Part 4/12:
Historically, this ambiguity has persisted. In the late 1930s, a staggering 90% of Americans viewed themselves as middle class. As income inequality has worsened over the decades, especially in light of the soaring costs of living, this self-identification raises questions. What does it mean to be "middle class" in a landscape where student debt and rising living costs create precarious financial situations? If today's middle class is struggling merely to pay bills, how do we reconcile that with the lofty aspirations that once defined it?