Wilkinson and Pickett explore two of the most common assumptions about the social gradient that shows people at the bottom of social hierarchies suffer more problems- circumstances and individual tendencies. The authors, in critiquing the material explanation to societal problems, argue that richer nations should do better than poorer ones. This is a flawed argument, as national wealth does not indicate its distribution. A generally wealthy nation may have poorer diets, less educational opportunities, or worse housing in comparison to a less wealthy nation. Wilkinson and Pickett also give reason as to why everyone in a society should be concerned about inequality, not merely those vulnerable to the problems with which it coincides.
According to an article in Slate On, the poor and low income people in our society are more overweight than the wealthy. This psychological behavior transcends to other cultures as well, telling me that people don’t really want equality but superiority. Regardless of the parts of the world you are from, someone always wants to feel superior to someone else. Though Americans did inherit the “wanting more” trait from the frontier opportunities, there were an influx of other nationalities flocking to America for the same opportunities (82). Likewise, they too have adopted the “hunger for more” mentality because they are financially able to adopt the psychological want.
It is easier to blame the person than it is to blame the society for their failure. Many societies provide inequality for its people, discriminating against minorities and failing to provide enough jobs and opportunities. Several people are trapped into institutional discrimination. Structural conditions of society can be blamed for poverty. Most jobs today, require a College degree.
In this theory, there is almost always a struggle for power with the wealthy usually winning while the poor loose and therefore have less resources. The idea that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer due to oppression by the rich. Karl Marx is associated with conflict theory. 2. Sociologists use two levels of analysis.
Stratification is a division of a society’s resources that benefits some people and harms others. Social position reflects the way society divides resources. Unequal rewards only serve to divide society, creating “haves” and “have-nots.” There is widespread opposition to social inequality. Using a structural-functional approach to look at the demise of the middle class would point out that the middle class is sliding backwards due to a lack of personal talent and ability. Since
The Dirty Little Secret: Poverty In America Jane A. Easter The current reality in the United States of America is that the level of disparity between classes is growing and not in a good way. The small portion of the rich are getting richer and the number of poor is increasing creating a larger gap between the previous middle class and the lower class. The other reality is that it is a “don’t ask, don’t tell” society. Though studies, census data and other overwhelming proof is all around us, it is one of the least talked about issues. The classes by race and gender continue to have disparate realities across the country.
The Working Poor, this is a major problem in the United States today. Inflation is becoming more common as well in this generation. Many Americans are living in poverty. The prompt, “America is a better place than ever before”, is a false statement. America does not treat everybody equal, healthcare is not handled in the right manner, and how is it fair for the poverty families have to pay more in taxes than those of the wealthy families?
Prestige can also come from other sources, such as athletic or intellectual ability. In those instances, prestige can lead to property, if people are willing to pay for access to prestige. For Weber, wealth and prestige are intertwined. Power and Wealth Weber believed that social class is also a result of power, which is merely the ability of an individual to get his or her way, despite opposition. Wealthy people tend to be more powerful than poor people, and power can come from an individual’s prestige.
This would not be considered a superpower due to all the people living in poverty. Also, GDP (PPP) per capita is an average across the entire nation's population. Because of this, countries with huge populations such as Russia and China will have a lower average due to the sheer amount of people living there. Another way to measure the economic strength of a country is is by looking at the TNCs within that country. TNCs have global influence as they can invest in other countries but also influence other countries with their products.
Being rich and owning expensive things is the number one imperative for Americans. Being poor is seen as a moral failure. This is the most popular stereotype about Americans. A desire to be rich creates another stereotype – each American wants to be a self-made person. The idea of the self-made man is inextricably tied up with that of the American dream.