Week 7: How much does social class matter in the U.S. today?

Today, class is not just limited to one's occupation but it also depends on one's lifestyle and consumption patterns. People do give importance to the price tag  on the watch than on the dial, they do feel it is important to buy branded clothes, teenagers want to own an iPod or an iPhone, membership in an elite polo/golf or a country club does matter. Depending on these is how you would form your social group or your 'friends' that you would hang out with. When I was in school it did matter what gadgets I own, which brands do I wear and what my parents do. I have to admit that since I belonged from a well to do family, it did help me get into the in-groups most of the times (if not the one with the very rich kids!). However, the question is who is the judge of what exactly is class? Friends might think you are a social climber, whereas children or your younger siblings may be embarrassed to introduce you to their friends! In an era, when people from different backgrounds can watch the same television show, can have access to the same programs on the internet, can shop in the same mall stores; aren't class differences nullified?

Modern societies have become more materialistic and are people are driven by goods they own. However, can we ever draw a distinct line between the social classes (upper, middle, lower etc.)? Won't every class have its own subclass? I do think that though the American society is class conscious, however, it is not that stratified as some other popular societies. Merit and education does play an important role and there have been quite a number of instances when people have beaten the odds to become successful.