Upper middle class
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Template:Limitedgeographicscope Image:GMC Denali.JPG Image:NYTimes Class.jpg The upper-middle class is a sub-label sometimes applied by sociologists to the social group of wealthier or more privileged members of the middle class. This is in contrast to the term lower middle class used for the group at the other end of the middle class scale and regular middle class. There is considerable debate as to how the upper middle class might be defined (whether by education, wealth, or the prestige or skill level of their profession).
In the US the most commonly accepted defenition of upper-middle class is a household whose income exceeds $65k a year and whose net worth exceeds $250k.Template:Fact Another commonly used method defines the upper-middle class as those fitting into the second to the top quintile.
According to many sociologists the terms "lower middle class" simply refers to relatively materially wealthy members of the lower class, in which case the term "upper middle class" may simply represent the true middle class, or conversely when "lower middle class refers to people who are a station above the working class, and thus the real middle class and the upper middle class meaning something much more affluent). According to these defenitions the commonly referred to upper-middle class is labeled as being the "True middle class" and the commonly accepted lower upper-class is defined as upper-middle class.
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Professions
One can easily assert that certain professions can be safely judged as "upper middle class" stations in life, such as: Physician, Lawyer, University Professor, Corporate Executive, Architect, Engineer, mid to large Business Owner, and of course, high level Civil Servants. Generally these people earn a comfortable living that in American terms is usually well into six figures per annum. Most own large homes in affluent suburbs of major cities, or reside in smart urban residences usually near major universities. People from this station in life have an enormously high regard for higher education, and probably more than any other socio-economic class, strive to educate themselves and their children at only the most prestigious universities available at home or abroad. They place a high value on foreign travel, the arts, and high culture in general. The majority regard themselves as Liberal on social issues, but some are Conservative when it comes to fiscal matters. This is the reverse of how most working class people view the world, which explains why these two groups clash more than the lower middle class and the working class.
Material items of high prestige within this class are foreign as well as domestic made luxury automobiles, fine tailoring, high-end furniture, memberships to country clubs or other exclusive organizations, and restaurants specializing in haute-cuisine. Most sociologists maintain that one should make the distinction of two separate sets within the upper middle class, and they are a Professional Class and a Managerial Class. The Professional Class is composed of highly educated specialists such as Doctors, Lawyers and Academics, while the Managerial Class is made up mostly of mid to high level Corporate Executives. The professionals generally are more liberal in their outlook and much more urban and chic in their tastes, while the managers tend to be more conservative, materialistic and suburban in their preferences.
American upper middle class
There are two definitions of Upper-middle class in the U.S. The first definition classifies all households with a net worth over $250,000 and with an income of $65,000 or more as upper-middle class, about 18.2% of all households. The second definition describes all housholds ranked as part of both the fourth net worth quintile and fourth income quintile.
English upper middle class
This is a very specific class in England and is, in many respects, peculiar to England as its characteristics do not fit easily into the social gradations of the other constituent parts of the United Kingdom.
In England this class of people is less easily defined and personal wealth is not a necessary criterion. Frequently its members are members of professions, (traditionally law and medicine), although merchants too were able to penetrate its ranks. However, being member of a profession does not automatically elevate a person to this class and it is quite common for an upper middle class person not to work in a traditional profession.
Instead, accent, language, education (usually at a good public school or grammar school), family background and understatement, in both behaviour and taste, are defining charateristics of the upper middles. Although not of the landowning class, its members may aspire to the characteristics of, or be described as, gentlemen.
The character of Charles Ryder in Evelyn Waugh's novel, Brideshead Revisited is a fine example of an early twentieth century upper middle class Englishman. His language, accent and manners are similar to an aristocrat's but in place of the aristocrat's self-assuredness there is an air of slight uncertainty. A more modern day example is Charles in Four Weddings and a Funeral, played by Hugh Grant.
In terms of language, an English upper middle class person would generally use the words 'napkin', 'lavatory' (or more commonly now the slightly less patrician 'loo'), 'sofa', 'sitting-room', 'pudding' and 'sorry' or 'what' in preference to 'serviette', 'toilet', 'couch', 'lounge', 'dessert' and 'pardon' used by the classes 'below' them.