Social class... in America?

The Cafe Philo NYC discussion topic for next Thursday (9/24) is "What is social class?"

My initial reaction is... Social class? In America? No, that is the special thing about America compared to "older", "medieval" societies -- we do not have any "social classes" in America. We no longer have slaves and do not have true Aristocrats.

Sure, we have economic classes and plenty of economic, race, ethnicity, and gender-based prejudices and biases, but nothing resembling the social classes of "old."

In America you are not "born" into any "social class."

In particular, if you study hard and work diligently, you can... "go anywhere and do anything." Not exactly a hallmark of "social class." You can start at the bottom and sometimes push your way all the way to the top, maybe become one of the wealthiest or even most powerful, despite the circumstances of your parents or your birth.

That said, we have plenty of "categories" that people can "fall" into:

1. Native American "Indians"
2. The mentally ill
3. The mentally retarded
4. Handicapped
5. Senior citizens
6. Athletes
7. Writers, poets, journalists
8. Artists
9. Performers
10. Businessmen
11. Legal immigrants
12. Illegal immigrants
13. Union members
14. Management
15. Executives
16. Entrepreneurs
17. Hobbyists, fans, and enthusiasts
18. People with "weird" hobbies
19. Trekkies
20. Dog people
21. Gender identity other than natural male and natural female
22. Forms of attire - "suit", casual, work, etc.
23. Alcoholics
24. Drug addicts
25. Race
26. Beauty
27. Sexuality
28. Scientists
29. Mathematicians
30. Engineers
31. Luddites
32. Philosophers
33. Citizens
34. Children
35. Infants
36. Young adults
37. Tourists
38. Doctors
39. Criminals
40. Affinity groups
41. Social organizations
42. Religions
43. Region, language dialects
44. Astrology sign
45. etc.

Some of these categories are in fact fixed physically, but most are changeable or evolve or are outright choices.

It may not always be easy to "move up in the world", but commonly it is a choice to accept our current situation and not "pursue our dreams."

As the Wikipedia notes, "In class society class is a key feature of life, and the cause and consequence of an individual's class often deeply scores their life." Sure, some, even many Americans feel that experience, but overall Americans have something to say about the course of their life.

We do have something we still call "the middle class", but it is essentially a vague economic categorization rather than a social "class". There is a constant state of flux as people move up into the middle class, upwards from the middle class, or downwards from the middle class or downwards into the middle class. This is usually a matter of money, economics, motivation, jobs, health issues, etc., but essentially never a true "social class" issue.

Education is a significant factor in your ultimate economic status, but is not driven purely by money or the economic status of your parents.

The politicians that run states and even our national government are quite a "motley" crew. Sure, there is certainly some elitism, but there are plenty of examples of lowly "commoners" rising far higher than would be possible in a true "class society." Our latest President of the United States famously referred to himself as "a mutt like me."

We could also talk about "social standing", "status", "recognition", and "position", but how is any of that related to social class?

I suppose maybe we could also refer to "elitists" and "the common man." Sure, such a distinction does exist, but it is vague and gray and mostly a matter of perception rather than an objective assessment of social class.

Then there is Marx and socialism and all of that. Enough said on that.

In any case, I will lead with the position that America is not a true "class society" (because of the social and economic mobility we have) and hence we do not have "social class" in America.

So, the question is whether we are to discuss the older, more traditional conceptions of class society and social class that pre-date America (e.g., medieval Europe, monarchies, caste systems, etc.) or whether we wish to discuss the biases, prejudices, and artificial categories that we choose and use in America in our structure which has left traditional "class society" and "social" class in the proverbial dustbin of history.

Now, if anybody disagrees with me, start by identifying what one "social class" you belong to.

-- Jack Krupansky