In reading for this assignment, I noticed that one of the first points the author makes deals with the effects of socioeconomic status on use of technology and the media. On pg 424 the author states, “One’s social position, the context of one’s use, and one’s online abilities then all have the potential to influence the types of uses to which one puts the medium.” This means that how tech savvy an individual is can indicate their social background, as well as the knowledge and skills they may have because of it. Prior to this point, the author gives the example of technological equipment and how its quality demonstrates just one of the many results of socioeconomic status. This is important because it shows how those with higher socioeconomic status tend to have more of an advantage than others, specifically in the workplace, which requires individuals to be more familiar with the technology and …show more content…
On pg 425 the author explains, “Since skill encompasses the ability to find others who may have the desired information and efficiently contact them for guidance, even when lacking know-how most relevant to the task at hand, the skilled user can benefit through informed use of the medium. This all leads to tasks getting done quicker and more efficiently with possibly higher-quality results than would be possible if relying on fewer resources.” This means that even if someone has no knowledge of handling certain situations, they can still achieve success as long as they use the skills they already have to their advantage. In turn, this makes it easier to complete work or solve problems. The text gives the example of using the internet to save significant amounts of money. This is important because having certain skills that allow you to maneuver through complex situations such as using the internet can be beneficial in the long run, while saving time and
People are perceived and judged based on material possessions, socioeconomic status, intelligence and even political prowess. The author used third person narrative to make the claim that he is indeed an ordinary person; however, society seems to think otherwise. “‘That is so dope,’ the college student says… There’s something else he wants to say. It’s as if the man with the classes has some form of mastery…” (Shteyngart 1). The author explains how people seem to have elevated his status to some form of celebrity, due to his possession of a brand new device. It is quite ironic, that the author tries to show that he is just an average person living an average life, however, society thinks otherwise. The use of irony furthers the author’s argument that technology’s effect on society is evidently visible. Whenever, people see someone with technology, they become interested to find out what it is and how it functions. The author uses irony again, this time much more indirectly. He explains how he is on a video call with a friend using the Glass and uses his phone to take recordings of the museum exhibits. “…my Glass darting around the sociopolitical extravaganza… I snap a picture of it with my iPhone…” (Shteyngart 5). It is quite curious whether or not this was intentional, but it seems as if the author was connected and disconnected at the same time from the reality he
The only type of media left out of Loewen’s article is social media and the younger generations are major consumers in the twenty first century. Watkins article uses the specific social media platforms Facebook and Myspace. Facebook typically had white users that were considered middle class. However, Myspace users were usually Black or Latino and came from the working class. People use social media to interact and trends of social stratification are apparent. TV is not interactive so the division of classes should not be as obvious, but “Poor people are more likely to watch TV.” (Loewen, 204). Hooks feels that “Television shows and films bring the message home that no one can truly feel good about themselves if they are poor.” (Hooks, 434). He uses Pretty Woman as evidence for this and says that the show portrays the ruling class or rich as “generous, eager to share, and as unattached to their wealth in their interactions with folks who are not materially privileged.” This sends a stronger message than interacting with others of a social media because it is not reality. TV can really send the wrong message to the poor or the rich. The privileged may get the idea that they have to take care of the poor, when the poor are hardworking people with values and morals just like the rich. From this the poor may see themselves as not as competent in society. Hooks mentions that self-esteem issues
Héctor L Carral, a multimedia engineer wrote an article titled Stop Saying Technology is causing Social Isolation for The Huffington Post. The author of the article has a biased option, therefore does not include any research that would refute his argument. Carral states “it’s only obvious to blame them [technology] for some of society’s problems. Carral also states I believe that accusing technology (and, again, especially smartphones) of ruining social interaction and even all kinds of experiences is, to say the least, quite wrong and misguided. There was an obvious division between the commenters who agree with Carral and those who disagree with his argument. The demographics of commentators. From observing the occupations that the commenters listed, it was apparent the people who were against Hector Carral’s article were parents and educators while the people who agreed with his
Health and inequality have always been two very controversial topics in society. Society tends to classify us into a class (or social class) based on unequal distribution of power, wealth, income, and status (Germov 2015: p. 510). Your socioeconomic status”(SES) is also a major factor in the health inequalities we face in todays society. What does socioeconomic status (SES), even mean?
Tyler Perry’s position on the social class ladder at a younger age would have been lower class, because his father was a carpenter. Although at his current age, he would be considered upper class. After, finding out his position on the social class ladder, his movement from lower class to upper class is his social mobility. The type of social mobility he has is intragenerational not intergenerational, because his social position changed during his lifetime not changed by being passed down from generation to generation. In addition to identifying his social mobility, Tyler Perry could be faced with social class consequences through the criminal justice system, or through health care. For example, throughout the justice system there is consequences. If Tyler Perry ever committed a crime he could easily afford the charge since he is in the upper class. If somebody was apart of the lower class, they would serve time because they did not have enough money to pay for the fine. Also, there are consequences through health care. Tyler Perry could easily afford his healthcare, since he is a part of the upper class. Whoever is in the lower class, could not easily afford health care. If for some reason Tyler Perry was in poverty, what would cause him to be in poverty? Tyler Perry could be in poverty from
Where I got stuck in the topic was when the book switched from Socioeconomic Context to Socioeconomic status, abbreviated to SES. I understood how this concept work from the examples of the U.S families having a baby and the mother having no income and the father having some income would make them fall into the position of their SES being low wage earner. I also understood that income wasn’t the only thing that defined SES but also poverty.
Rather than walking, we have cars to help us get to places quicker. Rather than talking with people face-to-face, we call on a telephone. New technology places value on doing things quicker and easier. McLuhan also believed that what changes people is the technology itself, not the content. In Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man, he proposed that we focus on the way each medium changes cultures and traditions and reshapes social life, rather than the content. He describes the content of the medium as a “juicy piece of meat carried by the burglar to distract the watchdog of the mind.” (McLuhan 32). To him, focusing on the medium was important because he believed that different types of media changes the balance of our sense. We start isolating and highlighting different senses. For example, print technology highlights the visual aspect of the media, but isolates sound. However, electronic media, such as television, allows us to see and hear, and therefore, reconnects senses that have been isolated by previous media (e.g., print and radio). McLuhan expands on the effects of electronic media in War and Peach in the Global Village, arguing that electronic creates a “global village.” Because electronic media allows people
Each borough in New York City has different levels of income, whether it’s high, middle or low. Although no one can choose where there are born, they can choose where to live when they become adults. Many people remain in the same place where they were born. For some, it’s a choice and for others, it’s because of unfair circumstances. As a result, they contribute to the statistics of certain incomes in each borough. Socio-economic class plays a huge role when it comes to where and how people live.
It is perpetuated by the way wealth, power, and prestige are distributed and passed on from one generation to the next
There are many levels of the social class. There was different levels of the social class pyramid.
Throughout the world, there are many different people in different social classes. It has a large effect on the lifestyles in the world. My Parents were in the lower-middle “working” class. They were 33 and 23 at the time they got married. My father was working in his own job taking pictures for schools and families. My mother was a student and working in the field. My father helped my mother with education. A soon as she got pregnant, she was forced to leave her job and school. In the meantime, my dad was the only one working. It was so hard for them with only one income and with a baby on his way. then my mother decided to have a career and start working. My parents never stop keeping their hard work until they got into the average middle
Basic Society is a class that I thought of and thought it would be a very big benefit in our schools. This class will improve our school in many ways and will greatly benefit our students. This is what it thought that would benefit and improve our school.
With the many vulnerable populations that social workers address, those of low socioeconomic status are the most prevalent in today’s society. Poverty has greatly impacted our country in a multitude of ways. Moreover, there are some aspects of poverty that effect individuals on a greater level then the recourses they can obtain. Having a low socioeconomic status can effect an individual’s overall health and even psychological perception. For children especially, at such an impressionable period of development, this can be extremely detrimental. In a case study done fairly recently, in a different country, there was evidence suggesting similarly that socioeconomic status was significantly impactful on children’s self-esteem.
Before I read the chapter on social class, I thought social class was a category about people who are put into class by how much money they make; you are either poor or rich. However, there is much more regarding social class than I had originally thought. Social class it separated into a four tier criteria. Beginning at the bottom is the “lower class”, or “underclass” which is referred to by poverty, homeless, and unemployment. This class, usually hasn’t finished high school, doesn’t have medical care and can’t afford sufficient housing. Many people mischaracterize these poor people as mothers who abuse the welfare system by baring several babies that they can’t afford and fathers who are able to work but do not due to drug addiction or their
Our generation’s sees technology as a necessity, while to previous generations the digital technology that we have today was considered a luxury. With the spread of new technology, and the many ways that the internet can be used, people are constantly being exposed to media messages. According to potter “we live in a media saturated generation, which shapes our knowledge patterns, attitudes, emotions, and behaviors” (287). The effects of this constant media exposure is that our generation focuses more on material things, but the positive side is the creativity outlet, and the ability to share and be heard.