- 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 Currently cannot access reading 4.2 so I will be comparing readings 4.1 and 4.3 instead!
Both readings 4.1 and 4.3 both discussed the similarities of social class by discussing the economic divides, income and wealth, and the class fluidity. In both readings, the economic divides discuss that there is a division in society based on income. This divide also distinguished between those who are well-off and those who financially struggling. Furthermore, the discussion of income in wealth is also discussed in both readings explaining how upper class people benefit from investments while the working class, on the other hand, depend on wages. To continue, class fluidity is also discussed in both readings explaining how some individuals are moving through social classes.
Both readings however discussed some different topics. In both readings 4.1 and 4.3, they dive deep into the middle class and how society views them. In reading 4.1, they explain how the middle class is based on self-identification and demographic features instead of focusing on economics. Individuals determine their social class based on their income, education, political affliction, and/or race. In reading 4.3, however, it explains how the middle class is not as stable as it it usually portrayed. In this reading, Parenti also explains how the word middle class is used to hide the division between capitalist, who are owners, and workers.
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?
-The social class that tends to live in my neighborhood is middle class. I
– am not surprised by the answer.
-Yes, I do feel like it’s a accurate representation of people living in my neighborhood.
3. Based on Reading 4.2, do you notice a general pattern about social classes in NYC?
Something I noticed about the social classes in NYC is there is a clear division of social classes. Many neighborhood are solely divided based upon income, education, and other factors. For example, the Upper Eastside of Manhattan has luxury housing like multi-million-dollar townhouses and penthouses, many good hospitals, well funded school, and well-maintained streets. While in Harlem, like 125th St which is 1.5 miles from the upper east side, has public housing projects, less funding for schools, and neglected streets and higher crime rates.
