Standard Of Living Essay

715 Words2 Pages

Standard of Living In a world immersed in consumerism and material items, many individuals are able to enjoy a comfortable quality of life. But, quality of living does not necessarily correlate to standard of living. The measurements used to justify the standard of living are subjective and numerous. Quantification of an individual’s standard of living, verses their quality of life, is difficult to characterize and poses a challenge to scholars when analyzing social status of both past and present generations. Regardless of class status, a certain quality of living can be obtained. Though income and conditions may not be ideal and prosperous, the addition of material items can greatly improve the comfort in which one lives. A factor contributing …show more content…

Throughout the ages, individuals holding more power within a community generally have a higher standard of living. During 19th century England, for example, while the national wealth increased, it was not evenly, or fairly distributed. “The “average” working man remained very close to subsistence level at a time when he was surrounded by the evidence of the increase of national wealth,” (Thompson). The working class remained in poverty as the fruits of their labor went directly to the powers controlling capitalism in their community. Similar to the economic situation driving poverty in today’s modern society, the rich continued to become richer, yet the average worker’s compensation did not correlate with the level of their labors. …show more content…

It is through the possession of these luxury items that makes distinguishing standard of living difficult. On the surface, an individual may seem well off; wearing brand name clothing, or supporting brand name items, these luxuries may cause a false perceptions of individuals living in poverty (Lowrey). The presence of material items within an individual’s life does not necessarily correlate to their income level. The same challenge is in place for analyzing social structures of the past. As consumerism and innovation gained momentum in 19th century England, luxuries considered to be a poor standard, such as potatoes, beer, and tea, transitioned to become necessities for the diet of the middle and upper class individuals (Thompson). This transition from a poor to a rich commodity, further increased the gap between the lower class and the upper class levels quality and standard of

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