The Impacts of Social Class: Crash Course Sociology #25

This week we are building on last week’s outline of American stratification to explore how class differences affect people’s daily lives. We’ll explore variations in everything from values & beliefs to health outcomes, and look at how these things can perpetuate inequality across generations.

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References:
Sociology by John J. Macionis, 15th edition (2014)

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[vonneely]

The most important decision in life is choosing the right parents.

[danytarg]

This is very interesting. I grew up in an upper middle class household while my parents grew up in working class homes. Because of this, my parents have parenting styles of both classes. Interesting how that works out.

[xenoblad]

You'd be surprised how many people believe that one's economic class shouldn't reduce your chance to achieve any particular goal and that people who failed were entirely at fault.

[striverfor]

That's the first time I've heard someone else communicate that idea that "education" creates inequality. People should note this.

[ShawnRavenfire]

Another thing that affects your health is stress, and a lot of stress comes with lack of money, bad neighborhoods and bad jobs.

[kitthornton]

Americans have always been resistant to the reality of social class. Often, it puts me in mind of an old economics joke:

Bob, a factory worker, and Tom, an economist have just been laid off from their jobs. Being old acquaintances, they meet at a local bar to have a drink together. While they numb their disappointment, a billionare walks into the bar. "We're saved!" says Tom. "The average net worth of 66% of the the people in this bar has just increased to 333.3 million dollars!"

Bob says, "So what? The fact that he has a billion dollars won't help feed my kids or pay my mortgage."

Tom looks at him archly. "I see, " he says, "that you are still practicing the discredited politics of class warfare."

Class is real. The statistics are irrefutable, and the effects of relative poverty are quantifiable. Pretending that they aren't won't make them go away. The founders understood this, and said that radical economic inequality is fatal to a democratic polity. When the lives of the citizens and the opportunities available to them are so radically different, political and social fracture is inevitable. The question is whether we want great concentrations of wealth, or a democracy. In the long run, we can't have both.

[striverfor]

I wish people (including this video) would talk more about how to solve these horrible problems rather than just about the problem in the manner of "There you have it. That's the way it is."

[efraimjohansson]

Love this channel, really helping me getting a summary for my sociology class at my university (Sweden)

[phamman]

I live is a low socio class neighborhood, the amount of smoking among the adults is amazing, which affects their health, which affect their money

[melissabergendahl]

Crash Course should do videos on music theory!

[Danaredlp]

The inquality in education is real Problem.I am from germany so it quite suprised me that education budgets are dependent on the wealth of the local area. I am of the opinion that inequal gender or racial representation in top level positions are not necessarily a bad thing if and only if it is the result of a system that provides equal opportunities for everyone which your system seemingly doesn't provide.

[acraia]

This series is very interesting, but could you maybe make videos that aren't all about the states? Atleast the 3 last videos have been basicly just different reasons why I am so glad I'm not an american. I would like to learn more about sosiology in general :) Of course one needs examples, but maybe include ones from europe, asia etc. too?

[Ikaros]

The largest difference is that the lower classes because of the shame of beeing from the working class, live in denial of effects of class. They think mostly that it`s just about money, but it`s not. Health both physical and mental is highly affected by class. Taking care of mental health is often highly shamed in the lower classes.

We often think that our values are made by our selves, but most often they are not. Our interests, choises are highly effected by class. The pressure to " fit in", and the ability to stand against it is also highly affected by class and education. Social pressure from " social proof" and " Autority" ( Cialdini), are powerfull forces that guides us by instinct. But with education it`s more possible take once own decisions, and think more independent.

[mingaloo]

Grew up poor and made it to a private college, i wish it wasn't an anomaly though

[SBSSuperDuperNatural]

Please do factors that affect educational success such as cultural capital, attitude to learning etc. It would be hugely helpful for people like me doing A-level sociology in the UK

[williewang]

"Let politicians, schoolteachers and administrators, community leaders, ministers and parents drill into children the message that in a free society, they enter adulthood with three major responsibilities: at least finish high school, get a full-time job and wait until age 21 to get married and have children.

Our research shows that of American adults who followed these three simple rules, only about 2 percent are in poverty and nearly 75 percent have joined the middle class" this is from the brookings institute. Seems it's not so hard to join the middle class

[Teo]

Is there really an education barrier if Crash Course has all of this information on hand for free? What's causing people to avoid learning through watching Crash Course? They claim they don't have time, though they always have a favorite show. CC is my favorite show. Is there an answer on how there is such an education barrier yet an enourmous amount of information is free on hand that gets overlooked? Even this episode only has 400k views. It should have 100million. CC doesn't get enough credit.

[DontMockMySmock]

There's a throwaway line in this episode where you imply organic food is healthier than non-organic food. Please don't do that. "Organic" farming has both upsides and downsides but ultimately none of them are at all associated with the healthiness of the food. Making healthy choices in your diet doesn't mean buying into the hype, or more practically, buying more expensive produce.

[TheiTempo]

I work in the military and class/rank structure I find is very closely linked why is this? I'm yet to build up a full argument for this but I believe it dates back to a route into the upper society one of the pillars of society - defence, the queen has direct interaction with the senior ranks thus those only worthy of such interactions get the opportunity to some extent to become officers. In juxtaposition the lower ranks (not always) are from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, again why is this? lack of education or institutionalised prejudice towards those of higher class.

[johannsebastianbach]

Look up “Dream Hoarders”
Great book by Richard Reeves that delves into these issues