IST 494: Integrative Studies Capstone

by Leah Kelly

Fussell’s ability to develop his thoughts and findings into a well-written depiction of the American social class system and the issues surrounding it is evident throughout his text. But the following passage sets the mood for the audience concerning the myth Americans are faced with from an early age.

“The special hazards attending the class situation in America, where movement appears so fluid and where the prizes seem available to anyone who’s lucky, are disappointment, and, following close on that, envy. Because the myth conveys the impression that you can readily earn your way upward, disillusion and bitterness are particularly strong when you find yourself trapped in a class system you’ve been half persuaded isn’t important.”

Fussell’s ability to get to the heart of the problem is portrayed in this paragraph. It is not the issue of which class you are in, it’s the problem that you will never be able to shift easily from class to class like America insists you can. The American Dream is no longer a reality for members of social classes. Those who believe that this is possible will suffer disappointment first and then envy. One’s ability to move freely through the classes is not a likely occurrence. When someone unknowingly finds this out they become disappointed and unsatisfied with how America gives them false hope. Envy is conveyed soon after this facade is discovered. A person’s envy will occur when their own status is cemented for them. The destitute will look to the proles and the proles will look to the middles and so on and so forth. The process will continue until you reach the upper middle and beyond. There they do not worry about being higher up but they do worry about dropping down a class. It is a constant struggle for any class to maintain their status they have presently while still hoping to advance. It is important to notice the anguish this paragraph describes. It is evident that this is a stage that most, if not all, people go through who are middle class or lower. At first there is hope, next comes realization and then finally despair. This happens in sequence throughout one’s life.

When we are young we are given the idea that we can conquer the world, do anything we want. As we get older and retain more knowledge on the facts we start to learn that this is not notably so. Thus, we feel frustration and resentment. Fussell acknowledges this in his book but addressing the subject matter head on. It is important to realize this happens to everyone. Everyone in this course should be able to remember a moment in his or her life where this process occurred. It may be a recent situation or it could be from early childhood but it is apparent. Our hopes and dreams of a better life and social class are diminished causing agony and despair. But Fussell tries to make the reader understand if someone has ever felt this way that he or she is not alone.

This availing moment helps to distinguish the problem for social class and status among Americans. Without this special indication many might overlook the issue at hand. This passage helps to establish the importance of the problem and the way people react to it. The paragraph is the prelude to it. It helps to direct people into the mindset to learn about the different ways classes look, speak, read and decorate their homes. 

Class – A Guide Through the American Status System, helps to comprehend the status in our country. Fussell brings up issues that everyone might think of but none dare to speak of. He makes it a point for the reader to know that this topic is like a black sheep of a family; no one likes to acknowledge it exists among Americans. Although the book is dated and the examples are not current, the concepts are still accurate. Contemporary Culture is similar to Fussell’s perception of social class but there seems to be a higher chance for vertical mobility. With recessions and economical booms, shifts can occur. However, much like Fussell stated in his book, it is not just about income, there are many other factors included with class status.

The Oprah Show had an entire segment devoted to social class as Americans see it. She had many guests explain their upsets given the recent recession. One of the guests, Haley, spoke how her status had suffered with the loss of her job. This ties into the excerpt from Fussell’s book. Americans start to realize that their class status is being left in the dust, leaving behind hopelessness and concern.

Much like Fussell’s book, a video called Social Class in America (1957), addresses the same issue of the difficulties crossing class boundaries. This short video follows three young men who were born in the 1950’s struggling in their social class. Gill Aims was born in a high class, Ted Eastwood is a middle class person and David Bentin is in the lower class. While growing up they are faced with social struggles to follow in their ascribed status. However, Ted is faced with the decision to branch out, working hard he was able to move up in his class. He established an achieved status. These two terms, ascribed and achieved where not mentioned in Fussell’s book but they are interesting to think about. It is common, much like the video explains, to be born with a status. However a person can gain a new status with his or her talents, character, ability and geographic mobility. Thus, becoming an ascribed status. Social Class in America (1957) and Fussell’s Class both share the same opinion – all citizens are born equal and legal before the law but not the same by standards of class. There have always been levels of social class, whether it is a three-tiered classification or Fussell’s nine-class division, causing the separation among Americans.

Today’s standards of social class and the American dream are much like they were before in the 1980’s when Fussell wrote his book. Issues still arise concerning the social status and class of Americans. There will always be a status continuum ranging from the ‘upper-out-of-sight’ all the way down to ‘bottom-out-of-sight’. America is the land of possibility for all who wish to obtain it but as time goes on the realization sets in and we are left with nothing more than disappointment and envy for what could have been.

by Daryl Back

There are many different ways people judge one another, whether knowingly or not.  It could be the way someone dresses, the type of vehicle they drive, a person’s occupation, or perhaps where a person lives and what their residence looks like.  In Paul Fussell’s book, Class: A Guide Through the American Status System, Fussell takes a look at how a person’s weight can often be an advertisement of a persons social standing.  On pages 52-53, Fussell explains how much being obese has changed as a representation of one’s self image.  In today’s society, it is much more common to see an obese person who is of lower class than to see obesity with upper and even middle class people.  Over a century ago, heftiness was a sign of success and wealth, whereas now it is the exact opposite.   Instead of viewing obese people as successful, American’s usually tend to label them as lazy and not very determined.  I find this interesting because I had never really noticed how much a person’s weight can tell about their social standing.  After reading Fussell, I can honestly say that I see many more obese people in the lower class people rather than the upper class.  I don’t have any numbers to support my opinion, but it just seems as if upper class people seem to be thinner and in better shape than those of lower class.  People should pay special attention to this matter for many reasons.  Taking care of your body and having a good image is not only beneficial to your health, but it can also help you meet people, and possibly help you get a job over another person.  Recently I heard Jim Rome on ESPN talking about making a decision on who to hire between two football coaches whom were both deserving for a job.  Rome clearly stated that if it came down to two people, he would take the person who is in the best shape because it is a sign of determination and ambition. 

                Fussell’s example of distinguishing social standing by looking at a person’s weight goes along with the rest of the book because each chapter gives numerous different ways people judge and distinguish each other, either by their actions or their appearance.  I am influenced by this reading because I find Fussell’s ideas to be fairly accurate with what I have noticed.  For example, one can go to the neighborhood Golden Corral Buffet, walk in and pay the “all you can eat” for ten dollars, and see numerous obese people.  On the other hand, one can go to a dinner buffet at a nice casino and pay 25 dollars, walk around and find hardly any obese people.  Why is that?  I believe it is because you see less obese people in the upper class.  With this example from the text, it goes to show that there are numerous characteristics people use to determine different social standing.  Unfortunately for the lower class, these characteristics include, obesity, laziness, poorly dressed, rusty cars, and bad lawns, which are all characteristics Fussell talks about in the text.  I have to agree with Fussell and most of his ideas, however there are exceptions.  Some wealthy people are lazy, obese, and dress poorly.  I have also associated with lower class people who dress to kill, but do not have much else to brag about.  Part of the problem is that people judge each other without knowing each other. 

                I have found two different pictures that help exemplify Fussell’s ideas about how a person weight can help show their social standing. Picture 1 shows a hefty person sitting on the coach watching television.  He would probably come across as a semi-obese lower to middle class person.  In picture 2, there is an example of a wealthy family.  By looking at the picture, you can tell that each person is on the thinner side and look like they keep up with their self image.  I have also found a video clip from YouTube that shows a successful upper-class businessman going through his rigorous morning workout routine to help keep his body image looking nice.  Finally, I have found a website that gives two different perspectives on this issue, which is good because not every obese person is necessarily lower class.  In this website titled FirstPageFitness, it states how many lower-class people are obese, but it might be because poverty causes obesity.  The website states how gym memberships might be too expensive, as well as eating healthy foods, etc.  The website has some good points, as does Fussell’s book.  After reading Fussell, I have realized that there are numerous ways in which people can distinguish social class.