Social Class Stratification There are a variety of jobs around the country in various industries and depending on which industry you ultimately end up at that will set the tone for your future. There are many disadvantages and advantages for being in a certain social class as an applicant, and how an employer regards them. Many factors to these different social classes include ascribed stratification systems, “characteristics beyond the control of the individual (Ballantine and Roberts, 193), and achieved stratification systems “earn positions through their ability, efforts, and choices” (Ballantine and Roberts, 193). These lead to social stratification, “Stratification is a hierarchy of positions with regard to economic production which influences the social rewards to those in the positions”(Social Stratification). …show more content…
Since many poor people lack ascribed stratification systems, such as education, it makes it more challenging to get a job in a postindustrial society. For example, Sally Smith (the poor applicant) has a lack of education, no high school diploma, thus her job experience is very basic. Many people who do not get a good education, drop out early, and are perceived as slackers to the employer. An employer would not want to hire somebody who could not even finish high school. On the flip side though, many poor people help society by doing the dirty work (that has to be done), and having different social classes helps the hierarchy to allow for more control. Also, the applicant will most likely get the jobs that people do not desire, making a surplus of laborers ready to
Socioeconomic status is one measure of social stratification that is demonstrated in the recent support for legislation favoring the legal use and possession of marijuana. Prior to the passing into law of Initiative 502 in Washington State, there was little legislative support for the legalization of the recreational use of marijuana. Preceding initiatives in Washington did not have the level of popular support that Initiative 502 enjoyed. This initiative was openly supported by mayors, senators, state representatives, religious leaders, professors, law enforcement and medical professionals (New Approach, 2012). These supporters enjoyed power, property and prestige as the result of their elected status, their financial well-being, professions and community roles. The socioeconomic status of these supporters brought with it the demonstrated support of a certain class of society, and lent a certain level of respect and legitimacy to the initiative. Even the President of the United States spoke on the issue, commenting that the federal government should not target marijuana users abiding by state laws, and that “you've seen the voters speak on this issue.”
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
In the land of the “American Dream,” it is the common belief that there is a direct relationship between hard work and success. In this ideal prototype, those who put in long hours are bound for success and movement up the social ladder. Theoretically, one could be born into the “bottom of the food chain,” and with some hard work, rise into the realm of the social elite. As a testament to this global view of the United States, immigrants from all over the world have made the journey to the “land of opportunity” in hopes of better education, jobs, government, communities and lives for themselves and the generations following them. All of this is based on a system of social stratification – a guide to how successful one has been at achieving the American Dream. This evaluation of social class is based on many components, some of which are presented to people at birth, and not gained through hard work or money. The class system at play in the United States has become extremely complex – no longer adhering to the basic class values of our forefathers. Those trying to move up in the class system of America are often caught emulating the behaviors of the rich and famous, but this does not necessarily make them higher class. Many people think that there is a checklist to fill on their way up in the class system, but there is more to being upper class than just talking the talk or having the right credentials.
"What has happened in America is that achievement is so important that everyone wants everyone else to know what they have done. . . And in case you don't know, they want to tell you with a lethal combination of houses, cars and diamonds. (Fabrikant 2005))" Inequality in the United States is changing, and for the worse. People who are not wealthy are now competing to have the "status" of wealthy, which causes the wealthy to literally get wealthier while the middle class and upper middle class are going increasingly in debt trying to keep up with the wealthy.
Socio-economic status is a term that is used when describing the social standings of a group or individual. The social and economic position of an individual or group is based on four main determinants; education, income, occupation and wealth (Piff, Stancato, Cote, Mendoza-Denton & Keltner, 2012). These four determinants are relevant in all realms of class and hold a large influence on the behaviours of each position in the social structure. Each class stresses a different determinant more than others because they are more relevant. For example, the wealthy individuals within the social structure put a lot of stress on their children’s education, whereas the lower class stresses the need to obtain work (Piff, Stancato, Cote, Mendoza-Denton & Keltner, 2012). This can allow people to use socio-economic status as a means of predicting the behaviour of each class.
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
Societies all through out time have had some form of stratification, but they varied in their degree of inequality. Social stratification is still in effect in today’s American society and creates social inequality. Newman states “Just as geologists talk about strata of rock, which are layered one on top of another, the “social strata” of people are arranged from low to high” (Newman 2014). Everyone is affected by social stratification and categorized based on their occupation and income.
Social class is a subjective concept in social sciences and political theory where individuals are grouped into different classes. This set a hierarchy inside the society structure where the upper and lower class exist and contribute to the society. Understanding social classes and their effects on the people, as well as cultures and social behavior and lead sociologist closer to the development of an ideal society.
No matter how hard they tried to find better jobs, they just couldn’t push through. Another benefit that the poor have to offer the world is that poverty creates jobs for a number of occupations that protect the rest of society from them. Without the poor, the police force would be minuscule. Also, the poor buy goods others do not want. This helps the economy immensely because these products would eventually just be thrown out if the poor didn’t purchase them. The poor are also culturally recognized in history. For example, most Americans listen to the blues, which originated from the southern poor. And on top of that, they serve as cultural heroes, such as the cowboy or hobo. One thing in particular that the poor have to offer is that poverty helps guarantee the status of those who are not poor. Nobody wants to live in poverty. However, not everyone can live in luxury. Therefore, people in poverty should not feel like complete failures. It isn’t easy to succeed in today’s world. They things that the poor do to help the middle and upper class helps out country in so many different ways. If they learn to realize this, they wouldn’t feel as much like failures. In every world there
Social stratification is seen everywhere within the United States and around the world. As discussed in lecture, there are two types of stratification systems, and both are prominent in the United States. The first type is achievement based, which depends on a person’s wealth and accomplishments (Wadsworth). In the film, “People Like Us,” this system is presented. A teenage boy is embarrassed of his mother and his family’s social status, so he hides is social class from his friends. The second system is ascription-based stratification which has to do with what an individual is born with. The school that was interviewed and observed in “People Like Us,” prove that the family you are born into plays a huge role in popularity, and the group of friends you choose to surround yourself with. Another example in this film was the WASP label. The man they interviewed, explained that you are
America is seen as the land of opportunity across the world, but many people wonder if it is true. The truth is America does have opportunities and with dedication anything is possible though the opportunities are limited. Usually limited for those who belong to a lower social class. The main reason the opportunities are limited are because of America’s social inequality. The social class of America is separated into multiple groups that struggle with each other due to the inequality of power and wealth on the daily basis within the country.
The more educated and diverse a society is, the better society’s job market is served. This social economic separation of class is both good and bad for society. Many workers at the lower levels of employment are both pleased and displeased with many aspects of work. Though this fact also holds true with most any job at any level, pay scale often compensates for endurance of a particular job type. The security of a person’s job is also an issue that in today’s economic times forces one to be prepared for change.
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.