ABSTRACT
This chapter begins with an overview of social class in the United States, exploring the reasons why Americans are uncomfortable talking about it as well as how class mobility is embedded in the national identity. We examine the problems in defining class, and trace the evolution of the U.S. class system. From there,
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
we look at why class matters in the United States and how it touches upon every aspect of our lives-jobs, homes, health, education, safety, community and much more.
