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Social class in the United States

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The social structure of the United States is characterized by moderate social mobility. It is an open society in which it is relatively easy for peoples' social status to change.

Social class essentially consists of three factors: wealth, power and prestige. The lower class in the United States consists of about 20% of the population and is deficient in all three factors. Many members of the important minority groups in the United States -- Hispanics, African-Americans, Asian-Americans, and Native Americans -- fall into the lower class, but the majority of the lower class in the United States consists of persons of European origin, the majority group. The lower class is poorly educated, with low literacy and other employment skills. Their health is often poor, with a life expectancy below the rest of the population. They tend to be socially isolated, are less often members of social and cultural groups and have a low rate of political participation. There is a high rate of unemployment and physical disability. Lack of money defines the class as does lack of power and prestige. A significant portion of the lower class, expecially single women with children, receives welfare.

There are a number of groups in the United States corresponding to the European and Asian peasant. Historically there was a slave caste and after the Civil War a system of sharecropping in the deep South. In isolated instances where there are large landholdings there is still a small impoverished class of agricultural laborers. In contemporary times migrant agricultural workers, in large part Hispanic, perform field and packing work especially in the Southwest. See agricultural history of the United States and social history of the United States

About 70% of the population is made up of working class people who work for wages in blue-collar, white-collar and agricultural occupations. The 30% of the population which works in white-collar work is sometimes characterized as the "lower middle class". While they may be unemployed from time to time, in general, members of the working class earn a modest income through some skilled or semi-skilled occupation. Although they are subject to some economic insecurity due to fluctuations in the economy and layoffs due to plant closings, in general they have a stable and dependable income. A small part of the working class, especially those in organized occupations enjoy above average income. Working class people often have some training and education, may belong to a labor unions and other organizations and have a modest level of political participation. Their life is generally not organized about their work, but around their personal life with an emphasis on recreational and family activities. See labor history of the United States

Owners of small business with modest wealth and income can be considered as the lower middle class -- in Marxist terms, the petty bourgeoisie, stereotypically considered as socially conservative, a characterization which often does not apply in contemporary America.

10% or so of the U.S. population can be characterized as upper middle class. This is the well-educated, highly skilled portion of the population which works in executive and professional fields. Their work plays a central point in their life and self and public image. They are leaders in their communities and are socially, culturally and politically active. They may have modest investments in industry and business, but generally depend on income from remunerative work. A portion of the upper middle class are owners of small businesses. The historical middle class or bourgeoisie, considered as a class which supports itself through investment and management of capital is split in the United States between the upper middle class and the upper class.

About 5% of the population of the United States is engaged in agriculture as the proprietors of independent farms. Once the dominant American social class, this group has been diminishing during the 20th century. It is now characterized by modest income but significant capital holdings as land and equipment. Generally this group can be characterized as upper middle class, but portions of this group fall into the lower middle class or upper class. See agricultural history of the United States.

1% to 3% of the American population can be characterized as upper class. There are a number of ways that people fall into this classification, wealth being the most obvious, but leaders in any profession, business, or cultural area can be characterized as upper class. Portions of the upper class are highly educated, cultured and influential. Part are simply rich with only modest personal skills and achievements. Families who have been upper class for generations display a distinctive lifestyle. Newcomers, the nouveau riche, often do not share this culture, but may though socialization in private schools and other elite institutions acquire it over time. A tiny portion of the upper class is highly influential and have an advantage as they seek high office in government or engage in efforts to influence events. Throughout the history of the United States opportunities have arisen for the accumulation of great wealth. A portion of the current upper class consists of the decendents of those who were lucky and aggressive enough to take advantage of those opportunities. See economic history of the United States and social history of the United States.

American Terms and Classification

The above definitions bear little resemblance to those used by Americans when they discuss class. In common usage, the lower class usually refers to the poor, the upper class refers to the rich, and the middle class refers to everyone else. The middle class is sometimes similarly divided into three sections, with blue-collar workers falling into the lower middle class, professionals and successful small business owners falling into the upper middle class, and the others, among them white-collar workers, falling into the area in between. The term working class, when it is used, is usually a synonym for lower middle class. See Culture of the United States or for an overview culture.

References

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