Class in America:
For those of you who have not been paying attention, the NYT has been running a series on class in america. While they have concentrated on the “revelation” that yes indeed Virginia, there is such a thing as class in America, I think that they have still missed the point. Its not about what constitutes the markers of class,(the subject of their May 29 article) and its not what separates the rich from everyone else- I think its about why the rich think that they have to be separated from everyone else. Mrs. Astor’s famous 400, the social registers in every small city and up-coming berg- isn’t that just a manifestation of the “queen bee and wanna bee’s syndrome”? Now that we have marked it in girls as a form of bullying, isn’t it time to call the rich and the snobby on the same kind of behaviour? Of course it’s hard to say that out loud in New York which exists to elevate snobbery to a high art.
One lucky reader really spells it out: the real guide to snobbery, and the rest of the forum on the NYT makes good reading as well.
And Amazingly enough, David Brooks seems to be the only one who gets it. But he gets it only when he apparently is being facetious. Or is he. Anyway, this is a rather profound column.
To my knowledge there is not a really good book about this- but I have included a few links to “Snobbery” and “Class” from Amazon. I recommend reading them against “Queen Beens and Wannabees” and “Odd Girls Out.” And I love Amazon, because they have such good lists of related books, so there are more recommendations there.
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Class Matters - Social Class and Status Markers in the United States of America - The New York Times - New York Times
Karl's New Manifesto - New York Times: "The educated class reaps the benefits of the modern economy - seizing for itself most of the income gains of the past decades - and then ruthlessly exploits its position to ensure the continued dominance of its class.
The educated class has torn away from the family its sentimental veil and reduced it to a mere factory for the production of little meritocrats. Members of the educated elites are more and more likely to marry each other, which the experts call assortative mating, but which is really a ceaseless effort to refortify class solidarity and magnify social isolation. Children are turned into workaholic knowledge workers - trained, tutored, tested and prepped to strengthen class dominance."
The New York Times: 'When the Joneses Wear Jeans' (Forum/Message Board): "Conflating Money and Class
Jenniffer Steinhauer entirely conflates money and class in her recent 'When the Joneses Wear Jeans.' And she seems to believe that you can easily just buy upperclass status. She is mistaken.

In part, I think she does not understand the common upperclass affectation (borrowed from the British) of threadbare ecentricity. The most expensive shoes and suits are not generally the 'right' shoes and suits... for much the same reason that Donald Trump is solidly lower middle class.

How many people even realize that they are judged by where they set their silverware when they have finished eating (a holdover from the era servants)? Or the use of such telling lower-class words as 'tuxedo' 'cocktail' 'classy'? If you are female, I assume that you can ride at least passably (and never 'western')! And where do you summer? Where did you go to school? And what color of lights do you use on your Christmas tree? Only white, blue and green, I hope! Is Gucci upperclass or lowerclass? Where can you buy an acceptable tie?

If you don't have the right family, even if you are a quick learn, all the millions in the world will not get you into best clubs, or into the social register. The Nantucket Yacht Club, is hardly a bastion, but there are long-time members who barely make 50,000, and others who are wait-listed with 600 million in the bank... and if they do let you in with your millions, believe me, they are snickering (often within earshot) at your choice of shoes, your pants, your accent, your car, your furnishings... you will be the butt of countless jokes, and the more you try to spend"
Amazon.com: Books: Class : A Guide Through the American Status System

Amazon.com: Books: Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Culture of Aggression in Girls