The existence of labels and archetypes in society, culture and ultimately college campuses reflect a greater social precedence that Americans willingly concede to and value. Simple and basic examples include designer-everything yuppies and truck-driving hicks. The establishment of labels or groups, however, stem from a much broader and complex structure of the American caste system.

Historically, caste systems have been defined as rigid social structures that branch primarily from wealth, profession, and heredity. Though these distinctions still play significant roles, additional factors contribute to the overall class structure in America. Age, gender, education, affluence, sexual orientation, race and aesthetics are the most important elements that consist of this hierarchy. Interestingly enough, the perception of wealth, age, race, or any other sub-category is often enough to lay claim (or be claimed by) to a specific group.

This can be further illustrated by a student who owns a BMW. Automatic assumptions of wealth, heredity and quite possibly race instantly embody the individual- many times with the assent of the person.

The whole process of understanding the social structure begins at childhood. Children are likely taught to ignore proclaimed superficialities regarding status by teaching that it's OK that not everyone can afford expensive clothes or pay for a top-tier education, and that they are valued just the same. It's a catch-22 when dissolution of the system may be the ultimate goal, yet teaching against it helps to revive its existence. It is also important to note that the development of personal archetypes cannot be helped. Where one grows up, individual family background and history, education, work environment and a constantly shifting world changes the perceptions one has. These perceptions are often valued because it is a way to learn and develop a certain sense of cognition for patterns that we see in individuals and their corresponding groups. One of the most intriguing and developing characteristics of the American social system is the role of aesthetics and beauty factored into individual perception. A recent study conducted by Rice University researchers, using college students specifically, confirms previous research that suggests the attractiveness of an individual significantly affects the judgment of them. Though the definition of "beauty" is highly negotiable, certain attributes of an individual have been linked with attractiveness (e.g. intelligence, leadership and health).

Furthermore, individuals deemed attractive, on average, received higher work pay, higher performance ratings and a greater edge during the interview process. This further helps to explain the obsession of youth and beauty in our culture.

The acceptance and further lineation of this social system by college students can be attributed to the mere reality that it affects them immensely. What college one attends, what one wears and looks like in an interview, what affiliations are acquired during school and what relationships are formed highly influence one's position in the post-college life and work force. Fortunately, the system isn't solidified. The manipulation and molding of it is a constant work in progress, as we change it to better suit our purposes and understanding of the world.

Clearly, many fallacies occur continually within the system, as mislabeling and false judgments can be detrimental to an individual. Its existence, however, is almost necessary or at least unavoidable as it is a natural response to our environment.

Fortunately, the accessibility and freedom allowed within our nation allows the autonomy of changing from almost any social caste to another (or even the refusal to recognize it). One can get an education, change how they look and dress, alter jobs, or even ignore it all and live a simple life in seclusion. This choice or unrestricted system is a unique anomaly contrasted to previous and current social structures in the world. Essentially, the American caste system permits the self-identification of status and the option of completely altering that status. That is, we have the freedom to be who we want to be and the freedom to change that.