Introduction
The concept of a class is a general term that unites people into a category on a racial, gender, or income basis. Social class is the most commonly associated concept to justify wealth and well-being (Lecture 1, slide 4). It is explained by the “difficulty in mobility between classes”, especially if people from the class were discriminated against (Gerth & Mills, 1958, p. 30). It is generally accepted that the upper social class concentrates most of the wealth in their hands, which leads to an economic gap and growing inequality. Wealth and class in the US are related but not identical, while class is a discriminating concept, constructed conveniently for elites.
Class and Wealth in America
Belonging to a social class is based not on the actual income level, but on self-assessment of belonging to specific criteria. According to the video, the division into social classes by income is a convention that is influenced by beliefs and expectations (Practical Wisdom, 2022, 00:02:00-00:02:30). Despite falling incomes, most Americans still tend to identify themselves with the middle class (Lecture 1, slide 5).
This occurs against a widening wealth gap between high- and middle-income families (Horowitz et al., 2020). The middle class remains attractive for the self-determination of families, while it is less accessible due to the increasing complexity of mobility. Thus, real incomes do not entirely determine belonging to the socioeconomic class, since a critical component is self-determination.
In addition to the relativity of the concept of class, this category of division of people is stigmatized, which signals a formal connection between class and wealth. The concepts of class, race, and gender are inextricably linked and are the basis for the existence of discrimination, which, in turn, affects the unfair distribution of wealth (Romani et al., 2021). This conclusion is confirmed by the conflict theory, which sees the world as a constant struggle for resources, including wealth, while “poverty [is] a byproduct of struggle” (Keister & Southgate, 2022, p. 211). Based on the conclusions of the theory of the controlling power, the maintenance of inequality remains beneficial to the minority that enjoys this position.
Social class is a tool for classifying and maintaining the inequality of the strata of society. Class influences the distribution of wealth by stigmatizing and maintaining discrimination against oppressed groups to help the minority grab resources (Lamont, 2019). Stereotyping plays a determining role in this process, which is inherent in class division.
Stereotypes directly influence the building of associative links between class, race, and gender, which allow for maintaining the oppressed position of some social groups (Lecture 1, slide 31). According to the article by the World Economic Forum (2020), class remains a framework that restrains the growth of individuals to prevent mobility. In current affairs, class determines wealth, and wealth determines class, but it happens through stigmatization and discrimination.
Conclusion
In conclusion, wealth and class are related but not equal. Underlying the relationship between wealth and class is a conflicting set of characteristics that discriminate based on origin, race, and gender. At the same time, self-definition plays a vital role in the concept of a class. The strict division of society benefits the elite by allowing the continuation of stereotypes to curb social mobility. A class about wealth can be a framework that hinders social development and does not reflect current affairs.
References
Gerth, H.H., & Mills, C.W. (1958). From Max Weber: Essays in sociology. Oxford University Press.
Horowitz, J., Igielnik, R., & Kochhar, R. (2020). Trends in U.S. income and wealth inequality. Pew Research Center. Web.
Keister, L. A., & Southgate, D. E. (2022). Inequality: A contemporary approach to race, class, and gender. Cambridge University Press.
Lamont, M. (2019). From ‘having’ to ‘being’: Self‐worth and the current crisis of American society. The British Journal of Sociology, 70(3), 660-707. Web.
Lecture 1. (n.d.). Cultural diversity part II.
Practical Wisdom – Interesting Ideas (2022). Net worth to be in America’s upper, middle & lower class. [Video]. In YouTube. Web.
Romani, L., Zanoni, P., & Holck, L. (2021). Radicalizing diversity (research): Time to resume talking about class. Gender, Work & Organization, 28(1), 8-23. Web.
World Economic Forum (2020). Revealed: Why economies benefit from fixing inequality. Web.