The American Class System

America is a country divided as a result of a class system. When viewed at their most simplistic levels, the system is comprised of three general classes; upper, middle and lower. Although on face value one would assume that these are easily distinguishable, in reality this task may not necessarily be as clear and defined. It is further complicated by the vast geographic and socioeconomic diversities of the country as a whole that may not be reflected in the base statement of who comprise each class.
Upper Class The upper class may be the most easily distinguishable among the three primary tiers of the social class system in America. This class is comprised of less than one percent of the total population …show more content…
This is absent any factual evidence and instead a perception established by the mainstream media (Marger, 2014). The task of defining poverty can be just as complex as defining the upper and middle class. Poverty can be broken down in three different forms; absolute, relative and official. It is difficult to argue the definition of absolute poverty. The inability to acquire the basic necessities of life, food and shelter, along with the lack of access to healthcare and personal property. This measure can be utilized regardless of community as its measure are items of fundamental need. Relative poverty seeks to bring the definition in line with societal norms that are not otherwise measured in absolute poverty. What would be considered a necessity within the society that is being measured. The expected minimum necessities are relative to the expectations of the community. This means that the definition is fluid and evolves based on the current trends. The formula for determining poverty was developed during the Johnson administration and is measured as three times the cost of a nutritionally adequate diet. This created a sliding scale determined by the composition of the family. What this formula does not take into account are the other factors that account for family expenses including health care or geographical …show more content…
As a result of their position, the poor find themselves twice likely to become victims of crime. This may be attributed to the communities in which they live. Their income leaves little choice in location, and thus often leave them in less than ideal situations. In terms of health and nutrition, this is often measured among mothers and children. Infant mortality among the poor mothers is 13.5 per 1000 live births, a number nearly twice that of the non-poor mother. In addition, poor children are more likely to experience childhood illnesses and have limited access to consistent medical care (Federman et al.,