Social Class Concept - Report Example

Running head: Social Class (Your Name) (Your School) March 28, 2011 Outline: Introduction Social Class Concept Weber concept of social class Marx Concept of social class Social Class in Australia Ways in which social class and socialization impacts on classroom practice Principles of reflective learning and reflective teaching Conclusion Introduction The term social class refers to a section within the community/society that inhibits similar socio-economic status. According to sociologists (Mathews, 2007) definition of social class is largely dependent of the economic well being of individuals in the society. For example, what individuals earn form a dichotomy scale to analyze his/her social class. Socialization is a situational process that enables an individual learns and subsequently applies personal identity and norms appropriate to his/her social class. In relation to social class, environment plays an important role in bringing out an individual’s personal identity. For instance, an individual from a well to do family may acquire certain traits that are identical to his/her social class, notably way of dressing code. Socialization is a sociological aspect that dictates values and norms that in the long run determine people’s actions. Social Class Concept Analysis of the concept and subsequent definition of social class assumes various approaches namely Weberian and Marxist Concepts. The Weberian Concept analysis focuses on class in a market-determined perspective. It takes an economic angle detailing the variation in distribution of materials in the market for competitive market demand among the population. For example it answers the question, who affords what in the market in reference to his/her income. Weber concept of social class The Weber concept analyzes social class using affordability of commodities in the market. In light of this, it segregates individuals on basis of financial strength. Disparities in incomes lead to selective exposure model of market orientation. For example, an individual buys only commodities that fit into his expenditure budget. The concept, a brainchild of Max Weber, postulates that analysis of social class must not entirely depend on money but also incorporates assets (fixed and current), income, power and prestige. According to Weber, individuals can be financially weak but retain their social class due to power. A government representative can be financially weak but driven by his/her status in power changes his/her social class. In the Australian perspective, classes are hugely dependant on power as opposed to monetary value. Marx Concept of social class Marxist concept on the other hand, postulates the formation of social classes as a resultant factor from the allocation of resources that precipitate exploitation. Jamrozik, Boland, Urquhart (1995) argue that social class is also measured through application of the concept of comparative advantage. The concept facilitates identification of society in regard to economic and access control over resources (16). The Marxist ideology on class further argues that social class comprises of individuals sharing common means of production such as employers and employees. It postulated that the bourgeoisie and peasants or slaves shared a common social class because they focused on a common means of production such as industries. However, Marxists point out that although they shared the same social class, the dominant class (bourgeoisies) exploited their subjects. Additionally, social class in the Marxist ideological perspective arose in situations whereby owners of the factors took advantage on the surplus produced by their subjects resulting in societal divide. In this regard, the acquisition of social class enhances socialization among individuals. For example, individuals from financially strong backgrounds easily relate with their counterparts from the social class resulting in social divide. Modernity continues to have adverse effects on societies nowadays. This is attributed to the changing lifestyles among individuals in the society primary on the basis of income got from employment, Australians are not exceptional. Class transformation is evident both in developing and developed countries in the world. In Australia, for example, political, economic and cultural aspects are used as key variables in the establishment of social classes in the society (Jamrozik, Boland, Urquhart, 1995, p.21). Greig, Lewins and White (2003) argue that m financial bottom-line greatly influences the formation of social classes. Moreover, the better paid individuals and the political elite form the highest social class. This is because they are responsible for the provision of resources to other members of the community. Ways in which social class and socialization impacts on classroom practice Resource mobilization in relation to social class in Australia greatly impact on the overall class practice. Academic excellence primary depends on the availability of resources such as books and other academic necessities. However, the depletion of such academic needs as a result of social class inclination adversely affects academic productivity. For example, whereas a student from a financially weak background mostly lacks the comparative advantage to own academic resources such as books, a student from a able family has books at his/her disposal thus may perform well unlike the poor student. In light of this, his/her academic performances between the two students are in disparity. Moreover, resources in schools are heavily concentrated on individuals on the upper social class (Sparapani, 2009, p.6). Social class plays a pivotal role in establishing the financial wellbeing of an individual. Cognizant that I am a student from a middle level family, this will impact on my classroom practice since most of the time I will be out of class for financial reasons. This will adversely affect my performance. For example, substantial amount of time is spent at home due to fee arrears in school that precipitate my dismissal. The financial inconsistency is arrived at due to unemployment (Greig, Lewins, White, 2009, p.102). Furthermore, social class impacts on classroom practice are portrayed by the number of individuals in the classroom at a particular time. Parents from lower social classes opt to pull out their sons and daughters from the classroom on grounds of financial constrains. This therefore leads to segregation of the society in the education facilities. For example, many academic institutions have high number of students from affluent homes as compared to the humble families. In this regard, rise in discrimination in the classroom practice is evident as those from the affluent backgrounds view the less fortunate ones as the weaker individuals. Diversity in social classes impacts also on class practice for students. For example, whereas higher class parents encourage their heirs to work hard on their academics, the same is not replicated in lower class families. According to Hartman (2007, p.17) low class performances are detrimental in life and are propagated by lack of conducive learning environments. This is prevalent in low income areas in Australia where reduced access to resources hinder morale. Social integration is another way that I can apply to ensure excellence in classroom practice. This involves the ability to easily relate with other members of the society regardless of their social class in realization of academic excellence. For example, asking questions from my tutor as a form of socialization thus enabling me understand the subject under discussion and at the end realize my academic goal. Stereotyping, through social classes demoralizes students in class setting. This is a situation whereby emphasis is nailed upon individuals from rich families at the expense of the poor students. In my own experience, tutors paying more attention to problems or questions raised by students from wealthy backgrounds. Such strategies of learning demoralize individuals from the other social divide thus affecting their academic health. Emotional trauma as a result of alienation by social class negates classroom performance. Emotional climate deprives an individual’s motivation to succeed academically. In my own situation, the utter display of affluence by students from wealthy parents disheartens me. This is because they brag at our expense. For example, while am sharing a book with a colleague, he/she is using a book alone. Principles of reflective learning and reflective teaching Reflective learning is an education approach that ensures critical analysis of academic literature for effective understanding. This kind of learning leads to clarification of content. Application of reflective learning helps in creating a better understanding of an individual’s academic strengths and weaknesses. For example, through reflective learning, I am able to understand clearly issues that I could not understand previously. Moreover, it also eradicates the possibility of fear in presentation of an academic paper, identifying areas of inadequacies for improvement. Reflective teaching is a self evaluation coaching technique geared towards the effective understanding of teaching practice. For instance, using past experiences to tackle present obstacles in a classroom setting. Reflective teaching takes place in a number of ways namely, rapid reflection, repair, review, research and reformulating. Rapid reflection takes place in the process of teaching where the tutor comes up with decisions as he/she is teaching. Repair is a situation that arises in the course of teaching where the teacher makes a decision based on the student’s behavior. For example, he/she changes sitting arrangements in a classroom in a bid to enhance cohesiveness in the society. On the other hand, review is a systematic engagement between the student and teacher on academic content. It assumes an interpersonal approach to decision making. Research incorporates the extensive observance of data. Application of reflective teaching (Booth, 2011, p.3) plays a pivotal role in encouraging individuals on the scholarly achievements. For example, students are encouraged by the use of research in academics thus follow in the footsteps of their tutors. Moreover, review approach to reflective teaching helps learners grasp with ease educational content being put across by an instructor. Conclusion The formation of social class, for society segmentation should not take a stereotype approach. Moreover, the political class should focus on reducing the gap between the rich and poorer in Australia to avert detrimental consequences occasioned by such variation. Strategies most viable include creation of employment accompanied by equal pay for work done. In conclusion, education should be emphasized to ensure realization of a harmonious social class now and into the future of Australia. References Booth, C. (2011). Reflective Teaching, Effective Learning: instructional literacy for library, USA: Casey Bayer Greig, A, Lewins, F, W, and White, K. (2003). Inequality in Australia, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Hartman, C, J. (2008). Social Class and social capital: An integrated theory of community college, USA: ProQuest Jamrozik, A, Boland, C and Urquhart, R. (1995). Social change and cultural transformation in Australia, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Mathews, G. (2007). Class in Australia Today, retrieved on March 28, 2011, from http://www.dsp.org.au/node/167 Sparapani, E, F. (2009). Society, the classroom, and instructional practice: perspectives on issues, Plymouth, UK: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers Read More