Cultural Representations of Social Class America, the land of opportunity. Wishful thinking or reality? In order to answer this question, a person has to be aware that the United States of America, among other countries, hierarchically ranks individuals into different social classes based on their socioeconomic status (SES). Currently, the U.S.A. is comprised of four classes that consist of 3% upper class, 44% middle class, 38% working class and 19% lower class (p. 143). Moreover, each individual social class is based on a particular income level, educational standard and occupational status or perceived prestige (p. 142). Nevertheless, the open stratification system allows for horizontal as well as vertical movement depending on
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Another point to consider is that a person from a lower class structure, such as the working class, ordinarily does not associates with persons from the upper class. Nevertheless, an individual who is associated with the upper class, does come in contact with people who are categorized into a lower class structure. In order for an individual to fit into a higher social class certain characteristics such as education, occupation, physical appearance as well as the display of certain high standard commodities are essential in order of being perceived as upper class rather than working class, for example. Oppositely, an individual who is associated with the upper class and has the necessary experience to portray a person from the working class as well as the financial means that permit such a disguise are more likely to pass such a challenge. One example that comes to mind where such a success is illustrated is in the television show “Undercover …show more content…
The main reasons for such social immobility can be attributable to “structural, demographic and family background factors, all of which are interrelated” (p. 149). Major structural deficits, such as the lack of government resources that support educational programs and adequate housing, are the main reason why poor individuals cannot overcome the multitude of stressors that limits their possibility in climbing the social ladder. In addition, demographic factors such as gender, race and ethnicity, education and geography also determines the level of difficulty a person has to overcome in order to encounter positive intergenerational mobility (p. 150). However, family background factors are the main reason as to why a person remains in the same social class they were born into. Parents and other closely related family members influence and determine the probability for immobility by their social interactions and affluences. In addition, parents or guardians foster an analogous standard of living that closely relates to their own educational achievements, articulation, mannerism, perception and goal settings; thereby, further preventing upward or downward mobility within the class
Another point to consider is that a person from a lower class structure, such as the working class, ordinarily does not associates with persons from the upper class. Nevertheless, an individual who is associated with the upper class, does come in contact with people who are categorized into a lower class structure. In order for an individual to fit into a higher social class certain characteristics such as education, occupation, physical appearance as well as the display of certain high standard commodities are essential in order of being perceived as upper class rather than working class, for example. Oppositely, an individual who is associated with the upper class and has the necessary experience to portray a person from the working class as well as the financial means that permit such a disguise are more likely to pass such a challenge. One example that comes to mind where such a success is illustrated is in the television show “Undercover …show more content…
The main reasons for such social immobility can be attributable to “structural, demographic and family background factors, all of which are interrelated” (p. 149). Major structural deficits, such as the lack of government resources that support educational programs and adequate housing, are the main reason why poor individuals cannot overcome the multitude of stressors that limits their possibility in climbing the social ladder. In addition, demographic factors such as gender, race and ethnicity, education and geography also determines the level of difficulty a person has to overcome in order to encounter positive intergenerational mobility (p. 150). However, family background factors are the main reason as to why a person remains in the same social class they were born into. Parents and other closely related family members influence and determine the probability for immobility by their social interactions and affluences. In addition, parents or guardians foster an analogous standard of living that closely relates to their own educational achievements, articulation, mannerism, perception and goal settings; thereby, further preventing upward or downward mobility within the class