Inequality in the United States (IVUS 51-69)

Class, race and gender. Some things we can't choose, others we can move around in. Our race, class, and gender are things we are born into, but with class, we have mobility in. I understand these things can determine some of the opportunities and impact our relationship with violence. When I read this chapter in Inequality & Violence in the United States: Casualities of Capitalism, I questioned where I fit in on some of the things mentioned and where the rest of the community I am surronded by fit in. On page 53, there is a table that shows the class composition. According to this table, I am at the bottom, falling into the underclass while my family fits into the working category. I feel ike compared to the community of WSU, my family comes up a little short. I also tried fitting myself into the other tables that deal with median incomes by race/ethnicity. The only ethnicities/races that were included were white, black, and Hispanic. I couldn't find where I would fit in.

I don't think I really like these tables.

Categorizing people allows a lot of hierarchy and people to feel inferior. I think it gives a way for people to have power and more privilege which can cause conflict between the categories. I think that the tables also leave some people out, more specifically the tables that categorized based on race/ethnicity. So where do I fit?