Keep in mind our Online Discussion Guidelines:
https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/pol-100-0507-spring-2025-introduction-to-american-government/online-discussion-guidelines/
Instructions for completing this discussion board assignment:
a) Identify which discussion question you are answering in your comment by placing the relevant number at the start of your answer. For example:
2. Crime has often been used as a form of social control by…
4. Michelle Alexander’s argument about segregation…
b) Respond to one other student’s comments.
NOTE: As usual, follow the guidelines from previous discussion board assignments, in answering by creating a new post…
- 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?
- 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?
- Based on Reading 4.2, do you notice a general pattern about social classes in NYC?
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?
= One of their similarity is that both aim to define social class based on household income and what role people are identifies as (lower, working, middle, upper…) but also both differentiate that the reading 4.1 is more specific and gives facts like education make working-class identification drops significantly and people usually define themselves based on the social class they are surrounded by for example someone might be upper class but if there are people with more money so they identify as middle-upper class.
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?
=Based on my research the social class from my closest station (R train) are working and middle class mostly, which surprises me because the daily life is expensive for everyone specially in this city (considering the increasing cost of living).
3)Based on Reading 4.2, do you notice a general pattern about social classes in NYC?
=(Since reading 4.2 is not working at this moment this answer is based on research)
The general pattern is where the upper and lower class are distributed, these are areas that the living cost varies and is affordable for them for example living in Manhattan is way more expensive than Queens and somebody from the upper class will be likely in Manhattan more than Queens and it is the same the other way around
Hi Juan,
I agree that both working class and middle class individuals living near affordable transit face significant challenges due to the high cost of living in New York City. While proximity to reliable public transportation can be beneficial, rising costs can rapidly shift a person’s social class among low, middle, and high income earners.
Module 4.1 Discussion Board
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?
Social class in America is influenced by several factors like income, education, age, race, and geography, they shape how people identify with different classes. People with lower incomes often see themselves as working or lower class, while higher earners more commonly identify as middle or upper-middle class. College graduates are more likely to view themselves as upper-middle class. Older people often relate to higher classes due to their accumulated wealth and status. People in bigger cities also identify with having more wealth than those in rural places.
Social class is a mix of income and education along with personal perceptions shaped by individual experiences and backgrounds. The higher the income and education often comes with the thought of higher class identification. Social class is a spectrum that shifts based on personal circumstances and larger societal trends.
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?
I live near Jamaica Station, and I believe the statistics accurately represent my neighborhood. The diversity, the mix of social classes, and the different types of housing. Recently, gentrification feels particularly relevant, especially around the AirTrain and LIRR station, which seem to cater to an upper-class demographic in a still very working class neighborhood.
I walked past a Chipotle the other day and vividly remembered a Blimpie right across the street, along with a humble Jamaica Avenue where people used to shop for knock off clothes and cheap electronics. Many neighborhoods have been undergoing changes lately. Public transportation is a key factor for commuters to Manhattan, and I think people have realized how conveniently located we are. This has led to the development of luxury condos and the emergence of gentrifying brands like Starbucks, Chipotle, and Panda Express.
3). Based on Reading 4.2, do you notice a general pattern about social classes in NYC?
There is a divide between the owning class and the employee class. The owning class is made up of the wealthiest people who make their money from investments and the hard work of others. They accumulate wealth through profits without producing anything themselves. Then you have the employee class, which includes workers, professionals, and managers. They earn wages for their jobs but usually see only a small piece of the wealth they create.
Even when some employees make good money, their wealth is still tied to their jobs. The owners rake in profits from what’s called surplus value, which is the difference between what workers produce and what they get paid. This whole setup leads to a really uneven distribution of wealth. The top 1% owns such a huge chunk of the nation’s resources, leaving most Americans with very little in terms of assets.