Social Class Matters Essay Example

William Thompson and Joseph Hickey. Thompson and Hickey believe that it is impossible to fully realize a person’s behavior without understanding the social stratification concept (Thompson & Hickey, 2005).

Social class influences every action, word, or behavior of a person. Thompson and Hickey also believe that each person’s position in the social hierarchy affects his or her entire well-being, and possibly even his or her longevity (Thompson & Hickey, 2005). Also as illustrated in figure 1 taken from Thompson and Hickey’s book, Society in Focus 2005, educational accomplishments can tremendously affect the average earnings and social position in each social class. A brief examination of the four major social classes will show monetary growth is obvious with the advancing degrees of education.

Starting at the top of the hierarchal structure will be the upper-class or elite. The upper class is a diverse professional group including politicians, multinational CEOs, and people who possess extreme wealth. Downwards, the second and probably the largest of the four, is the upper middle-class, a well-educated intellectual group consisting of lawyers, directors, accountants, and engineers. This class, similar to the upper class, not only possesses wealth; it carries a certain degree of prestige.

The third class is the lower middle-class, which are administrators, paralegals, and blue-collar workers supporting the upper middle-class professionals. The fourth class or the working class consists of general laborers, factory workers, caregivers, and small business employees (Thompson & Hickey, 2005). Many individuals, during the course of their lifetime may move between classes. According to some there exists yet another class who are the working poor underclass. People in this class work full-time jobs earning wages below poverty level and barely

making ends meet.

Many of them are mentally ill, immigrants, prisoners, or in some manner deficient relying on some type of public assistance. Often the more affluent members of society do not recognize the poor working class as valid members (Nesbit, 2005). In many instances, as with the poor working class, a person may have no control of circumstances that can determine his or her position in society. Varying cultural, social, and economic factors can deeply influence a person’s attitude and behaviors, just as education can influence how an ndividual experiences and handles life situations. The need exists for all individuals to understand societal structure and how success, by large, comes through education, perseverance, and determination. Therefore, use of an educational system is a prime avenue for groups and individuals to obtain high positions of power and privilege. The social perspective of Dennis Kingsley, professor of sociology and author of Social Stratification, is that a social position in no way brings power or prestige simply because it offers a high income.

On the contrary, a person holding a high social class position draws a high income because of the important functionality of the position (Davis & Moore, 2000). Social interaction is an extremely important facet of an individual’s social class position. Graham Allan, Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Southampton, reveals some interesting results on a survey of friendship patterns. This survey studied how middle-class and the working-class differ in organizing and executing non-kin social relationships.

The study suggested that the working-class places higher emphases on family sociability than the middle-class and the non-family working-class tend to possess stricter practices in social interaction, especially with coworkers and

neighbors. One can place many connotations on the word “friend” but never can it replace the importance of “family. ” Consequently one must not mistake friendship for kinship (Allan, 2000). A good example would be siblings. Growing up my two brothers could do or say whatever they wished to me and this was acceptable, but the fight was on when someone else dared to say or do the same.

This has been witnessed with many other family members as well. According to Allan’s survey the middle-class did not limit their interaction with friends or coworkers; in fact new relations flourished even in non-work environments. Prejudice did not appear to be the reason for the reluctance of the working-class to befriend people outside the “kin” circle (Allan, 2000). Studies revealed the working-class tended to reserve the home for kin relationships and not to entertain non-kin visitors. The working-class claimed outside work meetings were by consequence of simple chance, not planned.

Allan deducts that the orking-classes held fewer people as ‘nearly but-not-quite friends. ’ The studies also revealed the working-class had more difficulty than the middle-class in deciding who their friends were and were not (Allan, 2000). It is my belief that an individual should never let “classification” dictate the level of success or happiness they desire to achieve. In addition, social positions should never be allowed to cause individuals to think less or act negatively toward those of lesser means. Social stratification is a definite and permanent aspect of society, generation after generation proves this social positioning will forever exist.

However, social classification should never keep an individual from putting into place for him or herself a definite purpose

or set of goals for success. Successful relationships or friendships provide people with a sense of identity, happiness, and fulfillment. Healthy and positive social interaction can prove essential to the development of an individual's growth. Treating people with dignity, respect, and honesty will only nurture relationships; however, if it is treated with contempt or disregard it could become very detrimental to one's physical and mental well being!