Class and Status

Upper Class

The upper class is the social class composed of those who are wealthy, well-born or both. They usually have the greatest political power. The upper class is generally contained within the wealthiest 1-3% of the population. Members of the upper class are often born into it, and are distinguished by immense wealth which is passed from generation to generation in the form of estates. Sometimes members of the upper class are called "the one percent".


Middle Class

The middle class are the most contested of the three categories, the broad group of people in contemporary society who fall socio-economically between the lower and upper class. One example of contestation of this term is that in the US "middle class" is applied very broadly and includes people who would elsewhere be considered lower class.


Lower Class

Lower Class are those employed in low-paying wage jobs with very little economic security. The lower class is sometimes separated into those who are employed but lacking financial security and underclass- those who are long term unemployed.