3 ms·
In America, the majority of the country self-identifies as middle-class, and in conversation and political rhetoric we basically use it as a synonym for "normal
by lmkg 13y ago
In America, the majority of the country self-identifies as middle-class, and in conversation and political rhetoric we basically use it as a synonym for "normal people." Not that the UK is wrong, but I think our usage matches the name a bit better. Doctor/lawyer-type professions are a bit exclusive to call them the middle.
If someone is trying to pull statistics, "middle class" is defined by income to usually be either the middle 3 quintiles (60%) of the population, or an income between $25k-ish and $200k-ish. Doctors, Lawyers, etc. are usually on the top end of that range, and called upper-middle class.
- justincormack 13y agoMost people in the UK self-identify as middle class now too actually.
- lafar6502 13y agoJust as most people consider their IQ to be above average.
- tolmasky 13y agoIf you are using the mean for the average (which is quite common), then it is completely possible for most people to have their IQ be above average (not saying it is, just saying there's nothing mathematically wrong if it is).
- eurleif 13y agoExcept that IQs are explicitly made to fit a normal distribution.
- justincormack 13y agoThe "middle" class has never been defined as any kind of "average" class.
- Crito 13y agoWell, half of them are correct (assuming a normal distribution, which IQ tests have by design).
- voodoomagicman 13y agoThe income range for the middle 3 quintiles is actually about $20k - $100k. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Household_income_in_the_United_States#Quintiles http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Household_income_in_the_United_...)
- maxerickson 13y agoFor U.S. households, the 4th quintile tops out around $100,000. $200,000 is in the top 5%. For individuals, $100,000 is in the top 10%.