Class Difference in Australia - Essay Example

CLASS DIFFERENCE IN AUSTRALIA Reply Name Affiliation Class difference in Australian Class is a status hierarchy in which individuals and groups are groups are classified on the basis of esteem and prestige acquired. Though there is no contextual meaning of a class, it is simply an aspect of social stratification in which people are grouped according to economic success and accumulation of wealth (Gustavsen,2001). The most common social classes shown by different societies are the upper class, middle class, working class and the lower class. Working class is the emerging class of the professionals where people group according to same social, economic and education levels. We live in a class society in which a few people posses far more political and economic power than the majority, who usually work. Australia is no other different society and the class differences are used to divide different people in the society. It is describe by the two major theories. Marx talks about the social stratification theory where individual is grouped according to the economic power in society. Those individuals who can influence the lives of other members economically have more power over those who don’t have. Weber in his theory talks about status, power and influence the individual has no matter the economic status of the individual in society. It is not based on social stratification. Australia is extremely multicultural society or in other words a cosmopolitan society and categorizing its culture is extremely difficult. This is described in the migration history where many European settlers came to Australia with high number of Italians and Greeks. Aboriginals are the natives of Australia and they inhabited the land some years back. The new lifestyle did not suit them, resulting in some bad mistreatment of the natives (Staley,2007). The natives became the slaves of wealthy settlers in the in the society, hence becoming the working class. These are groups of people who work and have no control over that work or other decisions made. They have little or no wealth at all and even when it comes to power, they were suppressed to industrial workers. Max in his theory classified the society as the capitalist class and working class. The capitalist class are those with the economic power and do majorly control the ordinary worker. The natives where forced to work in the industries of the migrants who came to Australia. The capitalist own 76% of the shares and similar investments in the late nineties. The aboriginal were mistreated, displaced and even murdered those with power in the society. Moving away from the history, majority of the people in Australia today are working class. They have to sell their skills and energy to earn a wage (Greenwood,1999). These capitalist have grown economically and have major influences in the society. They have invested in major companies and live wealthy estates and environments. Even Weber defines a class as the economic position in a society. For example if you look at the Queensland and Western Australia have monopoly over those in other regions such as the New South Wales or Tasmania. The region on is more industrialized with all the necessary amenities. While the ordinary Australian in the working class state struggle to feed their families. These capitalist have developed their own industries and become the top private sector economy contributors. Since they contribute more to the economy of a country they are even able to monopolize economic activities marking life harder for the working class. They have advanced in there ways of production as they are able the latest kind of technology available in the market. The own these production companies hence the common man or the worker with little in his has no say at all. Leadership and power is another aspect of Australian culture dividing people into different classes. The capitalist invested so much on the economy of Australia. The capitalist assume they have more power than the ordinary citizens. They dictate who rules and what other people at the lower classes do or to be led by whom. Democracy under capitalism is limited and the people in government determine how we live. This ruling class makes sure that whichever government gets elected, it serves their particular interest. The politicians buy themselves into power, we can see how these politicians are able to spent great sum of money so as to gain more influences to the people. The Greens dominates electoral situation which in turn overshadowed the labor parties. Unless the labor became part of the capitalist they are not able to lead in the near future (Antonio Cantu,2003). In 1970s the government moved the native children from their families and sent them to white families and churches. This shows how the political class has power over the ordinary citizen. They even refuted to offer any apology or listen to UN claims on human rights issues after such awful mistreatment. Though we see the light at end of the tunnel, the socialist are taking up the power position but the capitalist dominates. Weber in his theory says that an individual can find his way to power without the social stratification. This is what is shown in the modern Australia. The socialist are taking influential positions both in the corporate, political and even in political world. As put by Weber it depends with the social status of an individual in terms of honor, prestige and the popularity of an individual. Australia today has become a cosmopolitan country due to migration from different corners of the world. It has become the most liberal society in the world. Leadership styles have changed and have paved way for many socialist to take over. This has led to emergence of another class of people and these are the middle class. This is a class between the lower and the upper class or the working class and the capitalist. This is a liberal class where people mingle and talk freely. These are the people you can go and watch a cricket game together or horse riding and the national holiday. Due to globalization and neocolonialism there is a shift from hard labor to more formalized ways and it is left to the developing countries or the third world countries. Australia has grown significant culture (Dator,2002). What kill the spirit of cohesiveness in such multicultural environment are the traces of racism in some parts of the country. Refugees from war tone countries such as Afghanistan are sent back home or subjected to horrible conditions. Racism arises because people of a certain community especially the western nations feel they are more superior to fellow people from different or originated from different countries. They own major economic activities in the country and the foreigners whether citizens of the country are not given an opportunity. Look at the case of the aboriginals and whites in Australia, where the whites owns large industries and private businesses. The same situation applies to the blacks who were taken to America to work as laborers for the white settlers who owned large farms in the case of America. It took them long time before they could be heard in society. Australia is a free country which advocates for the social right of all individuals. They are entitled to education, rights to speak and get quality health care. Being a diverse nation the kind of clothing they wear. There are no rules that govern the dress code accept in some few work places. The constitution provides equal rights for all the citizens in Australia. Women in Australia have been disadvantaged. The stereotypes of the society keep the women behind because they believe that men are better than women. Most of the people elected for the political positions are majorly men and a small percentage of women. Clearly understanding the reason why men occupy these positions is because naturally men embrace the class structure. Women do not derive their subjective class locations totally from social stratification of the spouse according to the research carried out on the Australian married women. This is a reason why men are able to buy themselves into power. The capitalist have a greater influence financially hence leaving women behind. However, among married men subjective class placement remains a male-derived phenomenon (Greenwood, 1999). The impact of class difference is clearly shown as women have been given less opportunities in society. The stereotypes are homogeneous in that women are termed soft and less outspoken or strong enough to get involved with management. These have been brought only by these men who advocates for class difference in society. The relationship between social class and education in Australia is clearly shows a difference in society. Children from Queensland have better education than those from the northern Australia. These create a large gap between the learners and translate to both employment opportunities and health outcomes. The better educated people from the wealthy regions means that there is better pay hence further encouragement of the class difference. Though the bright students from the poor societies may pass well but able to get good education making them to be further deviated negatively (Antonio Cantu,2002). Though these people do not have the best skills to run industries, they find themselves there just to protect their own interest and those who share the same social class. Class difference has also been translated to the health sector and security in society. Lower class people in common common-three stratum models are low paid people in a work place and have little or no security at all. These people work in hazardous places which they are exposed health issues. They end up getting little or no medication at all or if are attended to at a higher cost. UN criticism is a major indicator of how the aboriginals have been given less priorities when it comes to health matters. Aborigines have not been provided with proper housing facilities, safe drink water and sanitation and accesses to education are not well met. Poor amenities translate to poor health issues. The insurance policies provide no help to the natives as government remain reluctant. At their work places welfare association are discouraged or not working at all. Leisure and language is one thing that is moving away from the impact of class difference. Leisure time is any free time from the normal work schedule. Eight hour work day was introduced in 1856 and the implementation of Saturday half- holiday in Australia increased the amount of leisure time in given to all the citizens (Björn Gustavsen, 2001). The national language in English and this one thing that I can proudly say class difference doesn’t apply at all. All the citizens speak the same language though their other languages spoken English is what each citizen must speak. There is a small percentage of class difference when it comes to leisure. Improvement of technology and the financial status determine the kind of leisure you can access. The upper class people in society have leisure facilities at their disposal as compared to the lower class. The natives of the country have different ways of expressing their culture and practices in society. They have their own ways of worshipping and enjoying their culture. They don’t necessarily follow Christian ways though they have been converted to Christianity. They were forced originally to live their old ways and learn the white settler’s culture out of their own wish. We look also at culture adopted today in Australia. White settlers who came with horse riding and even other sporting activities in the country. This is not what the native people originally loved to do but rather stay in their farms and tilt land. The language adopted in Australia today is a foreign language of the capitalist society. The lower class people in society have been associated with all sorts of bad behaviors in society. Drug abuse and crime activities are the major defiant habits in society. These people are not willingly doing these things by their own will but because they are idle. The report by Australian institute of Health and Welfare (2004) shows that 16% of the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islander drunk at risky and high risky levels.24% of these people consumed alcohol and 23% uses marijuana. This is an alarming rate which has made Australia to be ranked twenty second worldwide regarding drug abuse. What pushes these people to have these behaviors is what we ought to understand. The financial and the educational status is what compels these people consider doing drugs to forget their problems. Employment has been left only to the upper class individuals in society (Antonio Cantu, 2003). Education is a key factor in determining what you do with your life. Education is what empowers an individual and lack of it makes them vulnerable to these deviant behaviors. Class differences have brought out clear evidence of inequalities in society. People of less financial ability have been disadvantaged. The emergence of the socialist class has given the citizens hopes as their voices are being heard. ACTU sectary in his campaign rally says that they have to vote their rights at work. Election f the labor party into power has seen middle class and the lower class people get opportunities in corporate and political world. Many organizations and media are championing for the equality given to all the citizens in Australia, better treatment at work place and a conducive economical environment for everyone. Working class are the only people who can bring change to the country. Socialist is what has brought the unemployment rate to go down to 4% by 2007.These are the people that preach against the old ways of classes (Staley, 2007).Australia is a diverse and multicultural society but the class difference is what brings out inequalities in societies. It is a fact that class differences exist in all societies so long us there exist a difference in financial status and status of the individuals in society. References Björn Gustavsen, H. F. (2001). Creating Connectedness: The Role of Social Research in Innovation Policy. John Benjamins Publishing. D. Antonio Cantu, W. J. (2003). Teaching Hist in Digital Classroom. M.E. Sharpe. Dator, J. A. (2002). Advancing Futures: Future Studies in Higher Education. Greenwood Publishing Group. Greenwood, D. J. (1999). Action Research: From Practice to Writing in an International Action Research Development Program. John Benjamins Publishing. Staley, D. J. (2007). History and Future: Using Historical Thinking to Imagine the Future. canada: Lexington Books. Read More