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Impact of social class
Impact of social class
The role of social class
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This week I chose the reading Excerpts from “Class, Status, Party” by Max Weber. I was attracted to the reading due to the message conveyed by the author. The author describes the potential sources of power in the community. The author is categorical on how power affects the use of the laws in the society. Max Weber states that the rule of law in the community directly influences the distribution of power. The main conclusion of the author is the distribution of power in the community is based on various aspects. These aspects are social classes, status groups, and parties. The thesis declaration of the writer is the distribution of power in the community and effect of the laws in the distribution of power. The fundamental idea of the author …show more content…
According to Max Weber, power is the main reason for stratification of the society into various groups such as income level attributed to economic power. It leads to discrimination in the society based on power since the rule of law is applied selectively to the people without any form of power. It affects me directly since injustice prevails in the society leading to corruption and embezzlement of funds meant for the people by the wealthy. This results in the lack of social amenities and essential services which affect me directly. The author explains the inequalities caused by imbalanced power distribution in the society. Max Weber stated that power divides the community into classes (p. 17). These classes are characterized by different life approaches due to status groups. This is because they have different life approaches based on their economic …show more content…
The author states that people of a different social class will always have a conflict of interest due to their different life approaches. I wholeheartedly agree with the author. The unequal distribution of power among the society members has been detrimental to development and harmony. It has resulted in the unfair distribution of resources leading to the increase in the gap amid the rich and the have-nots. According to the author, the only solution to power is the use of the rules regardless of power. It will ensure people access fair treatment which is crucial to restoring parity in the society.
I do not challenge the author’s conclusion. The author claims that the distribution of power in the community is based on various aspects and backs his claims through outlining some of these aspects such as class and status. The author’s arguments and claims are consistent with the sociological perspective since they explain further how conflicts occur in the society due to the differences in social class and status. My account of the issue is founded on the inequality due to status and class differences, and it is based on different power distribution sociological
Sociology 1010. York University. 11 January 2010 Landstreet, Peter. A. The “Power and Power Relations Lecture”.
In analyzing the institution of power so closely, the author has brought to light a multiple
Allen supports her claims about hierarchies and power dynamics in her chapter “Social Class Matters.” She dives into the structures of society by examining power and social class in various contexts. In this chapter, she explains that people are categorized according to themes of class difference and struggle. Social class is associated with the relationship between power and the distribution of resources. Because this stratification system of social class is one of the biggest predictors of school achievement, social identity plays a large role in the social reproduction of inequality in the education system.
The class system has been in place within humanity since the very birth of economic trade. It is a fact of life that others will seek self-betterment and gain power to provide for those that they love and their own personal interest. Throughout the years the implementation of a social class system has helped to differentiate the types of economic situations as nation and serve as a system to work toward the betterment of the society as a whole. However, as the world became more productive and the gaps between the higher classes and lower classes increased the efficiency of the social class system and the decisions made from the individuals within it has been called into question. Kalen Ockerman opened the channel to question if the class system is the helpful institution that benefits of all its citizens or if the lower classes are not getting the support and attention they deem necessary.
There is a high degree of social inequality within the United States. Of most modern industrial countries, the United Stated has some of the richest and some of the poorest people to be found. That fact is very disturbing, however, explains why much of the inequality exists in the US. In the following essay I will explain to you about the inequality in our country and why it occurs, based on the theoretical perspectives of a functionalist, conflict theorist, and social interationist.
Socail inequality is a problem that not only happens in one setting, but also is prevalent everywhere around the world. The Year of the Flood and The Cat’s Table are an example of two very different settings but have the same concurring issue of social class inequality with abuse of power, corruption, abuse of privilege, and the motivation to keep social status. Power is a tool that we must use delicately because it can be used in evil and unjust ways to create problems in our society.
There are two groups of people, those that belong to the dominant group and those that belong to the subordinate group. Placement of this group can either be temporary or permanent depending on the social context. Temporary Inequality mainly takes into consideration status or power, defined as the relationship of dominance with age or profession. The superior in this case has the quality to impart on the lesser party. The lesser party however retains equal worth as the superior party and equality is developed between both parties. While Permanent Inequality is ALL about status and power. In this group there is firm difference between the worth of the dominant group and the subordinate groups. Dominants groups play their part by influencing and promoting negative associations with the subordinates. Dominant label subordinates as ineffective or incapable as a way to justify barring opportunities for all people. In some cases subordinates will respond to this with internalized oppression. In a system like this subordinates often develop skills and adapt to the ways of the dominant groups, often learning more about the dominant class than vice versa. Even though, many experts in the fields of “subordinate groups” derive from the dominant groups.
Society is constantly undergoing change as a result of competition over scarce resources. According to conflict theory, inequality exists because those that have more control have a disproportionate share of society’s resources and actively defend their advantages. This would be considered as the upper class and the lower class. For example, when working at a clothing store, one will immediately notice the inequality between a sales associate and the head manager. A sales associate has to overcome many obstacles for a low salary. For example, a sales associate has to help everyone in the store for long periods of time and late at night, while struggling with many other different tasks. The head manager can sit in the back of the store, and get paid twice as much as the hard-working sales associate. This is a perfect comparison to society. This exploitation of the lower class by the upper class demonstrates how the upper class has more control and can use their control to their
Despite the typically imaged definition of socioeconomic class being based entirely on the wealth of the individual, there are many complex social factors at play as well. Not only does it stem from Max Weber’s concept of Socioeconomic class (wealth, status, and power), there is a mobility to it as well. Anyone can permanently or temporarily
At this point, with an understanding of what power is, what it means, how it is created and the various means through which it is expressed, one can begin to conceptualise how it is that power functions within a given society. Symbolic, cultural, social and economic capital distribute and perpetuate power within a society, through a cycle of transformation whereby these capital resources can be interchanged and manipulated to the advantage of individuals who have
There are three main theories of sociology; functionalism, conflict theory and symbolic interactionism. This paper will focus on two of those theories, functionalism and conflict theory. The objective is to delineate the assumptions of two out of the three theoretical perspectives and apply these assumptions to an analysis of social stratification. How this will be accomplished will be by comparing and contrasting their assumptions and by analyzing the two theories affect on social stratification. Then I will state my opinion on which of the two better fits my personal sociological views. Functionalism is many people's way to view the world sociologically. It states clearly that the objectivity of the researcher is necessary and can be accomplished. There are three main points, which make up a functionalist theory on sociological expression. The first point is that culture is made up of interacting, interdependent parts. Each of these parts has a function in maintaining the society as a system on the whole. The second point states that shared values and expectations(or beliefs) among the members of the society help hold the society together. The third point states that these systems have a need for stability and a need to try to keep all the parts working together congruously in a sort of system. Social change in this system is uncommon, and when it does happen, it is a very gradual change. Conflict theory is centered on the tension, or struggle that goes on in everyday life. There are many different parts, which make up the conflict theorist's view on the sociological perspective. The first main part is that society promotes general differences in wealth, power, and prestige. Wealth...
This research will elaborate in detail the theories of Max Weber and explain his view of the perpetuation of social order, social inequality and social change. Lastly I will explain how Weber theories have impacted my view of society.
French, J. R. P., Jr., & Raven, B. H. (1959). The bases of social power. In D. Cartwright (Ed.), Studies in social power (pp. 150–167). Ann Arbor, MI: Institute for Social Research.
...t supply of similarities between ancient cultures and modern times. There will always be a division of the social classes. Power, prestige and wealth for the most part seem to be cohesive in nature. As with any form of power over another there will be abuses of the power that is given. Even though the ability to remove this abuser from power has become easier over the centuries, there is still some discrimination amongst the social classes. The only weapon capable of bringing an end to social injustice is an enlightened well-educated mind. It is made evident by Norman Cantor’s book that as much as society seems to advance and change, its social constructs remain relatively unchanged.
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.