Class Matters

The NYT in today's Sunday edition has a story on 'Class Matters' which has an interesting interactive graphic to see where you may 'fit' in terms of social class. www.nytimes.com/packages/html/national/20050515_CLASS_GRAPHIC/index_01.html?hp.

The categories rated include Occupation, Education, Income & Wealth. Does one matter moreso that another? Does ethnicity/race factor in to one's class? How does one's health status impact class? How about whether one has children/dependents? How does one's history & ancestral history in this country affect social/economic class?

These questions need serious examination when considering one's class & one's social/economic mobility. In addition, the roles of the individual (ambition, skill level), institutions (schools, workplaces) & government must be considered while when judging 'rung difficulty of the social/economic ladder.

ampula