Social class in America is an uncomfortable subject for many Americans; most believe that America is an essentially middle-class nation, however, author Gregory Mantsios argues otherwise. In this article, I will break apart “Class in America-2012” and explain how it creates a persuasive effect on readers. Mantsios accomplishes this effect by debunking popular myths through statistical evidence and providing real-life examples. This analysis will only provide the author’s opinions, and not my own, as to remain objective and fair throughout. Is the social class divide in America as large as most Americans think?…
Every country around the world has economic inequality within it. The income inequality encountered in the United States in ranked sixty four in the world. The economic inequality divided in the United States has a major impact on three factors: social class, education and power amongst the citizens. The economic inequality seen in “Parable of the Sower” by Octavia Butler reflects on how separation between poor, middle and rich class lead to a dystopian future. “Inequality for all” examines how economic inequality can impact social classes such as upper, middle and lower class.…
Intent is to mirror demographics described in socioeconomic models of U.S. class structure where the wealthiest and most powerful 1% of the population controls a disproportionate amount of the resources. (Kendall, 2013, p. 226) Whether sociologists’ delineate society using Max Weber’s multidimensional approach where final rank is calculated as a combined figure of sliding scores assigned individually to wealth, power and prestige, or use Karl Marx’ simplified theory based on property ownership, method matters little beyond the scope of formal research. (Kendall, 2013, pp. 224-232)…
Paul Fussell wrote, Class a Guide through the American Status System in 1983. Fussell introduces interesting points that perceives 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 Class guide I analyzed how our social status reveals itself and not just in terms of money, but other significant contributions that defines us as humans. We have socially categorized as humans, our commonality extinction is to make assumptions about the people around us or label them.…
Author, Stuart Ewen, in his essay “Chosen People” talks about how the middle class has fooled America. The middle class is presented as an imaginary structure in American society. The middle class is an illusion to Americans; it has changed the meaning of the American dream. Ewen throughout his essay shows how the middle class was created in the United States. Ewen then moves the industrial revolution created, such as the perceptions.…
According to The Land of Opportunity, by James Loewen, young people in high school and college don’t realize that poverty is something that started long ago. All that these students know is what their textbook is teaching them; which is that America is a “middle class country (Loewen, 1995: 318).” It is almost impossible to read this article and not think that the reason the high school books don’t mention much about social class is because if the young people become informed on issues surrounding society they will try and change it. Loewen also states that social class is basically from the womb to the tomb; which means that if you are born into poverty you are more than likely going to stay there your entire life (Loewen, 1995: 319).…
Domhoff “Who Rules America” and J.Johnson “The One Percent” documentary indicates the connections of the upper class and corporate community through economic and social views. The upper class mostly known as the one percent owns most of the country's wealth. The corporate community are organization that are connect to similar groups and their main purpose that drives them is profit. The upper classes gains new member through participation in their schools, clubs, and other social institutions (Domhoff 62).…
The Dangerous Consequences of Growing Inequality by Chuck Collins argues that the burgeoning gap between the upper and lower classes has strenuous personal and economic ramifications. He summarizes the pressures facing households and the economic inequalities that undermine the security of families, threaten our democratic institutions and economy, deteriorate our public health as well as breaking down our social cohesion. The ever so important middle class has been vanishing right before our eyes, there is a strain on relationships between ourselves and our neighbors, families and co-workers which prevents our society from uniting and striving for greatness. As a greedy and power hungry society we completely forgot what is most important, our fellow citizens and their well-being. Collins’ essay is an effective argument for social justice because he shows that even though our economy has thrived throughout the decades those profits have not trickled down to the working class…
Some have the experience and childhood where things were given to them with a silver spoon, but there are also others who have to fight for everything they have and in most cases it’s their life. It is clear to understand that nature of class privileges, and society. According to the article, Gregory defined the phrase “social class” on how it represents people in the world. He states, “workers are most likely to identity with their to identity with their employer, industry, or occupational group than with other workers, or with the working class” (Mantsios, 26). Gregory makes us to understand that employees mostly identify themselves under certain classes that describes where they fall under that class society.…
Society is divided into three major categories of people; poor, middle class, and wealthy or rich. These categories asses the population of the United States based on their income. Many benefits, such as food or heat assistance, taxes, loans, etc. are based on these categories. These categories also allow for criticism from others around us, whom may or may not be categorized similarly. In the book Hand to Mouth: Living in Bootstrap America, the author, Linda Tirado discusses her experiences as a part of the poor America and also her thoughts and opinions on the rich, upper class.…
Coming from my position in life, I often find challenge in analyzing, interpreting, and discussing social class. It weighs on me that I likely bring unfair biases and predispositions to this topic. I am a white, American, educated, athletic male from a family with both parents still together and without many financial troubles. Aside from perhaps a degree from a prestigious University or boat loads of cash, I do not think that I could be more privileged. Although my privilege might sway my ideas on the matter of social class, I am working to remove these biases in order to truly recognize the ways in which the social construct of social class influences the individuals, communities, and institutions that I come in contact with in everyday life.…
In Gregory Mantsios’s “Class in America” he discusses the myths and realities of class differentiation. One thing he jumps into in the beginning of his essay is that Americans don’t prefer to talk about social class. Some people have even stated that they dislike using the word ‘class’ or ‘upper-class’ due to the reason that they believe it mows down their fortune and responsibility. Even though some Americans are concentrated on class identification Mantsios writes that most people aren’t aware of their actions to avoid this subject, this may be because of the fact that “…Class identity has been stripped from popular culture” (Mantsios, 282). It is now deemed ‘un-American’ to even compare certain issues with classes.…
In “Class in America―2012”, Mantsios explains, “The class structure in the United States is a function of its economic system: capitalism, a system that is based on private rather than public ownership and control of commercial enterprises. Under capitalism, enterprises are governed by the need to produce a profit for the owners, rather than to fulfill societal needs. Class divisions arise from the differences between those who own and control corporate enterprise and those who do not.” This piece of information describes that everyone in the United States, especially middle class and lower class members, are going to be affected by income inequality.…
Essay Four - Draft Over the past decade and even before that, the gaps in social classes have been steadily increasing. Many people are aware of this gap, especially those in higher classes, but the issue is often overlooked or pushed to the side. Despite the efforts made to decrease the gap in these classes, they are thwarted by those who hold a high status in society like those who work for the government. Social classes exist in today's society as well as in the 19th century; this is due to unfair privileges for the wealthy, the stigma of being lower class, and the lack of opportunities to advance.…
“Class in America - 2012,” by Gregory Mantsios, explores class in the Modern Day United States and its effects on individual accomplishments. Mr. Mantsios believes that the classes of America can be divided into three categories: The ultra wealthy, the working class, and the poor. However, this is simply not the case. On the upper end of the spectrum, there is a capitalist class of people in between the ultra wealthy and the working class. On the lower end of the spectrum, there is a class of people wedged between the ultra poor and the middle class.…