Lower_middle-class

Lower middle class

Lower middle class

Social class which is a sub-division of the greater middle class

In developed nations around the world, the lower middle class is a subdivision of the greater middle class. Universally, the term refers to the group of middle class households or individuals who have not attained the status of the middle or upper middle class associated with the higher realms of the middle class, hence the name.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

United States

Main article: American middle class

In American society, the middle class may be divided into two or three sub-groups. When divided into two parts, the lower middle class, also sometimes simply referred to as "middle class", consists of roughly one third of households, roughly twice as large as the upper middle or managerial class. Common occupation fields are semi-professionals, such as lower-level managers, small business owners and skilled craftsmen. These individuals commonly have some college education or perhaps a Bachelor's degree and earn a comfortable living. Already among the largest social classes, rivaled only by the working class, the American lower middle class is diverse and growing.[9][10]

Though not common in sociological models, the middle class may be divided into three sections in vernacular language usage. In this system the term lower middle class relates to the demographic referred to as working class in most sociological models. Yet some class models, such as those by sociologist Leonard Beeghley, suggest the middle class to be one cohesive socio-economic demographic, including the demographics otherwise referred to as lower, simply middle or upper middle class in one group comprising about 45% of households.[11]

Social class in the US at a glance

Main article: Social class in the United States
More information Dennis Gilbert, 2002, William Thompson & Joseph Hickey, 2005 ...

The lower-middle class is frequently portrayed in television and film. Notable examples include the television shows The Simpsons, All In The Family,[12] Malcolm in the Middle, Married... with Children, 2point4 children, The Middle, Family Guy, Family Matters and Veronica Mars as well as films such as Lady Bird and Soul Food.

See also

References

Notes

  1. [1]
    "Graphic: How Class Works". The New York Times. 15 May 2005. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  2. [2]
    Brooks, David (17 November 2008). "The Formerly Middle Class". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  3. [3]
    Decca Aitkenhead (19 October 2007). "Class rules". The Guardian. UK. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  4. [4]
    Andy Beckett (24 July 2010). "Is the British middle class an endangered species?". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  5. [5]
    Johnson, Reed (31 May 2009). "Center stage: middle-class African Americans". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  6. [6]
    Lahiri, Tripti (19 August 2010). "Much of Indian 'Middle Class' Is Almost Poor". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  7. [7]
    Weisman, Jonathan (26 March 2010). "Middle Class Starts to Drift From Obama". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  8. [8]
    Connors, Will (18 January 2011). "In Nigeria, Used Cars Are a Road to Status". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  9. [9]
    Gilbert 2008.
  10. [10]
    Thompson & Hickey 2004.
  11. [11]
    Beeghley, L. (2004). The Structure of Social Stratification in the United States. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon, Pearson.
  12. [12]
    "Criticism And Television Comedy Drama: An Analysis of All In The Family". Bowling Green State University. August 1975. Retrieved 4 November 2022.

Bibliography
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