Social status and class played an important part in both Emma and Clueless.. All of Jane Austen's novels incorporated the issue of class because it was the sole determinant of character in 18th century England. Women with money were accepted in high society and were given the opportunity to marry into even higher class. Those of low class rarely were able to marry above their status level because they had no dowry to offer potential suitors.

Emma Woodhouse was fortunate enough to be born into money; her father was wealthy and provided her with all the extravagancies a young woman could desire. When she met Harriet, Emma refused to believe that her new friend was of a lower class. Elton rejected Harriet because she was poor, Emma treated and looked upon Ms. Bates differently than because she lived in poverty.

Amy Heckerling also emphasized the issue of class in her film. She took an image-conscious society and emphasized its ridiculousness. Both Cher and Dionne in the film had an excessive amount of spending money at their disposal. Physical beauty and material objects determined how you would be viewed by society.

The film compared Cher's wealth with several characters of lower class - Tai, the Hispanic transfer student, who without Cher's fashion advice and reputation, would have been classified as a social 'outcast' by her peers. As well as Travis Berkinstock, the counter part of Mr. Robert Martin in Emma. Travis did not meet with Cher's standards for a sutiable boyfriend. Although he had a crush on Tai, Cher refused to let Tai date him because of his reputation. Towards the end of the film, Cher realized that wealth and beauty were not important in life, what was essential to a happy existence was love and friendship.