Is there still a class distinction in this country and can you define the phrase Upper Class?

Question

Is class still related to breeding or can a celebrity be said to be of a higher social class than the rest of us?

Answer 1

Many people laugh at the following answer that , I believe, is the root cause of class division or caste

In the good old days when the divison of labour , in the society, was simpler, everything was equal. Education , society`s security, trading and the lower end jobs ( which we tend to call menial jobs) were all considered equal in terms of work and earning. Mind you , in those days there was no money transaction and only a family`s needs were met by the society/community.
However , when the knowledge explosion took place and the added Industrial revolution fed the process more education ' and such related needs were in more demand and the rewards were equally increasing. . People from the other groups started to migrate to the more rewarding group ( education). Thus what was once a purely Horizontal division turned 90 degrees and became verical with Educated ones at the top and the other vocations coming lower. Thus was born "caste system" in certain parts of the world and "class system" in certain other parts of the world.

The educated top could afford to use their resources to further their quest in Arts , culture, Living style further increasing the gap. Though in the modern times the other groups also increased their income and became "rich" the so called excellence in appreciating arts, Culture and Style of Living kept the gap still. So , class in the modern day life is a part of the society and cannot be wished away.Struggling to get into a particular class is not worth the struggle.

Answer 2

Yes there is still a class distinction in this country, which I think is sad. Take the royals for example, I cannot see any of them ever wanting or being allowed to marry anyone that has been on the dole all their lives, has an ASBO or had a picture in the newspaper showing them naked.
Someone who made lots of money and is now stinking rich would not necessarily make it into the upper class as they also have to have a certain way ob behaving themselves within this circle.

Answer 3

I don't think it has to do with breeding so much anymore. I would say our family is a little upper class: We live in a nice single-family house in a good neighborhood, only my Dad has to work to make all the money we need, and we can still have all the latest conveniences of life.
Certainly celebrities are a little higher on the food chain though.

Answer 4

Class is related to income, but upper class people are still those who have education, considerable wealth, family background, and connections with those in positions of power. Celebrities and the nouveau-riche have money and visibility, but are lacking in the other areas that make them part of the upper class. A large part of being upper class is the cultural behavior that helps a person funtion within that group. There are different values and expectations in life.

Answer 5

I REALLY liked Snow Globe's answer.

I think that should be best answer.

and class distinction is slowly fading away as working class and middle class are now hard to distinguish from one another e.g. a working class person could have two cars, just as could a middle class person.

Upper class is due to one's social behaviour and practices. It is the higher state of mind and thinking that one is higher than anyone else.

To be honest, I'm happy to call myself middle class rather than thinking myself higher than anyone else but that's just my opinion.

=)

Answer 6

I believe that in certain instances can be related to breeding i.e. a latino or black family is statistically poorer because of certain circumstances (whatever they may be) they have bigger families with more children and a lower income per household. Whereas wealthy whitefolks have only one child per house hold to keep on passing that wealth to that one child, thus refining the wealth over generations turning into "old Money".

Answer 7

My personal opinion is that a modern-society is one that has learned how to live with a greater amount of ease and knowledge to innovate, be creative and develop solutions to unanswered questions, issues and daily as well as future obstacles that make occur in life. The people have discovered a solution to achieving less pain and suffering and more beneficial outcomes in every aspect of normal living and career wise as well. The economy has been reproved and improved the proved profitable success for its business owner as well as the employees that build the revenue.

Answer 8

,it is the individual who shows class not the family he originates from, when your in the presence of a person with class you will know, like many others I have been in the presence of the richest, with absolutely no, class.
, And in the presence of poor people with a magnitude of that magical, class.

Answer 9

In the US? yes ... it is determined by money, and usually old money
** usually a celebrity is considered an upstart

Answer 10

upper class, is sort of old now, the aristocrats probably, but now you have a super class :p