Class identification in the United States, 1970s--2000s

This dissertation examines class identification in the United States. Class identification is a subjective assessment of the way in which individuals define their social class position. The main goal of this dissertation is to assess the determinants of class identification from the 1970s-2000s. In doing so, this study fills three existing gaps in the class identification literature, including: (1) investigating racial differences in class identification, (2) examining the role of social comparison processes on class identification, and (3) assessing how young adults determine their class identification.;Using data from the 1974-2008 General Social Surveys, I find there to be a class identification shift over the past four decades, with individuals in the 1990s and 2000s being less likely to identify as middle class and more likely to identify as working class than individuals in the 1970s when education and occupational prestige are taken into account. However, this change in class identification does not occur for Blacks. Yet, Whites, compared to Blacks, are still significantly more likely to identify as middle class over time. I also find that socioeconomic characteristics significantly matter more to Whites than Blacks. Although education is significant for Blacks' class identification, socioeconomic characteristics are poor collective predictors of their class identification. However, social comparison processes are important determinants for Blacks', as well as Whites', class identifications.;Finally, this dissertation evaluates the class identifications of young adults. Focusing specifically on 18-35 year olds, I find that never married individuals now represent the majority for this group, increasing nearly 100% since the 1970s. Despite assertions that young adults of today are delaying adulthood, I find that young adults in the 2000s are more likely to live alone, pay their own bills, and work full-time and less likely to incorporate their parents' socioeconomic characteristics as significant determinants of their class identification. Overall, this dissertation has contributed to the reformulation of the class identification conceptual model by showcasing the importance of race in determining class identification and demonstrating the importance of social comparison processes in predicting class identification for all groups.