Social Class and Individual Life Chances - Term Paper Example

Due Social and Individual Life Chances In modern world, people are constantly working hard to realize the thingsthat they deem desirable and fit for a comfortable life. The definition of comfort is derived from the culture of the society in which a person lives. Social class affects the availability of the basic conditions and resources that offer comfort to an individual’s life. The aspects are influenced by cultural and economic factors and include social amenities, education, and healthcare services. The factors affect the lives of individuals on an equal measure. Max Weber asserts that scarcity of resources and inequality in the distribution divides the society into social classes that include upper class, middle class, working class and low class (Ringer 228). In general, the upper class consists of the rich and powerful and the middle class consists of educated professionals. The working class consists of blue-collar jobs individuals, while the lower class contains people with the lowest resources and scarcity in terms of skills and education. The social classes are based on the ability to afford the basic elements that determine life chances. The three elements include social status, power, and economic resources. People with power, high economic capability and influential social status have more chances in life (Ferrante 221). However, people who fall short of these elements are often disadvantaged and have to put extra effort to acquire life chances similar to their well-endowed counterparts. As noted, education is one of the factors that determine life chances. Quality education is expensive and requires a lot of investment. The expensive nature of quality education makes it a preserve of a few people who have the economic might. As explained, people in higher social class control most of the resources and thus can afford schools for their children. In fact, people in upper social class attend private high-end institutions that guarantee education success. The situation maintains the inequality status and a clear boundary between the social classes. People in the middle, working and low social classes have less economic ability and thus many cannot afford quality education (United Nations 55). As a result, they remain in low social class and have fewer life chances. People with good education have the resources for various social services and a comfortable lifestyle. In essence, high class and middle-class people can take up better vacations both locally and internationally. The vacations add to the welfare of such people and is part of the life chances that these groups enjoy. Better-educated persons are highly employable and thus have the financial resources and power to finance their vacations. As opposed to upper and middle class, working class and lower class have few resources in both finances and time to take up holidays. In fact, these groups work tirelessly to sustain themselves. In essence, the working class and the low class have few life chances of having better holidays. Another life chance that is determined by social class is quality housing. Shelter is one of the basic needs of people. A well-endowed individual has chances to better housing and thus better living standard. Quality housing come with a high price tag that can only be afforded by a few individuals. In this regard, social class determines who gets the housing. Upper-class individuals in the society have the power to control their fate and destiny in regard to housing. They do this through influence, wealth and education. The middle class has the factors to influence their lives, and this places them in a favorable position to increase their chances of affording quality housing. As opposed to persons with higher social status, people with low social status are unable to bargain for better housing. As a result, they have no control on the type of housing they can get. Parental achievement also influences life chances. Children that are born to upper-class families are inspired by parents to succeed in life. The children always emulate the parents’ path to success. In addition, successful parents form good mentors and role models that their children can emulate. As a result, the children end up having similar life chances as their parents and end up in the same social class. The children of the middle-class families inherit education prowess and thus aim for higher achievements in education. However, low-class people face a situation of indifference on how to break into higher social status. The success in breaking into other social classes depend on the individual efforts and talents. Health is vital for survival of human beings. However, social classes influence the healthcare service. In the modern world, healthcare is divided into several strata depending on a person’s ability. People in high social status have the opportunity and resources to get the best healthcare services. Mostly, people in high-income bracket access better services through private institutions that are usually expensive. Today, several health care institutions and services target the high-income bracket. The healthcare services are personalized and are highly efficient. The efficiency in private healthcare ranges from a balanced patient to doctor ratio, access to effective medication and adequate and accurate medical equipment. As a result, people in the upper class have better chances of staying healthy. Middle-class people are able to access adequate health care services from both private and public institution. These people are educated and have the power to determine the best service with the only factor being financial resources. The middle class utilizes healthcare insurance to finance the healthcare expenditure. The power of information enables the middle class to afford quality care. However, low-class people are unable to overcome the hindrances posed by scarcity of resources (Anderson and Taylor 541). As a result, health problems are common in this class. They are unable to finance their health expenditure or take up insurance schemes. The outcome is that people in low class have lower life chances as far as healthcare is concerned. In conclusion, the modern society is marred by inequality clearly divided into several clearly distinct social classes and is increasingly becoming more uneven (United Nations 27). Each social class has its unique characteristics and privileges. The social classes are described as the upper class, middle class, working class and low class affect individual life chances. As discussed, life chances are determined by education, financial resources, and power. People with good education, wealth and power are better placed in society and have best chances in life. High-class individuals have the power to influence their destiny. However, working and low-class people must work their way up the social classes. This can be done through realization of a talent and education. References Andersen, Margaret L, and Howard F. Taylor. Sociology: Understanding a Diverse Society. 4th ed. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning, 2007. Print. Ferrante-Wallace, Joan. Sociology: A Global Perspective. 7th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2010. Print. Ringer, Fritz K. Max Weber: An Intellectual Biography. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2010. Internet resource. United Nations. "Inequality Matters: Report of the World Social Situation 2013." 13.2 (2013): 25-56. Web. 3 Feb. 2015. Read More