Sociology

Sociology Study Guide Upper class: 1-3% Upper middle class: 10-15% Lower middle class: 30-35% Working class: 40-45% Lower class: 20-25%

Figure 7: Five Strata of the American Class System

Class Description Upper class •Very high income and wealth, college educations, high occupational prestige •Stable family •High political impact Upper middle class •High income, low unemployment, graduate training •Own property, affluent and comfortable lifestyle •High political participation Lower middle class •Few assets, some savings, modest incomes, some college •Modest standard of living •Negative attitude toward government intervention Working class •Low income, few to no assets, unskilled laborers, high school education, low job prestige •One-parent homes, children vocationally educated, unstable families •Little group participation, uninterested in politics, often don't vote Lower class •Poverty level, functional illiteracy, no interest in education, acute fiscal anxiety •Poor physical and mental health, socially isolated •Support government economic and social programs Table 13: Description of the American Class Structure

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