Essentials of Sociology: Life Chances - Assignment Example

People born into affluent families are placed highly in society and, even without personal effort, will be within reach of the good things in life. They are protected by the economic power of their parent’s status. Likewise, children born into middle-class families can move upward or downward in class and are more prone to income insecurity.

Question Two

            An individual will set life goals depending on what is possible within the social class (Henslin, 2006). The negative effect could be that one may possess the intellect necessary for a high position in society from childhood but may not be able to develop and express it. An example would be a bright but poor child in sub-Saharan Africa confined to starvation and nomadic life. Such a child may benefit from financial empowerment that will help educate him, but will most likely aim at acquiring cattle and go on with the nomadic life he was born into. He will set his life goals within the class he was born unless an opportunity to move out presents itself.

Question Three

            Life chances may be irrelevant in some spheres of life. An individual may be born in the lower classes of life or not have the necessary intellectual power to occupy high office in society. However, a sporting talent may be seen in him by sports scouts, eventually giving him a sports scholarship. Through effort and hard work, such a person may excel later in life in professional sports. Although he was born into humble beginnings, his success in sports will have many sporting brands looking to endorse him as a brand ambassador. He will have acquired a class that his life chances might not have naturally accorded him (Henslin, 2006).

Question Four A

            The caste system is entrenched in religion and places people in occupational clusters through division of labor (Eitzen & Maxine, 1997). The system dictates one’s life chances due to its closed nature. There is no moving to another caste different from the one a person is born. Its rigidity bars the lower caste members from climbing higher, hence, economic growth among them is restricted. For example, an educated person from the lower caste will not be able to get employment in a managerial position, which is the preserve of the higher castes. Caste membership stipulates one's education, occupation, and power for their entire life (Eitzen & Maxine, 1997).

Question Four B

            In a class system, the best individuals are allowed to rise to the top (Farley, 2005). Although individuals are born into a class, the flexibility available, unlike the caste system, allows for individual achievement. For instance, a student from a rural school may perform equally well as one from an urban school, but the urban student will have higher chances at college admission as well as a job due to his access to life chances. However, within the class system, the rural student will be allowed to rise against the barriers if he displays extraordinary efforts. An example of how one can move from one class to another irrespective of life chances is the ascend of Barrack Obama into the Presidency.

Question Four C

            In one-party communist systems like China, life chances do not favor intellectuals to get into lucrative state jobs (Eitzen & Maxine, 1997). For example, the work units are owned by the state, which recruits party members from the peasants, industrial workers, and the army. Hence, the class of intellectuals cannot allow them to be revolutionaries and devotees of change in society. Instead, the lowly life chances of the party members earn them the chance in state jobs to give them security in life.