Viewing American class divisions through Facebook and MySpace

Viewing American class divisions through Facebook and MySpace : "In sociology, Nalini Kotamraju has argued that constructing arguments around 'class' is extremely difficult in the United States. Terms like 'working class' and 'middle class' and 'upper class' get all muddled quickly. She argues that class divisions in the United States have more to do with lifestyle and social stratification than with income. In other words, all of my anti-capitalist college friends who work in cafes and read Engels are not working class just because they make $14K a year and have no benefits. Class divisions in the United States have more to do with social networks (the real ones, not FB/MS), social capital, cultural capital, and attitudes than income. Not surprisingly, other demographics typically discussed in class terms are also a part of this lifestyle division. Social networks are strongly connected to geography, race, and religion; these are also huge factors in lifestyle divisions and thus 'class.'"