How would you describe your social class?

[Schaden Freud]

---

Members don't see this ad.

What factors do you consider in your perception of social standing? Family wealth? Family legacy? Personal wealth? Community involvement (eg: volunteer work)? Profession? Education? Interests? Belonging to a church? Belonging to a club?

 

[odrade1]

Social status is conferred by a number of the things you mentioned. Money is a big part of it, but so is what you do for a living. Family history/legacy matters in some contexts but less in others. Access to power is another (and money often can buy you a high degree of that). Manners, bearing, attractiveness and dress also affect how people treat you. Society life is a complex thing.

One of the funniest things I ever overheard as a waiter was a snippet of conversation between some random guy (who thought he was a member of the upper class) and E.B. Stephens, Jr. (One of the true elites of my home city). First guy: "So Elton, what do you do for a living?" Mr Stephens: (looking incredulouly at the other dude) "I'm Elton B. Stephens." If you are really elite, you can get away with saying stuff like that.

Brilliant, funny, true, and disgusting all at the same time.

 

[glp]

the nytimes had a special on class a couple of years ago. the website is still up:

http://www.nytimes.com/indexes/2005/05/15/national/class/index.html