In the United States, the lower class are those at or near the lower end of the socio-economic hierarchy. As with all social classes in the United States, the lower class is loosely defined and its boundaries and definitions subject to debate and ambiguous popular opinions. Sociologists such as W. Lloyd Warner, Dennis Gilbert and James Henslin divide the lower classes into two. The contemporary division used by Gilbert divides the lower class into the working poor and underclass. Service and low-rung manual laborers are commonly identified as being among the working poor. Those who do not participate in the labor force and rely on public assistance as their main source of income are commonly identified as members of the underclass. Overall the term describes those in easily filled employment positions with little prestige or economic compensation who often lack a high school education and are to some extent disenfranchised from mainstream society.[1][3][4]
The socio-economic stratification of American society as outlined by Dennis Gilbert.[1]Employment status of householders in the bottom quintile in 2004.[2]
Estimates for how many households are members of this class vary with definition. According to Dennis Gilbert roughly one quarter, 25%, of US households were in the lower classes; 13% were members among the working poor while 12% were members of the underclass. While many in the lower working class are employed in service jobs, lack of participation in the labor force remains the main cause for the economic plight experienced by those in the lower classes.[1] In 2005, the majority of households (56%) in the bottom income quintile had no income earners while 65% of householders did not work. This contrasts starkly to households in the top quintile, 76% of whom had two or more income earners.[2]
Lacking educational attainment as well as disabilities are among the main causes for the infrequent employment. Many households rise above or fall below the poverty threshold, depending on the employment status of household members. While only about 12% of households fall below the poverty threshold at one point in time, the percentage of those who fall below the poverty line at any one point throughout a year is much higher. Working class as well as working poor households may fall below the poverty line if an income earner becomes unemployed.[1][4] In any given year roughly one out of every five (20%) households falls below the poverty line at some point while up to 40% may fall into poverty within the course of a decade.[3]
^ abcdGilbert, Dennis (1998). The American Class Structure. New York: Wadsworth Publishing. ISBN9780534505202. 0-534-50520-1.
^ ab. Archived from the original on July 7, 2006. Retrieved July 8, 2006.
^ abThompson, William; Joseph Hickey (2005). Society in Focus. Boston, MA: Pearson. 0-205-41365-X.
^ abWilliams, Brian; Stacey C. Sawyer; Carl M. Wahlstrom (2005). Marriages, Families & Intimate Relationships. Boston, MA: Pearson. 0-205-36674-0.
External linksedit
(in 2004 inflation-adjusted dollars) from Census.gov
(in 2004 inflation-adjusted dollars) from Census.gov
Working Definitions ClassMatters.com
How Class Works, The New York Times
January 19, 2024
american, lower, class, united, states, lower, class, those, near, lower, socio, economic, hierarchy, with, social, classes, united, states, lower, class, loosely, defined, boundaries, definitions, subject, debate, ambiguous, popular, opinions, sociologists, s. In the United States the lower class are those at or near the lower end of the socio economic hierarchy As with all social classes in the United States the lower class is loosely defined and its boundaries and definitions subject to debate and ambiguous popular opinions Sociologists such as W Lloyd Warner Dennis Gilbert and James Henslin divide the lower classes into two The contemporary division used by Gilbert divides the lower class into the working poor and underclass Service and low rung manual laborers are commonly identified as being among the working poor Those who do not participate in the labor force and rely on public assistance as their main source of income are commonly identified as members of the underclass Overall the term describes those in easily filled employment positions with little prestige or economic compensation who often lack a high school education and are to some extent disenfranchised from mainstream society 1 3 4 The socio economic stratification of American society as outlined by Dennis Gilbert 1 Employment status of householders in the bottom quintile in 2004 2 Estimates for how many households are members of this class vary with definition According to Dennis Gilbert roughly one quarter 25 of US households were in the lower classes 13 were members among the working poor while 12 were members of the underclass While many in the lower working class are employed in service jobs lack of participation in the labor force remains the main cause for the economic plight experienced by those in the lower classes 1 In 2005 the majority of households 56 in the bottom income quintile had no income earners while 65 of householders did not work This contrasts starkly to households in the top quintile 76 of whom had two or more income earners 2 Lacking educational attainment as well as disabilities are among the main causes for the infrequent employment Many households rise above or fall below the poverty threshold depending on the employment status of household members While only about 12 of households fall below the poverty threshold at one point in time the percentage of those who fall below the poverty line at any one point throughout a year is much higher Working class as well as working poor households may fall below the poverty line if an income earner becomes unemployed 1 4 In any given year roughly one out of every five 20 households falls below the poverty line at some point while up to 40 may fall into poverty within the course of a decade 3 See also editAffluence in the United States American middle class Household income in the United States Personal income in the United States Poorest places in the United States Poverty and health in the United States Poverty in the United States Social class in American history Social class in the United States Wealth inequality in the United StatesReferences edit a b c d Gilbert Dennis 1998 The American Class Structure New York Wadsworth Publishing ISBN 9780534505202 0 534 50520 1 a b US Census Bureau income quintilea and Top 5 Percent 2004 Archived from the original on July 7 2006 Retrieved July 8 2006 a b Thompson William Joseph Hickey 2005 Society in Focus Boston MA Pearson 0 205 41365 X a b Williams Brian Stacey C Sawyer Carl M Wahlstrom 2005 Marriages Families amp Intimate Relationships Boston MA Pearson 0 205 36674 0 External links editUS Census Bureau s official online income statistics forum Income distribution and income by race US Census Bureau 2005 Household income by educational attainment US Census Bureau Personal income in 2004 US Census Bureau Median Family Income by Family Size in 2004 inflation adjusted dollars from Census gov Median Family Income by Number of Earners in Family in 2004 inflation adjusted dollars from Census gov Working Definitions ClassMatters com How Class Works The New York Times Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title American lower class amp oldid 1135591870, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
