ABSTRACT
The concept of class is one of the most contested within sociology. Not only is there considerable debate over precisely how this concept should be defined and elaborated, there is also considerable debate over its very relevance for contemporary sociology. It is perhaps ironic that in an era of deepening inequality and economic polarization within US society, some sociologists confidently proclaim the “Death of Class,” or even argue that we are rapidly becoming a “Classless Society.”2 What is particularly striking is that these claims are not being made mainly by political conservatives, but by sociologists who broadly identify with progressive politics and ideal.
