Introduction: What is a class? The term “class” has been interpreted in many ways by sociologists. A popular interpretation comes from Karl Marx, who explained “class” in a relatively narrower economic perspective. According to Marx (1966), there are classes with “the identity of incomes and sources of income” (p. 5), and differences in incomes lead to the formation of a dominant class that owns the means of production and an opposing class that possesses not to do so (Bendix & Lipset, pp.6-11). Therefore, for Marx, the economic factor is, and can only be, the cause of the formation of classes. Another interpretation was made by Max Weber. Weber (1966) agrees with Marx that ownership of property would lead to the formation of classes. However, apart from this, power and prestige also play a vital role in the constitution of a class. With property, power or prestige, one group of people enjoys a higher status than others, and this therefore forms different classes. Because of the many interpretations of “class,” Ossowski (1966) generalized several conceptions of social class into four characteristics: (1) the vertical order of social class; (2) distinction of permanent class interests; (3) class consciousness; and (4) class boundaries and barriers in social relationships (P. 92). Given the four characteristics of classes, this essay will first discuss the importance of social classes in terms of their impact on life chances, and then analyze how the type of social stratification is reinforced in different ways.Part I. Why does class matter? Class has undoubtedly been instrumental in influencing our life chances. According to Weber (as cited in Henslin, 2010, P. 238), class position can determine life opportunities, meaning that an individual's life will follow a certain... middle of paper... class jobs ( Pages 100-116). New York, NY: Routledge.J.M. Henslin. (2010). Global stratification. Sociology: a concrete approach (pp. 228-259). Lareau, A. (2008). Observe, wait and decide when to intervene. In L. Weis (ed.), The functioning of the classroom (pp. 117-133). New York, NY: Routledge.Marx, K. (1966). A note on the lessons. In R. Bendix, & S. M. Lipset, (2nd ed.), Class, status, and power (pp. 5-6). United States: the free press. (Original work published 1962).Max, W. (1966). Class, status and party. In R. Bendix, & S. M. Lipset, (2nd ed.), Class, status, and power (pp. 21-28). United States: the free press. (Original work published in 1946). Ossowski, S. (1966). Different conceptions of social classes. In R. Bendix, & S. M. Lipset, (2nd ed.), Class, status, and power (pp. 86-96). United States: the free press. (Original published work 1963).