existence of social classes in the society

This study provides insight into the existence of social classes in society. Definitions of different viewpoints and ways of comprehending the social classes issue are also included. It aims to provide an in-depth, first-person account of the realities and logic that underlie the ranks and social class structure. It offers in-depth analyses of the ideologies supporting theories about how to comprehend social classes and their effects. A first-person interview was conducted and fully incorporated into the study while describing the findings in order to compare different points of view and perspectives from various pertinent sources.

CLASSIFICATION BASED ON SOCIAL CLASSES

Introduction.

Social class is a perceived classification and division of the general communal hierarchy according to the financial and social status in the society. A social status is a group of specific people in a society. Status on the other hand is variant and differs from what people are able to do that is different in the society as a career. The social class notion suggests to differentiate and separate the societal gaps existing distinctively as the upper/wealthy class, the middle class and the lower/poor class. I will address the social class concept and also seek to delve into the school of thought behind existence of the social classes and how it is professed.

The basic truth about division of the social structure to classes gives the dispositional arrangement of the society. The rich are given more power and authority which is inequitably compared to the middleclass whose power is considered relative and least comparatively to the poor whose power position is almost insignificant. The difference between the social classes is appropriately exposed when there is a contest of power and equality according to the statutes of the basic human rights policies. (Kincheloe, 2007) The wealthy social class are well placed to be at an advantage as they can bargain their way through the governance systems or be conferred favours that the middle or poor classes cannot afford.

Decisively, according to a directed interview I conducted, it is an individual who decides on which social class to belong to by the choices they make resolutely by which class one decides to surround themselves with. Further is that, if one surrounds himself or herself with the wealthy class, then they are bound to become rich and if one surrounds themselves with the poor- thus they end up poor. It is therefore imperative to develop an individual mental map that guide our own understanding and perspective view on the position of social classes. In my view, social class is a state of mind that is a perception of our circumstances which is complementary to our personal environment and the opportunities below and above reach.

Social class is determined by a means of checks and balances according to a predefined criterion. These are the standpoints that tip the scales in which a decision is based upon to classify an individual to belong to a given social class. They include the social position, the income and the occupations one holds in the society. However, there is restrain by individuals to classify themselves to a specific social class as the focus is invested to better oneself by having positive people and goal achievements. A development referred to as (‘Society of the Similar’) enabled large rations of the middle class to attain the lifestyles that wealthy levels of society enjoyed can be implemented, despite insistent inequality and hierarchies in the society. (Lareau, 2008)

The implications of social classes are evident. The social divide is bound to create social imbalance where children in the society get the shaft of it. The ability to afford standard education and childcare is not a similarly accorded comfort which is provided according to the capabilities of a given social class. Despite this differences, it is clear that the social class situation is not permanent or circumstantial as individuals come from different backgrounds and environments. The choice to better the upbringing sorely depends on the choice to decide whether to become a victim or do better for oneself and escalate the social ladder, According to Annie E. Casey Foundation in the united states. The reading proficiency between the upper and lower classes of fourth grade students is at a percentage ratio of 80 to 49 percent. Considering that the ability to read affects how a student performs all through to middle school and high school. There is a reduced number of the lower class who will eventually graduate and find employment or a sustainable income generating activity. The disparity creates a constant baseline that does not give an equal fighting chance for transition between the social classes. With nations producing such people in the society, the dangerous cycle of social class would be a prevalent cancer to the threat of peace, security and equality of human rights. (Kincheloe, 2007). Education should equalize all human beings despite the walks of life that they are considered to be.

Poverty can be defined as the state of having little or no money. The poor are classified under the low class where their income levels are considered to be insufficient compared to the middle and insignificant if weighed against the upper class. Poverty is a condition that results from variable factors but it is not considered a permanent condition. The existence of poor people among the middle class in the society is a concern that requires a liberal approach to fight it. The presence of poverty has given rise to Marxists liberals who advocate for the equality of wealth distribution that will predefine the existence of social classes. Poverty exists because of the wide margin between the wealthy who form a definitive smaller population compared to the poor who occupy a relatively large population. (Harvey, 2016) The middle class dependently form the largest population among the social classes with very few managing to cross over to the wealthy class or slip down to the lower class.

The question of upbringing resolves to take a case scenario from a research interview I conducted. My interviewee was brought up in a dairy farm considered as land wealthy but dirt poor. She basically acquired all her belongings as hand-me-downs from her three elder sisters; especially clothes which were considered outdated. However, it did not affect her upbringing and the person she became. In fact, she adds to conclude that such upbringing made a better person to work harder from who she was at the time. Currently, she considers herself an ‘upper middle class’ who is financially stable for herself and her family. The optimism to be considered as wealthy is a goal she is focused to achieve considering there is a thin gap between the rich and the middle class and consequently the poor. With a social margin that openly defines a gap which in the broad spectrum of view is experienced across the world, there is still an open opportunity to change the significant margins by individuals or the community as a whole. (Lareau, 2008)

According to the article "Media Magic: Making Class Invisible" by Gregory Mantsios. There is a solid case in which the mass media plays an emphatic role in the influence of social classes and how individuals perceive each other in their existing environment. The mass media intentionally hides the truth behind the inadequacies that exist in the social classes despite the existence of a big bridge between the scenario depicted by the media, and what actually exists in the society. With a lot of sympathy directed towards the poor as depicted by the media, a very microscopic percentage of media players look over this meaningless biasness and put forward an empathetic front to equalize the rift between social classes. (Savage, 2015) The poor in the society are virtually excluded from the mass media scenes thus considered non-existent especially with the growing power struggle between existing media giants in the United States. The glorification of the wealthy class parallels to power in the competitive playing field between the media giants.

The reference of social class and poverty in relation to race begs a distinctive line to be drawn. According to my interviewee, it is evident that poverty is held higher in other races compared to the Caucasian race and thus, it is not because of race that one lives in poverty but environmental and cultural differences. It is true that some races are generally considered wealthy or poor according to the economic resources they possess of which most of them are natural and circumstantial. (Savage, 2015). It is not prudent to put forward a conclusion that race determines social class especially in the world today. Despite existence of the misconception that some races of colour are not considered wealthy. It is not conclusive as there has been a general truth to this owing to the fact that the wealthy are represented by all members of every race depending on the environment in question.

Conclusion.

Attempts by Marxist theorists in the neoliberal (a policy model of social studies and economics that transfers control of economic factors to the private sector from the public sector) era attempted to infer and relate the social class concept in a significantly compelling and coercive manner. It implicatively inclines towards attributing the practice of capitalism as the main cause of social classes. However, the concept behind social classes depends the kind of people in the society that we want to be. There is restrain to openly discuss the social class subject hence the society has abandoned the reshaping of the society strengths and weaknesses. The concept of ‘accumulation by dispossession’ if applied at this stage means that obliteration of social classes is not a far-out achievement. Neoliberalism is a project to achieve the restoration of the power of class. It is therefore imperative to recognise the existence of social classes which will surmount to accumulation of capital that will change the perception of social classes.

References

Harvey, D. (2016). The ways of the world. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, [2016]

Kincheloe, J. L., & Steinberg, S. R. (2007). Cutting class: Socioeconomic status and education. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

Savage, M. (2015). Social class in the 21st century. London: Pelican, an imprint of Penguin Books, 2015.

Lareau, A., & Conley, D. (2008). Social class: How does it work? New York: Russell Sage Foundation

Appendix.

List of Questions conducted during the interview.

What are your thoughts on social classes?

How do you determine a person’s social class?

Do you classify yourself with others in your social class?

Where do you think social class hurts most?

Do you believe that you are a victim to situational circumstance?

How would you say your upbringing had an effect on where you are currently?

What social class do you feel you currently reside in?

Do you believe that poverty and social class is due to race?