The order model's conception of social
class varies greatly from the conflict
model's conception of social class. Both
do, however, think of occupation as a big
factor.

The order model ranks classes by what
occupation a person is in. On page 263
there is a chart that shows the "Prestige
Rankings of Selected Occupations." This
chart puts a physician at 86 and a
garbage collector at 28. That is ranked
just on OPINION of what random people
see as the "high class" jobs and the dirty
work. (In my ideal world, I think the
garbage collectors and the janitors
should be paid MORE because they're
doing jobs that not everyone would be
willing to do. You'd never catch me
working at a city dump—too many flies...
and the STENCH!!!!)

The conflict model sees occupation as
important, but relating to whether a
person is in charge, or is being bossed
around. What gets me is the difference of
where a pro-football player would be
ranked. Personally, I see them as being
very upper-class because they're
LOADED and can afford anything they
want. The order model agrees with me.
(Though I am very much more a conflict
order thinker....) The conflict order sees
professional athletes as workers, thus
putting them in the working class. It is
true that they work for somebody and are
given orders, but GEEZ... the money! I
think they could make a class of their
own.

Overall, I see the conflict theory as more
down to earth. The order theory seems
like it's just too easy of an explanation of
inequality. Too simple. It seems like if that
were the case, everything could be fixed
and everybody SHOULD be happy with
their individual situations. However we all
know that this is not the case!

According to the order theory, my military
family would be in the upper-lower class.
My husband is in the army where they
aren't paid well at all. He has superiors
and is required to address them as
Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Sir. And if he is
given an order, by golly, he best hop to it!

On the other hand, according to the
conflict theory (which I like much better)
we would be placed in either the working
class, or the Professional-Managerial
Class. These are far from each other but
it's hard to decifer. Everyone in the army is
a different rank. My husband is an E5, or
Sergeant. He has authority over all the
E4s and below. He can give them orders
and even grant them days off. However,
he is under the supervision of E6s
through E9s (not to mention officers [the
E stands for "enlisted" If you're an officer
you would be an O1 through O12...? I'd
have to check.]) So he is, in that sense, a
worker. He still has to answer to his
superiors and get clearance from them.

Jim, where do you think military falls into
social class?