Social Stratification
A person's class status can be harder to identify than race or ethnic differences. However, I believe class status is an important indicator of what kind of opportunities lie ahead for people in various class systems, although, I don't necessarily agree with the current class structure. Class places people into a type of structure which goes against the principal belief 'that in America all are created equal,' or that even the poorest child can become President some day if he or she applies him/her self. I agree with the argument of Mantsios and Fussell that social class remains largely invisible because our society doesn't want to believe that poverty exists in America. If Americans acknowledged poverty, then they would have to take some kind of action and do something to remedy it. Such action, of course, would create a huge ripple effect involving the whole hierarchical system. This can be a heated and bitter subject when one begins speaking of finances, more government funding, more education, or more taxes. It's much easier to turn a blind eye and deaf ear toward the needs of the poor, homeless, and hungry rather than give up the government funding for some pork belly project that is so insignificant to the needs of our human society. As in the old adage, 'out of sight, out of mind.'
I realize in order for a society to exist there needs to be a certain amount of structure. I also believe we need to come up with a new ideology to re-create a new structure where those living below the poverty level can at least have the opportunity to rise above it and with dignity. All people need the opportunity to better themselves, not just some. Defining class not only involves finances and education, but it incorporates family lineages, and job status. I?m sure it would include race as well. If something in life becomes stagnant there is no room for growth and without growth or purpose then life ceases to exist. The media continues to cater to the needs of the elite and government officials because that is the side their bread is buttered. Why give any recognition or acknowledge those in a lower class setting? It only draws attention to a NOT so perfect society. Occasionally the media will throw in a token and report that some big executive cheated and stole funds from a company to make the upper class seem ?not so perfect.?...
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...o-workers of course thought I was completely insane doing something that is so counter cultural because they knew how hard I had worked over the past twenty years at putting my life back together. I don?t deny at times missing some of life?s little luxuries. However, I have come to realize these things weren?t mine to begin with, they were gifts to enjoy for a short period and then passed onto others.
In summary, yes the media does play a huge part in making most of the lower class disappear, because Americans can?t face the reality that a huge portion of American people live in poverty. I also speculate that putting people in a class structure is degrading and very demeaning. This can cause ill feelings and avoidance of what has become an uncomfortable subject. The politically and financially powerful upper class influences various policies, which fosters unfairness and inequality in the society, but they totally overlook this and other problems. Despite our country?s professed equality all things are not equal, nor will they ever be. As long as a society exists there will always be economic and social inequality. Maybe a social revolution overdue?
Growing up in The United States, people are given this idea of an American Dream. Almost every child is raised to believe they can become and do anything they want to do, if one works hard enough. However, a majority of people believe that there is a separation of class in American society. Gregory Mantsios author of “Class in America-2009” believes that Americans do not exchange thoughts about class division, although most of people are placed in their own set cluster of wealth. Also political officials are trying to get followers by trying to try to appeal to the bulk of the population, or the middle class, in order to get more supporters. An interesting myth that Mantsios makes in his essay is how Americans don’t have equal opportunities.
According to Gregory Mantsios many American people believed that the classes in the United States were irrelevant, that we equally reside(ed) in a middle class nation, that we were all getting richer, and that everyone has an opportunity to succeed in life. But what many believed, was far from the truth. In reality the middle class of the United States receives a very small amount of the nation's wealth, and sixty percent of America's population receives less than 6 percent of the nation's wealth, while the top 1 percent of the American population receives 34 percent of the total national wealth. In the article Class in America ( 2009), written by Gregory Mantsios informs us that there are some huge differences that exist between the classes of America, especially the wealthy and the poor. After
We are letting the dominant group remain in power and limit our will because we have a financial disadvantage to the rest of the world because of our style and taste. However, reading this book about social stratification is the basics of what controls our mind and how we accept that control. I recommend this book to anyone who is committed to understand the class system. After reviewing this book I have came to terms that no matter where I go I will always label people for what they may or may not
Where would you consider yourself with your ranking in America 's social classes, are you upper class, middle class or even lower class? This is actually very important when it come to you receiving opportunities and in a sense special treatment. I’m referring to of course social inequality which is still very much alive in America and still affects a lot of families mostly in a negative way. This problem in America has grabbed the attention of two authors, Paul Krugman who wrote “Confronting Inequality” and Gary S. Becker and Kevin M. Murphy who wrote “The Upside of Income Inequality”. However, they both have different views on inequality Krugman believes that social inequality is only negative while on the other hand, Becker and Murphy believe
The ideal concept of American society is one in which all of the citizens are treated equal in all every realm and situation. Class, race or gender does not divide the utopian America; everyone is afforded the same opportunities and chances for success. In this chimerical state Americans are able to go as far as their dreams allow and with hard work and perseverance any thing is possible. Many Americans subscribe to this pluralist view of the Country, believing that within our democratic system it is the majority who maintains control and sets policy. Unfortunately this idyllic country does not exist nor has it ever existed. America is made up of distinct social classes and the movement within those classes is for the most part, limited to the various classes in the middle where the lines of demarcation are blurred. Although the majority of the Country's population would attest to the myth that America is a classless society, the distinctions definitely exist and influence the entire life scope of most Americans. Housing, health care, education, career prospects and social status are all dependent on the amount of wealth one has and their class standing. Our system needs the built in inequities of the class system in order to perpetuate itself and the upper class needs to have their interests as the dominant determiner of corporate and governmental power and policy.
Even though people are created equally, there is a very difficult to change the class you were born into. Not only because of a lack of easy upward mobility, but also because people can become content almost anywhere. If someone is born into poverty there is very little likelihood of them wanting to leave their safety-net, or even seeing an opportunity for a way out of their impoverished life. Complacency and a lack of motivation are things that are more prominent in recent generations, and so these issues also affect the poor. Although many in poverty are hard working people, they can barely get by because of the lack of good full-time work. People have to work two to three jobs just to make enough to live on. The fact of the matter is that whose who need to work can find a job, but will it be a job that can sustain them? In all likelihood, no. Businesses cannot afford to pay their employees enough to live
Stratification systems, categorized people by class, gender, ethnicity, wealth/income. When people are categorized, start looking at different systems within the social system or social mobility. “The four main systems of stratification have been slavery, caste, estate, and class. Each of these systems allows greater or less flexibility in terms of social mobility. Social mobility is the ability to move up or down within a social stratification hierarchy” (Larkin, 2015). Slavery is a social status began with social norms allowing people to own others. The slaves had no wealth or power while under this social status. Caste systems are all aspects of social status are assigned at births and held forever,
There are many opportunities in America that can improve one’s wealth and power, thus leading to the mass amount of immigrants coming to American. Most immigrants that come to American usually are categorized as the lower class immigrants, but they take any opportunities to improve their economic status. In an article by Howard P. Chudacoff, it states “immigrants generally chose upward paths that led from manual labor into small proprietorships” (Chudacoff 1982: 104). This explains the reason why immigrants choose to come and stay in America. They start out small as laborers then over time they will work to own a small business. Even though immigrants gets to grow to move from the lower class to the middle class, the natives will be always
Do we all have equal opportunities? Do we all have the same chance to be successful? Does what class your in really effect the means of everything you do? Class does exist, each person you see walk by has a class. In fact, everyone is labeled by a class weather they associate themselves with one or not. It’s a piece of you that isn’t announced but is visible and effects you everyday. Class, a system of ordering society, is based on perceived social or economic status. However, is class solely based off your income, or does your income actually effect your opportunity in society all together?
The first quote from Marx is “The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggle” (Levine 19). This quote reflects the stratified time period Marx grew up in. he was born during the French revolution and saw the effects of the industrial revolution on the communities around him. This time has influenced his writing because one of the major themes he talks about is social stratification. The quote describes how stratification has existed in every culture and society and will continue to. This class structure affects history and the revolutions and other significant events that happen. The reign of the house of Bourbon caused a lot of social stratification in France and their reign ended with the French revolution that
In "Class in America", Gregory Mantsios says that "when politicians and social commentators draw attention to the plight of the poor, they do so in a manner that obscures the class structure and denies any sense of exploitation." Based off our readings, class discussion and films, income inequality is known to be erased or ignore. Our society frowns upon the expression of income in our daily conversations, as it could be seen braggy or a complaint depending on your status of income. Because it's frowned upon to talk about, the topic of income inequality becomes erased or ignored. In addition, income inequality in America's class structure can affect people's ability to reach their American Dream.
In the land of the “American dream,” it is the common belief that there is a direct relationship between hard work and success and that those who put in long hours are bound for success and move up the social ladder. In the united states we have four major classes. The four major classes are upper class, middle class, working class and lower class. Social class in the United States can be looked at purely from economic factors such as income and also using educational, wealth and job related factors then you are placed into one of these classes. Ever since man has existed there have been issues with class it is something that has existed and divided citizens in almost every nation. America is known for its “american dream” however achieving it is far from an easy task .Although moving up the social ladder is very rare in today's society it still can be done.
Social and economic class is something we as Americans like to push into the back of our minds. Sometimes recognizing our class either socially or economically can almost be crippling. When individuals recognize class, limitations and judgment confront us. Instead, we should know it is important to recognize our class, but not let it define and limit us. In the essay, “Class in America”, Gregory Mantsios, founder and director of the Joseph S. Murphy Institute for Worker Education at the School of Professional Studies, brings to light the fact that Americans don’t talk about class and class mobility. He describes the classes in extremes, mainly focusing on the very sharp divide between the extremely wealthy and extremely poor. In contrast, George
It is perpetuated by the way wealth, power, and prestige are distributed and passed on from one generation to the next
Apart from the natural differences, human beings are also differentiated according to socially approved criteria that are upheld. Haralambos, Holborn and Heard (2004:p 1) stated that social stratification is a form of social inequality that represents distinct social groups which are ranked about the other in terms of factors such as prestige and wealth. Social Stratification draws attention to unequal positions occupied by individuals in society. In the modern industrial world the stratification system that has been dominant is a class system. Sociologists such as Karl Marx, Max Weber, Davis and Moore have all added their perspectives to social stratification. Perspectives of social stratification include the functionalist perspective, the conflict perspective and Weber’s class stratification. Class stratification proposed by Max Weber best describes social stratification in the English speaking Caribbean. Weber believed that social stratification results for competition for scarce resources in the society. Like Marx, Weber believed that class is based on power and the distribution of that power, Weber proposed that power is not limited to economic dimension but also involves social and political dimensions as well. Empirical studies in the Caribbean have mainly focused on class distinction, status hierarchy and power. Class, status, party and power are dimensions Max Weber class stratification perspective that is most relevant in the English speaking Caribbean.