Sociology 3945: Worksheet--"People Like Us, " part I

1. Why does it matter, in terms of social class, whether you are familiar with the products and implements that are involved in so-called haute cuisine?

2. How does social class come into the conflict over what kind of supermarket the city council should subsidize in Burlington, Vermont?

3. What do you think of the young woman's chances of "catching" a wealthy boyfriend or husband, after being coached by Ginie Sayles? What does this segment really show us about crossing class lines?

4. Do you think the man who seems so very happy with himself for being born an upper class WASP is sincere or is he somewhat tongue in cheek? How do affluent WASPs recognize those who come from the same background?

Sociology 3945: Group--"Social Class in America," part I

1. French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu, in one of his most widely acclaimed books, titled "Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgment of Taste," provides a sociological analysis of the functions of taste, especially among the upper classes. Can you imagine why good taste is considered so essential at the upper levels of the stratification system? Is taste also important farther down the stratification system? In what ways?

2. Smarter, better looking, better dressed, better educated, even nicer--is it true that upper class WASPs have the edge in this areas? What is your academic opinion, and what is your gut level reaction? Can you think of why etiquette is so particularly important at the upper levels of society (George Washington's favorite book was a how-to book on the manners of the English gentleman--was he just being an idiot?)?

3. If you grew up the child of upper class WASP parents, would you have gone along with these distinctions that seem so important at that level of society? Why or why not?