Madeline Leung Coleman

You know, she's had so much help, but she's very confused about what class she belongs to. She says, I can't tell. Am I a trust fund kid or am I middle class? I don't even know what middle class is in Manhattan.

Yeah, part of it is class resentment. Part of it is everyone's own struggles to figure out how to make it in a city that is so expensive and so hostile to people who are not extremely wealthy. And so if you know someone who, you know, by the way, you love them. You know, they're your good friend a lot of the time when you're having these questions go through your head.

Yeah, part of it is class resentment. Part of it is everyone's own struggles to figure out how to make it in a city that is so expensive and so hostile to people who are not extremely wealthy. And so if you know someone who, you know, by the way, you love them. You know, they're your good friend a lot of the time when you're having these questions go through your head.

Yeah, part of it is class resentment. Part of it is everyone's own struggles to figure out how to make it in a city that is so expensive and so hostile to people who are not extremely wealthy. And so if you know someone who, you know, by the way, you love them. You know, they're your good friend a lot of the time when you're having these questions go through your head.

And you just want to know why. Why is it that they're able to be in this situation when other people you know are not?

And you just want to know why. Why is it that they're able to be in this situation when other people you know are not?

And you just want to know why. Why is it that they're able to be in this situation when other people you know are not?

Finding a place to live is the biggest one. And it isn't just about buying. It's also about renting. Landlords demand that you make an income that is usually about 40 times the monthly rent, which is crazy and doesn't actually indicate anything about what you can afford. But as a result, a lot of people can't prove that, so they need to get a guarantor. That will often be a parent.

Finding a place to live is the biggest one. And it isn't just about buying. It's also about renting. Landlords demand that you make an income that is usually about 40 times the monthly rent, which is crazy and doesn't actually indicate anything about what you can afford. But as a result, a lot of people can't prove that, so they need to get a guarantor. That will often be a parent.

Finding a place to live is the biggest one. And it isn't just about buying. It's also about renting. Landlords demand that you make an income that is usually about 40 times the monthly rent, which is crazy and doesn't actually indicate anything about what you can afford. But as a result, a lot of people can't prove that, so they need to get a guarantor. That will often be a parent.

that are my age had help from their parents in Subway. And at the same time, salaries obviously have not increased to anywhere near what they would need to to cover this kind of thing, especially when you're just starting out. But then it really goes all the way through life of the generations we're talking about.

that are my age had help from their parents in Subway. And at the same time, salaries obviously have not increased to anywhere near what they would need to to cover this kind of thing, especially when you're just starting out. But then it really goes all the way through life of the generations we're talking about.

that are my age had help from their parents in Subway. And at the same time, salaries obviously have not increased to anywhere near what they would need to to cover this kind of thing, especially when you're just starting out. But then it really goes all the way through life of the generations we're talking about.

So we spoke to people who are in Gen X through Gen Z. And, you know, even the people who are in their 40s or even in their early 50s, They say that they have to rely on their parents to help them pay for daycare. Or if their kids need to go to a specialty private school, then their parents will help them pay for that.

So we spoke to people who are in Gen X through Gen Z. And, you know, even the people who are in their 40s or even in their early 50s, They say that they have to rely on their parents to help them pay for daycare. Or if their kids need to go to a specialty private school, then their parents will help them pay for that.

So we spoke to people who are in Gen X through Gen Z. And, you know, even the people who are in their 40s or even in their early 50s, They say that they have to rely on their parents to help them pay for daycare. Or if their kids need to go to a specialty private school, then their parents will help them pay for that.

It could be covering the space between when you lose your job and when you get a new job. I just was recently laid off.

It could be covering the space between when you lose your job and when you get a new job. I just was recently laid off.

It could be covering the space between when you lose your job and when you get a new job. I just was recently laid off.

Guilt and shame are definitely the through line, but they emerge in ways that are kind of surprising. You might think that it only would be that people feel guilty that they have more than others or that they're ashamed because they think it makes them part of some kind of reviled class of some kind.