In “Wealth Inequality in America” and “What Determines How Americans Perceive Their Social Class?”, the authors explore the understanding and discussion surrounding social class. One striking similarity between the two pieces is how we, as Americans, perceive the social class system. In the first video, we are presented with a clear explanation of the social class system itself, our perceptions of how it functions, and the ideal version we hope it can achieve. This highlights the subjective nature of our understanding of social class dynamics.
In the second video, the 2nd paragraph expands upon the distinction between objective and subjective perspectives on social class. Objectively, factors such as income, wealth, education, and occupation significantly contribute to the classification of individuals within the social hierarchy. However, the subjective dimension arises from how individuals perceive and position themselves within this system, highlighting the interplay between personal identity and social categorization.
I observed a notable difference between the two videos. The first video shares information from the latest consensus, indicating that the top 20%, top 10%, and 1% of Americans control most of the nation’s wealth, while the middle class and those below are in a challenging situation.
In contrast, the second video explores the influence of education on an individual’s standing within the social class hierarchy. It suggests that individuals with a higher level of education are better equipped to assess their position in society.
