Summary
CLASS IN AMERICA - 2009 - Gregory Mantsios
page 281- 299
Gregory Mantsios states that people in the United States do not like to talk about social
class, even though the gap between those is dramatically increasing. He emphasizes “The
phrase such as ‘working class’, ‘upper class’ and ‘ruling class’ are rarely uttered by
Americans”
He goes on and lists out Myth of beliefs about the United States:
Myth 1: we are equal under laws and basic needs as health care and education are
provided.
Myth 2: We are, essentially, a middle-class nation.
Myth 3: We are all wealthy, or getting richer
Myth 4: We have equal chance to succeed, which requires no more than hard work,
sacrifice and perseverance.
However, the reality is that impossible to say that we are living in a classless society in the
United States since the contrast between rich and poor is extremely sharp. Here is the list of
Reality:
Reality 1: The distribution of income is really unbalanced. A tiny minority of families take the
lion’s share of national income meanwhile the remaining income is distributed among the
huge majority of middle-class and low-income families.
Reality 2: The gap between rich and poor and between rich and the middle class is larger
than it has ever been.
Reality 3: Different social class has different treatments and health status. Lower-class is, of
course, having a higher risk since the quality of treatment for disease and illness is lower.
Reality 4: The social class has a huge impact and can accurately predict chances for both
survival and success.
Reality 5: The social class heavily impact on chances for educational achievement.
Reality 6: All American do not have an equal opportunity to succeed.
Reality 7: The social class is significantly compound the effects of class in society.
People do not choose to be poor or working class. However, the social and economic
system limits and confines them. Moreover, the social class in the United States is also
based on the differences in gender, color of the skin (race), or even both.
Statistic:
American Life-Styles (Page 287- 292). Comparing the differences in the social class of Bob
Farrell, Harold Browning and Cheryl Mitchell, we can say obviously tell that the differences
have a profound impact on the way they live. The difference in class determines where they
live, who their friends are, how well they are educated, what they do for a living, and what
they come to expect from life.
Average Combined Scores by Income (400 to 1600 scale) (Page 294). Richard De Lone
examined the test scores of over half a million students who took the College Board exams
(SATs). The test scores correlate the family income.
Chances of Being Poor in America (Page 296) Different Race (White, Hispanic, Black) and
Social Status (Female or Female Head which means the female householder, no husband
present) receives different chances of being poor.
Question 9 (page 298)
Mantisios points out, “Inheritance laws ensure a greater likelihood of success for the
offspring of the wealthy” (para. 48). Explain why you think this is or is not a serious problem.
Keeping in mind the difference between wealth and income, discuss how society might
attempt to remedy this problem and what policies you would endorse
Answer:
In my opinion, I believe this is not a serious problem at all. It is their rights to give whatever
they have made to whoever they want. I also believe that Inheritance laws have nothing to
ensure the success of the wealthy. Instead, It just only gives them better opportunities than
other people such as going to better school, living in better neighborhood, having stronger
foundation and support to start off their own business... But it has nothing to ensure or
guarantee the chance to success without them trying hard on themselves.
The differences of social class maintain the stable of the society since each of us all has our
self-interest. Very a few of us, if not none, are willing to give what we have been trying to
get so hard in life to other non-relative people who we admit that they have not tried as hard
as us. Therefore, from my point of view, it is not a serious problem at all and there are no
new policies I would endorse.