While poverty is studied from all possible viewpoints, wealthier classes are seldom the object of sociological analyses. This article discusses the causes of this imbalance, starting with the reluctance of sociologists. Methodological obstacles result partly from the social background of researchers, who feel more comfortable studying the poor population and social movements, and become hesitant faced with the affluent classes. To this subjective aspect should be added a second issue: the wealthy classes' lack of interest or refusal to provide information, making the evaluation of wealth into a complex exercise. The subject also suffers from theoretical and social prejudice, with low academic legitimacy; researchers are often stricken by a deontological unease that hampers their relationship with their object of study. Social distancing is finally translated into an ambiguous relationship of domination.
social theory; social classes; sociology of the bourgeoisie; sociology of the dominant class; social class research methodology