory Mantsios shows us how what class individuals are in affect their lives more than they think. The author thinks Americans, don’t like to talk about class no matter is upper class, middle class, or lower class. He describes four beliefs about class in America and then he used statistical evidence to refute them. In this article I have deep feelings about the class. Here have two points first of all I thinks the class that you are in it will affect your life whatever you admit it to yourself or not another point is the class you are affects how you are succeeding in school it all affect your future. Class, will affect in the future what job you will find, what kind person you will meet. For example the
According to Gregory Mantsios many American people believed that the classes in the United States were irrelevant, that we equally reside(ed) in a middle class nation, that we were all getting richer, and that everyone has an opportunity to succeed in life. But what many believed, was far from the truth. In reality the middle class of the United States receives a very small amount of the nation's wealth, and sixty percent of America's population receives less than 6 percent of the nation's wealth, while the top 1 percent of the American population receives 34 percent of the total national wealth. In the article Class in America ( 2009), written by Gregory Mantsios informs us that there are some huge differences that exist between the classes of America, especially the wealthy and the poor. After
(p1) Broadly speaking, class is about economic and social inequality… (p6) We have a tendency for groups of advanced people to congregate together, and groups of disadvantaged people to congregate so that inequalities persist from generation to generation.
Paul Fussell wrote; Class a Guide through the American Status System in 1983. Fussell introduces interesting points that suggests how we, as Americans are viewed through social class. This book will have you contemplate about where you fall in line in terms of the social hierarchy system. As I read, the book I analyzed how our social status is revealed not only in terms of money, but other significant characteristics that define our habitas. As humans we are social beings, and we all make assumptions about the people around us or label them. Fussell argues that social class and social status can be defined in many ways. In fact, he enlists the nine American class structures that according to his opinion American society are comprised. He investigates
As technology evolves and automates more tasks in the labor field, it contributes to the unemployment of Americans. During the 1950s, technology was introduced to the American household: from the radio and the television screen to the automobile, technology began to integrate into the average American lifestyle. Behind the production of these products is an assembly line that provides job opportunities to working-class Americans. Industries that help sustain the quality of these products, such as gas stations, also provide job opportunities. These opportunities require Americans to complete certain labor tasks for their job, such as refilling a gasoline tank as a gas station attendant (Knickerbocker Productions, “Social Class in 1950's America”).
Diversity is part of the American lifestyle. America is a country built on capitalistic principles, where a countries’ economy is controlled by a small number of people. People who tend to have power in the society tend to separate themselves from the rest. Looking back at different time period of American history diversity has shaped up the lives we live as Americans, whether it is because of gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, socioeconomic background, and capabilities/ disabilities, there is always diversity in society. Although, diversity is increasingly being viewed positively, and as much as people are proud of their differences. There will always be a way for human beings to diversify themselves into groups in which share similar interests.
There are eight classes in America consisting of the rich elite, very rich-upper class, lower-upper class, upper-middle class, middle class, working class, working poor and the underclass. The percentages of families in the various classes as established by Gilbert are thought to be 1.4 percent in the upper top class, 1.6 percent in the lower top class. 1...
Living in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, our culture has naturally valued prestige and luxuries. We admire fancy items and often judge other individuals by the clothes they wear, the car they drive, and the schools that they attend. The “American Dream” serves as a motivational factor for people; believing that hard work and dedication can bring “success” to ones’ life. Although this is partially true, it is difficult for individuals in the middle class and lower class.
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).
Social and economic class is something we as Americans like to push into the back of our minds. Sometimes recognizing our class either socially or economically can almost be crippling. When individuals recognize class, limitations and judgment confront us. Instead, we should know it is important to recognize our class, but not let it define and limit us. In the essay, “Class in America”, Gregory Mantsios, founder and director of the Joseph S. Murphy Institute for Worker Education at the School of Professional Studies, brings to light the fact that Americans don’t talk about class and class mobility. He describes the classes in extremes, mainly focusing on the very sharp divide between the extremely wealthy and extremely poor. In contrast, George
After I read the second reading, Class in American, I knew that most of American people do not think that they separate the American people into different classes. For example, some parts of people are in the higher class and some people are in the lower class. However, there are classes in American society. In the second reading, the author shows readers two exceptions that some American people think that the class exists in the USA. First one is that American people talk about “the middle class”, and second one is that “the class-avoidance phenomenon”. In addition, the author also points out seven realities in American people’s life, they could prove that the class problems do exist in the USA. The seven realities are about economy, American life style, education and some problem about discrimination. About the economic realities, the author mainly talks about the
The issue most pressing to America is not President Trump, but instead is an issue of the values and ideals that are commonly associated with him, such as classism and the perpetuation of socioeconomic statuses; the repression of ‘minority’, no immediate power or control, opinions and populations are being pushed by the ‘majority’ therefore widening socioeconomic gaps between classes. To resolve this problem, a dialogue must be created, and maintained, between repressed groups and their government representatives directly resulting in the improvement of those groups’ conditions, and with the goal of raising their standard of living and improving on the national standard of living.
Class is a set of concepts in the society about who is who and who gets to have say and who does not. They are usually divided into upper, middle, and lower classes. I grew up in a country where class was distinct. Class prevailed in every part of the society. Rich children did not serve punishments in school while the rest of us did. Rich children could afford to wear new uniforms while the rest of us wore old unfirms that were torn. Rich children ate well at the cafeteria while the rest of us ate once and ate local made food that was not healthy called akara and boli. The rich children could afford to go to school parties and wear the nicest clothes while the rest of us could not. Rich children could get to be privileged while the rest of
Before I read the chapter on social class, I thought social class was a category about people who are put into class by how much money they make; you are either poor or rich. However, there is much more regarding social class than I had originally thought. Social class it separated into a four tier criteria. Beginning at the bottom is the “lower class”, or “underclass” which is referred to by poverty, homeless, and unemployment. This class, usually hasn’t finished high school, doesn’t have medical care and can’t afford sufficient housing. Many people mischaracterize these poor people as mothers who abuse the welfare system by baring several babies that they can’t afford and fathers who are able to work but do not due to drug addiction or their