People Like Us Social Class in America Social

People Like Us – Social Class in America

Social Class: • A division of a society based on social and economic status

The Upper Class. . . • A class of people above the middle class, having the highest social rank based on wealth, family connections, etc. . .

Middle Class. . . • Slightly over half of Americans consider themselves middle class. • The average income for a middle class family is ABOUT 60, 000 per year, but it varies by state. • Unfortunately, the middle class is shrinking!

Lower Class (Working Class) • Generally, people who work for an hourly wage • Many people will move into the middle class from the working class

Working Poor. . . • A family of four earning about 25, 000 per year is considered living in poverty. • Poverty is the state of not having enough money for life's basic needs. • About 13% of Americans live in poverty.

Egalitarianism. . . • " A belief in human equality, especially with respect to social, political and economic affairs"

Rednecks. . . • "A white member of the Southern rural working class"

Blue Collar Workers. . . • A working class person who performs manual labor

WASP • White, Anglo. Saxon Protestants • Often inherited wealth that gives greater social status

Old Money/New Money

Race/Ethnicity Biologically inherited features Behaviors learned from your culture

The Great Unwashed. . . • A derogatory term for people without much money, power or social status

The American Dream. . . • The idea that there is an opportunity to go as far as you like, based on hard work, for ALL Americans

Bourgeois. . . • "Of or characteristic of the middle class, typically with reference to perceived materialistic values or conventional attitudes"