Class and Discrimination in Business
In America, class is something that is not important, most of us are middle-class and we are continuously moving up the economic ladder, because we all have an equal opportunity to succeed. I would certainly object to these commonly held beliefs. . In “Class in America-2003,” first published in Race, Class, and Gender in the United States: An Integrated Study, Mantsios thoroughly persuades his readers that Americans avoid talking about class, because there are too many underlying realities that Americans like to “sweep under the rug.” Not only does Mantsios have strong argument to why we all have not reached the same opportunities, the fact that affirmative action still exist is strong evidence, as well.
According to Wikipedia, Affirmative action “refers to the policies that take to race, ethnicity, physical disabilities, military career, gender, or a person's parents' social class into consideration”. Many think affirmative action is unnecessary, but statistics show that 95% to 97% white men have corporate positions (“Talking”). These statistics are bad enough, so imagine if there were no affirmative action policies in place. There is no doubt an undeniable gap exist between the rich and the poor and it is difficult to argue that Americans live in a classless society. Many object to affirmative action policies, because they believe that it advocates reverse discrimination. This is certainly not the reason for affirmative action, it is only to create a diverse balance and make sure other qualified people are not looked over for their race, color, class, etc.
Another problem in business is the “Glass Ceiling”. This is said to be indirect discrimination against women and minorities from advancing to upper level positions within their job. In the 20th century, women are still paid 21% less than a man, which is just like a men getting paid $60,000 a year, while a women gets paid only $47,400 for the same job (Malhotra). In 2004, “the Federal Glass Ceiling Commission released a report stating that only 7%-9% of senior managers at Fortune 1000 firms are women (Velasquez).” This fact is compelling, because women make up more than a half of the nation’s workforce Most astonishing is the fact that in a survey less than 1% of CEO’s saw high potential women as priority candidates (Velasquez). In 2003, Heather Bullock and Wendy Limbert in the article, “Scaling the Socioeconomic Ladder: Low-income Women's Perceptions of Class Status and Opportunity”, published in the Magazine Journal of Social Issues, discussed some of the class in America. They argue that education is not the key to the American Dream and that we all do not have the same opportunities. Bullock and Limbert claim that “These assumptions are so embedded in American culture that questions regarding opportunity, class status, and the distribution of wealth often remain unasked (Bullock).” They clearly agree class is taboo and that is why America has so many commonly held myths. Everyone wants to believe that the same opportunities exist for people of different race, class and gender when it really doesn’t. Reading Bullock’s and Lambert’s article further sustains my argument that class plays a significant role in business opportunities and generally in everyday life. Mantsios connects with his audience discussing how class is taboo in America, it is proscribed as improper or a clearly an unacceptable topic. He believes that we like to retain the illusion that we all live in a classless society. He claims that the terms upper class, middle class and working class are rarely uttered by Americans (Mantsios 308). Mantsios supports his argument with Susan Ostrander’s study of thirty-eight wealthy and socially prominent women who said they considered themselves fortunate and responsible people, they prefer not to refer to themselves using the term upper class (308). However, Mantsios asserts there are “two notable exceptions to the phenomenon” (309). The first is the use of the term “middle class.” He states that it is acceptable talk about the middle class, because it is more universal. Then Mantsios provides the reasoning to why people are comfortable with the term, “References to the middle class gloss over the differences and encompasses and attracts the body of the broadest possible constituency” (309). The second exception is the media’s presentation of the wealthy and the poor as models of “one to avoid” and “one to aspire to” (309). The Ostrander study is supporting evidence to Mantsios claim that people avoid the terms that Americans are comfortable using. Instead, they have coined the term “middle class” universal, because supposedly most people fall in to that category. Obviously, the key to success and ultimately reaching the American Dream is hard work, persistence, education, honesty, planning, self-confidence and helping other people. Everyone has the same opportunities, because we are Americans. Possessing those character traits is great but they do not work alone. People of different race, gender and class may have to take more steps and sacrifices to succeed. The fact is that ‘who we are’ and ‘who we know’, better stated as social class, is more important in America. What you know or how much you know may not land a well deserved job. Americans avoid uttering the word class, because class would speak too loud, the myths would be exposed and the realities would settle in. Mantsios logically argues and persuades the reader that class in America determines what one may become.

Works Cited
"Affirmative Action." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 04 Apr. 2010. Web. 05 Apr. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affirmative_action>.

Bullock, Heather E., and Wendy M. Limbert. "Scaling the Socioeconomic Ladder: low-income women's perceptions of class status and opportunity." Access my Library. Gale, 22 Dec. 2003. Web. 2 Apil. 2010. <http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-111502026/scaling-socioeconomic-ladder-low.html>.
Malhotra, Heide B. "Epoch Times - Women Still a Minority Among High-Level Positions." Epoch Times - National, World, China, Sports, Entertainment News. 26 Nov. 2008. Web. 06 Apr. 2010. <http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/business/women-still-a-minority-among-high-level-positions-7681.html>.
Mantsios, Gregory. "Class in America-2003." Rereading America: Cultural Contexts for Critical Thinking and Writing. Ed. Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen, and Bonnie Lisle. 7th ed. Boston & New York: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2007. 308+. Print.
Rothenberg, Paula S. Race, Class, and Gender in the United States An Integrated Study. 4th ed. New York: St. Martin's, 1997.19. Print
"Talking About Affirmative Action." The National Organization for Women (NOW) Web Site. Web. 04 Apr. 2010. <http://www.now.org/issues/affirm/talking.html>.