Generally the social structure in a community is split into a hierarchy, so all of the richer and “more successful” people are socially connected. Anyone coming from a financially stable family is more likely going to afford attending a very prestigious university or school as they are also on the higher side of the spectrum for tuition costs. Gladwell points out that having an insanely high IQ, amazing athletic skills, or savvy communication skills alone are not enough to make people successful because “no one – not rock stars, not professional athletes, not software billionaires, and not even geniuses – ever makes it alone” (Gladwell 115). Friends and family play a big role in each other’s life.
(2016) cites several authors in what they define myths surrounding social class, such as, the concept of the United States modeling a collective social class and all individuals partaking in education, will have a level playing field to be successful (Ortner, 1998; Ostrove & Cole, 2003; Yeskel, 2008; Zandy, 1996). Yeskel (n.d.) points out barriers exists denying accessibility to individual with less privilege, (as cited in Patton, et al. 2016, p.246). For example, the myth of “if you work hard, you will be successful”, fostering the idea that only individuals who put in the effort are seen as determined, and those that fall less, are lazy (Patton, et al. 2016). Moi, (1991); Swartz, (1977) examine, education does not fall far from that ideology, Bourdieu’s Theory of Social Reproduction stem from the idea that education creates inequality and maintains hierarchies. Moi (1991) states,
Whether they want to become an astronaut, or a veterinarian they are told that they can do it. While this is true it can be a lot harder for some. JD Willms has shown “that children that come from a lower class home, on average achieve less academically than those children who come from upper class home”. This can carry on into adulthood and can leave adults into depression and anxiety. Lower class children grow up to be less assertive and less confident adults.
“Social science research show that teachers are often surprise and even distressed when poor students excel”. (203) Social class determines one’s future. Those who are higher on the social ladder may excel through life with no understanding of how they got
The way we view each other in terms of finance, education, and family aspects depends on a person’s social class. Students from lower backgrounds usually experience difficulty in the educational system. The educational standards of their family’s life differ from those in the higher classes because teachers teach according to the student. Meaning, not only does having a particular social class already separate you in terms of the educational system, but it also determines how and what you learn. From personal experience I’ve learned how to see from the perspective of a student who is of a lower social class than majority of his peers and teachers.
The founder and director of the Joseph S. Murphy Institute, Greg Mantsios has provided thousands of students with an opportunity to earn a college degree, by helping non-traditional students particularly poor and from working class backgrounds obtain college degrees. Mantsios has made his institute as a center for conducting research, organizing public form and publishing educational material. Such as his essay "Class in America-2006" where he discusses the profile of three individuals of the upper class, working class, and lower working class societies. To show how many factors affected them such as education, along with many other components to ensure a place with in their level of society. Harold S. Browing profile used by Mantsios to represent the factors that influence an individual in the upper-class society.
The largest if not only factor of class is wealth; how much income a family gets. To disprove the myths many more realities are listed. The first being, “There are enormous differences in economic status of American citizens. ”(334). Perhaps the most important reality states, “From cradle to grave, class standing has a significant impact on our chances of survival.
America, the land of equity, has the largest ratio of rich citizens to poor citizens at 12:1. Compared to Japan and Germany’s measly 4:1, this information is outrageous. America is shown to have the most skewed economic pyramid when denoting the amount of people on each side of the economic slide. The selection, Class in America - 2006, an academic paper by Gregory Mantsios, argues the existence and magnitude of class and economic standing in the United States; through the use of fact and opinion, he creates the visual of a society severely divided by economic standing. Gregory Mantsios effectively convinces the audience of the differences in class sanding that cause a significant impact in the lives of americans and economic spectrum with his use of logos, anticipation, and credible evidence.
Social classes represent the hidden structure of America, as well as in several other countries in the world. If one is unsatisfied with the social class they are born into, however, is it possible for them to change it? The answer is yes, they can, as per evidence from real life situations and from The Great Gatsby. Some might say that it is impossible to change the social class one is born into. In their opinion, if that person is born poor, consequently they will certainly die poor.
There is lower, middle, and upper class, but there are also subcategories that fill the gaps in between, like the impoverished and the top one percenters. “Class in America”, written by Gregory Mantsios, addresses the myths and realities about socioeconomic class in America and how they affect American lives. His article highlights the unequal divide that has persisted over the course of history and will continue to manifest in the future. To introduce the existence of this issue, Mantsios states that this country’s citizens “don’t like to talk about class...or class privileges, or class oppression, or the class nature of society” (Mantsios 378). This is the case in America today because people are neglecting to acknowledge the existence of these elusive
In James W. Loewen’s “The Land of Opportunity,” he states that social class affects the way children are raised. He discusses the inequality in today’s society and how the textbooks in high school do not give any social class information. The students in today’s time are not taught everything they should be taught. He states that your family’s wealth is what makes up your future. Loewen discusses that people with more money can study for the SATs more productively and get a better score than someone who has less money.
The American dream is a dream of a land in which one can prosper with ambition and hard work. This idea has created many illusions for some because in reality the American dream is proven to be something that is rarely achieved. No individual is guaranteed success or destined for failure, but it is apparent that women, people of color, and those born into poverty will face greater obstacles than others, despite being a greater part of the American population. An author that tackles the issue of class in the United States is Gregory Mantsios. In his essay, “Class in America-2009”, Mantsios aims to prove that class affects people’s lives in drastic ways.
Based on the U.S. Social Class Ladder, my social class is classified as the working class. Education is the primarily used to measure class. With my high school diploma, I am only able to be low paid worker who work as a retail seller or a clerk. My family income is slightly lower than thirty six thousands dollars. The social class is affecting my life in some ways.
The book In the Country of Men by Hisham Matar is one that explores many themes. Suleiman, who is one of the main characters of the book, is a nine-year-old boy who witnesses Libya under the dictatorship of Qaddafi. As a young boy, Suleiman is quite observant and ignorant about many things occurring during that time. He witnesses his father and others rebelling, while under Qaddafi’s regime. His father Faraj along with others like Ustath Rashid and Moosa are part of the rebellion against the government.
Social classes are a form of social stratification that refers to the existence of structured inequalities between individuals and groups in society. A social class is a group of people of comparable status, power and wealth which are usually classified as upper class, middle class, and lower class. For each class, there are some specific opportunities available that influence their social life. We can understand about the particularity of the chances through unequal distribution of these opportunities between individuals in social classes. In here belonging to a social class seems to be an obstacle for some individuals to obtain equal opportunity, unlike upper class people.
