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SOCIAL STRATIFICATION IN U.S.
Term Paper ID:16449
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Essay Subject:
Examines theories on causes & nature of social classes, individual vs. society issues, race differences, money, values, freedom.... More...
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11 Pages / 2475 Words
3 sources, 23 Citations,
MLA Format
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Paper Abstract:
Examines theories on causes & nature of social classes, individual vs. society issues, race differences, money, values, freedom.
Paper Introduction:
American people struggle to synthesize autonomy of the individual with fitting into society. Equal opportunity predominates among the ideals of American society, which tries to achieve this equality using the principle of democracy. However, the discrepancy between the ideal and the functional model creates problems for its members. Despite individualism being a fundamental ideal of American society, the "diffuse and anonymous authority of democracy" may not always favor the autonomy of the individual (Reismann 251). In actuality, equality only applies to those people who belong to the dominant culture, namely, white males. The other, less fortunate members of society face a dilemma: how does one attain these rights that are assigned to the dominant culture without sacrificing personal values? Thus, two basic American ideals, democracy and individualism, not only
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"Leaders are made, not born" (Ellison 262).Struggles over these positions within the established institutions ofsociety assure the division of the subordinate class. Women are "man's most easily accessible symbol offreedom" (Ellison 186). Society becomes a theater and its members become theactors. .. In actuality, equality only applies to those people whobelong to the dominant culture, namely, white males. themselves" (Berger 63). This sacrificesupports the inequalities of the inferior classes and races and maintainsthe skewed balance of power. Society, not theindividual, seems to be in control of how one should live one's life. The power of the media is their ability to"tell a lie so it becomes the truth" (Ellison 128). Obsessed withmimicking the superficial mannerisms and appearances, they disregard thepossibility of working toward a social ideal of acceptance of individualqualities and values. H. His personal power, howevermeager, is enough for him to accept any larger scale imbalances. A person needs to step outside himself to gain a differentperspective, or frame of reference. An individual has an additional method of existing inside society.The longer one's actions and goals remain unseen, the longer one willremain effective. Clearly Ellisonbelieves society also looks at blacks as something less than human. One needs to remember that "reality is a matter of definition . The individual must distinguish theuseful from the irrelevant, the good from the bad. The autonomous are free to choosewhether to conform or not. Further, individuals and subgroups arefrequently sacrificed for the sake of maintaining the current position ofthe more powerful class, although this contradicts the American notion thatthe individual is the most important aspect of society. If one has to rejectall semblances of one's individualism to become privy to the privileges ofthe dominant culture, should one do so? In a similar manner, the dominant culture also uses monolithic,unitary stereotypes, or status generalizations. Subtledeceptions are necessary to beat "them," the faceless, amorphous symbols ofwealth, status, and power. In the face of strongsocializing and conforming conditions, it is important not to lose contactwith the overall social picture. .society can effectively be controlled by the definitions of imbeciles"(Berger 65). . These preconceived ideasaffect and alter relationships. A personis defined according to his roles in society. Minorities may hate whites, but they use them just asmuch as they are used. While minorities attemptto change their ascribed features, or at least mimic socially acceptedappearances and mannerisms, they are unable to work toward the social idealof acceptance and irrelevance of genuine characteristics. Reismann states "The individual's capability exceeds his society'sdemands; [but it's hard to see] since potentialities may be hidden not onlyfrom others but from the individual himself" (241). Since it takes two, if one person refuses to succumb tostereotypes or decides to prove them incorrect, his or her actions willhave some effect. Power struggles are inevitable in society. The world is full of possibilities only if each person takesresponsibility for his or her own life. However, the discrepancy between the ideal and thefunctional model creates problems for its members. New York: Anchor, 1963.Ellison, Ralph. Money reinforces subordination. People come in all shapes, sizes andcolors. Adjusted personalitiesdirect their actions and thoughts toward the external environment. New Haven: Yale UP, 1961.----------------------- 13 For unequalsocial characters, it is easier to internalize feelings rather than blameoneself for the social situation. Does anyone in society have the answer? Blacks support the socially stratifiedsystem of race relations, driving the existing antagonism underground. Thus, minorities attempt in vain to change their ascribedcharacteristics to fit those of the dominant society. The Lonely Crowd. As a result, power in and control of societyremain in the hands of the white males. If an individual feelscontinually perceived in a certain manner, he may come to view himself inthat way. American people struggle to synthesize autonomy of the individualwith fitting into society. This selectiveattention, which sometimes leads to drastic contradictions of truecharacters, focuses on the ascribed status characteristics of an individual(fixed differences such as gender, age and race). Money motivates the individual also. Autonomy, like anomie, is a deviation from the adjustedpatterns, though a deviation controlled in its range and meaning by theexistence of these patterns" (Reismann 25 ). Separation ofoneself from society can accomplish this goal. Both types of characters function well in society, but theinternally directed individual can choose and modulate his or her life.Difficulties arise, however, when one tries to follow one's own signals butstill remains a functioning member of society. Works CitedBerger, Peter L. They signify power, but society reduces them toobjects in the process. a black amorphous thing . Diversity enriches life. Thisreduction of a person's worth can easily lead to the feeling that, "you'renobody . G. Even if one cannot be autonomous in action, one can be autonomous inthought. However, behavior does not alwaysreflect character structure. Exclusivitystatements like "your people" and "I am a New Englander" reflect thecorrelation between an individual's identity and his statuscharacteristics. Mead believedthat taking the role of other social classes leads to becoming aware ofactual differences and possible similarities between the others and theself. Why can't society acceptthe validity of all social values rather than insist that everyone assumethose of the white male? He or she needs to demystifythe scope of society in order to specifically examine the crucial issues. "Who has any identity, anyway" (Ellison 165)? Invisible Man. In light of all the deception and manipulation, one must recognizethe hypocrisy of the whole situation, wherein minorities need to lie inorder to survive. The dominant culture also used communication and media as tools ofsuppression. All traditions reflectthe values of a certain culture, but in order to free oneself, a person hasto assimilate the values of the dominate culture. The power ofcommunication is to "take these white folks where we want them to go, showthem what we want them to see," actions demonstrating lack of openness,honesty, contrived and manipulated interaction with the dominant culture.Many blacks believe the "only way to please a white man is to tell him alie" (Ellison 127). Appearances are deceiving and transitory; why does society put somuch value in the superficial? Alleviating the external differences isimpossible, yet social ideals attempt to clone and package people and evenworse, people succumb to them in many ways. The vet accurately remarks on the flaws of roles and racerelations, but his comments were disregarded because of his societallyimposed label of "lunatic." Not surprisingly, the same processes of socialostracism that label individuals are also responsible for stereotyping andstatus generalizations. In other words, peopleexercise selectivity of the senses; they generally see what they want tosee, often by bringing preconceived ideas into a situation. They all ensure that power remains firmly held inthe hands of white males. A large segment of the inferior class frequently vocalizes its beliefthat it is better to remain segregated, because that is the only way theycan keep their small shard of individualism. The social stratification results from thevalues of American people. Despite individualismbeing a fundamental ideal of American society, the "diffuse and anonymousauthority of democracy" may not always favor the autonomy of the individual(Reismann 251). . . Often the dominant culturesacrifices these individuals for the sake of the overall, largerinstitutions in society. " (Ellison 223). The blame is society's; theresponsibility, the individual's. Max Weber describesthree pure, character ideals: autonomous, anomic, and adjusted. This objectification points to the largediscrepancy of a class' socially-designated worth. This problem must be seen on apersonal level, not a general one. Because stereotypes are self-perpetuating,they are also difficult to break through. There will always be a leader and a protestingunderclass. Members of society need to attain freedom from any detrimentalbonding that hinders their attainment of our ultimate goals. Bledsoe told the invisible man, "After you win thegame, you take the prize, and you keep it, protect it; there's nothing leftto do" (Ellison 128). Accepting other people's values and lifestylesentails jumping "out of the fire into the melting pot," a more conglomerateexistence (Ellison 126). you don't exist" (Ellison 46). Thedominant culture uses division, separation, segregation, anddifferentiation to suppress blacks, who fight among each other as directedby a white society, thereby unwittingly collaborating with the powerful tomaintain the unfair statuses. "A man's conduct, ideas, andpsychological identity are shaped by race in a manner far more decisive . Do revolutionary movements, as reactions to this conglomerateexistence, free individuals or merely affix the same restrictions on anindividual in a barely altered form? For this reason, interaction with others isvery important. Therefore, working withinthe system will produce the best, most lasting results; an individual mustplay the social game. American traditions, even the beneficial ones,restrict a person's goals and inhibit his choice of action. The lower classessacrifice intelligence and integrity for monetary reward. Ironically, this dominant male culture is a minority. . The dominant culture wants to keep subordinates striving towardshallow ideals of success to avoid their recognizing the enormity of theirinferiority and insignificance. In the novel, the hierarchy of occupationsfor black men - 3 teachers, 7 trained mechanics, 8 skilled farmers -reflect the inferiority of their social positions. The inferiormembers will often be told to "accept responsibility for [your] own actsand avoid becoming better" (Ellison 132). All members of society need to begin to accept more of the values ofthe subculture. . Changing the conception of who is responsible for America'sstratified society is the critical issue. Even if they cannot accept these values, the society couldat least acknowledge the validity of their existence. In Invisible Man, the media convey the message: "white isright" (Ellison 226). Thus, two basic American ideals, democracy andindividualism, not only conflict with each other, but also exist only for aselect group of society. The media tell blacks to whiten their skin, onemethod of avoiding the higher issues of equality. White males constitute approximately 4 percent of theAmerican population. People who belongto subordinate groups often represent more than just a personality, or evena stereotype of a class. There are manyexamples of cohorting with the opposing groups to achieve token power.Bledsoe, the dean of the Invisible Man's college, exemplifies someoneobsessed with his personal power and his role. In America, the "quickestway to die is to retire" (Ellison 189). . Todo so is denying oneself the only means to a fulfilling existence.However, if society does not validate the struggle for equality, butinstead treats it like a casual, insignificant joke, then that is what itwill be. Society cannot exist without individuals. Laughter is infectious; however, no one can be forced to laugh ifone truly does not find the situation funny. By not recognizing the stereotypical assumptions, ineffect, the individual has neutralized one of the powerful tools used bythe dominating culture to maintain their superiority. The dominant society subjects the subordinate classes to mandates ofstatus symbolism, or the use of various symbols like material objects,styles of demeanor and dress, taste and speech, associations and opinions,that one shows to the world just where one stands in society (Berger 79).Styles shallowly indicate class membership because they can be easilyreplicated. Perhaps one should questionwhether America can feasibly attain equality for all. One needs to perceive another to define andestablish roles. Even though he has different values, he pretends to be like awhite man by altering his appearance. Asstratification of society deepens, especially with the immense choice oflabor roles, the segmentation of choices increases. Keeping the members of the minorityclass severed, assures the continuance of white male supremacy. The other members of society should wonder why white males are sopowerful. Women are reduced tosub-human category of commodities, symbols of the betterment and highposition of a person. Until one findspersonal identity and understanding, one's character will be invisible toothers. "The radical changes in societyeventually become institutions which in turn resist radical changes insociety" (Reissman 241). Therefore, it makes sense that one should play the game, but notbelieve in it. If a subordinate person works within the system in order to instigatelasting change while continuously scratching below the surface of thestructures and processes, he or she will reach an understanding. The internal world of each person is the most important aspect.Partial autonomy, or even an attempt at autonomy, is better than none atall. Both are important physical and situational factors whichencourage constant segregation. "He is a mark on your score card of your achievement. Equal opportunity predominates among the idealsof American society, which tries to achieve this equality using theprinciple of democracy. Therefore, a person's life is absurd unless he puts individualmeaning to it. However, ultimate "individualism" is achieved through the synthesisof autonomous thought and action. Thus, individual differences fade into the background andeventually into oblivion. Autonomouscharacters believe the individual is more important than any socialstructure. Not surprisingly, societyvalues man according to his occupational status. Even the members of the Brotherhoodin the Invisible Man are victims and unwitting conspirators of thestereotyped generalizations based on ascribed characteristics. For himand many others, power equals status. Society presents people with a wide choice of aims - power,possessions, money, knowledge, fame, goodness - these aims are all"ideologically" related. Ideally incurrent American society, one need not enter a new class, but only changeone's style of life and characteristics within one's class. Adifferent kind of social member is the autonomous person. The mutual use raises a disturbing question: Howcan the insubordinate group achieve power or equality when its members areguilty of the same strategies that are used by the dominant culture toensure its superiority? This type of social member seeksthe characteristics he or she is supposed to have. Since an individual's need for power divides the whole group,the minorities struggle with the difficulty of maintaining unity in theface of strong social pressure and opposition by a seemingly powerful,faceless mass. Invitation to Sociology: A Humanistic Perspective. The other, lessfortunate members of society face a dilemma: how does one attain theserights that are assigned to the dominant culture without sacrificingpersonal values? Even the trained andskilled members of the minorities make little money and have littleprestige. One cannot live vicariously. Ellison states, "[A person is] really more clown than fool" (132). By separating oneself from society, one can alter the definition ofsocial reality and gain visibility of oneself and of others in society. New York: Signet, 1952.Reismann, David. In the Invisible Man, the vet at the Golden Day was"acting toward a white man with a freedom that could only bring trouble"(Ellison 65). Theadjusted person is driven by invisible, social forces of which he hasgenerally little awareness or control. Autonomy is directed insidethe individual. Yet, one must not forget that the fundamental, mostimportant, unit of society is the individual. In Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man the move to the North for theInvisible Man requires a shift in basic mannerisms, colloquialisms, andappearances. The power of the dollar dividesand classifies the masses according to occupational status, locations, andlifestyles. Wefind in Ellison (16), "[Responsibility] rests upon recognition andrecognition is a form of agreement." That is to say, roles arereciprocally created. . An individual needs to point out social discrepancies orflaws within the system without being labelled a deviant, which wouldinvalidate and dismiss his or her observations. The dominant culture uses many strategies to maintain its control.The members of the "dominant" culture give token positions and titles tomembers of the minority to appease their cry for power without reallyrelinquishing any of it.
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