Social Classlessness

Brian Williams

Soc 220

Social Inequalities in the United States

10/4/12

JeckerByrne

The United States is the “Land of Opportunity.” A place where one can start out with nothing, and rise to riches. Or at least that’s how it is like to be seen as. The reality of the matter though, is that America is separated by social class. A social class is defined as “a broad group in society having common economic, cultural, or political status” (Dictionary.com). When speaking of economic class, it is said that it is easy to move from class to class. While this may be true, it is very hard for the poor to move up. For one to move down in a social class, it’s very easy. There is a famous saying used in politics nowadays that says “the rich are getting richer, and the poor are getting poorer.”

There are many factors that contribute to the inequalities in our country. One major factor that contributes to this is the idea of classlessness. Classlessness is the idea that one is not characterized by the absence of economic and social distinctions. The act of believing in classlessness harms the truth behind the real issue of inequality. Breaking down the walls between economic classes causes false consciousness, and makes the problem seem better than it actually is. For example, the word “middle class” can be expanded to great lengths. The popular view of social stratification can be represented as a diamond. A very small part at the tips of the diamond can are used to represent the upper and lower class, while the middle class take up about ninety five percent of the diamond. But when you look at the six part model of the American class system, it represents America much better. There are many different classes, all of which have certain “qualifications” to be considered that class.

Along with the idea of classlessness, there is also a widening in the wealth gap between the richest and poorest people in the country. The wealth gap refers to the inequality of...