Middle class ideologies: Norms and historical changes.

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Huynh ◽  
Igor Grossmann
Keyword(s):  
Middle Class ◽  
Central Feature ◽  
Intergroup Dynamics ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Historical Trends ◽  
Societal Norms ◽  
Norms And Values ◽  
Behavioral Tendencies ◽  
American Society ◽  
Definition Of

Ever since social scientists became interested in understanding intergroup dynamics, the topic of the “middle class” and its distinction from other groups in society became the central feature of a theoretical and empirical research enterprise. In this overview essay we discuss the beliefs, values and behavioral tendencies attributed to American middle class beliefs, and discuss their implications for understanding class-related norms and values. We end with a reflection over the historical trends that impact societal norms and the definition of middle class in the American society.

Fagin's Coin of Truth: Economic Belief and Representation inOliver Twist

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 122-138
Author(s):  
Keith Clavin
Keyword(s):  
Middle Class ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Central Feature ◽  
Secondary Markets ◽  
Jewish Culture

This essay examines Fagin from Oliver Twist as a villain whose construction joins Victorian anxieties about counterfeiting and economic deceptiveness with separate yet related concerns about the author's role in representing criminal life. Dickens triangulates Fagin's identity through cultural fears about Jewish participation within secondary markets, increased distance between purchaser and seller in an expanding credit economy, and moral ambiguities in respect to fiction-making. Read against non-literary Victorian writing about counterfeiters and crime, Fagin can be understood as a forger of identities and narratives. His ability to exploit interpersonal belief and economic value is a central feature of his villainy and one with precedent in other aspects of Victorian financial life. Dickens critiques capitalist culture by associating it with the imitative, fictional, and Jewish culture. In contrast, he aligns sincerity and truth with the middle-class, normative characters. Throughout, he marks the distinction between these two groups with comic incidence. The marginalised figures are fodder for humour and irony, while the conventional heroes are earnest.

DELIGHTFUL COXCOMBS TO INDUSTRIOUS MEN: FASHIONABLE POLITICS IN CECIL AND PENDENNIS

2002 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 289-304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Nicolay
Keyword(s):  
Nineteenth Century ◽  
Eighteenth Century ◽  
Middle Class ◽  
Upward Mobility ◽  
Late Nineteenth Century ◽  
Class A ◽  
Late Nineteenth ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
A Site ◽  
Trade Office

THOMAS CARLYLE’S CONTEMPTUOUS DESCRIPTION of the dandy as “a Clothes-wearing Man, a Man whose trade, office, and existence consists in the wearing of Clothes” (313) has survived as the best-known definition of dandyism, which is generally equated with the foppery of eighteenth-century beaux and late nineteenth-century aesthetes. Actually, however, George Brummell (1778–1840), the primary architect of dandyism, developed not only a style of dress, but also a mode of behavior and style of wit that opposed ostentation. Brummell insisted that he was completely self-made, and his audacious self-transformation served as an example for both parvenus and dissatisfied nobles: the bourgeois might achieve upward mobility by distinguishing himself from his peers, and the noble could bolster his faltering status while retaining illusions of exclusivity. Aristocrats like Byron, Bulwer, and Wellington might effortlessly cultivate themselves and indulge their taste for luxury, while at the same time ambitious social climbers like Brummell, Disraeli, and Dickens might employ the codes of dandyism in order to establish places for themselves in the urban world. Thus, dandyism served as a nexus for the declining aristocratic elite and the rising middle class, a site where each was transformed by the dialectic interplay of aristocratic and individualistic ideals.

A Hull Normal Based Approach for Cylindrical Size Assessment

2011 ◽  
Vol 133 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Turek ◽  
Sam Anand
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Least Squares ◽  
Measured Data ◽  
Size Determination ◽  
Mathematical Definition ◽  
Dimensioning And Tolerancing ◽  
Normal Method ◽  
Computational Metrology ◽  
American Society ◽  
Definition Of

Digital measurement devices, such as coordinate measuring machines, laser scanning devices, and digital imaging, can provide highly accurate and precise coordinate data representing the sampled surface. However, this discrete measurement process can only account for measured data points, not the entire continuous form, and is heavily influenced by the algorithm that interprets the measured data. The definition of cylindrical size for an external feature as specified by ASME Y14.5.1M-1994 [The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 1995, Dimensioning and Tolerancing, ASME Standard Y14.5M-1994, ASME, New York, NY; The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 1995, Mathematical Definition of Dimensioning and Tolerancing Principles, ASME Standard Y14.5.1M-1994, ASME, New York, NY] matches the analytical definition of a minimum circumscribing cylinder (MCC) when rule no. 1 [The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 1995, Dimensioning and Tolerancing, ASME Standard Y14.5M-1994, ASME, New York, NY; The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 1995, Mathematical Definition of Dimensioning and Tolerancing Principles, ASME Standard Y14.5.1M-1994, ASME, New York, NY] is applied to ensure a linear axis. Even though the MCC is a logical choice for size determination, it is highly sensitive to the sampling method and any uncertainties encountered in that process. Determining the least-sum-of-squares solution is an alternative method commonly utilized in size determination. However, the least-squares formulation seeks an optimal solution not based on the cylindrical size definition [The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 1995, Dimensioning and Tolerancing, ASME Standard Y14.5M-1994, ASME, New York, NY; The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 1995, Mathematical Definition of Dimensioning and Tolerancing Principles, ASME Standard Y14.5.1M-1994, ASME, New York, NY] and thus has been shown to be biased [Hopp, 1993, “Computational Metrology,” Manuf. Rev., 6(4), pp. 295–304; Nassef, and ElMaraghy, 1999, “Determination of Best Objective Function for Evaluating Geometric Deviations,” Int. J. Adv. Manuf. Technol., 15, pp. 90–95]. This work builds upon previous research in which the hull normal method was presented to determine the size of cylindrical bosses when rule no. 1 is applied [Turek, and Anand, 2007, “A Hull Normal Approach for Determining the Size of Cylindrical Features,” ASME, Atlanta, GA]. A thorough analysis of the hull normal method’s performance in various circumstances is presented here to validate it as a superior alternative to the least-squares and MCC solutions for size evaluation. The goal of the hull normal method is to recreate the sampled surface using computational geometry methods and to determine the cylinder’s axis and radius based upon it. Based on repetitive analyses of random samples of data from several measured parts and generated forms, it was concluded that the hull normal method outperformed all traditional solution methods. The hull normal method proved to be robust by having a lower bias and distributions that were skewed toward the true value of the radius, regardless of the amount of form error.

The Impact of the Privacy Rule on Cancer Research: Variations in Attitudes and Application of Regulatory Standards

2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (24) ◽  
pp. 4014-4020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Goss ◽  
Michael P. Link ◽  
Suanna S. Bruinooge ◽  
Theodore S. Lawrence ◽  
Joel E. Tepper ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Research ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Research Committee ◽  
Data Repositories ◽  
Privacy Rule ◽  
Regulatory Standards ◽  
American Society ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Cancer Research Committee designed a qualitative research project to assess the attitudes of cancer researchers and compliance officials regarding compliance with the US Privacy Rule and to identify potential strategies for eliminating perceived or real barriers to achieving compliance. Methods A team of three interviewers asked 27 individuals (13 investigators and 14 compliance officials) from 13 institutions to describe the anticipated approach of their institutions to Privacy Rule compliance in three hypothetical research studies. Results The interviews revealed that although researchers and compliance officials share the view that patients' cancer diagnoses should enjoy a high level of privacy protection, there are significant tensions between the two groups related to the proper standards for compliance necessary to protect patients. The disagreements are seen most clearly with regard to the appropriate definition of a “future research use” of protected health information in biospecimen and data repositories and the standards for a waiver of authorization for disclosure and use of such data. Conclusion ASCO believes that disagreements related to compliance and the resulting delays in certain projects and abandonment of others might be eased by additional institutional training programs and consultation on Privacy Rule issues during study design. ASCO also proposes the development of best practices documents to guide 1) creation of data repositories, 2) disclosure and use of data from such repositories, and 3) the design of survivorship and genetics studies.

India-2021: Middle class in pandemic conditions

2021 ◽  
pp. 14
Author(s):  
Elena A. Bragina
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Middle Class ◽  
Gradual Increase ◽  
Population Group ◽  
Special Significance ◽  
Statistical Estimates ◽  
National Characteristics ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Sociological Studies

The article analyzes the conditions for the formation of the middle class in India. Shown is its important balancing role in the politics and economy of the country. The nature of the definition of "middle class", its special significance in developing countries is considered. Due to the difference in the applied criterion - the initial unit of account (employee, family, population group), due to the weakness of statistical services, the results of sociological studies, statistical estimates of the size of the middle class are often approximate. The work shows that the official and infor-mal (shadow) parts of the middle class coexist in the economies of developing countries in parallel.  The pressure of the COVID-19 pandemic on the development of the Indian middle class is taken into account.  The article examines the national characteristics of the formation of the middle class inherent in India. Due to the unclear definition of the criteria, the inconsistency of its assessments, the insufficient level of work of statistical organizations, information on the size of the middle class is inaccurate (according to various estimates, about 210-360 million people). Attention is paid to the formation of the rural middle class in India, rural residents make up a significant part of it (estimated at 48-66%).The forecast of the recovery of the Indian middle class ispresented. It is assumed that its quantitative growth, which was observed before the pandemic, and a gradual increase in influence will continue and will allow in the future. The topic is relevant, in demand by the Russian reader.

Three Generations of Italians in New York City: Their Religious Acculturation

1969 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 3-17
Author(s):  
Nicholas John Russo
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
New York City ◽  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
York City ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Religious Tradition ◽  
Racial Groups ◽  
Religious Groups ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
American Society

Renewed awareness in ethnic groups as well identified, persisting and active participants in the political and social life of American society imposes a new task on the social scientists to define better and more cogently measure the implications of pluralism and integration. This article by Russo—presenting the findings of his doctoral dissertation: The Religious Acculturation of the Italians in New York City—evidences the fast disappearance of the cultural identity of an immigrant group in relation to their rural religious tradition and behavior. At the same time, it notes the survival of social identity. In the light of this evidence, we can ask ourselves if ethnic religious institutions might have led the immigrants to religious forms more in keeping with their new environment and how the acculturation described should be evaluated. Above all, we are forced to search for those variables which maintain the ethnic groups’ identity even in the third generation. In this way, the process of the inclusion into American society of different ethnic and religious groups may reveal some clues for the more complex test of inclusion of different racial groups.

scholarly journals The Catch 22 syndrome of social scientists in the semiperiphery: Exploratory sociological observations

Sociologija ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 337-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Blagojevic ◽  
Gad Yair
Keyword(s):  
Political Organization ◽  
Academic Excellence ◽  
Free Access ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Scholarly Publications ◽  
The Social ◽  
Catch 22 ◽  
The One ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Problem Setting

This paper describes the parochial predicament of the social sciences by looking at world sociology in its Janus-like face: on the one hand we focus on the intellectual, political, and sometimes even ethical compromises that social scientists in European semiperipheral countries forgo in order to gain acceptance and recognition in world sociology. On the other hand we show how these compromises paradoxically impoverish intellectual potentialities in the major centers of academic excellence too. In the analyses we focus on different interrelated facets of scholarly work where these paradoxes take shape: problem setting and conceptualization, the hierarchy of scholarly publications, the definition of excellence through citation patterns, scientific conferences, and lastly, funding schemes for research. We argue that the social and the political organization of the World System of Science jeopardizes free access to multiple and plural perspectives of the social. A potential source of ideas, theories, and paradigms is hampered by the hierarchical division of labor between scientists in the centers of science and their peers in semiperipheral countries, whose knowledge remains unutilized and sidelined.

scholarly journals The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the Middle Class

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (01) ◽  
pp. 53
Author(s):  
Deborah Combs ◽  
Brian Nichols
Keyword(s):  
Middle Class ◽  
The United States ◽  
Census Bureau ◽  
Tax Rates ◽  
United States Census ◽  
United States Census Bureau ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Jobs Act ◽  
Tax Cuts

This paper explores how the tax cuts and jobs act of 2017 impacts middle-class taxpayers by calculating the tax liability at different levels of income and deductions in 2017 versus 2018. The results confirm the statements supporting the positive effect of the tax change for the middle class. The tax cut and jobs act eliminates personal exemptions, changes the standard deductions at various incomes and family sizes, and lowers marginal tax rates. After providing details of the act, this research examines the definition of the U.S. middle class by using prior research from the Pew Research Center, the United States Census Bureau, and the federal reserve to determine which income levels are attributable to the middle class. Then the tax liability for these income classes is calculated for single and married filing jointly taxpayers in both 2017 and 2018 to determine if the tax cuts and jobs act reduces the tax liability for the middle class. The results show that in almost all scenarios the tax liability in 2018 will be lower than in 2017, regardless of whether standard or itemized deductions are taken. The marriage penalty is no longer applicable, and the new tax act provides a substantial benefit to large families

scholarly journals FEMALE VOICES IN NEPALI NOVELS

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 216-223
Author(s):  
Ashok Thapa ◽  
Sushil Rajbhandari
Keyword(s):  
The Other ◽  
The Political ◽  
Female Characters ◽  
Democratic Socialism ◽  
Psychological Issues ◽  
Societal Norms ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Communist Ideology ◽  
Norms And Values ◽  
Political Spectrum

The female characters created by BP Koirala and Pradip Nepal in Narendra Dai and Swapnil Shahar respectively have been compared and contrasted in this paper. Although Koirala and Nepal represent two poles of the Nepalese political spectrum, with Koirala pursuing democratic socialism doctrine and Nepal following communist ideology, the characters they create in their novels do not completely reflect the political schooling of their creators. The female characters in both the novels share some common traits of characters which most of the women in the Nepalese society, even today, exude, such as compassion, sacrifice, and docility. However, these female characters also display enough courage to rebel against the prevalent patriarchal dominance. The plot of Nepal’s novel is considerably politically colored, and thus the female characters in his novel discuss progressive ideas and even act accordingly. Koirala’s novel on the other hand deals more with socio-psychological issues and these conditions the dispositions of his characters. Nevertheless, his female characters too display rebellious traits and speak back to the patriarchal hegemony both through words and actions. As compared to Nepal, however, Koirala seems to have better succeeded in creating well-rounded female characters that not only abide by the then societal norms and values but also display mutiny against unjust treatment.

scholarly journals Self-Abdication and Otherness in Philip Roth’s The Human Stain (2000)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Assia Mohdeb ◽  
Sofiane Mammeri
Keyword(s):  
Racial Identity ◽  
Identity Formation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Racial Passing ◽  
The Core ◽  
Class Discrimination ◽  
The Subject ◽  
American Society ◽  
Definition Of

Identity, in one of its understanding, signifies a set of characteristics that make up a person’s ethical faithfulness to, identification with, and pride of one’s origin, tradition, and culture. Remaining true to one’s identity and being faithful to the core values of one’s culture is a complicated matter when it comes to a black living in white society like America, where color and racial identity are rudimentary prerequisites in self-definition and naming. Philip Roth’s novel entitled The Human Stain (2000) shows how some black figures undress their black identity to wear the prestigious white one to go onward with life as full selves, to have access to all the privileges the whites enjoy, and, above all, to live without the specter of race and the decisiveness of epidermal signs. The novel calls into question and revision such essentialist notions as other, class,andrace by describing the crises the subject or self undergoes in the light of racial prejudices, center-periphery relations, and class stereotypes. The present paper, then, addresses the act of self-abdication the protagonist, Silk Coleman, carries out to overstep the feeling of otherness and to dodge racial discrimination. The paper looks into the notions of selfhood and Otherness by negotiating the definition of the self and the distortion it undergoes in its encounter with the Other . The study aims at revealing, primarily, the effects of Black racial-passing, a common phenomenon in American society of the first half of the twentieth century, on familial relationships and cultural heritage. It also reveals the weight of gender and class discrimination in the individual’s identity formation and well-being.

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