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.

1. In both reading, social class is discussed as an important factor that shapes people lives. Both reading show class is not only about money, but also about power and access to resources. There are some differences in different social classes. In 4.1, through explain different social levels income. In 4.2, through race and inequality to explain.
2. I live in Queens. Most people in my neighborhood are working class. I am not surprised. For me, it’s normal. House in New York City is very expensive. Many people rent apartment instead of owning homes. Some people even share apartments with roommates to save money.This shows how income level strongly influences where people can afford to live in New York City.
3. It’s this. It’s not only NYC. It’s happen in my country. Owning class get surplus value, but worker get salary. It’s a large system. Workers can organize and go on strike, which can stop capitalists from making profits. Throughout history, we have often seen examples of this. However, the government can stop capitalist, because they bring more money and jobs. This shows how income level strongly influences where people can afford to live in NYC.

1. The article Reading 4.1 reading has a main characteristic because the texts show that social class exists through multiple elements which include educational achievements and professional work and living conditions and societal standing. Reading the article, it examines how people from different social economic backgrounds perceive their social class through their own personal social economic evaluation. The study shows that people who live in certain neighborhoods or areas around subway stations exhibit different social class patterns which result in distinct income levels and educational achievements and professional work activities. The reading present it’s main difference or conflict through their methods of class distinction. Reading 4.1 emphasizes self-perception, explaining that Americans often identify as middle or working class regardless of their actual income level. The study uses actual data about neighborhood income and housing expenses and population locations to determine social class.
2. The station near me would probably be considered lower to middle class because most of the people I usually see there belong to the working class and work multiple jobs to cover their expenses. The minimum wage workers in the neighborhood, which has become expensive, lead to most residents establishing homes as small joint family units. The reading shows that income and education function as major factors which determine how people classify their social status. However I believe otherwise, as people might consider themselves in a different social class despite what overall facts say to which income is the factor that affects this the most

2. The station closest to where I live is in Astoria, Queens. Based on the concepts from Reading 4.1, which discusses how Americans perceive social class in terms of income, occupation, education, and lifestyle, Astoria appears to be mostly middle class, with some working-class and upper-middle-class populations mixed in.

Astoria has many working professionals, small business owners, restaurant workers, and immigrants. There are also newer residents who work in corporate jobs in Manhattan and earn higher incomes. This reflects the idea from Reading 4.1 that social class is not only about income, but also education level, type of work, and lifestyle. Many people in Astoria may identify as “middle class” even if their actual income levels vary, which connects to the Gallup reading showing that many Americans see themselves as middle class.

I am not surprised by this classification because Astoria has always felt diverse economically. There are older rent-stabilized buildings alongside new luxury apartments. I do think it is mostly an accurate representation, but it may oversimplify the neighborhood since there is a wide range of economic backgrounds living here. Social class in NYC, especially in Queens, seems more mixed and complex than just one category.

2) Living near the 135th Street station on the 2 and 3 lines in Harlem, the area appears to be largely working- and middle-class, with a range of incomes. According to what we looked at in Reading 4.1 about how Americans perceive social class, people frequently define their class based on job type, lifestyle, and possibilities, as well as income. Many residents in my neighborhood work in service, healthcare, education, or professional sectors, while others may have lower incomes. There is also apparent economic diversity, particularly in Harlem, where gentrification is happening. I’m not surprised by this because Harlem has long been a culturally vibrant community with a solid working-class core, but it has also evolved over time. I believe this is a true representation of the neighborhood. Long-term residents and newer middle-class professionals coexist here, reflecting a diverse range of social classes rather than a single one.

1. Social class is a division of society based on similar social and economic statuses. There are two approaches to social classes that are mentioned in the article. One is objective social class and the other is subjective class. Objective social class looks at your status based on things like income, wealth, education and occupation. Subjective social class is based on”the perspective of the people” or categories people put themselves in. In the article, the author also focuses on the 5 social classes and explains each of them. The 5 social classes are upper class, upper middle class, middle class, working class and lower class. Your social class can be determined by things like age, race, eduaction and where you live.
2. I believe that the social classes that tend to live near me, in Hunts Point, are lower and working class. I’m not very surprised by this answer because the Bronx is very diverse. There are spaces available for people with low or high incomes depending on your level of education and where you work. In addition to that, all kinds of people live in my neighborhood. Different races, different cultures,etc. I believe that this is a partially accurate representation of the people living in my neighborhood because everyone works hard at the end of the day. It isn’t as easy for some people to get the same opportunities as it is for others, but the lower and working class people still do what they can to make ends meet.

1. 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?
   
   Reading 4.1 talks about to perceptions of social classes between themselves. It focuses on strict economic definitions meanings by the book; a class is set at one standard versus another based off income, education, age, gender, and location. Similarities are what people perceive themselves as it says 3% are upper class, 15% are upper-middle class, 43% are middle class, 30% working class, 8% lower class. It’s different when you look on a spread sheet of what each person actually makes and what class they land in versus taking their word. 4.2 does this a bit differently by showing the subway map in NY and showing the neighborhoods/ class that live there.
   
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?
   
   On Staten Island the station closest to me is the SIR since we have only 1 train station here. Where I live specifically, it would most likely be working class with some middle class. It consists of SIM busses that cost +$7 to access if no one takes the train along with free train fare unless they are accessing the ferry. I am not surprised by this since I use to go to high school right next to these stops and everyone takes advantage of not wanting to pay since the MTA bus drivers have to worry more about when the kids get off rather than who gets on. I believe this is an accurate representation since there’s a little bit of everything out here. It’s really where people come out to retire cause one stop here, you’ll see a house worth $1,000,000 but then a couple blocks away someone’s renting for $3,000 monthly.
   
   
3. Based on Reading 4.2, do you notice a general pattern about social classes in NYC?
   
   Definitely. Places with transportations tend to have higher rates of taxis, better commute with the environment like train rides, busses, fare fees versus somewhere on the lower east sides or Bronx. It’s due to the fact it can get crowded since it is a very long ride and more accessible for people like us versus someone who can drop $40 for a quick car ride. When I use to work on Canal St., there was always a lot more taxis and high-end fashion business. Everyone had pea coats and what not and working at a dry cleaner, I found a customer’s shirt that was worth $2,000 so that was kind of crazy. While I take the s76 coming off bay street, more broken down and abandoned shops, more apartment buildings, complexes, cramped bus rides that last over an hour for me. I definitely notice a difference.

Social class can be defined by different types of ranking or hierarchy. Because of this, many people try to define themselves within a certain social class, and at times they have to face the consequences of that identification. There are five social classes that people identify themselves with. People identify themselves as belonging to different social classes because of their background, education, heritage, and family in general. Nowadays education can also depend of your social class, or how your family educated themselves. Your social class can very on your job, education, age and your race. There can be lower class with very intelligent people and they get paid very small amount.