Social Stratification and the Class System
Meritocracy is defined as, “ideal system based on the belief that social stratification is the result of personal effort- or merit- that determines social standing” (Openstax, 2015 p. 188) and this idea of meritocracy is clearly seen in our country. I say this because in America we believe that if you work hard, and put in a lot of effort to be successful such as getting a 3.5 GPA or higher in high school, then going to a good college and getting a bachelor’s degree or master’s or even a P.h.D, you will become more successful than someone who dropped out of high school or graduated high school and didn’t receive a higher education. We truly believe that if you put in a lot of work and are motivated to get somewhere in life, you will become successful and make a lot of money. Like our book mentions, “ High levels of effort will lead to a high social position, and vice versa” (Openstax, 2015 p. 188) and as a country we really believe this. We look at the millionaires in the United States or the CEO’s of a business, or even doctors and say that they are where they are because they worked hard and showed high levels of effort which had led them to a higher social position.
Out of the theoretical perspectives on social stratification, I mostly agree with Karl Marx’s ideas with the conflict theory. Conflict theorists believe that social stratification only benefits some people and not all of society (Openstax, 2015, p. 197). “Stratification, conflict theorists believe, perpetuates inequality” (Openstax, 2015 p. 197) I agree with this statement because this explains how there is a huge difference between the rich and the poor in a society and how not everyone has access to being successful or not everyone makes the same amount of money or are at the same social class either. In our country we have the upper class (the rich people), the middle class (the workers that are getting by fine), and the lower class (the poor people) and this clearly shows inequality in our country. “ With such opposing interests, the two groups were divided by differences of wealth and power” (Openstax, 2015, p.197) this further explains the difference in our three social classes that we have in the United States. Marx ideas clearly are represented in our country and society with the inequality that goes on between the social classes and between the employers and employees.
I personally think that everyone is self-centered and this is through just observing those around us and our society as a whole, but it can also be biological. What I mean by this is that when we are born, our genes have this survival instinct that we must retrieve food, water, and shelter in order to survive and we will do everything and anything in order to gain that so we can live. It’s self-centered almost to do everything in our power to gain these things to survive but it’s also just part of human nature. I think we are also self-centered in the way that we want to be successful and gain power within the society. We work hard so that we can personally benefit and be a part of the higher positions in a society. Even those that do have a higher power and use that power for good, can be looked at as a self-centered act also. For example, Martin Luther King Jr; he wanted to have equality between all races and wanted everyone to be treated equally. He especially wanted to help the African American community have a voice in our society and be treated the same as the white population in our country, not only was this power used to help others but it also helped himself too because he wanted a happier and more comfortable life where everyone was treated the same. We all want power and we all strive to become successful for ourselves overall, so naturally we are self-centered people
