Inequality in Relation to Social Class - Term Paper Example

?Inequality in Relation to Social There is no denying the fact that social or stratification is prevalent in the United s. Accordingto Siegel, the United States society is divided into three social classes; namely, the upper-, middle-, and lower-class citizens; all three segmented according to the economic variation that exists among these groups (189). However, the economic gap between the upper and lower class is the most apparent in the society; while upper class are usually associated with luxurious way of living, the lower class are seen to have inadequacies, e.g., in health care, housing, etc. This automatically signals citizen to prefer those in the upper classes over those that belong to the lower classes, thereby resulting to unequal treatment and prejudice against the poor. This paper will discuss social class as an aspect of inequality and its relation with two major sociological theories: structural functionalism and conflict theory. Moreover, this paper will also discuss on the impact of politics on the inequality that persists among the different social classes. There is one fundamental aspect that holds conflict theory and social class binding: resource. Conflict theory is commonly used to describe the ability of each member of different groups to coerce, influence, or control others in order to gain resources [may it be power, position, or status] in the society. The fundamental concept of the conflict theory is that, people strive to compete, despite a possible conflict, just to gain more of the common resource or to hoard a scarce resource (Hardcastle et al., qtd. in Hardina et al. 32). Moreover, as Karl Marx denoted it, society is actually divided into various fragmented groups that compete for social and economic resources, and attend to their unique interests. Due to this, consensus in the society is not guaranteed since only those that hold greater domination in terms of political, economic, and social resources, are able to achieve a particular goal, even if it is in complete opposition with the interests of other groups (Dahrendorf and Mills, qtd. in Andersen and Taylor 20). By now, the direct relationship between conflict of interests and social class is apparent through the fact that if there is an equal treatment and distribution of resources, or that if there is no group that in one way or another could make domineering decisions for the society, the issue on designating one person to a high or low level of stratum would have been lessened or better yet eliminated. This would substantially alleviate the inequality that occurs among those who are disadvantaged, in this case, the lower classes. On the other hand, Structural Functionalism is a sociological perspective that views society as composed of interrelated parts. Each of these parts performs various functions essential for the stability and survival of the society (Rosenberg 57). White reiterated that individuals’ membership in a certain group must endure and persist to ensure the society's survival (21). Those who adhere to structural-functionalist perspective diligently work to maintain and attain the interest of the society. Those who espouse this particular view believe that offering more opportunities and catering to the needs of those who are in the upper class best serve the interest of the society (White 21). Individuals in the upper class possess approximately half of the privately held U.S. corporate stock. The upper class stock holding families continue to be directly involved in major corporations (Ackerman 52). The members of the upper class attain higher education at prestigious schools. They have access to political and social power. These individuals possess greater understanding of the social, political and economic context (Weir 887). Thus, they are considered as legible in running companies and leading governments. Several experts argued that middle and lower class fail to transcend from their personal milieu as they continue to grapple with problems relating to their basic needs. Most individuals in the lower class have inadequate education and knowledge. These individuals worked in companies owned by the upper class (Ooman 8). They function in such a manner that serves the interest of the upper class and subsequently the society. Structural functionalism views social stratification as essential in maintaining the stability and survival of the society even if it posters inequality. Former president Bush proposed more tax cut for the upper class and less for middle and working class in 2003. Bush proposed the elimination of the dividend taxes for a calculated cost of $364 billion in 10 years. The tax policy center stressed that 45% of the benefits will be allocated to the upper class (qtd. in “House of” 330). Rockmore, Margolis, and Marsoobian reiterated that Former President Bush espoused policies which benefit those who are in the upper class (8). The distribution of wealth became more skewed during the time when Clinton served as president in the U.S. According to Monney, Knox, and Schacht some wealthy corporations utilized financial contribution to impel politicians to advocate policies that benefit the upper class. Tax break is one of the policies and laws that favor those who are in the upper class. Accounting loopholes and tax enable the CEOs to save approximately $20 billion annually. A total of 252 profitable and largest corporations in the U.S. avoided state income taxes from 2001 to 2003. This has cost the U.S. government approximately $42 billion. This has consequently reduced the budget allocated by the U.S. government for education, employment, and training which benefit those who are in the middle and lower class. Most policies are designed to benefit the upper class, thus, strengthening the gap between lower and upper class. This further reinforced the inequality among social classes (Mooney, Knox, and Schacht 197). Inequality arising from designation of social classes is rampant throughout the course of human history. This is because there are people in the high class who will do everything in their power to maintain their status even if it fosters conflict or inequality. This is also due to the persisting belief that serving the interest of the upper class would mean stability and survival of the society. Hence, the upper class is able to dominate, enforce, and control the society, while the lower class’ concerns and interests are not served, which further dampens their disadvantaged situation. Furthermore, aside from inequality arising from social class which can be traced back as a result of conflict of interests or from the belief that designating upper class and lower class would be beneficial to society, politics also play a major role in making this inequality prevalent. Unless policy-makers are able to create policies that take into account the interest of the lower class, rather than formulating policies that only serve their own personal interests or under the influence of those who are in power, inequality that comes from social classes will continue to persist in the society. Works Cited Ackerman, Frank. 2000. The Political Economy of Inequality. Canada: Island Press, 2000. Print. Andersen, Margaret L., and Howard F. Taylor. Sociology: The Essentials. 6th ed. USA: Cengage Learning, 2010. Print. Hardina, Donna, et al. An Empowering Approach to Managing Social Service Organizations. New York: Springer Publishing Company, LLC, 2007. Print. “House of Representatives.” Congressional record. USA: Government Printing office, 2003. Print. Mooney, Linda, David Knox, and Caroline Schacht. Understanding Social Problems. USA: Cengage Learning, 2010. Print. Ooman, T. K. ed. Classes, Citizenship and Inequality: Emerging Perspectives. India: Pearson, 2011. Print. Rockmore, Tom, Joseph Margolis, and Armen Marsobian. The Philosophical Challenge of September 11. USA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2005. Print. Rosenberg, Michael. Introduction to Sociology. Canada: Routledge, 1983. Print. Siegel, Larry. Criminology. 11th ed. USA: Cengage Learning, 2011. Print. Weir, Robert. Class in America: Q-Z. USA: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2007. Print. White, Vera. Race, Sex, Social Class: The Influence of Stress Responsiveness on Well-being among American Families. USA: Proquest, 2007. Print. Read More