Publication Information
Mantsios, Gregory. “Class in America: Myths and Realities (2000).” Rereading America. Ed. Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen, Bonnie Lisle. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2004. 331- 345. Print.
Brief Summary Class in America, for lack of a better word, is a sore subject. “People in the United States do not like to talk about class.”(331) There are many myths that are taught today in America such as “The United States is fundamentally a classless society.”(333). Another myth would be “We are essentially a middle-class nation.”(333). A last example for myths includes “Everyone has an equal chance to succeed.” The largest if not only factor of class is wealth; how much income a family gets. To disprove the myths many more realities are listed. The first being, “There are enormous differences in economic status of American citizens.”(334). Perhaps the most important reality states, “From cradle to grave, class standing has a significant impact on our chances of survival.”(341). Not only does class decide our ability to survive, but it also affects our
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One of the myths stated that everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed, when in reality white males have the equal opportunity to succeed. It is said and blunt, but it is the truth. To break down that truth, one must begin with the word “white”. Racism still exists today no matter what the myths or government says. There are statistics, personal experiences, and even experiments done that prove possibility of a black man versus a white man getting a job (therefore making an income) holds a dramatic difference. The second part to the phrase is the word “man”. Especially in sports and the business world men are always assumed superior even if they are infact inferior. Therefore the chances of them getting a job (again, making an income) is less than that for a man. In conclusion, there is not an equal opportunity for citizens in