Who Rules America?: The Corporate Community and the Upper Class - Key Takeaways

The American Upper Class: Institutions and Power

  • Definition and Measurement: G. William Domhoff argues for a cohesive U.S. upper class with disproportionate power. Sociologists measure social class using objective indicators like Socioeconomic Status (SES) (income, education, occupation) and subjective indicators (attitudes, values, consumption).

  • Institutionalized Lifestyle: The upper class maintains a distinctive lifestyle through interrelated social institutions that organize members' lives from infancy to old age, ensuring socialization across generations.

  • Exclusive Education System: Members receive a unique education from preschool through university (1%1\% of U.S. teenagers attend upper-class private high schools). This system includes:

    • High-status preschools and private day schools.

    • Rural boarding schools (often