Social class impacts
one’s level of political participation and political influence
. … This trend means that middle and upper class individuals have greater political participation and greater political influence than those in lower positions.
A higher social class is associated with high power, which in turn is linked with
a reduction of physical and environmental Quality of Life
. Since upper-class individuals typically have both, power and status (Dubois et al.
Social classes provide their members with distinctive sub-cultures that prepare them for specialised functions in society. It is said that the social class is
useful as an efficient means of role allocation in the society
. Through role allocation, a society fixes social responsibilities of persons.
How does class affect power?
So a class system sets the stage for the exercise of power; various groups have an
interest in wielding power over others
within a class system. … Third, a class system also creates a subjectivity of power, powerlessness, and resistance that may iterate into new forms of the exercise of power.
What is the relationship between class and power?
“Power” is a feature of the individual’s position within a set of social networks and relationships, not a social structure. Class is more akin to “the mass of the earth”, whereas
power is akin to “the ability to fly”
. The mass of the earth determines the most basic feature of life on earth — gravity.
Not only can different social class cultures lead
to distinct patterns of interpersonal behavior
, they can also lead individuals to experience mismatches between their social class culture and the culture of important social institutions like college or the workplace.
Functional Theory: Social structure is essential
because it creates order and predictability in a society
(Parsons, 1951). –Connects people to larger society through webbed pattern of social relationships (thus, homeless people are at a disadvantage ’cause little connections).
A person’s social class has a
significant impact on their physical health
, their ability to receive adequate medical care and nutrition, and their life expectancy. … Additionally, people with low SES tend to experience a much higher rate of health issues than those of high SES.
Social power is a form of power that is
found in society and within politics
. While physical power relies upon strength to force another person to act, social power is found within the rules of society and laws of the land. It rarely uses one-on-one conflicts to force others to act in ways they normally would not.
How is power used in society?
Social power is a form of power that is found in society and within politics. While physical power relies upon strength to force another person to act, social power is found within the rules of society and laws
of the land
. It rarely uses one-on-one conflicts to force others to act in ways they normally would not.
Individuals of higher social class have
an abundance of resources
, which means they can afford to focus more on internal growth and self-development. … Conversely, individuals of lower social class reported greater happiness from recent material purchases.
More specifically, the lower the class,
the lower the health self-management ability
, which in turn leads to worse mental and physical health statuses. Revealing the importance of health self-management in the influence of social class on mental and physical health.
In other words, social class differences in identity, cognition, feelings, and behaviour make
it less likely
that working-class individuals can benefit from educational and occupational opportunities to improve their material circumstances.
Changing social class is a
“Yes
, and” process at best. You may add to your life and you may experience internal conflict. You may do both. Changing your social class may alienate you from people you know and may alienate you from the person you are now.
Social inequality is
linked to racial inequality, gender inequality, and wealth inequality
. The way people behave socially, through racist or sexist practices and other forms of discrimination, tends to trickle down and affect the opportunities and wealth individuals can generate for themselves.
Social mobility is an
important factor in the creation of a vibrant society
, and it is a critical factor in the creation of a healthy economy. There are several different types of social mobility. Economic mobility
