Introduction
The role of sociology in the society cannot be ignored. One can easily make use of social theories to reflect on the environment they live in. The conflict theory stipulates the existence of class structures in a society. Simply put, there exist social inequalities. This paper gives a reflection of this social theory in relation to the lifestyle of a given community.
The segment that gives the best reflection of my neighborhood is the ‘New Empty Nests’. As the term implies, people and families classified under this segment do not appreciate staying at home, hence the reason their families can be referred to as empty nests. In most cases, this segment comprises of upper mid mature people who do not have kids. In the neighborhood, kids are often seen as an unnecessary bother to the parents, forcing them to stay indoors all the time to take care of them. This brings about lack of freedom of movement. This, however, does not go on for such a long time (Bendix 532). The kids mature up and leave the houses of their parents. Upon this happening, the parents do not have any other ‘unnecessary bother’ to force them to stay at home. They can wander as they want, compensating for the lost time. Most Americans who fall under this category are upper middle income earners. Unlike their counterparts, their lifestyles are characterized by activism and they are full of activities. Despite the fact that most of them are over the age of 65 years, they still have that knack of the youth, constantly moving to explore the world and find happiness. Resting at home is not an option to them. Retirement is neither an option too. Most of the people here value travelling and the fun that comes with it, with their preferred destination being Europe. There is no evidence that they prefer other places apart from Europe. This is a perfect description of my neighborhood.
Among the social theories, the conflict theory is the best suited to describing this segment. In any social group, there are bound to be forms of inequality in regards to several aspects. Material inequality is the most common of all the inequalities (Bendix 532). Inequalities are a reflection of the social structure, with some people having excesses while other struggle to meet the basic needs. Power differences bring about these differences in class. Those who have, continuously seek to gain from those who don’t have, taking advantage of their vulnerable nature. As a matter of fact, they do not take any interest about the plight of those who don’t have. This is the perfect definition of my neighborhood.
The ‘New Empty Nests’, as described early, are always on the move. This is the practice in my neighborhood. The fact that they have excess material resources gives them the strength and ability to move from one place to another in search of happiness. They don’t cherish their homesteads. They rarely contribute to the development of the society, as they see this to be the duty of the less privileged members (Schmid & Ferdinand 580). Unlike their age-mates who prefer staying home at the twilight of their careers, this category from my neighborhood would rather roam in pursuit of happiness.
Why this segment may look the way it does
There are several factors that may explain why the segment is as it is. The ‘urbanicity’ of these people is urban, as compared to rural. Most people in the urban areas tend to appreciate their hard-work by ensuring they live enjoyable lifestyles. Unlike the rural, they find happiness from exploring the world and understanding how various systems work. The fact that there is no presence of kids in their homesteads also help them have a lot of free time to wander and roam without any concern. The case would have been different if they had kids, because their movement would have been restricted. Certainly, their education levels also help a lot. The fact that they are graduate plus means that they are well exposed and understand some of the best places they can find happiness in Europe. They also get to understand how effectively to use their money.
This category of people does not have to worry about the cost of the trips they make to their preferred destinations. To them, happiness comes first. In addition, they have wisely invested and they have enough assets to bring income (Lidz 587). Most of them are retired, hence the fact that they have a lot of time at their disposal to make the trips. The fact that they own homes also helps as they do not worry about paying rent from their income. Their lifestyle includes preference to shopping, watching golf and going on vacation. All these factors combined play a role in shaping the lifestyles and traits of this category of people in my neighborhood.
Sociological concepts
The habits of the people of my neighborhood are shaped by various factors in the society. Not all people prefer a flashy lifestyle, others prefer being calm even if they have what it takes to sustain such high-end lifestyles. There is no doubt that race/ethnicity plays a significant role here. Whites are generally known to prefer a lifestyle that brings happiness in them. They also like exploring new places so as to have a view how other regions perceive various issues. Sex and gender do not play a major role in this case. For instance, in my neighborhood, people from both genders like exploring and touring Europe.
Conclusion
The social conflict theory gives a perfect reflection of the community in question. Class inequalities shape the approach various people have towards life. There is no doubt that such habits and way of life are determined and shaped by the financial muscles of the players involved. All in all, the social conflict theory has been put in practice.
Works Cited
Bendix, Reinhard. "Concepts and Generalizations in Comparative Sociological Studies."American Sociological Review 28.4 (1963): 532. Print.
Lidz, Victor. "Religion and Cybernetic Concepts in the Theory of Action." Sociological Analysis 43.4 (1982): 287. Print.
Schmid, Robert, and Ferdinand Tonnies. "Fundamental Concepts of Sociology." American Sociological Review 6.4 (1941): 580. Print.
