Differing Social Classes

Paper Summary:

The purpose of this paper is to introduce, discuss, and analyze the differences in four social classes: lower, working, middle, and upper, based on income, race, sex, and education and to show how these clear divisions in society lead to stereotypes, social expectations and limitations.

From the paper:

"Differences in each of the four classes are marked when income is the factor differentiating them. 11.3 per cent of Americans live in poverty, and can be considered part of the lower and working classes. In the U.S. today, 16 percent of the population falls into the "lower" class. Thirty-eight per cent fall into the "working," or "blue-collar" class. Forty-four per cent fall into the "middle" and "upper middle" class, and 2 per cent fall into the "upper" class. The lower and often working classes are often characterized as less educated. They tend to live in urban areas, and do not own their own homes. The middle and upper classes tend to own their own homes, often are two-career couples by choice, and usually live in less urban and more rural areas or suburbs of larger cities. They are usually better educated than the lower and working classes, often with advanced college degrees."

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