Social Class in the United States of America Documentary - Educational Film (1957)

Social class certainly exists in the United States, though it remains a controversial concept with many competing definitions. Many Americans believe in a simple three-class model that includes the "rich", the "middle class", and the "poor". More complex models that have been proposed describe as many as a dozen class levels; while still others deny the very existence, in the strict sense, of "social class" in American society. Most definitions of class structure group people according to wealth, income, education, type of occupation, and membership in a specific subculture or social network.

Dennis Gilbert, William Thompson, Joseph Hickey, and James Henslin have proposed class systems with six distinct social classes. These class models feature an upper or capitalist class consisting of the rich and powerful, an upper middle class consisting of highly-educated and wealthy professionals, a middle class consisting of college-educated individuals employed in white collar industries, a lower middle class, a working class constituted by clerical and blue collar workers whose work is highly routinized, and a lower class divided between the working poor and the unemployed underclass.

Social class is sometimes presented as a description of how members of the society have sorted themselves along a continuum of positions varying in importance, influence, prestige, and compensation. In these models, certain occupations are considered to be desirable and influential, while others are considered to be menial, repetitive, and unpleasant. (In some cases, non-occupational roles such as a parent or volunteer mentor, are also considered.) Generally, the higher the ranking on such a scale, the higher the skill and education levels required to perform it.

Some sociologists consider the higher income and prestige of higher ranked jobs to simply be incentives to encourage members of society to obtain the skills necessary to perform important work. This is an important mechanism in the economic theory of capitalism, and is compatible with the notion that class is mutable and determined by a combination of choices and opportunities.

In other cases, class or status is inherited. For example, being the son or daughter of a wealthy individual, may carry a higher status and different cultural connotations than being a member of nouveau riche ("new money"). Those taking the functionalist approach to sociology and economics view social classes as components essential for the survival of complex societies such as American society.

Tertiary education (or "higher education") is required for many middle-class professions, depending on how the term middle class is to be defined. Tertiary education is rarely free, but the costs vary widely: tuition at elite private colleges often exceeds $200,000 for a four-year program. On the other hand, public colleges and universities typically charge much less (for state residents), and many, such as the University of California system, rival the elite private schools in reputation and quality.

Also, scholarships offered by universities and government do exist, and low-interest loans are available. Still, the average cost of education, by all accounts, is increasing. The attainment of post-secondary and graduate degrees is the perhaps most important feature of a middle and upper middle class person with the university being regarded as the most essential institution and gatekeeper of the professional middle class. Educational attainment is also directly linked to income.

In 2005, the vast majority of those with doctorate and professional degrees were among the nation's top 15% of income earners. Those with bachelor degrees had incomes considerably above the national median while the median income for those with some college education remained near the national median. According to U.S. Census Bureau, 9% of persons aged 25 or older had a graduate degree, 27.9% had a Bachelor's degree or more with 53% having attended college.

With 85% of the population having graduated high school, it becomes apparent that the average American does not have a college degree, but is likely to have attended college for some time and has graduated high school. Overall, educational attainment serves as the perhaps most essential class feature of most Americans, being directly linked to income and occupation.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• social
• class
• in
• america
• documentary
• inequality
• britain
• and
• education
• differences
• educational
• achievement
• comedy
• discrimination
• the
• united
• states
• sport
• health
• attainment
• ads
• crime
• commercials
• division
• funny
• pbs
• today
• movies
• monty
• python
• system
• money
• uk
• wealthy
• rich
• poor
• military
• actor
• russia
• warfare

[Ganeschar]

No equality at the START.

[NorthGeorgiaPipe]

this is true to some degree, i have seen the children of the wealthy become alcoholics or lessen their monetary income by taking lesser paying jobs, ie beautician, coffee slingers, or no job at all, while i have seen the poorer childern strive to make a life for themselves as much unlike that of their parents as the could. some have truly turned these social shackles inside out. still, most people do cling to these prescribed ideals, but who really cares what others think?!

[metalfemme131313]

I believe the "hard work" philosophy comes from the company owners and corporations who need to use the majority of ppl as batteries to maintain & increase productivity. However, while we're working hard, they're networking to establish channels to become more wealthy. Is it wrong? Nah. In actuality, we can't all be CEO's. Work smarter, ppl, not harder. You wear your fingers to the bone to make someone else rich, OR you find a way to be well off/rich, too. That's my new plan, anyway :)

[mister62085]

thats why you leave your bum fuck town forever.

[mrgoodvibrations]

Ahh the life of materialism and narcessism, why it's the American way! LOL!

[OurFadedGarden]

The home I grew up in was not near as nice as the lower class house shown here. WTF?

[bradjbourgeois73]

Today they would not have gone to the same school, lol!

[ohiostaterules]

This video is so true it's ridiculous.

[cjn9999]

Vertical mobility, I'm sure the city college kids on wall street would agree, not everybody is an ivy league schmuck.

[mussman717word]

Vertical mobility doesn't exist.

[mussman717word]

@krissy4nik

Yep, that's right, kids. Working long hours for low pay will make you rich! Oh, wait... maybe you're just getting fucked by the man.

[krissy4nik]

You hear that kids? If you're still the same class its because you werent skilled enough or didnt work hard enough. Just pull yourselves up by your boot straps! Some things dont change.