1. Both articles emphasize how social class is not just a matter of income or wealth, but also shaped by personal perception and individual experiences. Each article touches on how social class influences personal identity and social interactions. The Gallup article discusses how Americans classify themselves and others based on personal beliefs about class status while the New Yorker piece illustrates how class affects daily experiences, such as commuting on the subway, and how these experiences shapes the understanding of social status.
  2. The nearest train station to me is the LIRR. I believe this indicates that the people in my are are typically working middle class which I believe to be accurate. The closest subway is the E and F train which is about 25 minutes away by bus. I’m not surprised by the article’s interpretation of who lives in my area.
  3. There’s a noticeable physical division in how different social classes experience the city. For example, wealthier individuals often live in more spacious areas and can afford amenities that enhance their commuting experience, while lower-income residents may face cramped conditions and limited access to resources. This highlights the difference between the subway and the lirr. The LIRR is spacious, always has air conditioning, and allows access to the bathroom. Its also quicker and more convinent. The subway on the otherhand is often packed and hot. There’s also always craziness going on in the subway, which I’ve never seen on the LIRR. This being said, the lirr is more expensive and caters to the working middle/upper class. Areas that have access to the LIRR tend to be higher class areas, whereas areas that only have access to the subway tend to be lower class areas.

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