Social Classification in America - Essay Example

? Social ification in America of of Introduction This paper examines the concept of social ification in the United States of America. It begins by looking at a primary definition of the concept. It goes further to draw into the idea of social stratification put forward by the renowned sociologists, Thompson & Hickey. In this direction, the paper examines the various bases for the classification of people and households in America. Social Classification Social classification is an important element of sociology because it forms the basis for generalizations and the study of people in society. According to Horvat et al (2003 p319) “...social classification involves the grouping of people in society on the basis of the collective features of individuals...” This implies that social classification involves the grouping of individuals in society based on common social features. Based on these characteristics, social scientists and other interest groups in the society can identify similar characteristics and make generalizations which can help in the improvement of lives in the society. There are many possible ways of classifying people in the society. Historically, the most popular basis for the classification of people in the American society has been race (Thompson & Hickey, 2005). In other words, people were grouped into various categories based on their skin color and race-related features like facial features, hair types amongst others. For generations, this remained convenient because the skin/racial features offered the most conspicuous method of identifying individuals uniquely. However, in the 21st Century, the classification of people into groups based on their racial features has been found to be unconstitutional, unfair, illegal and unacceptable. Due to this development, people are classified into groups in ways that are legally acceptable. This enables interest groups to study and get a good understanding of general trends in the American society and provide better ways of improving the livelihoods of individuals through collective methods. There are numerous ways that individuals are classified in America. The different methods of classification of social groups is based on a number of criterion. Schooler & Schoenbach (1994) identify that the most popular basis for the classification of individuals into groups in America are jobs, income, education, wealth and social networks. People can be classified on the basis of the rank they occupy in the workplace. This is based on the logic that individuals with the same rank have certain unique behaviors, trends, habits, attitudes to job security and preferences. Thus operatives in businesses in America and management can be grouped in separate categories since their behavior and tastes are likely to be fashioned along similar lines since they are affected by the same circumstances most of the time. People can also be categorized on the basis of the level of income they make. This is because income is likely to affect the spending habits and preferences of individuals and the collective picture can give room for some generalizations. For instance people earning just enough to pay for basic necessities are likely to behave in a way that is different from people who earn enough to cover their basic needs, security needs and also get some excess to save and invest. In practical terms, whilst the first group will focus on survival matters, the second group might be considering better ways of spending their money and more fruitful investment activities that will bring them more returns. This shows that there is a clear distinction between the two groups. The educational and wealth level of each group of people also determines their social classification. This is because education often affects the mental scope of individuals and also affects the earning power of individuals. Thus people can be grouped on the bases of their education and wealth. Also, the social network a person belongs to is important in defining the social class of people. The kind of people an individual connects with religiously or in time of leisure can form the basis of stratification of the society. Clearly, the lives of Jews, Muslims and African migrants (who immigrated less than 20 years ago) in America is very different from people from other groups. Jews will want to stick together to access kosher foods, Jewish shuls, cemeteries and educational centers. Muslims might also want to have hallal foods, access mosques, and gain Islamic education for their children. African migrants might also want to live close to people who speak their language and live in their culture. This therefore form a strong basis for the creation of social networks which can be a classification factor. “In practical terms, social classification is based on the grouping of individuals and households with common features” (Levine, 1998 p38). This implies that most sociological classifications attempt to group individuals and households with the same features to enable analysis to be made between groups and communities. The position of Levine (1998) also suggests that since families form the basis of societies, households are often aggregated to form a convenient system of analysis of the society. Thompson & Hickey (2005) place Americans in five social classes based on the income, wealth, job positions and education. The five social classes in the Thompson & Hickey model are Upper Class, Upper Middle Class, Lower middle Class, Working Class and the Low Class. This model used by Thompson & Hickey practicalizes the concept of social classification in America. In that it draws from the different components of social structure: jobs, wealth, income and education. It does so by aggregating the individual and household factors in the society to come up with a stratification for the various components of the American society. The American Upper Class is estimated to consist of just 1% of the population of America. It involves people with a household income of over $500,000. The Upper Class household is often made up of people who occupy top-level positions. They might include popular figures and well-educated or seasoned academics, professionals, celebrities, business executives. The Upper-Middle Class is made up of people who work just below the Upper Class in most organizations. It includes top-level managers and proprietors of medium sized businesses. Most of the people in the upper middle class of America are postgraduate level persons who have a household income of about $100,000. “The Upper-Middle constitutes about 15% of the population and it includes corporate executives, physicians, attorneys, white-color management and professional employees” (Thompson & Hickey, 2005 p213) This suggests that the Upper-Middle is made up of the highly skilled and the managerial class in the country. This group of people play very important and sensitive roles in the country and they form a crucial part of corporate structures. The Lower-Middle Class is made up of semi-professional and entrepreneurs who run small businesses in the United States. Most of the people in this class have some college education and some work autonomy. The lower-middle class have a household income of between $35,000 and $75,000. “The Lower-Middle emulates the Upper-Middle class and share many of its values by they lack the resources to copy the Upper-Middle class...” (Thompson & Hickey, 2005 p213). This shows that the main distinction between the Upper-Middle class and the Lower-Middle class lies in the income disparity between the two groups. This indicates that the two components of America's middle class are both made up of individuals with rare skills and managerial roles. However, the Upper-Middle and Lower-Middle differ in terms of wealth and income. The Working Class is made up of pink-collared and blue-collared employees in businesses around America. They consist of about 32% of America's population and hold high school qualifications. They have a household income of between $15,000 and $30,000. The Lower Class is made up of individuals who have poorly paid jobs and government support. They have a household income of less than $15,000 and possess up to high school education. They are mainly casual workers and consist of about 16% of America's population. “Class boundaries are maintained by language, speech patterns and pronunciations. Members of the Upper class speak more directly and in a more assured manner than do members of the Working and Low Classes” (Thompson & Hickey, 2005 p212). This indicates that although class differences might not be clearly defined, there are some subtle communication trends that defines members of the groups. Thus, the Upper Class and Middle Class members with that managerial aura tend to have a way of speaking that marks them out as different. Aside communication, the confidence demeanor of the various classes also count. “Confident demeanor in turn enables upper and upper-middle class to project images of credibility, honesty and competence …. in the workplace” (Thompson & Hickey, 2005 p212). This indicates that the social classification also affects the values adopted by the various classes of the American society. Uses of Social Classification Generally, social classification is a basis for policy making by the government and institutions. This enables these entities to ensure that there is some degree of fairness in the distribution of resources in the country. Also, it acts as basis for the creation of opportunities for individuals with different backgrounds to improve their lives. The essence of this is that it helps prevent a caste system which causes people to be restricted to some social status for generations. Conclusion Social classification is a way of grouping individuals in the society on the basis of unique features they possess. Race used to be the main basis for classification in America however, it is not appropriate to classify on the basis of race anymore. The commonest basis for the classification of people in the American society are jobs, income, wealth and social networks. The Thompson & Hickey model of social classification places people in Upper, Upper-Middle, Lower-Middle, Working Class and Low Class on the basis of their social characteristics. References Horvat E. M., Weininger, E. & Lareau A. (2003) “From Social Ties to Social Capital: Class Differences in Relations Between Schools & Parent Networks” American Educational Research Journal. Summer 2003 Vol 40 No 2 pp 319 – 351. Journal. Levine, R. (1998) Social Class and Stratification. MD: Rowman & Littlefield. Schooler C. & Schoenbach C. (1994) “Social Class, Occupational Status, Occupational Self Direction & Job Income: A Cross National Examination”. Sociological Forum.Vol 9 No. 3 pp 431 - 458. September 1994. Springer. Journal. Thompson, W. & Hickey, J. (2005) Society in Focus: An Introduction to Sociology. MA: Pearson. Read More