[(What's Class Got to Do with It?: American Society in the Twenty-first Century )] [Author: Michael Zweig] [Apr-2004]

by Michael Zweig

"Whether in regard to the economy or issues of war and peace, class is central to our everyday lives. Yet class has not been as visible as race or gender, not nearly as much a part of our conversations and sense of ourselves as these and other `identities.' We are of course all individuals, but our individuality and personal life chances are shaped—limited or enhanced—by the economic and social class in which we have grown up and in which we exist as adults."—from the Introduction The contributors to this volume argue that class identity in the United States has been hidden for too long. Their essays, published here for the first time, cover the relation of class to race and gender, to globalization and public policy, and to the lives of young adults. They describe how class, defined in terms of economic and political power rather than income, is in fact central to Americans' everyday lives. What's Class Got to Do with It? is an important resource for the new field of working class studies.

Genres: Class

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Nate Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Opens your eyes to how important class is in our society. The book is written in an essay style and some of the authors use higher level language.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book talking about class as power and the intersections between class and well everything. I think the authors in the book make a great point to discuss the difference between income and class and the different qualities these take on when you add gender and/or race or ethnicity to the mix. A few slightly outdated political arguments - post 9/11 but pre- Iraq and Afghanistan, but definitely worth a read if you care about class, which you should.

[Nancy Babbitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an eye opener to the systems of power and privilege to which I had previously been blind.