In this text Mantsios discusses how class in America functions and affects an individual’s life. He believes that people do not like talking about class or labeling themselves as being part of a certain class. Moreover, he presents an argument of how class affects schooling, level of educational attainment, employment options, and quality of life. After reading this text, please reflect by responding to the following questions.

1. According to Gregory Mantsios, why do people in the United States find it difficult to talk about class? (p. 144)
2. How does Mantsios distinguish between the categories of “myth” and “reality” in his essay? What does this distinction reveal? (pp. 145-147)
3. In the face of powerful class myths circulating in U.S. culture, Mantsios provides an enormous amount of data about how class functions. What do you think is the most convincing evidence in this essay? (p. 148-152)
4. Reread the details of each American Profile and describe the main differences as you understand them. What makes the life of Harold S. Browning so distinct from the lives of Bob Farrell and Cheryl Mitchell? (pp. 148-152)
5. Mantsios observes: “Oppression in one sphere is related to the likelihood of oppression in another,” a relation reflected in the census data outlined in all of his charts. Explain what you think he means by this. (p. 158)