Global Local

Recently in American Studies, our class has been looking at what constitutes "social class" in America.

As part of our study, we looked at a New York Times study on class which indicated four main "class indicators" which were household income, wealth, occupational prestige, and education.

What truly struck me in these studies was that to be considered "middle" class, you average household income would have to be around 40,000 $.

The reason that this statistic was so interesting is that after looking up for statistics on the average income in Illinois, and I found that the average household makes upwards of 50,000 dollars a year. This would mean that the average Illinois-ian would be considered (by the New York Times) to be "upper-middle" class. Not only that, but that the average income of a Trevian household was upwards of 100,000$. This is two times that of the average household IN ILLINOIS.

Not everyone in the New Trier area makes this much money, but it is safe to say that it is the norm, and it is starkly in opposition to what a lot of other areas are making. We are an upper class neighborhood and we have all been able to acknowledge that, yet I wonder what impact that has on the viewpoints we take in looking at class. 

Are we all doomed to the Great Gatsby "east egg" perspective? Or is it possible for us to look at the issue from a slightly more objective light?