1.

Both readings talk about social class and how it affects people’s lives, and they both make it clear that class is not just about money, but also about power and access to opportunities. In reading 4.1, social class is mostly explained through income levels and how much people earn, like breaking people into categories based on wealth. In reading 4.2, it goes more into race and inequality, and how certain groups have more advantages than others because of historical and social factors. So they’re similar because they both show that class shapes your life, but they’re different in how they explain it. One focuses more on money and income, while the other connects class to race and inequality. Together, they show that social class is a bigger system that affects different groups in different ways.

2.

I live in Queens, and based on reading 4.1, most people in my neighborhood would be considered working class. This doesn’t really surprise me because that’s what I see every day. Living in New York City is very expensive, especially when it comes to housing, so a lot of people can’t afford to own homes. Instead, many people rent apartments, and some even share apartments with roommates or family members to save money. You can tell that a lot of people are working regular jobs and just trying to keep up with the cost of living. I do think it’s an accurate representation of my neighborhood because most people are not extremely wealthy, but they’re also not completely struggling, they’re kind of in the middle just getting by. It really shows how income level affects where people can live and the kind of lifestyle they have in NYC.

3.

Based on reading 4.2, there seems to be a general pattern in NYC where social class is connected to both income and race. Certain neighborhoods tend to have more wealthy people, while others have more working class or lower income residents. This isn’t random, it’s connected to larger systems like inequality and access to resources. The owning class makes profits and gains more wealth, while workers earn wages and have less control over resources. This creates a cycle where some groups stay in higher positions while others have a harder time moving up. Workers can try to push back by organizing or going on strike, which can affect businesses, but at the same time, the system is set up in a way that still benefits those with more power. Overall, it shows that social class in NYC follows a pattern where money, race, and opportunity are all connected, and that affects how people live across the city.