Class in America

378 Words2 Pages
Gregory Mantsios: Class in America In the article, “Class in America”, Gregory Mantsios explains the various distinctions between the discoursed contemporary classes in the United States and how this can impact the outcome of one’s life and possibly their future. There is an enormous difference in equality and income within the United Sates due to the fact that all Americans are born in different social classes. Those who were born in higher classes (or rather the language used is “wealthy”) were known to have longer life spans, higher chances of getting paid in six figures, better education, inheriting substantial assets from “wealthy” family members, and over all a luxurious life. Now those within the lower class (sometimes the language used is “poor”) have high rates of health problems, shorter life span, a career that possibly can pay above or below the median poverty line, lower educational skills, and a possibility that their children will be within the same status. Mantsios uses statistical evidence, data, and multiple examples (myth and reality) in the article to explain these class divisions. With the fact that class standings determine the outcome of life chances, there are also issues of race and gender that corresponds into class. In society today, sexism and racism still exists, and no matter what position of class women and members of minorities are in, institutional forces will hold them down precisely because of their gender or race. This makes the chances of being poor in America for women and minorities much higher. White males have a much higher chance of not being poor rather than white females and other races. This shows how America is still dominated by men and equality is still not in fully developed. Mantsios makes many strong points about classes and how we Americans do not look at it as an unfair advantage because under the eyes of

More about Class in America

Open Document