Classism In American Society

William Domhoff’s investigation into America’s ruling class is an eye-opening and poignant reading experience, even for individuals enlightened on the intricacies of the US social class system. His book, Who Rules America, explains the fundamental failures in America’s governing bodies to provide adequate resources for class mobility and shared power amongst classes. He identifies history, corporate and social hierarchies, money-driven politics, a two-party system, and a policy-making process orchestrated by American elites as several causes leading to an ultimate effect of class-domination theory pervading American society. In articulating his thesis and supporting assertions, Domhoff appeals rhetorically toward an audience with prior knowledge

America is certainly a rich country. But it contains a lot of people surviving on incomes more common in developing countries. How society chooses to treat these people is cause for concern. There is an elitist culture in America. If one doesn’t fit into this bubble of perfection - with the white picket fence, two kids and a dog - then you are often faced with an uphill battle.

Imagine this: you are in a society where everyone looks, talks, and walks the same. Genetic engineering has evolved so far that you are identical to everyone else. But, suddenly an airborne virus starts spreading, slowly killing off everyone. Now the human race is extinct. Wouldn’t you think it would have been better for someone to be even a little different, so that the human race was able to live on?

Although some maintain that success comes easier to people who come from a higher class family, giving them a better opportunity, those who come from a lower class family have a more difficult time succeeding, I argue that no matter what class you come from, being able to succeed is the same amount of effort because success is different for everyone. According to George Packer, author of Sam Walton/Jay Z, success comes easily to those who come from higher class, like Sam Walton, founder of Walmart. Sam’s father exposed him to money, and how important it was. His father got a job repossessing farms during the Great Depression and brought Sam along when he was on the job.

Walter B. Miller had focal concerns concerning the lower class culture. The five focal concerns were trouble, toughness, smartness, fate, and autonomy. These focal concerns are said to be “areas or issues which command widespread and persistent attention and a high degree of emotional involvement.” Goode, E. (1996). Each focal concern explains a little bit of what each person has or should have and brings a person prestige.

In The One plus one by Jojo Moyes, we meet Tanzie, who is extremely talented in mathematics. She has great possibilities to develop and get a good education, but one thing is ruining her hopes. Unfortunately for her and her family, her mother is a single mum and cannot afford to put her in a good school. Tanzie is still lucky to have a school to go to in a greater perspective, as there is people having much bigger problems in other parts of the world. Inequality and poverty is causing big difficulties, including child labour and totally non-educated generations.

Race, class, and culture can contributes to one belonging or isolation in society. Many people go through this everyday. Its like judging someone on what you think of them. It isn’t fair, but thats how the world is. John judged because of culture, Tituba judged because of race, and Ronald judged because of class.

This social class categorizes the rich, the poor and the “one percent “on a wide spectrum. In the United States, the blacks and whites are at both ends of the distributed wealth throughout the country. Caucasians remain at the “rich, privileged” side of the spectrum while the blacks remain at the “poor, unprivileged” end. In between both groups lies the latinos, which seem to fall closer to African American side of the spectrum. It is believed that this wealth gap had been formed due to the saying “it takes money to make money” (Conley).

Have you ever been forced to be somewhere where you know you don’t necessarily belong? Fortunately for most people, we are able and allowed to leave this situation whenever we please. Some people aren't as lucky. They are forced to live somewhere where they know they don't belong and these people are never truly happy. However, very few are given a tremendous opportunity to get to live somewhere where they know they will be happier.

It doesn 't matter social class system you fit in to, it affects your lifestyle and how you live. One of the main concerns regarding social class is education. According the article author Sarah Garland makes a point that now middle class and lower class kids are both falling behind in school. I come from a lower class family and when I was younger we were in the upper class but my dad left. So my mom was left to care for me and my sibling by herself.