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Chapter 11

certain broad ideologies are associated with

different social classes. Sidebar 11.1 looks at

some of the problems defining middle class.

People in lower classes view the world and

family relationships differently from those

in the middle or upper classes. Different

researchers use different income levels to

divide the classes. For ease in

understanding, we will use Thompson and

Hickey’s (2005) divisions, which include

upper class, middle class, working class, and

the lower class (see Figure 11.1).

The Upper Class

While many people dream of marrying

someone rich, someone who will rescue

them from a life of financial struggle, this is

more the stuff of fairytales than reality in

the United States. Upper-class people move

in tight, exclusive social circles. They have a

very strong sense of family history and

traditions, which serves to reinforce their

wealth. Upper-class families often

discourage dating and marriage outside

their social circles (Morton, 2004).

SIDEBAR11.1
What is Middle Class?

Definingmiddleclassisfairlysubjective.A2005NewYorkTimessurveyaskedrespondentstoindicatewhatsocial
class they considered themselves.Here are the results.

• 1% considered themselves to be upper class


• 67% considered themselves middle and upper-middle class


• 35% felt they were working class


• 7% identified themselves as lower class
  As you look at these numbers, bear in mind that the official poverty rate in 2005 was 12.6%.
  Source:New York Times, 2005.Class Matters.New York: Times Books.

There is a tendency in the social science field to minimize race as a factor and focus more on class variables. As
youexaminethefollowingstatistics,canwereallyignoreraceasafactorinpovertyordoraceandclassgohand
and hand in understanding poverty?

Source:How many people experience homelessness? 2009.National Coalition for the Homeless.

U.S. Census Bureau, 2008b. Statistical Abstracts of the United States. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.

Poverty Rate Homelessness Homelessness

by Race: by Race: by Gender

African-American 25% 42% 51% Single men

White 11% 39% 30% Families

Hispanic-American 22% 13% 17% Single women

Native-American 4% 4% 2% Unaccompanied

Children

Asian 11% 2%