Exploring Social Class

When considering social class in the US today I believe it matters quite a bit. At first glance I tend to say that class does not matter much if at all but considering day to day life and really thinking about it to me it seems class is a huge part of American society. The book speaks of Milners study of high school students but compares them to a caste society instead of class, however when looking at what he says I can relate it to a class society as well. Reading the description of his high school study and remembering high school for myself certainly (for me at least) emphasizes class rank. In high school Milner says that the wealthy kids hang out with the wealthy kids, this I believe comes not only from ones desire to share the company of those in the same social class but from the examples shown by their parents and other adults as well. If class did not matter today I believe it would be far less reflected in our high schools. Looking at the PBS website was also very interesting. The stories they chose seemed to me to be a good random general selection. Reading the stories was another thing that made me thing about classes in todays society, so quickly we are ready to jump to classify people as equal, more wealthy, less wealthy, poor, and sometimes even trashy. While class shouldn't affect they way we treat people it does. Seeing people who appear to be in a lower social class than we are usually throws up flags, we wonder what they are doing in OUR area, or what trouble they are causing. This alone is proof that to most of us social class matters every day.

One thing I find disturbing is the new "underclass". In a country such as the United States that boasts such  exemplary lifestyles and gives hope to many across the globe people should not be living in dirt poor circumstances. People should not live that way anywhere in the world but in a country such as our own that prides itself on the American dream and a decent standard of living we are in my eyes far from that decency.

I understand that class systems must exist so as to give a gauge of the population but they bother me. Granted I believe they are much better than a caste system but the emphasis that is put on money, and the greediness which Americans (and I am sure many other citizens of many other countries) have for it is shocking. I am also disturbed by the way high school and even middle school takes such a cue from our social classes. I understand that with each social class comes a set of standards for peoples actions such as a basis for education completion and do not intentionally divide us but to me it is a large part of what the class system does: divide.