Social hierarchy is the acknowledgement that a society is divided unequally. This division creates classes, which can be derived from combination of many factors. There are three dominating stratification systems in our world. The first is the caste system. The caste system is a very unbending structure of inequality. In a caste system, moving from class to class is virtually impossible. Through hard work and perseverance one is still not able to rise in class. Not only are the classes inflexible, they are quite rigid in t

Two people that must be mentioned when considering socio-cultural inequality are Karl Marx and Max Weber. Both men contributed greatly to the concepts of the elements of social stratification. Marx declared that a person’s place in society is not based on the individual’s talent, but instead on their relationship with nature. Weber argued that religious beliefs and values have an outstanding effect on an individual’s class consciousness. (Rossides) The inequality of America’s social hierarchy is a difficult realization to accept. The problems with this stratification are quite straightforward. However, there are beneficial repercussions as well.

Within America’s class system, there are a multitude of other types of classes. The three main classes, based mostly on economic status, are the upper, middle, and lower. These are probably the first words that come to someone’s mind when they are asked about the social hierarchy in America. However, when taking a deeper look at the class structure, one will see it more stably cut into six categories. From highest to lowest, they are as follows: The capitalist class is made up of mainly investors, heirs, and top executives. Of course, these are the wealthiest of the wealthy. Then, there is the upper-middle class, concocted of professionals with college degrees and managers with a high income. Below that is the middle class, also referred to as the white-collar workers. This is the class which America claims as its’ most prominent class. The middle class is made up of lower professionals than the upper-middle class and some more educated blue-collar workers. Under the middle class is the working class, which includes blue-collar workers and lower white-collar workers. Incomes are not far below that of the middle class. Then there is the working poor which usually have people who do not have stable work and whose incomes are humble. Lastly, there is the underclass. This class either works occasionally or may be supported by the government’s welfare program. These are the people who are well within the limits of poverty. (Gilbert) America is a class structure in which, as was explained earlier, mobilization is possible. Yet, what needs to be understood is that these classes which have just been described are not as flexible as most would like to believe. For instance, as explained in the article Social Class by Russ Long, the inequality starts early on. Long’s hypothetical story is of two boys who are in second grade. Both have about the same IQ and both are slightly above average. Boy number one is in the middle class while boy number two is in the underclass. Boy number one is four times as likely to go to college and has a far greater likelihood of later earning an middle to upper class income. This is the whole idea of social stratification. “Social stratification refers to the division of a society into layers (or strata) whose occupants have unequal access to social opportunities and rewards.” (Long) The truth is that this social stratification is in fact growing in America. The so-called middle-class society seems to have great flaws in its’ system. “In recent years, some observers have argued that the United States is becoming a less egalitarian, more rigidly stratified society. They say that poverty is growing, the middle class is shrinking, and wealth is becoming more concentrated.” (Gilbert 18) This has been caused by workers who produce products from raw material not being able to enjoy the surplus wealth. This is because of the business owners’ idea that it is their right to take that surplus wealth. (Long 2) However, to only acknowledge social classes due to economic standing would be like only painting half of a picture.

hat there is a thick line between each one. Take India, for example, where a strict ca

Some topics in this essay:
Equal Social, Woodrow Wilson, Class Russ, India Slaves, Class America, Max Weber, Jackman Jackman, Kolker Whatever, Republic Plato, Erickson Schwartz, social hierarchy, caste system, social class, social stratification, middle class, class structure, class america, lower classes, class system, america’s culture, social hierarchy functioning, hierarchy functioning society, society america gaps, social hierarchy america, below middle class,