Current Events pertaining Stratification
Introduction
The division of people and their placements, according to certain standards in the hierarchy, is known as stratification. In the current society, there has been quite a significant case of the social inequalities ranging from the race factor in the political differences. The black man being associated with every form of evil and insecurity, together with the Muslim society being associated with the heinous acts of terror. This a very current situation facing the U.S as a whole in the current society.
Current Issue pertaining Stratification
In the U.S., there is an extreme two-class model with upper (professional) and lower (clerical) class; later it changed into five-class model. Studies have shown a personal, professional satisfaction in upper class, whereas lower class faces various diseases. 66% of poor people are white, whereas 16% percent aged below 18 are poor. According to William Julius Wilsone, lack of jobs result in high levels of poverty (Rothman 1999)
Analysis of Nature and Extent of inequality
People suffering from stratification have been succumbed to unawareness and lack of education, resulting in labor, jobs and nutritional deficits; a condition termed as culture of poverty. This has been a major crisis of education inequality as observed in U.S. Only kids of the rich people get to study after high school (Kerbo, 1991).
Application Sociological concepts
Stratification is supported by several theories such as that of Davis and Moore’s and Parson’s functional, Marxian’s theory, Power Conflict and modern world system theories. There is a mutual agreement between the researchers towards the presence of class divisions and authorities, occupational and skill-class divisions (Kerbo, 1991).
Example from News Story
The strongest issue nowadays in the U.S. is that of power discrimination. The gun power and its side effects are as a result of poverty as people strive to make a living in every way possible. It comes due to low-income communities and minority groups. A black person has double the chance of being shot as compared to white (racism). The gun power is increasing day by day due to inequality (Schuman, 2015).
Similarly, another case of social inequality is related to the transfer of social status from parents to children. It stays the same; ” The study used attendance at Oxford and Cambridge Universities ("Oxbridge") as a proxy for high social status; typically only the elite students go to those schools. ”. The news article has even mentioned a survey, according to which, the elite families of 1170 are still elite in 2012. The article has also shown low level of mobility affecting the social statuses to a lower level. Wealth is simply fixed in some families, its increasing, whereas income is fixed. Same families are going to Oxford and Cambridge universities for decades; all due to the wealth stratification (Gangloff, 2014).
Conclusion
Inequality has become a new economic issue in the U.S. The rotation of money is fixed within few classes; the low-class net worth has become negative. There is no circulation of wealth among masses resulting in violence and poverty. This is a matter that therefore requires the participation of every citizen of the U.S to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor since this is the only way that could result into a balanced society.
References
Schuman, J. (2015, November 4). The Equality Argument For Gun Control. Huffington Post. Retrieved February 23, 2016, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jacob-schuman/the equality-argument-for_b_8464058.html
Gongloff, M. (2014, November 24). You're More Likely To Inherit Your Dad's Social Status Than His Height. Retrieved March 01, 2016, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/24/social-status-inherited_n_6211734.html
Rothman, R. A. (1999). Inequality & stratification: Race, class, and gender. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Kerbo, H. R. (1991). Social stratification and inequality: Class conflict in historical and comparative perspective. New York: McGraw-Hill.
