The document discusses how the common belief that purchasing expensive cars improves social class status is inaccurate. It argues that changes in consumer demands, automotive production, and economic factors have diminished differences between rich and poor consumers. Specifically, both the rich and poor now demand fuel-efficient vehicles with new technologies. Additionally, public transportation has reduced everyone's need to own a car, especially in cities. The document concludes that one's class cannot be determined by their vehicle or transportation choices anymore.

1. WHO NEEDS A HUMMER?
By:
Samson Cameron

2. Class Status Perception
• Common belief :Cars improve class Status
• Flaunts wealth.
• Others will connect purchases to class
• Necessary to be high-class

3. The Problem
• This ideology isn’t accurate due to
•Changes in Consumer Demands
•Changes in Industrial Production
•Changes in Economic Factors

4. Result of This Idea
The poor are buying cars that they ….
•Can’t afford to
•Own
•Maintain
•Drive
•Don’t need
•Don’t do anything about their class

5. Result of This Idea
The poor are buying cars that they ….
•believe are making them look richer
•But are making them more poor
•They don’t look right in
•Go against their values

6. Changes in Consumer Demand
Old New

7. Changes in Consumer Demand (Poor)
Old
• Got you from one
place to another
• Have a reasonable
price
New
• Has to have
• a good radio
• GPS
• Excellent Mileage
• Seating for 6

8. Changes in Consumer Demand (Rich)
Old
• Has to be the Best
of the Best
• No one else’s car
can be like their car
• Shows my wealth
New
• Has to have
• Excellent Mileage
• Environmental
Safe
• Not hurt their
wallets

9. What Does This Mean
The Richer consumers aren’t purchasing
any vehicles different than what the Poorer
consumers are buying.

10. Automotive Production
Old New

11. Automotive Production
Old
• New car every 12
Minutes with
• Barebones
Essentials
• No variation
New
• New car every ½ a
Minute with
• Infused Complex
Technologies
• Plenty of variation

12. Automotive Production and This Ideology
• lower class buying cars consider to be
higher class
• Rich buying the same cars but have more
money in pockets afterwards
• Leaving no differences between class
because
• Getting the same
• Getting the same socially constructed level
of Car

13. Economic Changes
• In the Past
• Little to no mass public Transportation
• More urbanized living
• Always necessary to own cars

14. Economic Changes
• Now
• Mass public Transportation is everywhere
• More City Living lifestyles
• Not always necessary to own cars

15. What does this mean to this idea
• You cant link being poor
• Not owning a Car
• Riding the bus
• This is due to
• Increase of cost to own in cities
• The rich aren’t driving in cities

16. What does this all mean
• Cars improve class Status isn’t true
•Due to
•Changes in Consumer Demands
•Changes in Industrial Production
•Changes in Economic Factors

17. And What?
• No one should
• Believe this ideology
• Practice this ideology
• Discriminate because of this Idea
• Or trying to define class using this Idea