Malcolm Rivera
The concept of social class, which organizes society into hierarchical divisions based on wealth and income, has evolved over time. While the precise measurements of class have varied, it generally refers to the stratification of society into distinct groups based on their access to property, means of production, and wealth. In modern times, the upper class is often associated with individuals of high socioeconomic status, political and economic power, and significant wealth, while the middle class is characterized by higher disposable income and the working class by lower incomes and less wealth. Various factors, such as inheritance, education, occupation, and economic trends, contribute to the constitution of these wealth classes, shaping opportunities and life experiences within each stratum.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Class definitions | The definition of class has changed over time, and class can be divided into upper, middle, and lower classes. |
| Upper class | The upper class is the highest level of the social hierarchy, and its members hold significant wealth, power, and status. They tend to be politicians, investors, celebrities, and other wealthy individuals. |
| Middle class | The middle class emerges as an economy develops, creating more wealth and disposable income. It further divides into average middle class and upper-middle class, with the latter achieving higher levels of education and income. |
| Lower class | The lower class is the poorest section of society, often dependent on wages and salaries to pay the bills. They have little control over pay, hours, or benefits and often live paycheck to paycheck. |
| Wealth distribution | Wealth distribution can vary within classes, with factors like inheritance, marriage patterns, and offspring number influencing intergenerational wealth transfer. |
| Social mobility | Social mobility varies across societies and classes. In the US, most people experience limited class mobility, and class privilege tends to persist even during downward mobility. |
| Class conflict | Class societies often experience conflict and competition between classes due to inequality and differences in power and resources. |
| Power dynamics | The upper class exerts significant control over economic and political developments, while production and consumption are primarily carried out by the working and middle classes. |
| Racial wealth gap | In the US, there is a significant racial wealth gap, with higher percentages of Asian and White households in the upper class compared to Black and Hispanic households. |
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What You'll Learn
- Upper class: Aristocratic, high-society families with inherited wealth and high status
- Upper-middle class: Highly educated, affluent professionals with high incomes
- Middle class: White-collar workers with more wealth than those below, but less than those above
- Lower-middle class: Semi-professionals with some college education and loosely supervised
- Working class: Clerical and blue-collar workers with routinized work, facing wealth accumulation challenges
Upper class: Aristocratic, high-society families with inherited wealth and high status
The term 'upper class' is a socioeconomic classification that refers to individuals who occupy the highest rungs of the social hierarchy, above the middle and working classes. This group has traditionally been dominated by aristocratic, high-society families with inherited wealth and high status.
The concept of social class has evolved over time, with the term 'class' emerging in the late 18th century to supersede previous classifications such as estates, rank, and orders. While the specific measurements of social class have varied, wealth and income have increasingly become key indicators of one's position within the social hierarchy.
The upper class is characterised by its high status in society, substantial wealth, and significant political, economic, and financial power. Historically, this class was composed of land-owning nobility and aristocrats who did not have to work for a living. Instead, they inherited their wealth or derived their income from investments. As such, the upper class was largely made up of large, wealthy families, and those who accumulated significant wealth from outside this group were often excluded from this classification.
In modern times, the definition of the upper class has broadened to include a wider range of individuals, such as celebrities, politicians, and other wealthy individuals in leadership roles. According to a 2018 Pew Research Center study, 19% of American adults were part of upper-class households, with a median income of $187,872 in 2016. This figure highlights the significant wealth gap between the upper class and other socioeconomic groups, contributing to increasing immobility and inequality.
The upper class's accumulation of wealth and power can lead to a consolidation of privilege, making it challenging to address inequality. As sociologist Rachel Sherman notes in her book, members of the upper class often prefer not to acknowledge their privileged position, contributing to a lack of honest discourse and effective change.
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Upper-middle class: Highly educated, affluent professionals with high incomes
The precise measurements of what determines social class in society have changed over time. In modern times, the upper-middle class is a subset of the middle class, comprising highly educated, affluent professionals with high incomes. This group typically achieves higher levels of education than the rest of the middle class, such as doctors and lawyers. They have more disposable income than the average middle class but are not considered rich.
The upper-middle class is often distinguished from the lower and working classes by their level of education. While the lower and working classes may have spotty access to higher education and often carry significant student debt, the upper-middle class typically attends elite or selective colleges or universities, often without taking on student loans. They may also have some investment in the stock market and enough savings to retire early.
In addition to their higher incomes, the upper-middle class may also have more social status and social connections, which can benefit their children in terms of educational and career opportunities. They are also more likely to receive or pass down significant inheritances, further increasing wealth inequality between the classes.
While the upper-middle class has higher incomes and more wealth than the lower and working classes, they are still distinct from the upper class, who hold the highest status in society and have a great deal of wealth, power, and political and economic influence. The upper class was historically dominated by land-owning nobility and aristocrats who inherited their wealth, but today includes celebrities, politicians, investors, and other wealthy individuals.
It is important to note that social class is not just about wealth and income but also about power and influence. As such, the upper-middle class may still face challenges in accumulating wealth and achieving true financial security, especially when compared to the upper class.
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Middle class: White-collar workers with more wealth than those below, but less than those above
The concept of social class is based on the idea of organizing society into hierarchical divisions, with the existence of social classes being considered normal in many societies, both historic and modern. The precise measurements of what constitutes each class have varied over time, but wealth and income are often used as indicators of position within the social hierarchy.
In modern times, societies are typically divided into three main classes: the upper class, the middle class, and the working or lower class. The middle class is often described as consisting of white-collar workers who have more wealth and income than those in the lower class but less than those in the upper class. This class typically emerges as economies develop and better jobs and infrastructure create more wealth.
Members of the middle class may have stable jobs and some control over their hours and methods of work. They may also have access to higher education, although this can result in significant student debt. While they may have some savings, they often live paycheck to paycheck and may struggle with debt from education, medical bills, or other living expenses.
The middle class is the largest class in the United States, comprising slightly more than half of the population according to a 2023 report. However, the share of income going to middle-income households has decreased over time, and there is a substantial racial wealth gap within the middle class.
It is important to note that class mobility exists, and individuals may experience upward or downward class movement throughout their lives. Additionally, there can be variations within the middle class, with some individuals having significantly more disposable income than others. These individuals may be considered upper-middle-class, and they typically achieve higher levels of education or are particularly resourceful. Examples of upper-middle-class professionals include doctors and lawyers.
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Lower-middle class: Semi-professionals with some college education and loosely supervised
The precise measurements of what constitutes a social class have varied over time and across societies. In modern times, the primary determinant of social class is one's relationship to the means of production, as defined by Karl Marx. This categorises society into two classes: the proletariat, who work but do not own the means of production, and the bourgeoisie, who invest and live off the surplus generated by the former's operation of the means of production.
However, this binary classification fails to capture the nuances of social stratification, which is more commonly divided into lower, middle, and upper classes. The lower-middle class, in particular, constitutes a significant portion of society and is characterised by semi-professionals with some college education and loosely supervised occupations.
Lower-middle-class individuals are often first-generation college graduates, having attained some level of higher education. They may have completed a Bachelor's degree or attended a four-year university, resulting in student debt. This sets them apart from the lower class, who often have limited access to higher education and may be burdened by significant student debt from attempting to do so.
In terms of occupation, lower-middle-class individuals typically hold mid-level to high-level managerial or professional jobs. They have some degree of control over their work, including their hours and methods of work, and may even supervise others. Their jobs tend to be dependent on wages or salaries, with some benefits, and they can generally expect stable employment. However, their financial situation can become precarious when faced with unexpected expenses, such as high medical bills or layoffs.
Lower-middle-class individuals often aspire to be upper-class and are conditioned to fear being poor. They constitute a significant portion of society, with approximately 50% to 52% of the US population identified as middle-class in various reports. They are often raised with a strong value on resource sharing and taking care of each other. While they may not be direct political or economic decision-makers, they contribute significantly to production activities and consumption, playing a vital role in societal development and prosperity.
It is important to recognise that social class is not entirely rigid. While the class one is raised in can be a primary determining factor of their economic bracket, some individuals experience upward or downward class mobility due to various factors, including education, inheritance, and economic fluctuations.
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Working class: Clerical and blue-collar workers with routinized work, facing wealth accumulation challenges
The working class is a socioeconomic term used to describe those who fall below the middle and upper classes in the social hierarchy. They are often dependent on wages or salaries to pay the bills and may have some benefits and control over their hours and methods of work. Working-class occupations often involve physical labour, service, or care work.
The working class faces significant challenges when it comes to wealth accumulation. They typically have little control over their pay, hours, or access to benefits, and often live paycheck to paycheck with little to no savings. This makes them vulnerable to unexpected expenses, such as high medical bills, and they may need to rely on public or community safety nets to make ends meet.
Wealth accumulation is further hindered by debt, which is common among working-class individuals in the form of mortgages, education loans, and credit card debt from daily living expenses or emergencies. They may also be burdened by student debt if they pursue higher education, which is often inaccessible or unaffordable for this class.
The working class is conditioned to fear poverty and aspire to be upper class. However, the majority of people in the working class experience limited or no class mobility due to various structural and socioeconomic barriers. They are not positioned as political or economic decision-makers and are often targeted by the state as a source of revenue through fines and fees.
In summary, the working class, including clerical and blue-collar workers with routinized jobs, faces significant obstacles to wealth accumulation due to their reliance on wages, lack of savings, debt, limited access to higher education, and structural barriers that hinder social mobility. These factors contribute to the wealth gap between the working class and higher socioeconomic groups.
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Frequently asked questions
The three broad classes of wealth are the upper class, the middle class, and the lower class. In emerging economies, there are only two classes: the working class or poor, and the upper class or elite.
The upper class is a socioeconomic term used to describe those who reside above the middle and lower classes in the social hierarchy. They generally have the highest status in society, hold a great deal of wealth, and carry a lot of power—politically, economically, and financially. In the past, this class was dominated by land-owning nobility and aristocrats who inherited their money and did not work for a living. Today, celebrities, politicians, investors, and other wealthy individuals are also considered part of the upper class.
The precise measurements of what determines social class have varied over time. In ancient societies, class was determined by hereditary characteristics, literacy, and social status. With the rise of capitalism, thinkers like Karl Marx defined class in terms of one's relationship to the means of production, distinguishing between the bourgeoisie (those who own the means of production) and the proletariat (those who work but do not own the means of production). In modern times, class is often understood in terms of income brackets and wealth distribution, with the majority of people experiencing limited class mobility throughout their lives.
