- Both readings talk about social class mainly in terms of income. In Reading 4.1, social class is explained as something people identify with based on income and education. As income increases, people are more likely to say they are middle or upper-middle class. Reading 4.2 also connects social class to income, but instead of asking people how they see themselves, it uses median household income in different NYC neighborhoods.
The main similarity is that both readings use income to separate social classes into categories like lower, working, middle, and upper. The difference is that Reading 4.1 focuses on how people see themselves, while Reading 4.2 focuses on actual income numbers connected to neighborhoods. One is about personal identity, and the other is about economic data and location. Parenti explains in Capital and Labor, where he says the owning class lives mostly off investments, while workers live off wages. This shows that class is not just about income levels, but also about whether someone owns wealth or has to work for a living.
2. The station closest to where I live is Dongan Hills on the Staten Island Railway. The median household income there is about $71,930. Based on the categories from Reading 4.1, this would most likely be considered middle class.
I agree that my neighborhood is generally considered middle class. However, there are still working-class families and people who struggle financially, even if the overall median income appears stable. Median income does not show the full picture because it averages everyone together rather than showing how income is spread out. It can hide differences within the community and overlook the economic gaps that exist between households.
3. Based on Reading 4.2, there is a clear pattern across NYC. Wealthier neighborhoods are mostly in parts of Manhattan and some areas of Brooklyn. As you move farther away from central Manhattan, especially toward parts of the Bronx and eastern Brooklyn, incomes generally decrease. Staten Island, including Dongan Hills, seems to fall somewhere in the middle compared to the rest of the city.
This shows that social class in NYC is not random. Where people live often reflects their income level. The subway map makes it easy to see how money and opportunity are spread across different neighborhoods, which connects to what we saw in the wealth distribution video.
