Nick Schultz

4-12-2015
Professor Thomas
UWRT 1102
Your Social Class

Question: Is the economic/social class you are born into dictate which
economic/social class you will fall into as an adult? There have been a
number of scientists whom have researched this question. It isnt a
complicated question with many underlying questions that have to be
answered or facts that are required for certain answers or explanations.
I chose this particular question because I was attending one of my
sociology classes this semester and the professor raised this question and
attempted to give us his own theories and ideas on the subject. His theory or
reasoning was that the social class we are born into will amost always dictate
what class a person will associate with in the future as an adult. I however
was not very convinced so I decided to pursue answers if there were any. It
was no easy feat there arent that many scientists who actually conducted
tests on large enough groups for their research and findings to fit my whole
question. I really want to know if it only applies to one specific social class, if
it differs by region, and if there were other ways it could be affected.

The first resource I found was a book called The Deep South which
was written in the 1930s. It analyzed, explained, and finalized the findings of
Allison Davis, Burleigh B. Gardner, and Mary R. Gardner. The test was
conducted in a large town in the deep south there were four individuals who
were conducting the experiment a white man and woman as well as a black
man and woman. They were attempting to illustrate the well-known fact
today that there was a large difference in social classes and niches in the
deep south. Their findings referring to the social class differences between
black and white families were to be expected but they also found that
depending on which way the two parents where arranged could greatly
impact on how a mixed child was treated and accepted into the community.
These findings where exactly what I was looking for. A person born into the
lower class like the blacks at the time if they were half white on their
mothers side they could be accepted into the white middle to upper class.
This experiment also found that because the south was so segregated by
race the blacks to a certain degree had their own social hierarchy within the
community. This was explained to be the main way that almost all blacks in
this particular area could stand together as one so they could protect
themselves and their community. I found this book answered my question in
a sense that many years ago in a racist biased region of the country it was
almost impossible to escape the social/economic class you are born into
unless you happen to have white relatives. This was very interesting and
unexpected news to me but I was finally seeing solid research that I crucially

needed but I was still in search of something a little more modern than the
Jim crow south to help me truly explain and answer my question.
So I found this very interesting article named Social Class Privilege
and Adolescent Womens Perceived Career Options this article attempts to
explain and show reasoning for how and why the social class of women
greatly dictates what their socioeconomic class will be in the future. The
authors argue that a womans social occupation is linked to their selected
social class. The authors also quote a couple of noteworthy scientists who
said if one were permitted only a single variable with which to predict an
individuals occupational status, it would surely be the socioeconomic status
of the individuals family (Schulenburg, Vondracek, and Crouter). This article
was not very long but it had all the information I needed followed by a good
argument which led me to conclude that regardless of sex (in my opinion)
the socioeconomic class you are born into will almost certainly decide your
future occupation(job) which then intern selects what social class you will fall
into.

I was relieved to have found these two very informative and reliable
sources of data and answers to some very big questions. The Deep South
was a very interesting book that I would recommend to anyone who might
want to know about the Souths history. It was a key aspect and influence on
my final reflection and opinion on this subject because it illustrates what

society in some places used to be like and may still be like today in some
small southern towns. I could relate to it I too was from the deep south where
my ancestors used to own slaves that worked on their plantations. This was
the breakthrough that was needed I mean the academic article listed above
was what I really needed to begin my research comparing old and new
ideology in the article it never stated anything about the race of a woman
taking apart in her career choice process. It goes to show you that the way in
which we study certain topics change throughout time. I was happy with this
start to my research but I still needed a few more papers/books to complete
my assessment of the question at hand.

The next source of information I found was a book called Social Class
in America. This book attempts to explain how social classes are formed and
the credentials you need to be included in each. These scientists
determined that the parameters that dictate what social class are
occupation, income, source of income, education, house type and, dwelling
area. These are all scored on a scale of 1-4 and based on your overall score
they can theoretically tell you what social class you fall into.
This was developed because of the confusion in this field on how to tell the
difference besides making a persons net income the only variable that the
scientists cared about. These tests show that the majority of those in the
middle class will stay there and some in the upper class may fall a class or

two occasionally. This book was not really helpful in a sense of actual face to
face research it seemed to me more of a written test almost but in its
defense it is fairly useful and helpful to gauge a large groups social class
status. I found this book somewhat helpful but I still needed that final bit of
information/research that would fully answer and get to the root of the
question. Why? Why as in why does this occur why are we destined for our
familys to roll through time in one social class with very little or no
differential. I found my answer in a research article called Social Learning
and Piagets Theory of Moral Development this article took the notes and
findings of two old sociologists in Germany and compared them. They were
both attempting to find a solution to a similar question to mine at the route
in young children. These two scientists wanted to know what made these
children think as they do and how children in different classes thought and
perceived things differently. Both men found that it is the way that they are
raised for instance the way a factory workers son is raised I drastically
different than the factory owners son is. They both will grow at the same
rate as well as their minds but the morals and the way that both individuals
process information will be drastically different. This intern almost as they
describe it brainwashes that child into thinking that they are just like their
parents and family members and they assume they must do about the same
things their parents are doing. This firmly illustrates and explains how we are
trapped in this never ending cycle of class.

This research has helped me in so many ways to understand how social

classes are formed, how they work, and how someone gets placed into one. I
believe that the social class you are born into does dictate what social class
you will be in later in life. But firmly believe that anyone can if they choose
too can break that endless cycle of their family staying in the same place not
going anywhere on the socioeconomic ladder in this day and age. There are
so many opportunities for so many people to rise up heck you never know
what might happen today or tomorrow. Someone could invent a device that
so many people want that their lower middle class family could become an
upper class family overnight. Due only too a great twist of fate and no small
amount of luck. This is of course one of the best case scenarios but it
might be you someday. I know that if it was me I wouldnt want to change
social classes I would take the economic boost but I was raised in a certain
way and I have found myself some good friends that I wouldnt trade for
anything. I also love the way I live now not lavishly but comfortable enough
in a great community with amazing people. This is where that last article I
mentioned really hit home. So I must ask if you had that one in a million
opportunity to go to a class above your own would you really want to leave
all the things and people you grew to love behind or; would you prefer to
stay where you are and be content with that?

 Deep South by: Allison Davis, Burleigh B. Gardner, and

Mary R. Gardner the University of Chicago press 37
copyright 194 The University of Chicago Published 1941

 Anne Scott Lapour and Mary J. Heppner University of

Missouri-Columbia, (Social Class Privilege and Adolescent
Womens Perceived Career Options (2009),( Journal of
Counseling Psychology ) 2009, Vol. 56, No. 4,477-494

Social Classes in America W. Lloyd Warner with Marchia

Meeker and Kenneth Eells New York and Evanston
Copyright 1949 (Ch. 10) (pg. 163-176)
P.A. Cowan, J. Langer, J Heavenrich, and M. Nathanson.
Social Learning and Piagets Theory of Moral Development
(1969) Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 1969
Vol.11, No. 3, 261-274