- Do you notice any similarities in the way social class is discussed in readings 4.1 and 4.2? Do you notice any differences in the way these two readings DIFFERENTIATE between social classes?
I noticed both similarities and differences. On the one hand, a similarity must be highlighted : both readings give a protagonist role to income in order to define social classes. On the other hand, Gallup’s article uses more than one variable to define social class, it uses income, education level and age. Whereas reading 4.2 uses income only. In addition, Gallup’s article claims that these variables have been only used to describe a “perception” or a subjective view of social class. In comparison reading 4.2 uses facts to provide “objective definitions”.
2. Pick the station closest to where you live. Using the concepts from Reading 4.1, what social class tends to live in your neighborhood? Are you surprised (or not) by the answer? Do you feel it is an accurate representation of the people living in your neighborhood?
I live nearby the 36 avenue subway station of Astoria. According to the NYC subway graphic and the Gallup’s article the social class that tends to live in my neighborhood is : working class. I’m definitely not surprised by it. Similarly, I do believe is an accurate representation of the people living in my neighborhood. Most of the people that I’ve seen and met around my neighborhood are either elderly who have been living here for many years or young working class adults.
3. Based on Reading 4.2, do you notice a general pattern about social classes in NYC?
Yes, I definitely see a pattern. Looking at the graphics is easy to notice that people with the highest income have a tendency to live in Manhattan. However, around Washington heights and Harlem is noticeable that the medium income gets lower than the average that Queens and Brooklyn have. Furthermore, Brooklyn and Queens have a similar medium income average with some high and low points. Still, it is very interesting that the people with the highest incomes within this borough live one or two subway stops away from Manhattan. Last but not least, It is noticeable how people with the lowest medium income have a tendency to live around the Bronx. In a nutshell, there is a global pattern of where people with a higher and lower income decide to live and is mostly around the borough of Manhattan.
