Describe your thoughts on social structure in today's world and in TKAM. Use your novel and life experiences to support your opinion (ex. school, community, etc.)
Remember to include a source of media, a thought provoking question, and respond to two other questions.
Social Structure
ReplyDeleteI think in this day and age our social structure is arranged by the amount of money you have. In our society, we see how the “popular” kids are the ones that can buy new clothing almost every week,being able to keep up with new trends. While those at the bottom are poor, they cannot afford new things to show off. This is also evident in Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird the Ewells were put at the bottom of the society, because of the lack of money they have. Not only were the Ewells put at the bottom but also the Cunninghams who were so poor they had to pay through barter and never borrowed something they could not repay. Even though the Cunninghams were morally good, they were put at the bottom due to their lack of money, they were even called “trash” by Aunt Alexandra. Though we don’t want to admit it our lives are truly based on who has more money, in our world money represents success and power. Though this is unfortunate, it is the truth.
Media:http://freakyts.com/images/money%20makes%20the%20world%20go%20round.jpg
This picture stresses the fact that because our society is based on how much one makes it truly reassures the saying that “money make the world go round”.
Thought Provoking Question: Let’s say everybody had the same amount of money so we couldn’t base our social structure on money. Do you think there will still be that unevenness that causes the formation of social structure? Why?
I think that we would still somehow create a form of social structure because it's human nature to compare yourself with the people around you. We're naturally self-conscious and have a tendency to find an area where we're "better" than others, whether it be looks, money, social life, etc.
DeleteYes, I believe there still would be an unevenness because money isn't the only thing that shapes our social structure. Other things, such as education and background, play a major role in our social structure because people take these into consideration when you find your spot in the society. To answer your question, yes there will be an unevenness because, like I said, education and background also shape the social structure. Money is very important, but isn't a necessity for those creative minds out there who have the potential to make it without any money.
DeleteOf course! I believe that there will always be social inequality among different people. It is only natural, since we are all different. In my eyes, I believe that social structure is dictated by our amount of money because money leads to new clothes, new hair, and new accessories which ultimately leads to a better physical appearance. Humans judge each other based on their outer appearances, and this is why I believe that if social structure were not based on money, it would be based on a skill that would benefit a person's physical appearance, such as craftsmanship, bartering skills, etc.
DeleteYes, coming from matthew there are also many other factors that contribute in making a social structure including poeples occupation and the level of education as well. But the good thing is that we no longer based the social structure by people's race
DeleteMoney and education create our social status pyramid. However, it all means nothing if you don't use it wisely. Two people could have the same amount of money but one could use it to succeed in a business and the other could use it for something wasteful like drugs.
DeleteMoney is not the only factor determining how our social infrastruture is built. There are many other factors such as having more friends, being more liked than others, being smarter, etc. Money is undoubtfully a huge part of determining what your status is in the world but it's not the only thing.
DeleteIt would help support equality in the formation of social structure in the sense of having just one big class that everyone fits into. However, at the same time, even within a certain class, there are still ranks. (ex. upper middle class, white trash, etc.) Money is not the only factor that contributes to the composition of social status, but it is one of the biggest ones.
DeleteYes there would still be a social structure because like everyone said, money isn't the only thing that counts for social structure. Many other things are factored into the equation. For example, people tend to hang out with other people with common interests and same beliefs, so all the racists might stick together and look down on African Americans(just an example.).
DeleteIn today's society, I believe that social structure relies mainly on education. Taking into consideration the status of our economy, a job that pays a good amount of money is needed in order to sustain a happy life. But what will get you the job? Education. Education, other than an enormous amount of money, would probably be the ONLY way for a regular person to thrive in this economy. In TKAM, most, if not all, of the children that attend Scout's school is white. This blends into what I said of how education forms social structure, which, in TKAM, puts black people at the bottom.
ReplyDeleteMedia:http://www.google.com/imgres?q=education+is+power&hl=en&gbv=2&biw=1600&bih=799&tbm=isch&tbnid=TVWpNzTb-ZkoIM:&imgrefurl=http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/p/power_of_education.asp&docid=q9uykIAcLGu0PM
^This picture shows that education can be a very powerful factor in today's society. It shows that education is a necessity to finding a suitable career in life.
Thought provoking question:Say the economy is in much better shape than it is today. How would this change affect our present day social structure, and if it weren't education, what would we base it off of(the social structure)?
If the economy were better I think our social structure would still be the same.People are compelled to be better than others then form their own social structure to put them on top. I think what the social structure would be based off race as it is in To Kill A Mockingbird. There will always be a race that will always feel superior to others and thus putting them at a lower standard than them.
DeleteA to the Q
DeleteFixing the economy would not affect in anyway. All that will happen is that people will get more jobs, money and education. The Rich will still be rich and still at the top. Like comparing a minimun waged job to CEO. NO change.
Mrs. Bryson here! Great addition, Austin. So if we know that the rich get richer and the poor remain the same, is there a personal responsibility to our fellow man to break the bondage of a social structure that allows this behavior to continue?
Deletei agree to what Jonathan has to say, the idea of wealth is what seperates us into the gorups we have in our society. For example, the 98% and the 1%-2%, the 1% is seen as the top. also giving credit to Jonathan ,indeed it is the most popular kids at the top and the not so popular kids at teh bottom. Also in schools, coming through the idea from class,it could be that seniors at the top of the pyramid and 7th graders at the bottom. Ages as well maybe.
ReplyDeleteIn TKAM, the social structure is all based on the color of their skin and occupation. For example, Atticus is a lawyer and is highly respected, putting him to the top of the rank. Scout and Jem is included in this class too. The cunninghams would be part of the class below the highest becuase of their money issues. Remember the time where Mr. Cunningham came to the Finches to pay Atticus with wood, this shows that he was a lower class and was poor. The last of the social would be the Ewells. they have been a disgrace towards Maycomb County and could care less about others in the community.
pic about social hiearchy based on job, money, and education:
http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&sa=X&biw=1366&bih=613&tbm=isch&tbnid=rqVv1i2a7JIBeM:&imgrefurl=http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Social_structure_of_the_United_States&docid=Xhpb4VUe80WioM&imgurl=http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/encyclopediaimages/c/cl/class_us.svg.png&w=400&h=400&ei=T0QzT6fjM6j0sQL8--mMAg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=165&vpy=160&dur=1587&hovh=225&hovw=225&tx=133&ty=133&sig=104196327261949772808&page=1&tbnh=118&tbnw=118&start=0&ndsp=27&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0
Question. Why do we just naturally see the world through social classes, arnt we all equal? Then why do we based the society through money and stuff?
We base our society off of money because money is an extremely important factor to being successful in the social structure. Like I said, money isn't a necessity, but it still is a major point that factors into success. We see the world through social classes because people always want to be at the top of it. No, we are not all equal. There are SEVERAL different areas in which people differ. Economic success is one of many. Compare a man living on the streets with an ordinary millionaire. Are they the same? No.
DeleteFrom the beginning of time ancient empires invaded and controlled other countries to show their power and success. It is this same idea to become powerful and successful that compel us to form these social structures. I think we are comfortable with forming these structures. We learn from tradition that we belong in a certain area of life, and cant cross these borders we form in between ourselves. I think that's why we form social structures.
DeleteMoney helps us survive in this modern day and age by giving us the power to buy the food and other essential items to satisfy our needs, which is one of the reasons why it's so important to our society and also why we tend to base our social status on how much of it we have. People are equal in a sense that we're all human beings, but in today's society, equality is an ideal that we just simply cannot achieve; many have a need to find areas where they are superior to others, whether they be adults working hard to earn money or even kids trying to become popular at school.
DeleteMoney is considered symbolic for power. It gives off this feel of I have more money than that guy, therefore I have more power than them. Even the historic figures on U.S money are accomplished men who are highly looked up to. In the U.S constitution, it states that "all men are created equal" but is that really the case? I agree with Sharon in the fact that equality is very unlikely to achieve due to the circumstances in the present society we live in.
DeleteI agree with Melissa. People see money as power, because throughout history, people sometimes bought government positions with their wealth, to rise up in society.
DeleteAlso, in our world today, there are other things that contribute to the formation of social structure, such as looks, level of education, etc.
For example, people want to hire those who are educated and have gone to colleges. So those people would rise up, above the uneducated people
I think, people in our society just like to be better than others. We base our society through money and other things because we need something to prove ourselves. Starting from the Renaissance and the Reformation, people try to prove their individual worth, and it has carried on to the present. People in our society do things because we constantly strive to be better. Even though that is sometimes bad, it helps us create new inventions, develop new ideas, and etc.
DeleteIn recent times, I have realized that the social structure in my daily life, whether it be in school or community, is based on our occupations. Yes, education will ultimately lead to occupations, but in our economy today, highly educated students get out of college to find that there are no jobs available for them! Whether we like it or not, some jobs collect more admiration from others, while other occupations do not. For instance, you could read a sentence like "Atticus Finch is a lawyer in Maycomb County" rather than "Atticus Finch is a citizen in Maycomb County". These two sentences garter different responses. The first sentence creates more of an understanding of Atticus's personality and his position in the social hierarchy, while the second sentence is very vague. In modern times and also in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, I believe that social structure is mainly dependent on your occupation.
ReplyDeleteThis picture also represents my idea of social hierarchy: http://filipspagnoli.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/equality-of-opportunity.gif
DeleteThought Provoking Question: Do you believe that respectable women, such as Miss Maudie, were considered higher in social status then the despicable men in Maycomb County, such as Mr. Ewell? How has the position of gender affected the social structure in a community in the society of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and how has it affected modern day?
I believe that respectable women WERE considered higher in social status than despicable men in Maycomb County, such as Mr. Ewell, because it is shown throughout the book that the citizens of Maycomb County all respected Miss Maudie, but looked down upon Mr. Ewell. I believe that women were generally lower in social status than men in the society depicted in To Kill A Mockingbird because during this time, women were not given equal rights as men, yet. However, in modern day, women are equal to men, and they receive respect from all people.
DeleteI believe that even though women were not as respected as they are now, they were regarded with a certain level of respect according to their social status. If they had money, and a home and perhaps a family, they were treated more as a woman than a woman who was poor, and not as capable in the society. I believe that the two social systems are very similar in regards to women because then, and now, even though it's not as severe now, men have always been regarded as the higher power.
DeleteIn the present, our status in our society is determined by our careers and achievements. With better careers, one have a better chance at earning more money and to achieve more things in life. Some people might say that if someone has no money then he or she would not be able to do anything. That is not necessarily true because a person can come from poverty but still achieve great things in life. What matters is one's education and how willing they are to strive for their goal. Once a person has achieved something great, he will be recognized as a "higher" individual. In TKAM, the blacks were not able to do anything "great." Whenever they had tried to rise up in society, they were just pushed back down again by the whites. The whites had the better education, which meant better jobs and a higher social ranking. Jobs are also signs of achievement. During that time, the whites always had the higher ranking careers that would put them above others, the blacks didn't. They weren't given the opportunity. Sometimes, social structure is not only based on what one does or what one has, but instead - the views of one's society.
ReplyDeleteMedia: http://www.google.com/imgres?num=10&hl=en&rlz=1C1SNNT_enUS347US347&biw=1280&bih=685&tbm=isch&tbnid=_cPSZO67eeC5_M:&imgrefurl=http://grannystandingfortruth.blogspot.com/2011/05/birth-of-jim-crow.html&docid=rZXErogl6MQI2M&imgurl=http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n2X99WxTZ1Y/TeFe2Se2DsI/AAAAAAAABZo/3ZfCCDSDJNY/s1600/jim_crow_sign.jpg&w=500&h=354&ei=3UUzT7_HAaGGsgKQ35isAg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=187&vpy=306&dur=7074&hovh=189&hovw=267&tx=181&ty=149&sig=102612569809096982599&sqi=2&page=1&tbnh=142&tbnw=201&start=0&ndsp=16&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0
This picture symbolizes how Blacks do not have the same opportunities as the Whites in society, therefore, not allowing them to achieve as much as the Whites.
Thought Provoking Question: Is it better to have a safe and structured society with rigid laws, or a more flexible society where anybody and everybody is allowed to do whatever they want?
Having a society without laws and where anybody can do whatever they want is actually very dangerous. By that, there will be corruption everywhere, no President to run the country becuase of all anarchist out there. Its better to have a safe and structured society with rigid laws.
DeleteLaws are a necessity in our society, as it gives our citizens something to abide by and keep. If there were no laws, our country would not be as unified as it is. Although laws limit the people, it also protects us and keeps us together as a nation.
DeleteYou need laws because if you dont the society may turn corrupt with people going crazy and committing crimes everywhere. If people are allowed to do what they want then no one will be safe and anyone can get harmed.
Deletelaws should be fair and flexible, but being strict and rigid laws. understand what im trying to say. u cant maybe too strict but too flexible.
DeleteWith a world becoming increasingly paranoid about attacks, "security" laws are getting to a point where they start to seem to become ridiculous. Yes, laws are necessities beneficial to the continuation of a country, but if they are too strong or ridiculous, people begin to feel resentment, while others may be outwardly hateful. Therefore, there must be an intermediate to regulate the laws so that they do not bar the people from the basic rights and freedoms, all the while keeping the country away from the state of anarchy.
DeleteIn this day and age I think that the social structure of our modern day society is widely influenced by education, though money is also a crucial factor. Education is the thing that gives us the ability to get a job with a higher income to move up in society. Money gives us the power to buy what we need and survive- we don't need to raise food for ourselves anymore, we can buy this from stores around us with money. In To Kill A Mockingbird, the Ewells are at the bottom of the white society- they're an uneducated bunch where the children repeat first grade, poor and starving on most days. The Cunninghams are more educated than the Ewells, but nonetheless are still poor, hanging on to their pride as farmers, and thus lower than Atticus Finch's family, Atticus being an educated lawyer. Social structure is unfair, but people have a generic need to place themselves within a class amongst others that are 'similar' to them, a need to compare their own lives to the lives of others.
ReplyDeleteHere's a picture of a capitalist social class pyramid, where class is based on your income, social status, education, influential power, and place in society today:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KYlLE4fU-lI/TyoJG1mTD6I/AAAAAAAADGw/baMFqchfd_4/s1600/pyramid.jpg
Question: Even though Communism and its idea of having no social classes looks good on paper, why doesn't it work in real life?
I just want to point out what an excellent question this is. Although we go on about how equality is the best way to go, we forget that to have a society where everybody is literally equal, it must be communist. We have all seen how that worked out in the Soviet Union. I believe that communism is a good concept on paper, because it promotes equality for all citizens and for them to stand as one. However, it will not actually work because of the selfish desires in people. A person must have incentives for them or their family for them to work as hard as they can. We will not be willing to work for other people, but only for our own personal gain.
DeleteCommunism does not work because people lack the innitiative to work. How can you blame them? If you were working your butt off and there isn't a reward for working, would you work hard as well? I know I wouldn't
DeleteThe reason that communism cannot work properly is because of greed and people's selfish desires. When people are encountered with the endeavor for power, they strive for it, just as the history of the governmental processes through Communism has shown us. It gives people that hidden feeling of wanting more, because they have not much to themselves, giving them more self initiative rather that wanting to work for someone else, such as the government.
DeleteSocial heiarchy is based mostly on money. Simply put, the more money you have, the better off you are and the more people want to be near you and acquanted with you. This is not a fair way to think because not everyone is born with the same oppurtunities like Atticus mentioned during the trial. Not all men are created equal because of the different situations and resources they are given in the begining of their lives.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&biw=1366&bih=673&tbm=isch&tbnid=ugSqak7mQpAdGM:&imgrefurl=http://members.aon.at/ro.neunteufel/money.htm&docid=c1SrrYGkkTvJZM&imgurl=http://members.aon.at/ro.neunteufel/money_life_energy_2.gif&w=1024&h=768&ei=Z0ozT6SsF8iJsQKulKmFAg&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=121&sig=110187038968461739565&page=1&tbnh=142&tbnw=189&start=0&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0&tx=101&ty=15
A picture on how money is really all we live for.
Question: Can money really buy happiness?
No, I believe that money can NOT buy happiness because there are just so many examples of people in the world who are filthy rich, but are not truly happy with life because when you're rich, you can never truly be satisfied with what you have.
DeleteMoney can give you happiness, but you're not happy for long. The more money you have, the more you will want to want something resulting in never being fully satisfied.
DeleteResearch shows that those who win the lottery are happy for a couple of months, but eventually return to their previous attitude and personality towards the world. Money might help accomodate your happiness, but true happiness comes from within. If you love you art, money helps buy the supplies. But it's making the art and the passion that really encourages you, no matter how much money you have for supplies or how much a piece sells for, the art itself is what matters.
DeleteAs Helen Keller says, "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt within the heart."
yes money can buy u happiness like shoes but it cant buy u happiness for life
DeleteNo because the more money you have, you will mostly like want more things. Money can supply you with happiness, but it will not last forever. To achieve true happiness it must come you heart.
DeleteToday's society's social hierarchy is depends on money and education. Around me, I see that the kids at the top are the ones with the money able to buy the latest phones, the latest computers, the latest clothing and what not. I'm not referring to the social hierarchy in terms of success. Of course, money and education is necessary to succeed in life. But in a high school life, you are considered at the top if you have the money to be a "hype beast" or to have the most "swag". To top it off, if you are smart, it puts you higher. In TKAM, money and education play seperate roles in the social status of the people of Maycomb. The Finches are obviously educated, since Atticus is a lawyer and a good one at that, but they are poor. But because they are educated, they are considered higher than the Ewells, who are educated and also have no money, or the Cunninghams who are to poor to borrow anything from anyone because they can't pay it back.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.disneychannelmedianet.com/showcontent/dc/programming/geek/geek_i/lead.jpg
This image is of a disney channel movie called Geek Charming. It's about two different high school teenagers who are from different ends of the social pyramid. The girl has money and is popular. The boy doesn't even have the money to buy a pair of new shoes or get a new car. Besides having money, the girl, Dylan, is also a genius when it comes to school. That's why she is ms. Popular and the boy, Josh is considered a geek.
SOCIAL STRUCTURE:
ReplyDeleteIn the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, there is an obvious social structure based on education and money. People that were intelligent and rich, like Atticus, were on the top of the social structure. On the contrary, people that were uneducated and poor, like Bob Ewell and his family, were on the bottom of the social structure. However, in today's modern society, the social structure is determined by occupation. Those who have nice, high-paying jobs receive more respect than those who work at McDonalds, for example.
MEDIA:
http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&biw=1600&bih=704&tbm=isch&tbnid=a_WUezdQDy3G8M:&imgrefurl=http://www.retepsrevenge.com/%3Fp%3D971&docid=yVJiRKAOGBkSAM&imgurl=http://www.retepsrevenge.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/rich-man-poor-man.jpg&w=474&h=480&ei=cU4zT8KNMu7LsQLy0OjyAQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=515&vpy=146&dur=3273&hovh=226&hovw=223&tx=97&ty=104&sig=110159724321545597604&page=1&tbnh=163&tbnw=162&start=0&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0
THOUGHT-PROVOKING QUESTION:
If you were in charge of making laws, what law would you create to get rid of the "social structure", so that everybody would be equal?
I think what you should be asking is whether or not we can change laws so that everyone would be equal. In reality, a Utopian society is completely a dream or thought because of the massive challenges. First off, you would need rules that everyone agrees with and thinks is fair. This already is impossible due to everyone's different opinions. Second, everyone has to accept that no one is in a higher class or "better" that anyone else. Third, everyone would have to obey these laws consistently.
DeleteI believe that we should not create a rigid "social structure" in our world. I recently read a book called "A Brave New World" about a dystopic society where people were put into rigid categories. If everyone was everyone's equal the elements of our capitalist economy would fail. They depend on the aspirations of the middle and lower class for innovation and change.
DeleteI believe that the socail structure in TO Kill a Mockingbird if first: skin color; second: wealth, and third: morals. No matter how low the Ewells are in their white community, they are below the best in the black community. In the white and black communities, the wealthies people are at the top in terms of social structure, and among the middle class, structure is determined by ones morals. Today, social structure differs. Referring to our school/community, I believe the way most people look at social structure depends on first: How outgoing you are and your number of friends, second: Your talent in sports, music, art, grades, etc. Third: How determined you are in getting somewhere.
ReplyDeleteHowever, social structure does not determine how much a person is respected. A person at the very top of popularity in our school could be hated, just as the richest, yet most selfish, person could also be hated. In that way, I don't really beilieve social structure in the world today should be relied on when judging people. In highschool many realize that determination and talents should be admired, and popularity is really only a small part of the picture.
In truth, the people who will really be at the top in a couple years are the ones with the ambition to get to their goals.
http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=zh-CN&tbm=isch&tbnid=5Brx8ZNQ_-h4UM:&imgrefurl=http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/s/social_structure.asp&docid=HWOw63NDywwUxM&imgurl=http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/lma0020l.jpg&w=324&h=400&ei=aEszT5GNKc6msALHhpDvAQ&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=228&sig=101360290436564091822&page=1&tbnh=148&tbnw=120&start=0&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0&tx=70&ty=61&biw=1440&bih=714
Why is it that popularity means fitting in rather than being the odd man out? Why do people want to blend with the dark rather than being the beacon of light? How much do you think a person would sacrifice of themselves to be the someone others expect them to be?
For someone/something to be popular, it must find favor with a lot of people. You cannot be popular by yourself, likewise to the fact that you need two hands to clap, there are two parts to every situation. However, in order to be liked by many people, the person has to conform so that the person meets a lot of the people's needs. That's what makes someone popular, they are someone a lot of people are able to relate to, thus making more friends and allies. Therefore, in order to be popular, many people sacrifice their bright light to become the shining light in the dark. However, I believe that no matter what, a person never lets go of their own integrity and inner heart.
DeleteIn the past, your social class defined you. It was shown through your physical appearance. For example, it was good to be heavier, it meant that your family was wealthy enough to afford food and if you were thinner, it meant that your family could not afford food meaning that you had a low social status.
ReplyDeleteNowadays, instead of being able to afford food, its being able to afford higher priced clothing that are deemed "cool". I remember during Freshmen Retreat, we were taken into the MPR to see a video about bullying. One of the kids documented in the video was bullied because her wore hand-me-downs that were very loose fitting on him because his family couldn't afford new clothes.
In the novel, the Cunninghams are looked down on and is referred to as "trash" by Aunt Alexandra. They have to pay back debts by bartering. Walter Cunningham can only attend school during certain times of the year to help his family out on the farm. Also, he is not able to afford lunch.
In the end the root of all evil is money.
Media:https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTdGMHdZemSZW7wEb1-eJsrQS1ZYva2FuX_JoeZJB2e2ONTufdK
Though Provoking Question: Why do you think that money is in relation to social status?
money equals influence. kWith money, the rich can bribe to get what they want. Businneses are afraid to offend their customers, who pay them. Those customers are therefore highly respected. The rich may threaten to cut off money support for a company that refuses to follow their orders. And the rich is then very carefully handled by businesses.
DeleteMost of all, many people live with the illusion that the more money they have, the closer they are to happiness. Which is not true. (see above under Tim)
Money is the key to popularity in the sense it helps people surround themselves with others. Whether we realize it or not, we hang around (or try to anyway) people who have the resources to make things happen. With the resource of money, you can satisfy your wants. We in turn are naturally drawn to people with resources. This has been shown in the past as well.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteTo add on to what you said, being heavy wasn't the only way to show that you were rich. Some times simply being well dressed and handsome did the job. It was more that if you were scrawny and stick-y that you would look poor.
DeleteTo answer your question, money means you have to power to do anything. You could buy what ever you want, live happily, control others, and even influence others with a wad of cash. But ultimately, money is power. And who doesn't want power?
i think our status is society is made up by how money u make. The rich and successful people are on the top the middle class in the middle section of the pyramid and the poor and homeless on the bottom. the rich like Bill Gates makes the green paper which makes him very well known and famous. The middle class like all of us are fairly respected in society. The poor are sort of looked down on. the society in To kill a mockingbird with the whites over the African Americans, under no circumstances. the ewells should be at the bottom in any society are above the African Americans here. that shows the racism and prejudice during this time.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&safe=off&biw=1366&bih=624&tbm=isch&tbnid=OR3TQppV-kWLTM:&imgrefurl=http://www.loablog.com/why-the-law-of-attraction-is-called-the-secret/&docid=cwnEVGoLOG7kOM&imgurl=http://www.loablog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Elite_pyramid.jpg&w=709&h=567&ei=NlQzT66sHc_HsQLbvM2BAg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=505&vpy=310&dur=3456&hovh=201&hovw=251&tx=70&ty=220&sig=115616534250998561341&page=2&tbnh=132&tbnw=165&start=20&ndsp=28&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:20
question: where would all the characters be in todays society
In today's society, the character's in Maycomb would in a middle class. However, the Finch family is the high class within Maycomb because of their bloodline. the other minor characters are also middle class. They represent the majority of the population and aren't rich and aren't poor. However, in today's society, the blacks would also be in the middle class because even in the time period of TKAM, the only thing that set the black class different from white class was discrimination.
DeleteI think that the characters from TKAM would rank between lower ~ middle class. The Ewells would definitely be considered one of the lowest classes in society. They have committed many crimes and are just dirty people in general. The Finch family would be a bit higher in society because even during that time they were considered almost like royalty. Other than those to families, the rest of the townspeople would be considered middle class.
DeleteIn today's world our social structure is based on the clothes you wear and how cool you are. The nicer the clothes you have the higher you are. Also the more money you have, you are considered higher in today's social structure and the better education you receive the higher you are too. In TKAM if you are black you are lower than everyone even if you have an education and are richer than a white person, you're still considered lower than them. For example, the Ewells one of the poorest families in Maycomb are still considered better and higher than the blacks.
ReplyDeleteMedia:http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1280&bih=933&tbm=isch&tbnid=InSY82G2EQzLPM:&imgrefurl=http://www.webeducation4you.net/poor-credit-student-loans-help-in-acquiring-money-for-education/&docid=F4b7I3fnskQoBM&imgurl=http://www.webeducation4you.net/wp-content/uploads/13_4_orig.jpg&w=640&h=480&ei=7lgzT5qXEqSZiALx99y6Cg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=303&vpy=149&dur=1438&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=101&ty=137&sig=107037447295889183296&page=1&tbnh=134&tbnw=177&start=0&ndsp=30&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0
Question: How does money and education make you higher in the social structure?
With an education, one learns how to carefully articulate all their thoughts into an idea that may very well be a success. An idea goes nowhere, however, without a little money. For example, if one were to go to a business school and gain ideas about their own company, not only would they need those ideas but, a little capital to get their business going. Once an idea is set up and funded, it can contribute greatly towards society. Those who are educated and/or have money invest in or create certain tools that make daily tasks more efficient.
DeleteIn both TKAM and in our society, our popularity and social interactions are highly dependent on the way people view your overall personality. As humans, we are naturally drawn to those with the resources to "make things happen." In the past, this was being slightly hefty, proving your resources, and now, trendy items, once again proving your ability to "adapt" to the environment. Similarly in TKAM, people are ranked on their ability to survive in their environment. The Ewells are barely able to make ends meet and therefore are at the bottom. This, however, begins the question of why the Black people are treated even lower than the Ewells. As I mentioned above, our definition of resources is based on societal customs. By having a society in which Blacks are the least adapted to surviving, their resources do not even come into the picture.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of pictures, here's one: http://www.google.com/imgres?num=10&um=1&hl=en&safe=off&biw=1280&bih=619&tbm=isch&tbnid=ffv8Y0e_Hy_YCM:&imgrefurl=http://www2.wholefoodsmarket.com/blogs/jmackey/2006/05/01/the-upward-flow-of-human-development/&docid=2vS2SH_mmHuKIM&imgurl=http://www2.wholefoodsmarket.com/blogs/jmackey/files/2008/09/hierarchy.jpg&w=409&h=397&ei=41kzT8fzFMqMiALs2qSiCg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=175&vpy=136&dur=5047&hovh=221&hovw=228&tx=160&ty=119&sig=114590397733044204596&sqi=2&page=1&tbnh=134&tbnw=138&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0
and my question: Why do countries with different "classes" begin developing a divide between the rich and the poor? (The 1% owns a third of the land while the 99% own two thirds, a highly unfair ratio)
In today's society, I think social status is defined by education and money. It is becoming difficult to gain acceptance into prestigious universities now, because of the competition. So when people apply for jobs, their interviewers tend to hire the ones with higher levels of education because it proves that they are intelligent.
ReplyDeleteNaturally, those people will make more money than the ones who never went to college, either because of money or "bad high school grades". And they will be at the top of society with their money.
Therefore, it is money and education that controls social status in our modern society.
image: http://www.realbollywood.com/2011/07/caste-system-amitabh-bachchan-interview.html
question: Is social structure beneficial to our world today?
i don't think it is beneficial at all, i think that people she be able to freely interact among each other despite the amount of money they make. i believe it just builds up more walls that we'll have to eventually break down, it creates another line of segregation that we will just have to overcome.
DeleteThe social hierarchy of society is controlled and made by the ones on top, the most successful and influential people. They are the ones that determine who is poor and who is rich. They are the ones we all want to be. Then we have to ask ourselves, what makes them the top dogs? If we look at today's high class, they all share something in common, wealth, fame, and because of the prior reasons, they get respect. Society in TKAM in much the same as today. Although the Finchs aren't wealthy, they are respected and well known in Maycomb, making them the "kings and queens."
ReplyDeletehttp://www.google.com/imgres?num=10&hl=en&safe=off&gbv=2&biw=1024&bih=653&tbm=isch&tbnid=olrWJ32zO5UzWM:&imgrefurl=http://trcs.wikispaces.com/social%2Bclasses&docid=yjagGyJYg1DKJM&imgurl=http://trcs.wikispaces.com/file/view/social_class.jpg&w=500&h=335&ei=bFgzT6bLG8WyiQLT3sWeCg&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=280&sig=118259877827534226871&sqi=2&page=1&tbnh=129&tbnw=163&start=0&ndsp=17&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0&tx=75&ty=37
This picture shows why the social hierarchy has existed for so long.
Thought provoking question: What would it take for someone in the high class to go to the low class and vice versa?
for a person of higher status, to would take a lot of laziness and neglect for them to drop all the way back down to the bottom. for example, mc hammer made a lot of money from his music, but since he was very casual about his money and he spent more than he actually earned, he went bankrupt. for a person of lower status it would take a lot of hard work in effort, and they would have to have a lot of perseverance since they would face a lot of adversities along the way.
DeleteFor that to happen like Yazzy said, the person would have to be really lazy and expect everything because his in a higher class, to drop to a low class. A person in a low class would have to work hard and must be really dedicated to reach his/her goal to be in the higher class
DeleteIn Maycomb the relatively well-off Finches are near the top of Maycomb's social hierarchy, with most of the townspeople beneath them. Ignorant country farmers like the Cunninghams are below the townspeople, and the white trash Ewells are below the Cunninghams. But the black community in Maycomb, despite its many admirable qualities, is below even the Ewells, giving Bob Ewell the opportunity to make up for his own lack of importance by persecuting Tom Robinson. And these these social divisions are both irrational and destructive. For example, Scout cannot understand why Aunt Alexandra refuses to let her associate with Walter Cunningham.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.google.com/imgres?q=social+structure+today&num=10&hl=en&biw=1280&bih=680&tbm=isch&tbnid=hJKk-MvIp1lN-M:&imgrefurl=http://poplicks.com/2008_04_01_poplicks_archive.html&docid=rTWLc8uRMyXf8M&imgurl=http://poplicks.com/images/social-classes-small.jpg&w=500&h=424&ei=I10zT7TRM4jhiAKexdzRCg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=185&vpy=302&dur=590&hovh=207&hovw=244&tx=163&ty=93&sig=113534545823438823874&sqi=2&page=1&tbnh=149&tbnw=173&start=0&ndsp=17&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0
Question : Which is more equitable the social structure in our society today or the social structure of Maycomb in the 1930s?
I think that the social structure in our society today is more equitable because our social hierarchy isn't based on the color of someones skin or based on the persons sex but its more based on your wealth and your education. The reason for that is that our society is much more understanding and open-minded to fresh perspectives of other peoples views. For example, gay marriage is a very controversial topic but more and more people in our society has been accepting of them and did not treat them like they had treated the black community in the 1930s.
DeleteIn my opinion, I think that today's society is more equitable because it gives people a more equal and accepting atmosphere rather than the racially prejudice, biased social structure in Maycomb. Also, because our social structure today is more based off of education, not something you're born with such as skin color and race, people have more of a chance to prove their selves to society for what they're really worth.
DeleteIn the past, social structure varied greatly across the globe. However,the past of the social hierarchy in the U.S. did not vary; it was set on the brims of its prejudices. Money only contributed to the social differences in your own race, but overall, it didn't put much between the "upper classes" and the common proletariat. If one decided to "have a dream" to be who they wanted to be, it would have to depend regarding to gender, disability, race, etc. There are numerous discriminating factors that attempt to shroud every other character that wishes to be of the same class, but are disallowed the right to pursue this dream that they endeavor. This places those with a higher energy of bigotry at a level more than those who wish to calm all of this madness down, but doing so did not make a difference. You were still placed at the same social class as you were then . However, with political reform, social movements, worker's movements, and other actions that led to both negative and positive side effects brought us to the time period we are in today, almost entirely free of the restraints of social class because of the way you were born. However, this does not take away the fact of what you can make only with what you have. When life gives you lemons, make the most out of them, but at one point they will run out and you will have to go get more yourself, which puts the social hierarchy in the environment a person lives in. One that lives in the slum, just similarly to the past, is deemed of a lower class that that who owns millions dollars, as shown today in the world we live in. As Atticus had said, quoting and paraphrasing Thomas Jefferson, that "all men are created equal", but not born equal. Consequently, a human institution - a court - is placed to make all the people equal; "one human institution that makes a pauper the equal of a Rockefeller, the stupid man equal of an Einstein, and the ignorant man the equal of any college president." If each person has to take each event to court just to get a hearing that might not necessarily pass, it is much of rigorous hard work that does not level the social values that each person plays in society. While one person may toil endlessly as the other obtains the spoils, the hard worker must work even harder with the "unmitigated temerity" in attempt to equalize himself with the other person who has gained the riches from his hard work.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.visualphotos.com/photo/2x3041681/Short_and_Tall_Businessmen_600-00983734.jpg
What would you do standing in the skin of the person with all the riches, would you continue your venture through life easily, help others, etc.?
I would personally become a philanthropist and share my wealth with the less fortunate in order to give them a jump start on the way to social equality. With money, those less fortunate can pursue a lifestyle they had dreamed of but, never got the opportunity to live. A homeless individual may be able to go to college, which may in turn get him a job. With enough experience in this job, he or she will then earn enough money to reach the social standing of their preference.
DeleteIf I put myself in the shoes of the Bill Gates of the world, then personally, my first action would be to enjoy life and live "large" so to speak. On the other hand, I would share my wealth with the less fortunate, such as the needy and the people with diseases, but you can't help them all. Truthfully, everybody has the potential to become rich. There is a time old expression saying "It's not your fault if you're born in the gutter but it is your fault if you die there."
Deletethe social hierarchy of today is controlled by the people at the top. they tend to be very influential since they are in a position of power. but why are they at the top? it could be for a number of varying reasons. either for wealth, educational status, fame, or prestige. in the novel TKAM, the finch family is very respected due to their family line, and their wealth. in our society, there still is a social pyramid, but now people from the bottom are finding ways to work their way all the way to the top. for example, steve jobs started from an adopted family, he dropped out of college, but still managed to find a way to make some of the world's most influential technology.
ReplyDeletequestion: do you think calpurnia is viewed as "higher" in her black hierarchy since she is treated fairly and viewed as equal by the finches?
media: http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://www.enewsreference.com/images/blog/obama070708.jpg&sa=X&ei=y2EzT4i1OdHbiALRkcHGCg&ved=0CA8Q8wc&usg=AFQjCNG5Xe30l9ip3EakkfMWWJl0ldIE8A
In today's world, I believe that the social structure of society is determined by power and influence. In order to truly be at the top of the social pyramid, you need to have the power to influence all those socially beneath you. This does not necessarily mean that you have millions of dollars to your name, but money definitely helps to be at the top. Many people did not or does not have money, but have power. People that have little money, but a lot of power include the Pope and the Dalai Lama. People such as drug lords and international terrorists also started out having no money, but with the right connections, they gained power and influence and the money soon flowed in afterwards.
ReplyDeleteIn the society of To Kill a Mockingbird, their social class is mainly built upon skin color first, and wealth second, so it is like two social pyramids. The poorest white man still has more power than the richest white man because of the intense racism and prejudice that is dominant in that society. This is shown by the poorest white man Bob Ewell, still having power over the most innocent of blacks, Tom Robinson.
Relating to the topic of power and influence: http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/jsi/lowres/jsin99l.jpg
Question: Why do religious leaders have more power and influence that international billionaire CEOs?
I think religious leaders are looked upon to having more power because most people rely on their religion or faith for what happens to them or what is going to happen to them. A lot of people believe that there god, whom ever it may be, is the main person to follow and religious people are seen to be closest to them so automatically people believe that religious leaders have more to contribute.
DeleteActually, in many cases, it is the billionaires who lead society, but that is only in countries that rely on their social networks, such as media and schools, to shape what society becomes. But in the places that rely on religious beliefs to shape their society and create rules of "rights" and "wrongs", the religious leaders will take the lead because they are the ones portrayed as the one closer to the religion, and therefore the ones who have the power and right to make the rules.
DeleteIn today’s society, I believe the major factor in the social ranking of individuals is their level of education. One’s creativity, intelligence, and eloquence can open many doors and offer many beneficial opportunities that may lead to financial success, another factor in social ranking. Often times, along with education, comes money and power. How one decides to implement these things is what separates them from others. For example, if one were to attain a huge sum of money, he or she could either waste it and gamble it away at a casino or invest in stocks that have successful trends in order to earn more than their principle amount. In my own school, I don’t believe money is a deciding factor on one’s social standing. I believe that a person’s clothes or looks are not of importance and as long as they are personable, social, and friendly, they deserve to have a spot in the top social rank of our class. In To Kill a Mockingbird, however, money and education seem to have little value when in fact the very color of one’s skin can decide social harmony or persecution. The African Americans portrayed in Maycomb are all hardworking individuals with respect and kindness for others. Despite causing no harm whatsoever to society, they are still seen as below white individuals such as the Ewells. People like Bob Ewell, one who would spit in the face of his enemy (Atticus) and threaten their life, are seen as superior even when standing beside African Americans such as Calpurnia, a hardworking woman who makes an honest living and even uses proper English in the Finch household, or even Tom Robinson, an innocent family man who attends church routinely every Sunday.
ReplyDeleteThe following cartoon shows that even though African Americans have just as much capability to do educate themselves as whites do, they will often be portrayed as uneducated and inferior, in this case, through their use of slang.
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=racist+cartoon&um=1&hl=en&rlz=1C1AVSX_enUS392US392&biw=1280&bih=673&tbm=isch&tbnid=iLQnO_xKWUQLgM:&imgrefurl=http://nubeing.wordpress.com/2008/02/20/can-you-believe-this-racist-ca
Thought provoking question: Avoiding social class in a society is practically inevitable due to the fact that humans naturally have a competitive nature and often seek superiority. This is seen in the flaws of Communism and how aims to create a classless society have failed due to the fact of citizens earning money at times and other capitalistic things. If you were the leader of a country and had to decide a category in which to rank people, what would it be and why?
If I was the hypothetical leader of a non-existent country, I would rank people by their desire to succeed and hard-work because those are the values and true qualities in which people succeed in life. Bill Gates wanted to succeed in the computer industry, and he worked hard to make computers. The people who work the hardest and who have the most desire to succeed will be at the top, and the people who slack off will be at the bottom.
DeleteBack in the times of TKAM, a social hierarchy was clearly defined and set in place. The standards consisted of your race than your wealth. Nowadays, it is solely based on your wealth. This is because with wealth come prestige, education, and luxury with a hint of luck. If you think about it, people like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates are rich because they are smart. (Athletes and etc. are funded by the rich)
ReplyDeleteOne thing that I've always found funny is the hierarchy of Whitney. Typically popularity meant this:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xENVkAAbQsY/TL9xZjWKqeI/AAAAAAAAAAM/EM8qantbYP4/s1600/meangirlspic.jpg
But for our year, people have a tendency to stick to their own kind. If anything, people are "better" that one another because of their talent/ good grades.
Question: Why do social hierarchies exist?
I think social hierarchies exist because there will always be a group of people that see themselves as better than everyone else in the world, much how like Hitler and Nazi Germany found that Aryans were more superior than the Jews back in the 1930s. Another example from the book would be like how Scout was always mistreated because she was a girl and in the 1930s, women were always viewed as inferior to men.
DeleteSocial Structure:Describe your thoughts on social structure in today's world and in TKAM. Use your novel and life experiences to support your opinion (ex. school, community, etc.)
ReplyDeleteAs decades of American history go by, you can see that the society of today is very different than compared to the society in To Kill a Mockingbird. In the setting of 1930s Maycomb County, people of society are much less open-minded and have more biased perspectives in life, school, and so on. But in todays world, people are generally more accepting and tolerant to fresh idea and to new perspectives. You can see as more and more generations of people pass, people are becoming more sympathetic towards another. When you compare to the social heirarchy of Maycomb to ours today, it is obvious that is more based on skin color/race more than anything and that our social hierarchy is more based on your wealth and/or your education.
Media- Mean Girls & The Social structure of High School
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB6rE2T8Nko
Thought provoking question: Do you think education had to do with the social structure in the setting of To Kill a Mockingbird?
I believe that education is part of the social statuses in TKAM. In the beginning on the novel, Jean goes to school and explains that the Cunninghams don't attend school for the rest of the year. Also, the more educated people were the more successful people such as Atticus. I think that the more educated you are, the more higher in society you are. Especially since education is a difficult thing to earn and not many people of Maycomb are properly educated, the ones that actually are, are higher in rank.
DeleteIn today's world, I believe that our standards of people and how they're "ranked" in society is based on what they have, not who they are. For example, in a high school, teenagers tend to accepted into peer groups based on what they look like, how they dress, etc. Also, the most powerful leaders in the world could have no good intentions whatsoever, yet are still on top of society simply because of the money they have and their ability to use it as power. I think one of the main reasons that in societies, there will always be someone "better" and "worse" than you is because humans are always comparing what they have as opposed to what others have, creating the need for different social "ranks" to label people.
ReplyDeleteThe following cartoon shows how society tends to judge their peers based off the amount of money they have and their materialistic statuses.
http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/mpe/lowres/mpen72l.jpg
My thought provoking question of the day: Do we choose to create this social hierarchy of people or is it simply human nature to constantly compare and want to be "better" than another?
I feel like we are the ones who created the social hierarchy, because not only do the people on the top set the bar for others to reach and exceed, but there needs to be a group of people who are the inspiration, for the lower class citizens. In so many books, movies, etc, we see these lower class children looking longingly at upper class children, dreaming about what it would be like to have the life they do. It's also a matter of control, because many people feel as though they can do better than the current leaders of society, and that results in the constant change of statuses. The upper-class men often excel above and beyond, creating the biggest difference between the lower class and upper class: the lack or surplus of motivation and opportunity.
DeleteI think that in modern day, social status/hierarchy is a natural habit. We instantly rank others and ourselves. For instance, high school has many levels of status that are based on popularity, age (seniors), wealth, or appearance. Outside of school and in tho community, social hierarchy is mainly based on career or power. However, in TKAM, the people of Maycomb set social statuses based on an individual's wealth, education, and especially skin color.
ReplyDeleteI think that in both societies, the social status is unfair and a cruel way of labeling others. Although it was more intense in the 1930s like TKAM, we still have this mental social hierarchy in our society today.
The picture below is a picture/scene from a movie called "Mean Girls". Basically, this film is about a high school girl who just wants to fit into her new school and get accepted. She tries to do this by befriending the "popular" girls. I feel like this movie pinpoints the social hierarchy of highschool.
Media: http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&biw=1280&bih=626&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=81Dp0PaavG1RdM:&imgrefurl=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/blog-post/2011/02/mean_girls_what_happens_when_t.html&docid=GDjmwC-KKa_53M&imgurl=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/blog-post/assets_c/2011/02/meangirls-thumb-454x384-34970.jpg&w=454&h=384&ei=xnUzT-qSGuWhiQK678C0Cg&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=405&sig=103164489110200694319&page=1&tbnh=122&tbnw=142&start=0&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:0&tx=61&ty=59
Question: Do you think that this social hierarchy is helpful to our community or not? What if everyone was equal?
I think social hierarchy is harmful because it make people feel inferior and feeling that way is not a good feeling. Everyone is created equal but it's just one's perception of it.
DeleteThe social structure in To Kill A Mockingbird is eerily similar to the one we have today. Although things regarding different races and prejudices may in some situations be less of a problem, it still lies in the top layer of our society today.Even though many years have passed, people in general have not yet learned to love unconditionally, and there are constant fights over racism and other problems. In that way, it is similar. Also, we do not treat less fortunate people the same with the rich people, just as they did in the novel with Mr.Cunningham and Mr.Ewell. I think people will always find it hard to just think of everybody the same, I feel like the problem will go on for many generations ahead. If we want to look at a smaller picture, there is a quite vivid one in the setting of school. School is interesting because no matter what/where the school is, the treatment of different social classes is the same. It's like a mini society crammed into a couple buildings. Even if it is lowkey, there are examples of racism and prejudice and other real life problems that are a big bruise in our society today.
ReplyDeleteWhat sets people apart from the other people in the same "level of society" ? For example, what sets the rich people apart from other rich people? The middle class? The bottom class?
http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/mly0487l.jpg
This is a political cartoon about social hierarchy and how your position in society is so important that it affects people in all places, for example even in places like heaven where people are supposed to be equal.
Money, is what sets the rich and pride and what set the rich from the poor. People get big headed and think because thor wealthy they're better.
DeleteIn today's world the social structure is very similar to the one that is in To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. In To Kill A Mockingbird and in today's world, the oldest sibling ranks over the other. For example, in To Kill A Mockingbird, Jem superior to Scout because he is the eldest. In today's world, it's one of the same, my older brother feels that he's more superior to me. When we're both I'm the same car and I happen to be sitting in the front and he's sittin in the back, he has huge fit, it's like I stole his pride or something.
ReplyDeleteDoes age really make you superior over others?
http://kevinspear.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Spear_3609.jpg
I think a lot of times elderness is superior because more experience can equal more knowledge and usually the people who know more are bound to be more trusted to be put on top of the social class.
DeleteI think that in the setting of To Kill A Mockingbird the society is based upon money. The people with the most amount of money were on top of the social and a lot of times that is similar to the times of today. In school you see the separation of race and also the separation of people who are more modern in a way. I see groups that are more known are more outgoing and social while the ones not quite known are quiet and just focus on studies. I also slightly see the more mature people always on top because they get things done but in Whitney people are judged by their knowledge. I feel like in each category of different topics there are different people at the top of the pyramid. But mainly in my opinion maturity really does say a lot in terms of who's on top.
ReplyDeleteThe popular people in a stereotypical highschool like below isn't the same as Whitney Highschool. We have the smart people on top.
http://cyclonecindy.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/mean_girls_xl_05-film-a.jpg
Why is money looked better upon in the social class rather than the well-educated?
To Kill A Mockingbird is set in time of US history when prejudice and discrimination were at its strongest, and in that time, the people with the highest social rankings not only had the money, education, and skin color, but they also had the ancestry. In Maycomb, the members of the Finch family are considered the monarchs because they have ties with almost everyone in town, but families such as the Ewells, who are considered "white trash", are just people who came to Maycomb for a life, but have no real wealth or education. Also, back then, the biggest social barrier for African Americans was their skin color, but today, there are different barriers restricting many from achieving high statuses in society. Today's society still has underlying discrimination against African Americans and Hispanics, but the real problem for people considered to be "lower class" is their lack of opportunities to become the greater minds.
ReplyDeleteMany who stand at the top of the social pyramid are people who have inherited the titles of big companies, or people who have had the opportunity and money to go to schools and universities for a good education, and then take that education to the next level, by creating businesses. I don't think today's society is controlled by the wealth one has, but by the opportunities given to them, because even if someone has the wealth, there is no saying what they will do with it, or if it will last, without the education and mind needed to take care and invest with it.
http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/mbc/lowres/mbcn1110l.jpg
question: Just because someone has an enormous amount of wealth, will that person automatically be on top of society, or are there other factors, such as the level of education, that affect a person's status in society?