People are aware of the distinctions of class as poor being lower class and rich being in the upper class however, both poor and rich people do not like to use the term “class” instead “they refer to their race, ethnic group, or geographic location”. (189) The reason that people do not talk about class and class distinctions is the same as why people deny accepting the white privilege and sex privilege. It is OK to talk about the middle class which is very broad and acceptable and it is not OK to utter the word such lower class because it is proof of the injustice. Privilege people do not want to accept the inequality and unequal distribution of wealth. Mantsiois gives the example of Susan Ostrander’s study where she asked wealthy women if they considered themselves members of the upper class. …show more content…
Changing the term upper class and justifying it with being lucky or well born does not change the fact there are upper class privilege people in United states and there is big gap between those people and other people who considered themselves as middle class which in fact they are not middle class. So ignorance is a bliss. As a mother if I ignore that I have some responsibilities such as helping my kids with their homework or feeding them, I won’t feel the guilt, I do not have to do anything about it by not thinking about it and ignoring it. So it is the same for the privilege people if the upper class do not utter the words lower class, deny the class difference then they do not feel guilty about the inequality and do not have to do something about it. The reading has some myth listed about class in America such as America is a being a middle class nation. Most people would consider themselves middle class no matter what their income is. Another myth is class does not matter in America because everybody is treated the same way regardless of the
Two exceptions to class avoidance phenomenon: discussion about the middle class as acceptable and presenting glimpses of the poor and wealthy that conform to common stereotypes. Americans are misinformed to believe the following myths: class distinctions are non-existent, middle-class is the norm, everyone is getting richer, and the chances of success are equal for everyone.
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
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
The book Class matter shows the importance of how much people should value and appreciate the importance of a classroom education. How much you dedicate yourself to school can help you gain enough knowledge to be successful in the future. Having good quality education in America seems to be the closest thing to a ticket to class mobility. The book was very interesting in explaining what social class really is in America, and the way it affects people's lives on how they live day to day. The different types of social class is what shapes our society. But I think this book is more for those people who aren’t that aware of social class, or for the ones who feel that we live in a society that is classless rather then the actually people who have realized the consequence that class really has on someone’s life. Many people can relate to what stories are told in the book if not, they know of a person that can relate to these stories. As a person that grew up in the lower class, I can definitely relate to most of the stories told in this book. From experience, there is a big difference in this country between the rich, middle class, and who are the poorest that we see daily. Even those in the so called working class have to make continuous sacrifices and live very differently from those positioned firmly in the middle class. Some people may have decent jobs but the bills and other expenses people may have make it harder on people than those who are in the same class but don’t have to necessarily go through the same thing as others. The chapters that I read in this book broaden what I said to a better more clear understanding.
The media portrays the upper class as something to strive for. Obtaining wealth and material possessions will bring you a happy life. The only way to get ahead is to emulate the rich and powerful and to live vicariously through them (Kendall 316). The media’s emphasis on the upper class takes away from people living life for themselves. Instead, they are persuaded to obtain a lifestyle that is realistically out of their means. Kendall states, “Largely through marketing and advertising, television promoted the myth of the classless society, offering on one hand the images of the American dream fulfilled wherein any and everyone can become rich and on the other suggesting that the lived experience of this lack of class hierarchy was expressed by our equal right to purchase anything we could afford”. Exaggerated views of the rich and successful in America are largely portrayed via television. Which gives a false idea of what happiness, wealth and material possessions can bring (Kendall 317). The poor and homeless are at the bottom of the class structure and are often overlooked, ignored and only portrayed as deserving of sympathy. They are stereotyped to be people who have problems such as drugs or alcohol (Kendall 318). Kendall goes on to explain that the middle class is considered the “working class” and are
(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.
In "Class in America", Gregory Mantsios says that "when politicians and social commentators draw attention to the plight of the poor, they do so in a manner that obscures the class structure and denies any sense of exploitation." Based off our readings, class discussion and films, income inequality is known to be erased or ignore. Our society frowns upon the expression of income in our daily conversations, as it could be seen braggy or a complaint depending on your status of income. Because it's frowned upon to talk about, the topic of income inequality becomes erased or ignored. In addition, income inequality in America's class structure can affect people's ability to reach their American Dream.
...rank of middle class tend to have a much lower level of involvement in politics while those who rise above the line feel quite the opposite. Granted there will be deviant cases that can on some level disprove these theories. But on the grand scale, class remains as the supreme cause of such severe division among the attitudes expressed by the American people.
America has always seen as the symbolic ideal country of prosperity and equality. This is the reason why people come to America hoping to become successful, but in matter of fact we all have an equal plan field to be successful is not entirely true. For there are social boundaries that keep use limited based upon our own status. Whether we are born of a low class or of a high class the possibility of economic mobility in a sense are predetermined by two factors of social class and success together they both affecting one’s another opportunity of success. In order to achieve success, we must know that it is made up of two main concepts and they are fortune and position. But when a person is limited by their class prohibiting them to achieve success, the point of trying is meaningless. However, there is a way to break the construct that keep groups stuck in the lower-class and is through education. Education gives more opportunities for success to the individuals and since education is very important, culture and the government should focus more directly upon this to reach economic stability. Class standing directly affects economic success in America by limiting a person’s chance of success however; one can overcome by focusing more upon education and culture.
Torkildsen (2011) stated that the nature and definition of 'social class' is generally regarded as being problematic, as class not only relates to income or occupation but also upbringing and family background. "social class is often regarded as grouping on the basis of occupation, which is 'socioeconomic class' rather than social class" (Torkildsen, 2011 p.49). divine
These perceptions have trickled down to the modern day society. As stated in the article, the middle class and the wealthy disregard the working class, which are also categorized in the poor category. In this case, they do not want anything to do with them. In fact, they believe the working class are not only poor but also unmotivated and undetermined. The Middle class believ...
In “Working Class Whites” Angeline F. Price quotes Fussel saying, “[o]ne class gets the sugar and the other gets the shit” (Fussel, 25). Later Price responds, “in American society the ‘other’ is invariably poverty stricken and powerless” (Price 648). That is to say that the comfort of the rich is at cost of the discomfort of the poor. Correspondingly, wealth or the lack of, have been associated with a complex of superiority versus inferiority. Therefore, one is treated according to the amount of wealth one has accumulated. Such ideology was created by the rich through the widespread rhetoric of separation based on socioeconomic factors. This separation has benefited the upper class, and hurt the lower class especially when it pertains to the
The lives of the lower class people as depicted by Apuleius are different in a multitude of ways. There is a "lower class" status as many people are correctly labeled throughout the story, but there are many different types of lower class citizens. There are slaves, freed ex-slaves, farmers, and just really poor people who are forced to fight for survival. All of these types of people can be correctly identified as "lower class." Some lower class people are treated much more relentlessly by masters, the law, and everyone else in general. By no means does the lower class have a vague and colloquial lifestyle, and Apuleius continuously proves this theory throughout the story.
In today’s society people are viewed as being in different classes depending on how much money they bring in. The categorization of people is known as classism. Classism is simply the prejudice or in favor of people belonging to a particular social class. Classism is known as one of the largest social problems plaguing the world today. Classes are formed according to how the rules of the following institutions; government regulations and economic status. It is held in place by a system of beliefs and cultural attitudes that ranks people according to their; economic status, family lineage, job status, and level of education. There are three major classifications to which people are titled. They include upper or high class which includes the people with the most money. The middle class who includes the people that brings home the average income. Finally, the class titled the lower class that includes the people who have only one income coming in or none at all (“What Is Classism.”). In the classrooms these classes still remain and the students within each class have different ways in which they learn, and view schooling. We as educators have to look passed their ways and address each class the same.
These classes are based upon the amount of money that the people in those classes make each year. The amount of money people earn each year is strongly determined by the job that they have, and the type of job that someone has is strongly determined by the amount of education they obtain. People in the lower class make about less than $9,000 each year, generally with a part-time job and a high school education. People in the working class make about $15,000- $25,000 in a year with a service job and some college experience, but no college degree. As the salary, education level, and occupation increase, so does the individuals social class. The highest class, the upper class, make more than $200,000 a year are in high corporate jobs, and have a graduate degree. Each of these classes, also comes with a different lifestyle because of how much money they