Chapter 4 of the book “The Family” by Philip N Cohen discusses the relationship between families and social class. The chapter explores the six classes that make up the American class system, which ranges from higher to lower classes. The most wealthy and influential people belong to the upper class, whereas skilled laborers and white-collar professionals make up the middle class and contribute to societal stratification. The working class is composed of blue-collar workers, while the lower class is made up of those who are living in poverty.
Class persistence refers to a person’s propensity to stay in the same social class as their parents, while social mobility refers to a person’s ability to advance or regress along the social class spectrum. The chapter examines the elements that affect social mobility, such as wealth, employment, and education, and how social networks can help or impede it. The chapter also highlights the impact of social class on family dynamics, such as how parents raise their kids and the beliefs and perspectives handed down through the generations. It also discusses how social class affects families’ access to resources and opportunities, such as healthcare, education, and housing.
In conclusion, Chapter 4 provides an overview of the theories of the American class structure, social class, the American class structure, mobility, and persistence, as well as the impact of social class on family dynamics and access to resources. This chapter’s keywords include power, social class, prestige, wealth, social mobility, occupation, social stratification, and class persistence. Understanding how families and social class interact in American culture requires understanding these words.