Publisher: Ali Calistri
Over the years, the lines that divide the different social classes have seemed to blur. Some say that the upper class would be the ones going on their swanky and expensive vacations while the working class wouldn't ever find them selves there. Now a days, class is much harder to be defined. For the most part, people dress generically or in clothes that wouldn't necessarily define their social class as when in older times, it was very easy to determine social class by how everyone was dressed.
Though things have changed and lines have been blurred so to say, these class differences still play a major role in equality across the board. Education is one major topic that is up for dispute. It goes without saying that education matters more now that ever and success in education has been linked to class. What kinds of things would account for these relationships? Does this necessarily mean the wealthy only get higher education and the lower class will be left in the dust?
The article says "Mobility is the promise that lies at the heart of the American dream." With that being said, it can be connected to the conflict of education. Although social class and education may be linked, it doesn't necessarily mean that it's fate. I interpret this quote as saying that basically life is what you make it. Not everyone is going to have everything handed to them. Some are going to have to work harder than others and some maybe not so much. Success has to do with what you're given and how you work to get to where you want to be.
The article talks about how more people now believe that it is completely possible to start off poor and still make a very good life for yourself. "Hard work and a good education are more important to getting ahead than connections or a wealthy background."
I agree with the fact that people can start from nothing and turn their life around. There are many individuals in the world today who have worked extremely hard to make their money. They have dedicated their time to make a good life for themselves. On the other hand, there are people who do not work for anything and they make money through connections. If they have a family business or know someone, they basically have things handed to them without any work at all. Although they may have the same quality of life as someone who worked hard, I would like to see someone work for something rather than have it handed to them. Overall, what social class you are apart of should not put you at a disadvantage. Work hard and life will improve.
ReplyDeleteI believe that every person has the potential to increase their living standards with hard work and education, but this doesn't mean that every hard working person will make it. Even if it is possible, the people who hop from one class to another is almost are only a few. In a capitalist country like America, for one to be rich, many need to be poor. If you were born rich, is more likely to remain rich when you grow older than if you were born poor. The few people who are able to transcend economically are the ones who keep the "American Dream" alive, letting everyone else see that it is possible to climb the economic ladder. I know people that have been working twice as hard as wealthy businessman and earns much more less. The reality is that even if the opportunity is present, there is no guarantee that if you follow specific steps you will make it.
ReplyDeleteMany people talk about the "American Dream" and how we are not stuck in the same class we began in. Our society is meant to be fluid so that you have the option to chose where you go in life. However, I do believe that in our society it is hard because of the cost of college. I know many people, including myself, that had to eliminate some schools that they had really wanted to attend due to the high cost. That is not to say that we cannot succeed in another school but it highlights the fact that quality or extent of education relies on your current class. Some people may not be able to afford to get a higher education. I think that the problem our society has faced of less movement in the classes is based on the availability and access of education for all.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to believe that anyone can do anything with their life, as long as they work hard enough for it, but this idea is a little far-fetched from the actual reality of this country. Some people are born with everything given to them on a silver platter, while some are born with absolutely nothing. The one born with everything will have every opportunity presented to them that they could ever want, while the one born with nothing will have to work every day of their life just to get one opportunity to make something of their life. Sometimes, no matter how hard you work, it just simply isn't enough, and you end up with nothing. Sometimes you just get a lucky break, and an opportunity just falls into your lap. At least in today's world, the great equalizer of all classes i education, and this is the world we live in now. It is so hard for someone to go far in this world without any higher education, no matter what class they come from. Getting a good education is the one opportunity that everyone should be given, no matter where they come from, so they can prove their worth to the world.
ReplyDeleteThe author of the article writes that, "new research on mobility shows that there is far less of it than economists thought and less than most people believe. In fact, mobility has lately flattened." While it has become easier for a few high achievers to obtain large amounts of wealth, it has also become even harder for many others to move up economic classes. The "American Dream" is a nice idea, but it lacks feasibility for most Americans. Rags-to-riches stories keep many people in lower classes hopeful about moving up in economic standing. While it is possible to do that, the odds of it actually happening are nowhere near as high as most people believe. The sad reality is that those who are born wealthy have more opportunities to succeed than those who are born impoverished. Most Americans will grow up and be a part of the same class they were born into regardless of whether or not they work hard. Those in higher classes are more likely to go to college, live in better areas, and even have a longer lifespan. Mobility happens, but not as rapidly as people think. Many of the markers of lower classes, such as race and religion, have faded, but the advantages that the rich have over the poor are still clear as day.
ReplyDeleteEvery day it gets harder and harder for people to be able to start from nothing and become successful. Now a days the only true "rags to riches" stories that you hear are from athletes. The American Dream is also becoming harder and harder to get. Yes, the class lines may seemed blurred because it is hard to pick out which class each person is in a group of people. But actually the lines of our class are expanding each day. The separation between the middle and upper class is rapidly expanding. The top 5% of Americans make more than $150,000 a ear whereas the bottom 50% makes $32,000 a year. This is worse disparity than the Gilded Age where there was no rules on the economy. Education is suppose to be the great equalizer, but when you have to pay to get good education it does not really level the playing field like it is suppose to. Yes, it may look as if the class lines have blurred to the average person, but if you dig and look at the data the lines have never been further apart.
ReplyDeleteDetermining class is hard to determine just by the way a person looks. However, the problem is much deeper than this. People do not understand the drastic changes that have occurred over the last few years in class division. The rich in 2002, otherwise known as the top 10%, owned 70% of the wealth in the US, a stat that has only become worse over the past decade. The middle class continues to shrink, leaving the grey area to become black and white, or in other words rich or poor. With the issue of education, the rich children do not have to worry about affording college or a lack of opportunity because they have a class privilege, something that is usually connected to "White Privilege". This lack of educational opportunity also gives people, mainly minorities and low-class people, a lack of quality job opportunities later in life. All of this combines to cause a class inequality, something that is passed by because people are more concerned about making money and working their life away than seeing the issue and demanding a change to it.
ReplyDeleteI tend to find myself in between on this issue. Education is one of the most important aspects of becoming successful nowadays. To get a good job it's important that one has a college education, which many Americans do not have. The issue with education, however, is that many get an advantage because of their wealth. The wealthy Americans are able to pay for private tutors and extra help, therefore allowing them to get better grades and get into better colleges. Also, colleges are more willing to accept students when they note that the student is able to pay the tuition in full right away. With this in mind, I also believe that people do have the ability to work from the bottom. As long as the environment surrounding you is supportive of education, anything is possible as long as you are motivated. I have seen many examples of motivated individuals with financial instability rise form the bottom and make something of themselves.
ReplyDeleteI do see how it can be difficult to divide people by classes and where they’re on the verge of one class to another there’s a blur, especially for the middle class. I feel that it is best that class division is blurred but not forgotten or ignored. Higher education is available for everyone, however affordability is the issue. Is there a solution or way that we can offer higher education to the lower class without money being an issue?
ReplyDeleteIn a way I do believe that it is possible to start off poor and still make a good life for yourself. Robert Herjavec is a son of an immigrant factory worker who created his own cyber security company.