Final answer:
Most Americans identify as middle class, a category that varies widely in income level and can be subdivided into upper and lower middle classes. Class is an important concept in American society, highlighting issues such as the shrinking middle class and overall economic inequality.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the United States, the concept of social stratification is central to understanding how individuals identify themselves in terms of class. Most Americans define themselves as middle class, a broad category that can include a wide range of incomes. Sociologists and economists define this class by various metrics. For instance, according to one economist, J.D. Foster, the middle class comprises the central 60 percent of earners, while the Pew Research Center describes the middle class as those earning between two-thirds to double the national median income.
American society has generally been regarded as a 'middle-class society', with the belief that most people live comfortably in the middle of the economic spectrum, which may explain why most people identify as middle class. However, this self-identification can vary widely, with individuals earning from as low as $30,000 to as high as $150,000 annually still considering themselves middle class. This variation leads to further distinctions within the middle class, such as the upper middle class and the lower middle class.
The ongoing concern for sociologists and economists is the shrinking of the middle class in the U.S. Over past decades, the middle class has declined from 69 percent in 1971 to 51 percent in 2020, with its wealth also decreasing. This trend is notable because the middle class is traditionally seen as the backbone of American prosperity and stability. Nevertheless, the overall structure of social classes persists, with the upper and lower classes making up the remainder of society, each with their defining behaviors, customs, and norms known as class traits.