Social Class: Perception and Reality. Issue 1 (2nd January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dineen, Jennifer; Robbins, Mark D.; Simonsen, Bill
• Is Part Of: International journal of public administration. Volume 42:Issue 1(2019)
• Page Start: 55
• Page End: 65
• Publication Date: 2019-01-02
• Subjects: Social class -- middle class -- class perception; Public administration -- Periodicals; 351.05
• DOI: 10.1080/01900692.2017.1399419
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0190-0692

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Middle class is a social construct and a moniker so central to the identity politics of the United States that it has become a persistent part of the rhetoric of both major political parties. This article seeks to understand how the way in which people categorize themselves in social class matches the observable characteristics that might be used to objectively classify them into such groups. This article examines survey data from a national poll and finds that a majority of the respondents consider themselves members of the middle class. While those in the lowest and highest income categories are less likely to categorize themselves as middle class (controlling for other factors), many in these groups also consider themselves middle class.