Social Class

I definitely think that social class matters a lot in the United States today. As I was reading the stores by people from “People Like Us” all of them mentioned how their social class mattered. Joe Queenan said that high school will always play a part in his life. He is 50 years old and still worries about what his friends think of his records and stuff like that. He grew up in the working class and now is a successful author. He says that the middle class has a lifelong desire to fit in and impress. Tom Smith said that everyday things display what class you are in. He said that Whole wheat bread is consumed by highly-educated people. It kind of made me laugh, how can bread determine what social class you are in? However, I guess everyone has a different way of thinking/determining things…
Vanessa Rineheart said that she wonders what she is doing wrong that attracts men that don’t have cars and don’t’ have jobs. She said that she tries to associate herself with upper-class people. Another upper-class person (Thomas P) said that he was a member of the privileged Americans. He said he is known for someone who was born with a silver spoon/handed things from an early age. From my readings in the book, it talks about status and how one’s status power derives from the ability to increase one’s own prestige. It talks about class and the life chances that you get to be able to achieve your economic prosperity. The book talks about upper-class, lower-class, middle-class, upper-middle class, lower-middle class, and working class. Lastly it talks about the underclass which is known as the “new urban poor” which includes many African Americans that are trapped in a generation cycle of poverty.