Free Essay About Social Hierarchy

Social hierarchy is a reality of our times in the contemporary society. It is as real as the air we breathe. When a child is born, they are without knowledge of the social patterns of power and politics. Therefore, they can cry in the bank full of executives during a meeting. Fast-forward ten years later, that child will have picked up clues of where to show his/her rebellion and where not to. Given the same scenario, people dressed in suits and speaking formally in a gathering, the young child would not dare show rebellion over something trivial. The implication, therefore, is that social hierarchy is something learned not innate.
In a typical day in any city around the world, people wake up in the morning to go to work. Taking the bus to college in the morning, I can tell who is who in terms of their social hierarchy by judging the manner in which they dress. A person wearing a suit that is clean, sleek and pristine is probably a top executive in a prestigious firm within the city. In fact, you can tell by their expression that they are not used to the notion of boarding a bus, and you see them only once in a blue moon. They are assigned respect by all else in the bus and can easily ask the other classes of people on the bus to give up their seat.
Social hierarchy can also be seen in traffic. Individuals with Porsche vehicles can get away with a warning from law enforcement if they miss a traffic light. The way they dress and the manner in which they speak – polished language – matters a lot. An officer of the law is bound to approach the vehicle irritated but change their demeanor when they spot a well-dressed individual. In fact, in most cases, the officer will be polite and accommodating. In contrast, however, a vehicle that screams low status is not afforded the same privilege.
In conclusion, therefore, social hierarchy is a learned concept. It perpetuates in our society in the form of language and culture. It has become a natural way of living life to the extent we are not aware of the accompanying abuse that comes with it.