Breaking Down the Social Barriers

I never really thought about social stratification deeply until now.  It is everywhere, social class can be expressed in many ways.  The easiest way to tell social class is by looking at where people live, what they wear, how they look, and what they have.  For the most part, you will stay in the same social class as your family.  In my family this is different.  My dads side of the family is all in the same social class with good jobs.  My moms side of the family is a lot different.  My Grandma had a good job with State Farm, while my Grandpa builds trophies and motorcycles and had to work much harder for money.  My moms brother and sister do not have good jobs.  I would consider them in the lower end of the middle class.  He uncle lives in a bad part of town in not the nicest apartment.  While my mom is high up in State Farm, we have a nice house and a pool.  I would consider myself a part of the upper middle class.  My mom was able to get out of where they were and better herself.  I think that her doing this rubs off on me in that she motivates me to always do better.  I am one of only 3 cousins to go to a university.  The rest go to community college or did not go at all.  I never realized that you can see huge differences in social class in your own family. 

Social stratification makes it difficult for people at the low end to succeed while it makes it easier for people up top to keep succeeding.  For the most part you will stay in the same class and so will your kids.  It is hard to move up when you came from nothing.  People in the lower class are really disadvantaged and some of them cant do anything about it.  Some people sit on there butts all day complaining about things when others are at least trying by working minimum wage jobs.  With a job like this it's hard for them to survive.  Also, they can't look to family for help because they are most likely in the same class. 

Do social classes help? I am not sure how to answer this question.  I haven't looked into the issue enough to fully understand if they do.  At first glace, I would say no because it creates inequalities in our society.  If we were to be able to break down these social barriers then we would be one step closer to equality.  I don't think social equality will ever happen, but less reasons to discriminate against someone might be nice. 


http://www.cliffsnotes.com/sciences/sociology/social-and-global-stratification/types-of-social-classes-of-people

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2014/0408/Smart-car-tipping-Prank-or-social-class-rebellion-video