Inequality in Society
Assignment 10, Chapter 5, Inequality in Society.
By Chris Rao on 5/5/2006
Inequality exists in the United States. Inequality in income and wealth are the most observable facts. Most wealth is owned by a small percentage of rich people. Majority of people share a small portion of total wealth of the society. This income inequality makes me thinking there may be a linkage between nature and society. In nature, roughly speaking, 10 units of vegetation can sustain 1 unit of herbivore; 10 units of herbivore can sustain 1 unit of carnivore. In this way, 1 unit of carnivore needs 10 units of herbivore, which further needs 100 units of vegetation. This ratio in nature is similar to the ratio of society between the rich and poor. Inequality may have some unchangeable truth in it.
There are seven elements in social class: (1) class position is determine by income and wealth; (2) power is derived from class position; rich people have better access to resources; (3) class brings prestige; (4) Class brings privileges; (5) Class brings role expectation; (6) Class gives us identities; (7) Class determines our perspectives.
Class, race and gender structures are special social structures. (1) Individual is placed at birth to these structures. Individuals at birth have not choice to select their family. (2) Families are determined with these structures. Individuals inherit them without choices. (3) Family ties are critical for individual development. (4) Family has strong influence in individual’s life. (5) Institutions have vested interests in maintain the status quo for these structures. (6) These structures have long history. A rich family can be rich for many generations, like Fords, Rockefellers.
By Chris Rao on 5/5/2006
Inequality exists in the United States. Inequality in income and wealth are the most observable facts. Most wealth is owned by a small percentage of rich people. Majority of people share a small portion of total wealth of the society. This income inequality makes me thinking there may be a linkage between nature and society. In nature, roughly speaking, 10 units of vegetation can sustain 1 unit of herbivore; 10 units of herbivore can sustain 1 unit of carnivore. In this way, 1 unit of carnivore needs 10 units of herbivore, which further needs 100 units of vegetation. This ratio in nature is similar to the ratio of society between the rich and poor. Inequality may have some unchangeable truth in it.
There are seven elements in social class: (1) class position is determine by income and wealth; (2) power is derived from class position; rich people have better access to resources; (3) class brings prestige; (4) Class brings privileges; (5) Class brings role expectation; (6) Class gives us identities; (7) Class determines our perspectives.
Class, race and gender structures are special social structures. (1) Individual is placed at birth to these structures. Individuals at birth have not choice to select their family. (2) Families are determined with these structures. Individuals inherit them without choices. (3) Family ties are critical for individual development. (4) Family has strong influence in individual’s life. (5) Institutions have vested interests in maintain the status quo for these structures. (6) These structures have long history. A rich family can be rich for many generations, like Fords, Rockefellers.
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