Uneasy Street

by Sherman, Rachel

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  INDEX

  Acker, Joan, 195

  activism, political, 62, 134, 142–43, 152, 153, 234

  affluence, 232–33; anxiety linked to, 20–25, 50; and freedom from economic anxiety, 37–38, 159; normalization of (see normalization of affluence); as subject of research, 11–18, 245; as term, 41, 42, 266n10

  African Americans, 15, 39–42, 55–56, 67, 132, 136, 219; and exposure to diversity, 215, 221–22, 275n16; giving back and, 219, 270n9; and work as value, 268n24. See also race and ethnicity

  American Dream, 5–10, 12, 22, 59–61, 70–71, 232, 267n10

  anxiety: affluence linked to, 20–25, 50; downward or upward social orientation and, 30, 38–39; earners and, 22, 26, 38–39, 67–70, 90, 179, 233–34, 268n13; economic climate and, 6, 37–38, 90, 151–52, 233–34; and financial insecurity or risk, 39, 67–70, 73, 151–52; freedom from economic, 37–38, 46; inheritors and, 26, 152, 179, 268n13; interview process and exploration of, 233–34; job insecurity and, 6, 22, 38, 179, 194–95; and marital disagreements over money, 110, 156, 158–59, 177; parenting and, 22, 198, 226–27, 275n11; privilege deflected by, 69, 227; provider role and, 67–68

  appreciation: and appropriate inhabiting of wealth, 228–29; awareness of privilege and, 47–48, 126–30, 199, 207–9, 212, 231; and giving back, 212; gratitude, 76, 113, 127, 231; and legitimate entitlement, 23–24, 76, 113, 126–27, 131, 228; of luxuries, 127, 205

  Baltzell, E. Digby, 12

  body labor, 99, 168

  boundaries, symbolic, 60–61, 74, 81, 83, 94, 103, 104

  Bourdieu, Pierre, 121, 199, 247

  budgets, 69, 98, 120, 122, 161–63, 173, 176–78, 183, 224

  charity. See giving back

  children: awareness and appreciation of privilege as parental goal, 207–10, 212, 216, 228–29; care of (see nannies; stay-at-home parents); college expenses, responsibility for, 29, 66, 68, 167, 223–24; constraint as parental strategy, 198, 203–7, 223–24, 227–28, 275n11; and consumption, 99–101, 118–19; as contribution to society, 123; enrichment for (expansion), 199, 204, 224, 228–29, 235; entitlement as parental concern, 24, 198–202, 227–29, 275n11; and exposure as parental strategy, 102–3, 211–14, 217–22; financial provisions for, 107, 151, 186, 197; and legitimate privilege, 198–99, 208, 228–29; parenting as morally worthy labor, 61, 79, 81–82; school choice (public vs. private), 5, 20, 102–3, 208, 214, 217–22, 261n29; spending on, 99–101, 118–19, 154; “symbolic deprivation” and, 227–28, 275n11; and wealth as challenge, 210; work ethic and, 59, 198, 201–3, 222–27

  class, socioeconomic: “class-blindness” or U.S. as “classless,” 4–6, 11, 22; defining, 262n33, 263n48, 266n1; family of origin as referent for, 31–32, 47, 50–51, 62–63, 117–18; and morality as means of exclusion, 11; in political discourse, 5–8, 11; and privilege, 28–32; reciprocity and class relations, 124–25, 130–33, 202, 228, 240, 270n6. See also middle class; upper class; working class

  Clinton, Hillary, 10, 31

  clothing: consumption choices and shopping for, 97; gender and expenditures on, 99; during interviews, 249–50; as luxury item, 112–13, 115, 221–22; and social identity, 116, 130–31, 205–6

  confidentiality of research process, 19, 26, 240, 255–56, 272n6

  conservatism, 32, 123

  conspicuous consumption, 8, 11, 121. See also ostentation

  consumption: conspicuous or competitive, 8, 11, 38, 115–17, 120–21, 253 (see also ostentation); “consumer” as pejorative term, 97; downward or upward social orientation and, 92–93, 117–18; “experts” hired to guide, 119–20; family of origin and spending styles, 36, 158; freedom of, 45–46, 49–50; frugality and, 60, 97–98, 158; judgments of other’s, 8–9, 93, 104, 112–14, 121, 233; as labor (consumption work), 17, 61, 79, 83, 155, 159–60, 163, 168–71, 194; limits on (self-imposed), 8, 96–101, 107–9, 113–14, 120–21; middle class, as hallmark of, 36, 232; and modest desires, 23–24, 36; as moral activity, 24, 94–96, 108–10, 120–21, 166, 173, 231, 271n18 (see also prudence, financial); as “normal” and ordinary, 4, 23–24, 36–37, 45–46, 92–96, 105–17, 120–21, 207–10; “pathway consumption,” 276; of sexual and embedded capital, 261n28; and shame or guilt, 50–51, 87, 105–6, 110; as social responsibility and, 151;
treats or self-indulgence, 101, 111–13, 120, 155, 201, 205, 208–10, 231; unexpected crisis and shifts in, 95

  consumption work, 17, 61, 79, 159–60, 163, 168–71, 194, 268n20

  covetousness, 38, 110–11, 198

  cultural capital, 15, 31, 104, 216–17, 249–50, 263n48

  Daniels, Arlene Kaplan, 61, 273n14

  De Blasio, Bill, 13, 43–44

  dependence. See independence

  deprivation, relative, 31–32, 38, 110, 211

  desires: and luxuries or treats, 108–11, 120; as modest and ordinary, 23–24, 35, 94, 108–9, 176–77, 232

  discomfort with wealth, 39–42, 93–94, 117; and avoidance of ostentation, 3, 150; consumption choices and, 50–51, 87, 105–6, 110 (see also luxuries); and domestic employees, 48, 105–6, 116–17; and downward social orientation, 30, 105; inequality and, 10–11, 149, 230–31; inheritors and, 26, 60, 71–73, 71–78, 122–23, 151–52; and middle class/working background, 26, 50–51; as motivation for work, 73–74; “new money” and, 120; normalization of affluence and, 3, 117, 142; philanthropic “giving back” and, 141–42, 149–54; and privilege, 20–21, 39, 41, 60, 234; reciprocity and, 132–33; and social isolation, 56, 105; stay-at-home parents and, 60–61, 82, 84–85, 173–74; talk of money as uncomfortable, 5–6, 18–22, 40–41, 50–51, 54–55, 72, 87, 130–31, 215, 240, 251, 258, 265; as unproductive, 122; and upward mobility, 26; and upward social orientation, 30. See also anxiety; symbolic boundaries

  display of wealth. See ostentation

  distinction, as motive for consumption. See status competition

  distributional justice, 233–37

  diversity: downward or upward orientation and, 29–32, 48–50; “economic diversity” as value, 102–3; and exposure as parental strategy, 102–3, 222; of interviewees, 26; as value of the “new elite,” 14–15, 20

  domestic employees, 35; discomfort with, 48, 54–55, 105–6, 116–17; maternalism, 35, 266n6; reciprocity and relationship with, 270n6; and self-reliance, 86; as social interlocutors, 105–6; stay-at-home parents and, 85–86, 179, 266n6; structural inequality in relationships with, 35, 48, 266n6; wages and value of, 35, 134–35. See also nannies

  downward orientation, 21, 23, 44–52, 56–57, 62; attitudes toward taxes, 147–48; and awareness of privilege, 29–32; consumption choices and, 92–93; and discomfort with wealth, 105; and diversity of social networks, 32, 48–50; philanthropy and, 125, 139–40

  earmarking, 101. See also treats (self-indulgent consumption)

  earned wealth: and anxiety, 22, 26, 38–39, 67–70, 90, 179, 233–34, 268n13; and entitlement, 58–59, 61–62, 71–72, 157, 159; gender and provider role, 160–61; and merit, 64, 230; and moral worth, 32, 268n13; and prudence, 69–70; self-sufficiency and, 62–63; work and legitimacy of, 9–10, 58–63, 70–71, 74–76, 81, 83, 90, 122–23, 127, 146, 157, 159, 196, 223–24, 234, 267n3

  economic crisis of 2008, 67–69

  education: as class identifier, 262n33; and economic inequality, 7, 12, 25, 65; elites and access to, 12, 20, 62–63, 208, 219, 233; giving back and educational institutions, 135–36, 138, 140–41, 142, 150, 152, 271n15; of interviewees, 15; school choice (public vs. private), 5, 20, 102–3, 208, 214, 217–22, 221, 261n29; as value, 208, 225

  elites: definition of term, 13–14, 263nn48–49, 263nn51; diversity within, 12, 263n48; and education, 12, 20, 62–63, 208, 219, 233; “new elite,” 14–15, 20; “old money,” 12, 14–15, 252, 271n14; “1 percent,” 263n48, 263n49, 263n51; self-conceptions of, 255; as social class, 261n29, 263n48; as subject of research, 11–15, 242–43

  entitlement, 250; appreciation and legitimation of, 24, 76, 113, 126–27, 131, 228; avoidance of, 23–25, 56–57, 61–62, 96, 199, 231; children and, 24, 59, 198–207, 223–24, 227–29, 275n11; cultural logic of, 232; definitions of, 23–25, 199; earmarking and, 86–87, 101; gendered contributions and, 158–60, 194–95; giving back and legitimation of, 123–24; individual merit and, 230, 233, 236, 271n22; labor of lifestyle and, 78–85; legal entitlement to marital property, 175–76, 180, 185–86, 189; and luxury services, 127, 240, 269n11, 270n11; within marriage (see married couples); as moral concern, 9, 23–25, 120–21, 127, 198–99, 232–33, 270n4; reciprocity and, 130–35, 270n6; risk and, 67–70, 226–27; symbolic deprivation and, 227–28, 275n11; unpaid labor as contribution, 24, 61, 81–82, 86–91, 157–60, 163–65; work and legitimate, 9–10, 58–63, 70–71, 74–76, 81, 83, 90, 127, 146, 157, 159, 196, 223–24, 234, 267n3

  envy, 38, 110–11, 198

  equality, as moral value, 5, 52, 133, 233–37; reciprocity and, 124–25, 130–35, 202, 240; and U.S. as “classless,” 4–6, 11, 22

  estate taxes, 147, 149, 271n20

  euphemisms for wealth and poverty, 41

  exposure, as parenting strategy, 198–99; African Americans and, 215, 275n; awareness of privilege as objective, 211–10; consumer environment as context for, 210–17; and diversity as a value, 213–14, 216–17; and expansion or enrichment for children, 216–19, 223–24, 228; school choice and, 217–22; to social others, 210–17; travel and, 216–17; work and, 222–27

  Fitzgerald, F. Scott, 8, 9

  Franklin, Ben, 260n17

  frugality (financial prudence), 60, 97–101, 151–52, 170

  Gaztambide-Fernández, Rubén, 213

  gender: and control of marital finances, 158, 180–81, 183–85, 189; cost of “femininity,” 111–13; division of labor and, 17, 159–63, 180, 190–96; duel-earner couples and gender roles, 190–92; “giving back” as gendered activity, 78, 125–26, 136–40; of inheritors, 160, 180, 183–85, 273n16; male consumption of sexual and embedded capital, 261n28; married couples and traditional roles, 159–63, 180–81, 183–84, 189, 191–92, 194–95; same-sex marriages and gender roles, 88, 189; spending as gendered activity, 99–101, 170; upper-class and subordination of women, 12, 20; and value of work, 24, 61, 88, 157, 159

  “gig” economy, 6

  giving back: activism and, 140–42, 151, 152; as cultural value, 123–24; familial responsibilities as priority, 133, 139, 145, 149, 151; as gendered, 78, 125–26, 136–40; “giving it all away,” 151, 152–53; identity and, 78, 124–26; inheritors and, 139–40, 152–53; limits to, 135, 143–46, 151–54; moral goodness and, 20, 23, 230–31; as obligation, 23, 76–77, 137–40, 150–51; parental encouragement of, 140, 211–13; as public acknowledgement of privilege, 124–26; and self-deprivation, 153–54; and structural inequality, 25, 122–26, 140–41, 149–54; as visible display of wealth, 124–25, 142–43, 153. See also philanthropy; volunteering

  Golden Rule, 124–25, 131. See also reciprocity

  “good people,” 60, 132, 154, 157, 198, 231, 252; characteristics of, 22–25; physical health and, 260n17; raising children to be, 227–29

  gratitude. See appreciation

  The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald), 8, 9

  guilt. See discomfort with wealth

  habitus (per Boudieu), 199, 228–29

  “help,” family and financial, 64, 142

  “high net worth individual” HNWI, 10

  Hochschild, Arlie R., 272n4

  home ownership, 16–17, 54, 95

  home renovation, 46; budgets for, 161–62, 173; and consumer decisions of research interviewees, 16–17; legitimation of consumer choices, 98, 100–101; as major expense, 95–96; as practice spending money, 120; responsibilities as gendered, 161–62; and study of consumption choices, 14

  hotels, luxury, 240–41

  Howard, Adam, 213

  identity: clothing and social, 116, 130–31, 205–6; “giving back” and, 123–26, 136–39, 142–43; as habitus, 199; as independent of wealth, 96; middle class, identification with, 23–24, 36, 43, 121, 232–33; self-identification as wealthy, 142; symbolic boundaries and self-identification, 60–61; wealth and loss of, 129–30; work and self-validation or, 60–61, 70–71, 85, 90, 235; working class, identification with, 47

  immigration: immigrant heritage and legitimation, 70

  independence, 22, 24; dependency with
in marital relationships, 38–39, 63–64, 72, 90, 167, 176–79, 189, 193, 196, 272n2; financial self-sufficiency, 22, 58–59; inheritors and, 71–72, 180; as personal achievement, 62–63; and risk, 67–68; as value, 71–72; work and self-reliance, 22, 58–59, 62–63, 66, 71–74, 86, 181

  inequality: and deprivation as relative, 155–57; and discomfort with wealth, 10–11, 149, 230–31; domestic employees and structural, 35, 48, 266n6; and entitlement as legitimate, 25, 122; “giving back” and, 25, 122–26, 140–41, 149–54; as inevitable and unavoidable, 41, 44, 135, 150–51; legitimation of, 231–34; New York and the “inequality crisis,” 13; occupational insecurity and, 6–7; “1 percenters” and, 7, 13–14, 40–41, 259n10, 264n51; as political issue, 10–11, 13, 43–44; reciprocity and denial or erasure of, 124–25, 133–34; redistribution and, 152–53; social costs of, 7; structural, 25, 41, 44, 48, 52, 65–67, 126, 135, 149–54, 233–36; white privilege, 66–67, 233

  inhabitance of privilege or wealth, 25, 32, 90–91, 102–3, 228–29, 230–33

  inherited wealth, 14, 60–61, 188; and anxiety, 26, 152, 179, 268n13; as destructive, 75; discomfort with, 26, 60, 71–78, 122–23, 151–52; family and financial “help,” 58–59, 66–67; gender of inheritors, 160, 179–80; as morally suspect, 32, 63, 230, 268n13; and obligation to spend on others, 76–77; and paid work, 73–75; prudence and, 73; self-sufficiency and, 42–43, 58–59, 71–72; stereotypes of laziness and, 72–73; taxes on, 147, 149

  insecurity, economic: expressed by interviewees, 39; freedom from fear as advantage of wealth, 46; interviewees’ anxiety about, 39, 67–68; and occupational, 6–7; upward orientation and, 30, 38. See also risk, financial

  intelligence, 5, 60, 62–63, 70

  intergenerational wealth. See inherited wealth

  internal conflicts, 2

  Johnson, Heather Beth, 267n10, 271n22

  judging the rich, 8–10, 13, 20–21, 25–28, 44, 50, 104, 121, 232, 233, 256–58

  Keister, Lisa, 259n10, 264n51