Teen Dating and Social Stratification in Australia - Research Paper Example

? TEEN DATING AND SOCIAL STRATIFICATION IN AUSTRALIA BY College: Presented Synopsis Teen dating is a crucial stage in youth development. Teen dating is a strategic step in life, which defines how the youth find partners in forming long lasting relationships. There are many factors that may influence the choice of a date. These may include, age, religions, culture, and socioeconomic status of the date. In Australia, the society has for a long time exhibited signs of being a classless society, though inequalities have crept in to define social classes, though with a blurred boundary. This research was carried out in Melbourne to establish whether social stratification has any effect on teen dating. The researcher observed that social stratification has no significant effect in dating but would be a factor to consider when choosing a long relationship partner. The researcher also observed that males were more sensitive to social classes compared to females, while non natives had higher reservations in dating across social classes compared to native respondents. Table of Contents Table of Contents 3 1.0 Introduction 4 2.0 Literature Review 4 2.1 Purpose of the research 6 3.0 Methodology 6 3.1 Sample size & location 7 3.2 Research Questions 7 3.3 Data collection 7 4.0 Data Analysis and Interpretation 8 5.0 Discussion 9 6.0 Conclusion 10 7.0 References List 11 8.0 Index: Interviews 12 1.0 Introduction Social stratification and dating among youths in Australia is a relevant topic that is worthy researching to understanding dating trends. According to Social Australia (2011), the Australian society has much respect for its rich egalitarian policy, though there are different social classes in the society. These classes are the upper class, middle class, and working class. However, despite the existence of the above classes, there lacks symbols that can clearly delineate the class that one belongs to, or a cut line between two consecutive classes. There exist differences in how different members of these classes would respond to various issues. For example, British NATSAL 1990 revealed that majority of men and women across Australia not using any type of contraception were more likely to come from lower classes. There was however no clear cut difference in the classes on how the contraceptives were used (Bancroft, 2009). In addition research has portrayed that there is significant impact of social class end educational level related to teenage pregnancies (Bancroft 2009). Gilbert et al (2006) further notes that while females in Sydney preferred standard forms while choosing relationship partners, men on the other hand favored native partners, especially for African immigrants to preserve their identity through language. Noting these dynamics across Australian teens, there is a need to carry out a detailed research to understand the social stratification trends in teen dating. 2.0 Literature Review Several studies have been carried out regarding social stratification in teen dating across Australia. A research by McCabe & Collins (1993) found that here were no effects of social class on the dating behavior of adolescents in Australia. This means that dating decisions were not made after considering the classes noted above, but there were equal chances of dating across these classes. However, (Eisikovits, 1998) notes that among the young people, there is a general feeling of pessimism, suggesting they may be more under the influence of individualization and insecurity regarding the modern life that they consider unpredictable, Therefore, Eisikovits, 1998) argues that young people from high economic classes were more concerned about failure and their uncertain futures, while those from disadvantaged or lower classes regarded the risks they face as personal and individual. This implies that youths from high socioeconomic class families would opt to date counterparts in high class to cushion against the future risks, particularly in cases where the dating would lead to long time relationship. McCarmish (2009) further notes that Australians have no classes; hence social stratification is not well elaborate in this society. McCarmish notes that the outward trappings of class are treated as a joke in Australia, and the class divides have no place in the society. Australia is therefore presented as a classless society, with a strong egalitarian self image. However, different facts have been advanced to challenge this assertion, and present Australia as one country having a large inequality rates among developed nations. Data gathered by the United Nations Development Program portrayed the Australian society being the fifth most unequal country among developed nations (McCarmish 2009). Therefore, egalitarianism is rapidly becoming a non core value in the society. Many people believe that inequality in the society is rapidly growing and clearly defining people into social classes. Such inequality in social classes would therefore lead to segregation of teens in family classes where they would opt to date people of their classes or higher consideri9ng thinned for security as described above. As Eisikovits, (1998) elaborates, male immigrants in Australia have portrayed tendencies of preferring their native partners in dating while teenage girls in working classes favored standard norms. These dynamics portray social stratification in dating trends among the youth in Australia. Reay (1998) argues that despite denial of class status, emotional intimacies of class continue to shape individuals’ daily understanding, attitude, and actions, which includes dating decisions. This is particularly because; people have continued to define and recognize their own identities in ways which have to involve relational comparisons with other members of social classes. Social stratification in the society therefore becomes an inevitable issue with dating decisions likely to be based on such class relational comparisons. Prandy & Jones (2001) however notes that friendship, partnerships or dating may also be related to hierarchical positions and not necessarily on class. 2.1 Purpose of the research This research aims at establishing the effects of social stratification when choosing dating partners among youths in Australia. 3.0 Methodology Social science is the science of people or groups of people, firms, societies, economies, and their respective collective or individual behaviors (Walter, 2010). According to Walter, survey research is most appropriate in social science research as it involves interacting with the subjects named above, and collecting data through surveys and questionnaires. Survey research involves use of interviews or administering questionnaires to a group of respondents. The researcher has then to study and analyze the data collected in making out similarities, differences, and any other trends as indentified from the respondents. Walter (2010) further argues that qualitative research is more appropriate in social science research. This is because; through interviews administered in qualitative research, the researcher understands the problem better from the respondents’ point of view, and is able to uncover their experiences. This research will therefore utilize qualitative research approach. Before the interviews, ethical considerations were taken into consideration in guaranteeing the confidentiality of the respondents, and ensuring that all respondents only participated in the research on informed consent (Walter, 2010). 3.1 Sample size & location The research involved 20 students in Melbourne aged between 14 and 19 years. Half of the respondents were female, while six of the respondents were non natives. 3.2 Research Questions How old are you? How would you classify your family in the socioeconomic status: low, middle or high class? When was the first time you dated? How would you describe your date’s socioeconomic class? What did you consider when choosing your first date? Was the family’s socioeconomic status relevant when choosing your date? Why? Do you think you could have dated a person of a different class? why? Do you think dating such a person would lead to a lasting relationship? Why? Do you have friends dating across social classes? Would you consider their relationships to be successful? 3.3 Data collection Each respondent was allowed a maximum of twenty minutes to respond to the interview questions. Every interview session was started by briefing the interviewer and ended with a debriefing session, where the interviewee prompted questions to the interviewer (Walter, 2010). The interviewer kept on steering and defining the situation, and at the same time ensuring the interviewee felt confident and free to talk. As Kvale (1996) recommends, the interviewer’s questions were short but the interviewee was allowed to give elaborate answers within the time specified. 4.0 Data Analysis and Interpretation From the data collected in the interview above, most native teens responded that social classes were not an important consideration when dating. However, most non native respondents indicated that they were not comfortable dating a partner of high economic status for males, while females did not portray any clear trend in their dating patterns. However, when asked to clarify further on a dating that could lead to a long time relationship, most of male respondents from high class families portrayed willingness to form long term relationship with partners from either middle or high socioeconomic classes, as a security for their uncertain future. Female respondents however did not indicate this trend. Male respondents from a lower socioeconomic class showed reservations in dating partners from high class families, which they indicated was to preserve their esteem. Male respondents showed more sensitivity to class stratification compared to female partners, with more male respondents indicating that their friend’s relationships involving the two extreme classes (low and high) did not prove very successful, particularly when the male partner was from the lower class. Class was however not stated as the main consideration when looking for a dating partner, though some male respondents had reservations dating partners from families they considered to be of extremely high status in the society. 5.0 Discussion Anderson (1983, 6) notes that communities are a cultural construction, a manner in which people organize thoughts into ideas of similarity and difference, and not necessarily a reflection of reality. Therefore, people are perceived in the way they are imagined. As Anderson explains, social stratification and dating preferences by teens in Australia portrayed similar trends of perception rather than reality, which had a significant effect when choosing dating partners. From the interview, it was observed that groups have to be understood in interactional terms, and not self identical substantial bodies with essential attributes (Young 1997). A social group is thus a collection of people differentiated from other groups by cultural forms, special needs, practices, or structures of power or prestige. Therefore, what makes a group is the relation that it reflects to others and how it is judged. For example, from the interview, male respondents from high socioeconomic class had reservations dating partners in the lower social class in what they termed to be future security particularly in long term relationships. This trend was also observed in male respondents from lower class, who portrayed similar reservations in dating partners in high social classes. Such preferences may be attributed to considering the structure of power that each social class portrays, and having a perception that hinders the respondent from approaching such power structures as dictated by the respective social groups. Respondents were therefore more comfortable in dating partners of their own classes. The trend was more pronounced in non native respondents who preferred having dating partners who could understand them better. This is in collaboration with the findings of a study by Prandy & Jones (2001) that partnership or dating may also be related to hierarchal structures on the social strata, and not necessarily on class. Social stratification may therefore result from the hierarchal consideration in the social setting, where each hierarchy members opt to date members of their own hierarchy. Respondents from the middle social class showed no significant preference to any class, while female respondents portrayed less consideration of social classes in choosing dating partners. However, all respondents indicated that social class was not a major consideration when choosing a dating partner. This is in accordance with a study by McCabe & Collins (1993), which observed no significant effect of social classes in choosing dating partners in Australia. Therefore, the social class constructs as observed were a construction of how the youths organized their thoughts to perceive some members of other classes as they are imagined. 6.0 Conclusion Social stratification in Australia portrays little significance with regard to teen dating. Social classes in Australia have no clear cut lines, particularly between the middle and higher class; for along time, Australia has taken pride in having a classless society, though the trend is rapidly changing, with the country being among the leading countries with high unequal rates among developed countries. The increasing social inequality has resulted in some teens establishing long term relationships with future economic and social security in mind. The need for self esteem and social recognition has significant effect in choosing dating partners particularly among non native teens who preferred to have a partner that could preserve and understand their cultural identity. This was however not a major consideration when choosing a dating partner. Perceived hierarchical structures in the society played a significant role in defining groups according to their social status, though these may not indicate the actual reality in the society. 7.0 References List Anderson, B., 1983. Imagines Communities, London: Verso Bancroft J., 2009. Human Sexuality and its Problems. London: Elservier Health Sciences Bottero, W. and Irwin, S. 2003. Locating Difference: Class, “ Race” and Gender, and the Shaping of Social Inequalities', The Sociological Review , 51 (4): 463-483. Eisikovits, E. 1998. ‘Girl-talk/Boy-talk: Sex Differences in Adolescent Speech’ in Coates,  J. (ed.)  Language and Gender: A Reader ,Oxford, Blackwell Gilbert G. G., Fuller J.M., & Thornburg L I., 2006. Studies in Contact Linguistics: Essays in Honor of Glenn G. Gilbert. NY: Peter Lang Publishing Inc. Kvale, S., 1996. Interviews: An Introduction to Qualitative Research Interviewing. London: Sage Publications. McCabe P.M & Collins J.K., 1983. The Sexual and Affectional Attitudes and Experiences of Australian Adolescents During Dating: The Effects of Age, Church Attendance, Type of School, and Socioeconomic Class. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 12(6), 529-539. McCamish, T., 2009. Whatever Happened to the Classless Society? The Age National http://www.theage.com.au/national/whatever-happened-to-the-classless-society-20090815-elt2.html [Accessed Sept. 14, 2012] Prandy K, & Jones, F.L., 2001. Social Reproduction and Mobility in Britain and Ireland in the Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Century. Sociology, 34(2), 265-281 Ready, D., 1998, Rethinking Social Class: Qualitative Perspectives on Class and Gender, Sociology, 32(2), 259-275. Social Australia 2011. Social Stratification in Australia. Wwoof Australia. http://www.wwoof-australia.com/social-australia/[Accessed Sept. 14, 2012] Young, I.M., 1997. Differences as a Resource for Democratic Communication in Bohman, J., nad Regh, W., eds Deliberative Democracy, Cambridge: MIT Press. 8.0 Index: Interviews I: Interviewer R: Respondent Respondent 1 Male Native I: Please I would request to ask you a few questions regarding dating and I assure you that you identity shall remain secret. We hope you will give us honest answers to the best of your knowledge. I: How old are you? R: 15 I: How would you classify your family on the socioeconomic rating, low, middle or high class? R: Middle class I guess I: When was the first time you dated? R: I first dated when I was 14 years old, less than a year ago I: What did you consider when choosing your first date? R: My first consideration was someone who was attractive to me, someone whom I could establish bonds with and someone who could understand me. I just needed a close companion to share with. I: Was the family socioeconomic level relevant when choosing your date? R: Not at all, it is hard to clearly define the social class of your date. Class did not feature anywhere in my considerations at that time. However, I would prefer someone from close to my social status and specifically as a male I need to prove my self esteem to may date. Dating a person of a higher class can prejudice my esteem as I may not be able to meet their needs. However, this cannot prevent me from dating someone. I: Do you think you could have dated a person of a different class? why? R: Of course yes. Dating according to me should not be segregated to social classes. In fact, it would be good to date partners from different classes to understand these people better. Dating does not necessarily lead to establishing a relation. I: Do you think dating such a person would lead to a lasting relationship? R: Sometimes there are problems when dating people of different classes as this may lead to having some inferiority complex. That is; as a male if my partner is way above my class, I may feel that am not offering the best. Again if they are from a much lower class, there may be conflict of our hobbies, which may be problematic. Such dating may lead to long lasting relationships, but it will depend on how personalities take it. I: Do you have friends dating across social classes? R: Yea most of my friends have different dates from different classes. There are some who seem to be doing fine while others seem to live way beyond their means to please their dates. I: Would you consider their dates as fruitful? R: Some dates developed into long term relationships, and the guys seem to be happy together while there are others that did not go beyond the first date. An example was a friend who had a foreign date, I don’t know what happened but they did not go for a second date. Respondent 2 Female Native Please I would request to ask you a few questions regarding dating and I assure you that you identity shall remain secret. We hope you will give us honest answers to the best of your knowledge. I: How old are you? R: 19 I: How would you classify your family, low, middle or high class? High class, my parents have many investments in Melbourne. Am used to a lavish life I: When was the first time you dated? R: I first dated at 16years I: What did you consider when choosing your first date? R: there was this guy who was persistent that he would take me on a date one day; he was a lovely guy so I gave in and dated him I: Was the social status of the person important when choosing your date? R: No. As far as the guy was lovely and was committed to taking me on a date, I specifically did not mind about his status or looks. These are not that important when going for a date though am used to visiting lavish places. I: Do you think you could have dated a person of a different class? why? R: Why not? People should not be classified into classes. Each person has something to offer despite their status. There are some dates that you can go in cheaper places and yet they are better than those in expensive places. Class does not matter in dating. I: Do you think dating such a person would lead to a lasting relationship? R: Yea as far as both of you are committed to establish a long lasting relationship, class does not matter. Even if my partners are from a lower class, I can always chip in and help where necessary. Class cannot be an impediment to relationships. I: Do you have friends dating across social classes? R: some of my friends are dating people from very different lasses. In fact, some of them have to settle most of the bills when they go out as the guy cannot afford some of the places they visit and they are happy about it. It does not matter the class of your date as far as the person is decent, you are good to go. I: Would you consider their dates successful? R: Sure; in fact most of these dates where the two people are from a different class are successful as both the partners are brought together by affection for one another, which may lead to relationships. Dating a person from a different class is not a problem, though some people from lower social classes take advantage of the lavish life of higher class partners to show off beyond their social status Respondent 3: Male non native I: How old are you? R: 18 I: How would you classify your family, low, middle or high class? R: We just migrated to Australia and have not established ourselves here, so I think we are in the lower socioeconomic class. I: When was the first time you dated? R: I first dated when I was 17 years old, less than a year ago I: What did you consider when choosing your first date? R: My first consideration was someone who was attractive to me, someone who could understand me. Generally, I needed someone who understood my predicament, where I have come from and to know how I have to be in this place. I: Was the family socioeconomic status relevant when choosing your date? R: The social economic status was not that much important, though I was a bit reluctant dating someone used to a lavish life. Such people usually have higher demands than one can meet and you end up feel an underdog. However, I would give it a try. I: Do you think you could have dated a person of a different class? why? R: am not sure, but though I did not mind the social class, I was much involved with people with a similar social class to mine. Therefore, maybe I could not have dated others from extreme classes as most of those close to me were from similar social classes, considering that as an immigrant, some may look down upon you. I: Do you think dating such a person would lead to a lasting relationship? R: I would particularly like to establish a long lasting relationship with someone whom we share common practices and someone who can acceptable to propagate my beliefs. It would be hard to establish such a relationship with someone whom you have more differences than similarities. I: Do you have friends dating across social classes? Yea some of my friends have different dates from different classes. However, most of them have tried to avoid the high social economic class as they cannot meet the requirements to live according to this class. I: Would you consider their dates successful? Most of them have not been successful. For example, as a man you need to have some self esteem and feel you are in control. Some of my friends have tried to live according to their date’s class but fail when they cannot hold anymore, though there are some who have good dates. Read More