Being a member of the Urban Poor social class of Roman society establishes a life for me and my family that hold different values, opportunities, and day-to-day agendas, that are fundamentally contradictory and viewed as inferior when compared to the Patrician Social Class, which is an amalgamation of, Senators and Nobles who hold the most power in Roman society. The fundamental differences between the Urban Poor social class and that of the Patricians, contrast greatly even on basic ideas such as jobs and opportunities. Senators and nobles hold a large portion of power in Roman society. Senators are viewed as the legislative branch of government, responsible for instituting reforms and policies which govern the lower classes including the …show more content…
Naturally, these occupations are largely based on tasks that members of higher social classes would not want to be responsible for and also come with great risks. In the case of a famine or drought, a whole year’s worth of a farmer’s income can be diminished instantly. Families become hungry and our incomes face many setbacks. Accordingly, as our jobs are often financially unstable and rely on uncontrollable factors, whereas jobs of Nobles and Senators are stable, come with huge compensations, and only require a fraction, if any physical labor, our jobs support the idea that as a member of the Urban Poor social group, we are viewed as though we are inferior to the patrician class. Life as a member of the Urban Poor class is also viewed as inferior to that of the Patrician class and is shown daily through the public ritual of the salutatio. During the salutatio, we are required to cluster at the homes of the wealthy Patricians, wearing different versions of togas. The idea of the salutatio is to illustrate the greatness of the Patricians while we, the inferior Urban Poor, bow down to …show more content…
Then, we are subjected to public embarrassment as we wait in the atrium, the vestibule, and even the streets outside the patron's house, so that we may receive the ‘privilege’ to be summoned individually to greet the patron in his tablinum. The patronage system in Rome was created to show Patrician authority and power over the common people and contributes to our argument that we, the Urban Poor, are treated as though we are less than Patricians. Additionally, as a member of the Urban Poor social class, it is apparent that the contrast between the amount of work needed to be performed in life to succeed between the two social classes and how laws apply to Patricians v. Urban Poor, differs greatly and contributes to the idea that the Urban Poor social class is inferior to the Patrician social class. Patrician Senators are given their positions either by appointment by a consul (the hard way of achieving the position) or through nothing more than completing their term as magistrate. Then, once they have the job, their wealth steadily expands and opportunities around them increase as they hold some of the most power in all of
In this paper, Gregory Mantsios compares and contrasts class in America. He uses facts to support his point that things are getting better for the upper class, while things are increasingly getting worse for the middle and lower classes. Throughout the paper, he demonstrates comparing and contrasting by using “myth” versus “reality”.
In an attempt to promote justice and equality, Lycurgus and Solon fostered political, social, and economic reformations in their cities. Lycurgus instituted elders, redistributed land, made currency worthless, and established common messes. Lycurgus created a strictly equal city. However, it limited Sparta as a whole to advance. On the other hand, Solon works to resolve this problem in Athens by creating fairness for people with different upbringing. Solon allotted political privilege according to wealth instead of lineage, abolished slavery, and wiped the poor’s slate of debt clean. To alleviate social injustice, Lycurgus promoted strict equality while Solon understands socioeconomic inequalities are inevitable and still attempts to even out the playing field so that each person has the agency to advance.
As in other areas of “The Republic,” Plato carefully outlines the delineations which form the basis for the types of rulers to be installed in the state. “Rulers” (legislative and udicial), “Auxiliaries” (executive), and “Craftsmen” (productive and fficacious) are the titles of the categories and are based, not on birth or wealth, but on natural capacities and aspirations. Plato was convinced that children born into any class should still be moved up or down based on their merits regardless of their connections or heritage. He believes the citizens of the State will support and benefit from such a system and presents the idea in the form of an allegorical myth.
The Romans also had written laws and government, including (later) an assembly for the poorer classes. In fact, their system of law was actually quite advanced (even if it was designed to help the rich) - "The idea was accepted that a man's intentions ought to be taken into account, and there was less importance attached to what he did and what he meant to do. The next thing to become established was the notion that all men must be treated equally." This way of thinking was very advanced and not barbaric or uncivilised at all, in fact the same notion that all men should be treated equally was not established in America, Australia and other countries for many years.
Class for the purpose of this paper is the concept that those who are better off are of what can be considered to be upper class and those that lack financial means are of the lower class. Mantsios says that there is an absence of discussion in reference to the distinctions of classes (697). In a study performed by Susan Ostrander, in regards to the term “upper class” one woman responded “‘I hate to use the word ‘class.’ We are responsible, fortunate people, old families, the people who have something’” (697). Yet it appears to be opposite that those who are in this lower class realize the plight they suffer. As one student from Fremont High School noted, “‘The owners of the sewing factories need laborers. Correct…It’s not going be their own kids… You’re ghetto,’ said Fortino unrelentingly to her. ‘So Sew!’”(Kozol 645). The student who knew that he was more than likely to be stuff in his place was willing to point out this fault of the system. This topic which more than likely the well-off woman would stray from rather because she had life easier than Fortino will in his lifetime.
A gang is a loosely organized group of individual people who join forces for social reasons. Or anti-social reasons depending on how one looks at it. A person may join a gang for numerous reasons. These reasons include the need for “identity, discipline, recognition, love, money, and belonging.” 5 “Today there are approximately 274 Blood and Crip gangs in Los Angeles County alone.” 1 The gangs that are often in the news are usually made up of African-Americans. “African-Americans first formed street gangs in the late 1920s and early 1930s on the east side of Los Angeles near Central and Vernon Avenues. They were also forming in the downtown area of Los Angeles around the same time.” 4
Such is found with the nature of Roman politics, where it was possible to rise from nothing, to truly make one’s life better, and rise above the social hierarchy of Rome. The many political offices however were more often than not held by those who came from wealth, and those who came from such wealth took repeated measures to make the republic less accessible. Despite this, Holland argues that a famous family could fall out of favor within a few generations if they had a lack of political success. This paradoxical nature is found throughout the book with figures like Sulla, despite taking an authoritarian position in the Republic after a civil war, actually ended up making the Republic more accessible to the masses with an increased number of offices. Despite this, he also aimed to stifle young upstarts with increased age limits to certain offices, most likely out of jealousy due to his own late start in his political career.
liberal revival in the underclass debate. He declares that liberals can no longer be shy
According to Schwartz-Nobel, America will lose as much as 130 billion in future productive capacity for every year that 14.5 American children continue to live in poverty (Koppelman and Goodhart, 2007). Sadly the seriousness of poverty is still often clouded by myths and misunderstandings by society at large. This essay studies the issue of poverty and classism in today's society.
The nature of government and political culture in ancient Roman society was similarly complicated as our our political infrastructure in modern day Western civilization. In addition, it had its own unique characteristics rendering it a mechanism of social ideal; one where the population was provided for, and at the same time ruled by an upper lass in the electorate.
In his discussions of constitutions and cities in Politics, Aristotle makes it very clear that his top priority is to provide people with the opportunity to pursue and achieve the good life. An integral part of this is the stability of the constitution. Although Aristotle explicitly states that a kingship is the best system of rule for any given generation, its lack of stability from one generation to the next disqualifies it from being the best in reality. In his attempts to find a constitution with stability, Aristotle comes to the decision that the middle class would be the ruler of such a constitution. This, he says, will minimize the corruption that can easily take place within the rich or the poor, and will ensure lasting stability. In order to enable the middle class to take a role of power, Aristotle allows them to obtain wealth, and more specifically private property—a huge diversion from the opinion of Aristotle’s mentor, Plato put forth in the Republic.
2024 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Keynote Lecture Chaos. The. A term that takes many forms in everyone’s life. From a student’s daily struggle with homework and exams to an impoverished child working at a young age to help support their family. Chaos will always be prevalent in the world.
Providing food and abode for the Guardians is the only governmental responsibility the lower class has. The Auxiliaries are in charge of the military, police, and executive duties. Ruling and making laws is reserved for the Philosopher Rulers, whose actions are all intended for the good of the state. To ensure that public good continues to be foremost on each Ruler's agenda, the Rulers live in community housing, hold wives/children in common, and do not own private property. The separation of classes is understood by everybody.
The world contains a lot of societies, cultures, and classes. Each household belongs to some social class that represents their level of education, their work position, and their financial status. These different classes have created a conflict between people. It fills rich people's minds with the thought that poor people are criminals, and that conflict ended up with creating poverty. The authors Gilbert, Kahl, Magnet, and Gans are discussing the important causes and reasons that created poverty in comparing and contrasting these points with each other.
Lower-class citizens, plebeians, had very little say in the government. Although these two groups of people were separated and marriage between them wasn’t allowed, stated in Table Eleven of the Twelve Tables, plebeian influence grew within the Republic. They could elect representatives who were called tribunes. Citizens gained the power to veto measures passed by the senate, although the aristocrats still had the power to use their wealth to obtain control and influence over the newly elected leaders. The growth and influence of the citizen, particularly in the lower class, symbolized the successes of the Roman Republic.