Gentry (U.S.)

The gentry of the United States is a largely professional middle class, with wide variations of income and wealth, ranging anywhere from lower-middle and middle income (in academia and in some non-profit organizations) to upper-income. Since most members of the American gentry lie within the upper-middle income and wealth ranges, this group is more often described as an upper-middle rather than a middle class. Members of the gentry are, by and large, not members of the hereditary upper class, and they usually lack the elite social connections required for membership in "society functions". Some scholars, most notably David Brooks, have theorized that the gentry has established itself as a "new upper class", rendering the old one ("Society") obsolete, but the general consensus of sociologists is that this has not yet happened.

Related Topics:
United States - Professional - Middle class - Income - Wealth - Academia - Non-profit - Upper class - Society function - David Brooks - Society

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~