. Crawford analyzes that social class dominance can be observed by having the people with power or money do anything to survive, and leave the poor to their death. According to Crawford, microbes not only have caused disease, but they have also infected crops which shaped the history of one particular country, Ireland. In Ireland the only crop that was successful and fed many people was potatoes, but when the potato famine occurred due to an infection of potatoes by the mold Phytophthora infestans, a plant pathogen. In this case microbe infected crops which did not create disease, but did create famine. It was a time of chaos in Ireland and people were desperate for food, but also the economic stability of the country went down. Due to the potato famine, many Irish people died of hunger. On the other side many migrated to America and Canada, which today is the reason for the diversity around the world. But the problems did not end there, since the Irish were looking for jobs they went to workhouses, which were overcrowded and spread diseases such as typhus, which is a microbe that exploits poverty and overcrowding to the full (Crawford 152). According to Crawford, microbes shaped Ireland and its population by causing many of the Irish to move to different places around the world to escape the famine, but it also created disease due to overcrowding. At the end of the book Crawford talks about vaccines and the cure of many bacterial infections. Before antibiotics existed
Social inequality is a situation where some members of the society enjoy different amounts of wealth prestige and power. The society has placed its members in rankings through unequal economics rewards and power. American society like all other nations has had its systems of socially stratifying its inhabitants. This began from the era of slavery where there was legalized inequality and human ownership among other forms. Zinn portrays this inequality even up to the present where racism acts continue to occur as indicated by the various killings carried out by the police to the black young men with an excuse that they were caught in an act of crime. In the present society, the social class system has dominated the American society. The upper class includes those who are extremely wealthy and they are few, the upper-middle class includes those who have affluent professions like the doctors and lawyers. The other group is the lower-middle class which includes the nurses and small business owners among others with less affluent professions. The others are the working class where most people lie and finally the lower class who are mostly dependants. According to Zinn, American children become conscious of their social class through
In 1845 a crop disease known as ‘blight’ would be introduced to Ireland. It was a disease that would cause potatoes to rot while they grew. It was from guano, which was part of a fertilizer that was imported from South America. The contaminated fertilizer was also distributed to other countries in Europe such as France, Germany, The Netherlands, and England. It was responsible for thousands of deaths in these countries but was soon eliminated, as these countries were not as dependent on the potato as the Irish were.
Individuals within a society are grouped into certain rankings that is based on their wealth, income, race and education known as the social stratification. Sociologist use this to determine the social standings of individuals within a society. Social stratification can also appear in much smaller groups. These groups such as the work place, schools, and businesses can “take the form of a distribution of power and authority down the ranks”. (Cole, 2017) The Caste system is also another form of stratification that one does not get a choice in. They are born into it and regardless of their talents will hold positions that are given to them their whole life. Social mobility is the ability for individuals to move about their social standings.
In addition, to the first book review our second review analyzed the lives of people class distinctions. In Class Matters as stated in my initial review the book focuses on the negative and positive factors of people’s lives. During a section of the book just to recap the experiences of three people of different social classes experiencing heart attacks. The first guy that had a heart attack was of the upper middle class. This man had the luxury of giving multiple options of attending the best hospital and care for his health. In chapter five heading the Hierarchy: Upper Class or Superclass? The conclusion states, “Best positioned within the class structure to obtain high-quality financial capital and also social capital…” (Doob, 142). The first guy with the heart attack has a better advantage because of all of the necessities and benefits he has to offer. The second person with the heart attack was of the middle class. This man was issued with fewer options, but still a good hospital he had the same surgery, but with no additional information as the first person. In chapter six it discusses how some middle class people have difficulty financially. The expenses of health insurance have become much greater for middle class American’s. Doob states, “The harsh reality involving healthcare is that left on their own, many middle-class people can afford only very limited or no
groups based on wealth and status. This idea of social class distinction remains a common theme
In In chapter 10 in of Sociology: Exploring the Architecture of Everyday Life by David M. Newman and the article: Making Class Invisible by Gregory Mantsios, I have discovered power, social class. Power is having the ability to affect decisions in ways that benefit a person or protect his or her interests (Newman 289). Social class is a group of people who share a similar economic position in a society, based on their wealth and income (Newman 283).
Social inequality stems from many facets of life and mindsets reproduced continuously in America. The main backbone of systematic inequality is formed off of race, gender and class, which all contain crucial aspects that further oppress those subjected to inequality in various aspects of life. The resources-schools, occupations, invested parents- around one fuels the opportunity in their lives, a concept highlighted by Malcom Gladwell, in his book, Outliers. Situations one are brought up in or uncontrollable genetic aspects can very easily restrain their opportunities. Racial discrimination, gender roles and inferiority and the lack of fluidity in the low and working class push inequality, which simultaneously influencing the rich and privileged.
In Chapter 10 of Newman and the article “Making Class Invisible” by Gregory Mantsios both work to explain class structures and the effects of stratification. Newman defines stratification as the ranking of entire groups of people that perpetuates unequal rewards and life chances in society (p. 281). While Newman expresses how social forces and institutions influence social class, Mantsios explains in his article how mass media perpetuates class stratification.
Social class describes the different "layers" that exist in society. These "layers," or classes in society, are a division that civilization has been running on ever since the beginning of mankind. In most modern societies, our system of social class division is one of opportunity. We experience a good deal of social mobility, where people through generations or in their own lifetime can move up or down the social scale. By examining the many different perceptions of social class along with S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders, it is illustrated that social class has an impact on people while they are growing up, and will usually deny them from rising above adversity.
The realtion of social class to power, is a belief about equality of opportunity that seems to be ignore by former upper social mobility. According to Domhoff's statement about the relation of social class to power, "No group or class had power in America, but only influence". In other
Race still predominantly plays a role in everyday classism. Discriminatory housing practices traps minorities in the lower class for generations. Moreover, America’s healthcare system unfair to people who have low income. Also, Public transportation does not properly serve the needs of those who use it; as well as, it makes it formidable to secure, and maintain a stable job. Additionally, education for the poor unequal in graduation rates; along with, a social polarization against lower class students. Classism in America is an old, yet consistent problem that, creates an unfair economic divide of
Each of these groups is stratified into its own class; the group of people ranked most closely to them in property, power, and prestige. A person’s position in the stratification system affects everything about their life, from what they think and expect in life to how they see the world, as well as what opportunities they will have access to. Although, your status is still assigned at birth, but you have the chance at upward social mobility based on material possessions that you acquire, or things that you achieve. Or you may be on the other end of the spectrum and experience downward social
However life is never easy as laborer or day laborer you never know when is your next meal is coming. The simplest approach to quantify the distinctions in social classes is to review individuals by their occupation. These distinctions are: differences in earning, standard of education, wealth, power, and status/prestige. Humanity expanded its level of control over natural, yet at the cost of the vast majority are becoming "subject to control over" and "exploitation by privileged minority groups.” Minority groups are controlling individuals, even they have the knowledge of being controlled they still cannot do anything since they have more power.
I will draw upon different evidence linking social class to where people live. Firstly, I will look at two approaches to determining social class, together with how class and social inequality are linked. Secondly, by reference to several key studies I will demonstrate that where people live is representative of their social class, and outline how disconnections are formed as a consequence. Finally, I will discuss how sporting opportunities are constrained to a person’s social class and place of residence.
This group of power elite uses their status to affect only laws and changes that benefit them and perpetuate the cycle that keeps them at the top. So, while social mobility is possible within a class system, it is not always easy to come by (Henslin 207-210).