Research Paper On The Negative Effects Of Social Class On Society

The Negative Effects of Social Class On Society

This paper analyses the negative effects posed by the upper class in the society. In doing so, it examines the effect on social economic through pollution, drugs, and discrimination. In the U.S population, the upper class shares about one percent in the highest socio-economic level. It includes persons of different discipline such as politicians, celebrities, top business managers, and heirs of prosperity, this happens to wealthy generation or the old rich. Persons with high class tend to have privileges and deep roots towards socio-political authority, this makes easy access towards political figures in terms of power and authority. Furthermore, their lives depict comfort and stability, different from those of lower social status. They seem to enjoy social amenities such as private first class jets to wherever they go. In addition, they secure and maintain private lawyers, doctors, accountants, and other homesteads fully staffed with qualified personnel.  Most of the high-class jobs exceed one, unlike the rest of the population, but rather play vital roles in managing other investments. This is to say, their ways of generating income is far from wages and salaries like that of any ordinary person, but roots from investments made. They hold a significant effect towards the influence of the public, economic decisions, and public opinions. This effect may however lead to social discrimination and even pollution (Alessio). 

Sometimes the upper class tends to give back to the society, however the negative effect tend to outdo this by overlooking at their actions. One significant approach on the negative approaches looks at is through the exploitation of the poor. By owning large portions of businesses, the high class seeks to enjoy large mountable profits. They go out of their line to exploit the less fortunate through labor force, and with poor pay. This slows down the economic and social status of the country through poor developments hence widens the gap between the rich and the poor. They have significant power over ignoring public official’s decisions hence covering up their tracks to government control acts (Alessio).

The social class especially (upper) indulge in activities of promiscuity and adverse effect. This questions the world around on issues of hard drugs, both Heroin and Cocaine. The adverse effects of these drugs are known, no doubt about it. It results to addiction, family break ups, and finally death. Such deaths by such addict persons is through stern addiction and overdose, hence making it difficult to let go, and instead involving in the habit. These drugs require large sums of money to acquire or even purchase, because they are illegal in parts of the world. You will see the upper class having an easy access to these drugs; they buy in bulk and later sell them at smaller bits only to exploit those who cannot afford. This encourages drug trafficking at the expense of making money.

The exquisite nature of classy social status not only embarks on comfort but also it poses a threat to the society, as targets.  Their extreme richness is seen to the point of owning private yatch and jet, moving along with large motorcades explicit with security men to give security. With them money is everything. They can buy anything they want without hindrance, unlike the feeble class who always feel the pinch of purchase whenever in a tight budget. This shows a significant societal issue in the aspect of discrimination and insecurity as core problems. It poses unfair questions on others are living through comfort, while others are merely surviving. Moreover, nepotism is another factor to consider. It refers to the line of power and influence through family and friends. This is discrimination in itself, a negative vice in the society, which hinders development and success. Most are the youths of both middle and lower social class with reputational degrees but secure jobs at informal work places, yet those in upper class population use power and influence to get through top positions, without considering qualification and transparency. This proves to the point of nepotism, a social barrier. In addition to this, those with little rely upon the immense wealth by the rich. Hence, they end up exploiting the efforts of the poor, with fewer expectations (Gilbert).

Activities by the rich (upper class) pose a significant amount of economic imbalance. Inflation is an example of a social- economic problem especially to the middle and lower class. When it comes to impulse buying, they exaggerate so much. They spent less time in the bargain of food, land, clothes, or even building materials. This leads to high market price of most products, other words inflation.

The hierarchy to social class system is termed as social stratification. This ranks the category of people by status and impact through generations to come. It permits three fundamentals as main aspects of society. These are prestige, property, and power. Discrimination comes along way when it comes to issues of marriage. In today’s society, it is difficult when a person from a high class marries a lower class. The higher class always wants to associate with the higher class, and not with the lower class.

Most are vital responsibilities that lie in the hands of those in control of major companies. When it comes to discharge of chemical wastes and affluences, proper device should be constructed to avoid poisonous and substance fusions. Such chemical waste and discharges leads to water pollution. This greatly affects the society, in most cases, the lower class. They may depend on the water for survival, yet if this water is tampered with, it becomes toxic. Furthermore, these big companies release Carbon (IV) oxide into the atmosphere. These greenhouse gases, in turn have effect on climate change and global warming. Such damaging effect disrupts the ozone layer and contributes to ultra-violet rays to reach the earth. This melts the ice caps at South and North Pole, increasing the ocean floor at low-lying areas.

Other influential role played by people of high figure is through political influence. At time of political campaigns, their significant impact corresponds in their favor. They gain favor due to their immense wealth and structure, hence this adds up to their level of investment. They support political figures through merging in party associations; hence, this affects the decisions made in the society. Other ways is through power control through media houses, this way results gets tampered with. This action is all because of money and social status in the society. It becomes difficult for a person of less status to have such control and power.

When it comes to employment ratings and structure, the upper class still have that effect of control. Their various lines of businesses range from chain stores of shopping mall, to chains of hotels. This just mentions a few of their business affiliations. However, they have the power to control casual laborers whom they misuse. On the other hand, there exist generous high-class persons who carry out open charitable organizations. Such organizations open up foundation in aid of the less fortunate expectations towards promoting social development and sustenance. In the process of it all, it guides through offering scholarships, research, and necessities. For instance, in the U.S, Bill Gates family (Co- founder at Microsoft Company) has established funds to thousands of people to offer research and scholarships. This will provide societal benefit at large (Alessio).

In conclusion, the upper class has a say in the society. This does not leave out those with little significance, or lower class. Every person is entitled to benefit, favors, duties and obligations regardless of social hierarchy. In summary, the paper looks at the most defining effects caused by the activities of the upper class to the society. The upper class greatly affects the social-economic status, their actions may amount to illegal involvement of activities through unfair dealings of drug lords in the market, and this causes security hiccups and indulgence. The other issue the paper looks at is pollution of chemical wastes and the effect it gears. Consequently, the government should be on toes to these activities. They should enable a proper balance by instilling policies that puts restriction. They can do this by increasing taxes to rich people to create even balance between the poor and the rich.

Reference

Alessio, John C. Social Problems and Inequality: Social Responsibility Through Progressive Sociology. Farnham: Ashgate Publishing, Ltd, 2011.

Caposella, Amanda. "Effects of Social Class and Body Image." Journal of Undergraduate Psychological Research 3 (2008): 1-6.

Gilbert, Dennis. The American Class Structure in an Age of Growing Inequality. Thousand Oaks, California: Pine Forge Press, 2010.