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JOURNAL – SOCIAL CLASS
In the Discussion, you addressed how constructionism influences your racial and ethnic identities. The
concept of social class is also based on or influenced by constructionism. Social class categorizes
people according to their level of importance in society. According to the constructionist approach, social
processes, such as political, legal, economic, and other outside influences converge to categorize you
as one class or another. Since outside influences change over time, designations of social class may
change over time as well. For example, when labor unions were more prevalent in middle of the 20th
century, individuals who worked in manufacturing jobs were more likely to belong to the middle class. As
labor unions and wages decline, workers may be more likely to belong to the working class.
When you think of social class, you may think of wealth or power. These attributes do influence social
class and will be addressed further in Week 3. Characteristics of race, such as skin color, also can
influence social class. In some cultures, people may be assigned to a social class based on their skin,
hair, or eye color. For example, in a culture in which white people are considered to be in a higher social
class than dark people, the class of people in between may be based on the darkness of their skin, with
light-skinned black people seen as belonging to a higher class compared to dark-skinned black people.
In a Native American society, a dark-haired person may be considered to be in a higher social class than
a light-haired person. Dark hair matches expectations of appearance for members of a particular tribe.
Categorizing individuals by social class can lead to conflicts in defining racial and ethnic identities in that
these constructs are not concrete.
For this Journal, you explore an historical example of how social class evolved.
RESOURCES
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.
PSYC_3005_Week1_Journal_Assignment_Rubric
To prepare for this Journal:
Review Readings 1, 4, and 7 in the course text, The Meaning of Difference. Pay particular attention
to social class and the biological definitions of race and ethnicity.
Select one of the articles from this week’s Learning Resources about social class in another country.
Consider how social class has changed over time in the country discussed in your selected article.
The Journal (3–4 pages):
Identify the country you selected and provide a brief overview of how social classes function within it.
Describe an historical example of how social class in general has changed over time in this country.
Discuss what caused it to change.
Consider your current social class and describe how your race, ethnicity, and social class are
intertwined.
Do you believe your social class will change? Why or why not?
Support your Journal with specific references to all resources used in its preparation.

 

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your journal easily!

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Step-by-Step Guide for Writing Your Journal

Step 1: Select a Country and Source

• Review this week’s Learning Resources and select one article about social class in another country.

• Take notes on:

  • How social classes are structured in that country

  • Historical examples of class change over time

  • Social, economic, or political factors influencing class

Step 2: Research and Readings

• Review Readings 1, 4, and 7 in The Meaning of Difference. Focus on:

  • Social class concepts

  • Biological definitions of race and ethnicity

  • How class and race interact

Step 3: Outline Your Journal
Organize your journal into clear sections:

1. Introduction

   • Identify the country you selected.

   • Briefly describe social class in that country today.

2. Historical Example of Social Class Change

   • Provide a concrete example of how social class evolved.

   • Explain the causes of this change (e.g., economic shifts, political reform, colonization, industrialization, legal reforms).

3. Analysis of Change

   • Discuss what factors contributed to the evolution of social class.

   • Include societal, political, or cultural influences.

4. Personal Reflection

   • Describe your current social class.

   • Discuss how your race, ethnicity, and social class intersect.

   • Reflect on whether you believe your social class may change and explain why or why not.

5. Conclusion

   • Summarize insights gained from the historical example.

   • Reflect on broader implications for understanding social class and identity.

Step 4: Writing Tips

• Write in first person for the personal reflection sections, but maintain academic tone elsewhere.

• Use examples and evidence from the course text and selected article(s).

• Include in-text citations for all sources.

• Integrate at least 2–3 course readings with your analysis.

Step 5: APA Formatting

• Title page with journal title, name, course, and date.

• Headings for each section (Introduction, Historical Example, Analysis, Personal Reflection, Conclusion).

• Reference page with all sources cited in APA format.

Step 6: Length and Submission

• Write 3–4 pages of content (not including title and reference pages).

• Proofread for grammar, clarity, and APA compliance.

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Suggested Resources:

• Course Text: The Meaning of Difference

• Selected weekly article on social class in another country (from Learning Resources)

• Additional scholarly sources on social class and social construction theory

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