In society, there are examples of people who have been able to transcend their class. For example, basketball stars like Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas were able to ascend from abject poverty to extreme wealth through their athletic achievements. However, despite their wealth one can reasonably raise the question of whether these individuals were ever able to transcend their class. Indeed, "transcendence" implies that one has completely dissociated himself from his prior class, and this is unlikely or perhaps even impossible. The very fact that people constantly laud how Michael Jordan has gone from "rags to riches" exemplifies how one can never shed their original class identity. In this regard, the question of whether one can transcend their class depends in large part on the specific definition of transcendence, class status, and the attributes of the constituent classes.
Invariably, if one wishes to transcend class, they must adopt the values of the dominant class. Unfortunately, this typically involves...
Although someone can become wealthier, they cannot shed the vestiges of their initial class status. Ultimately, while it is possible in the United States for one to transcend one's class, this does not make the U.S. significantly more progressive than India. In both cultures, the dominant culture cannot be overthrown, and the rare few who are able to ascend the class ladder do so only through submitting to the dominant class. However, they are the exceptions who prove the rule and even these individuals never shed the vestiges of their class and to this extent, class status can never be transcended.
References
Berreman, G.D. (1960, September). Caste in India and the United States. The American Journal of Sociology, 66(2), 120-127.
Kroeger, B. (2003). Passing: When People Can't Be Who They Are. Cambridge: Perseus Book Group.
