Social Classes in America..

The American Middle Class 

 

The video we watched this week made me think a lot about classes in America..

Indeed, as they said a lot of people consider themselves as middle class, and it is probably true for most of them, they are not poor and can afford car/house/food, but are not rich either because not part of the American "Bourgeoisie". As indicated America is made out of a really large middle class. But people are not equal in this large class. There is the upper middle class that isn't considered as bourgeoisie but although posses a lot of goods and land. One the other hand, the "Struggling middle class" are the people having enough to take care of their family, afford a roof, some clothing and food, but they can't have any more extra.

American Dream??

This video also made me think about how hard it is to move from one class to an other. Americans like to believe that due to you hard work you can rich the highest class in this world but I disagree. This isn't only a matter of work and devotion it unfortunately have a lot to do with money and what you have when you are born. A WASP's son and a boy born in the poor Appalachia do not have the same chances in life. Yes, maybe one out of 1000 Appalachian people will do well in life and reach a higher social class than what he was born in, but let's be honest, that is rare! A WASP on the other hand is born with a silver spoon in hand, even if he wasn't as intelligent,as nice as the Appalachian he would still get more consideration. How is that fair, it isn't. Money and social class - Yes, I believe money has a lot to do with it- are something taboo because people would like to believe that you can achieve a lot and reach the top starting at the bottom, that's what the American dream is about, but most of us do know the truth, for a majority of us we won't start from poor and become integrated in the upper class in a life time.. It might sound pessimistic but I think that we have to accept the truth, I think though that it always is possible to climb some stairs on the social class ladder with work, abilities, talent and devotion to what you do.

The video also talked a lot about how people perceive their class and are proud to be what they are and where they are in society, as shown in the "blue collar" video. I think that it is really important for people to be part of a class and to be recognize as part of it, it is part of your identity.

To conclude I would say that in your life you can probably move from one class to an other or at least improve your class status but it also depends a lot on where you are from, the education you had had and the goods you can afford.