Analysis Of The Pecking Order By Dan Walton

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The Pecking Order takes a bold look into the factors that separate family members within the social strata. The author Dan Walton, New York University (NYU) professor of sociology and public policy, asserts that the comfy safe haven that families are thought to be, aren’t as great as some may assume. Within these households lives a plethora of factors that alter the destinies of each child. These factors range from birth order, change in family finances, Divorce, Death, to even the “luck” of outside influences. What begins as slight nuances between each child goes on to be pivotal factors in the children’s lives as they mature. Dan Walton takes the firm stance in explaining how half of all inequality is within families, not between them. And it is each family’s own “pecking order” that helps to foster such differences. Conley argues that with every set of siblings exists a pecking order, or a status hierarchy. This hierarchy emerges from the constructs within society and in most …show more content…

The youngest child born in America has the highest income and level of education. These measures only measure one aspect of success but nonetheless these differences in income and levels of education do have real life implications. The table allows the reader to get a simple and cohesive look at the differences between each sibling. After reading this book I can clearly observe the factors that have led to such differences. Student Pledge "I pledge on my honor that I have not given or received any unauthorized assistance on this

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