Social Class and Inequality

The Upper Class: The upper class make up the top 1 percent in the US. They are the richest people in the country. Max Weber says that it is a combination of wealth, power and prestige that gives someone a high social class.

Lower Class: The lower class makes up about 20 percent of the population in the US and may have lower levels of literacy than the other social classes. They are usually comprised of unskilled labor workers. 

Middle Class: Makes up about 30 percent of the population in the US.  Most people think they are in the middle class. The middle class works mainly "white collar" jobs. The upper middle class makes up about 14 percent and are usually professionals and managers.

Working Class: The working class, also known as the lower middle class makes up about 30 percent of the US population and are usually in the service industry or work "blue collar" jobs. They are less likely to have college degrees.

Social Reproduction: Social reproduction is the tendency for social class to be passed down generation through generation. Cultural capital is passed down and gives people a staggered start in life. Somebody whose parents live in a motor home are pretty likely to remain on that path. Where as those born with wealth and prestige have advantages and habitus for the finer things in life.

Culture of Poverty: We as a society blame the poor for being poor. They are cast with stigmas of being lazy and using our tax dollars to fund their life. In poor communities they can learn attitudes that teach them to accept their fate and see trying to improve their situation as being hopeless.