ABSTRACT
The middle class consists of individuals who fall into the third or middle quintile of the stratifi cation system. As noted in the last section of readings, regarding the inequality gap, the percentage of aggregate incomes is declining for this middle quintile. Despite the shrinkage, a majority of Americans, when asked to locate themselves in the class structure, have traditionally included themselves as members of the middle class. This next section of readings seeks to answer the question “Are people simply identifying with other classes, or is the middle class truly shrinking?” Evidence from NOW (2004) suggests the latter. This organization has found evidence that the United States is undergoing an “income squeeze” and that the shape of the income distribution in America is changing; in short, the middle class is disappearing.
