...White American Privileges and Social Class Aieleen Lanot University of Hawaii – West Oahu White American Privileges and Social Class Privilege is a concept of sociology used to implicate that there are certain groups of individuals that have an advantage over others. “Social liberties use the term to mean benefits according to white people under economic, political, and social circumstance. (Anyon 17)” I agree with his stance because there is no extension of such privileges to individuals of other races such as Blacks, Hispanics or Asians. The use of this term is mainly in the social inequality context primarily in relation to social class, sexual orientation, race, age, and gender. Several recorded privileged elements show the advantageous that White America has in getting access to better housing, jobs, and education. This paper will explore the issue of White American privileges and how social class status is based on color of your skin and the financial means of your family. In the article by Peggy McIntosh, she defines, “White privileges as a package of unearth assets, invisible in nature and are obvious” (McIntosh 10). There is a comparison of white privilege to an undetectable light knapsack of assurance, maps, tools, guidance, visa, codebooks, clothes, passbooks, emergency gear, blank checks, etc. I concur with Peggy McIntosh analysis since there are several functions brought about by white privileges. These functions include provisions of “perks”...
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...and shocking; to say the least. Because of this, there are three theories created; pluralism, elite theory, and state autonomy. Each of these theories where created to understand the structure of power in the United States. As we see each of their purpose, a few question comes to mind; who benefits? Who governs? And who wins? In 2013 wealth inequality in the United States was greater than in most developed countries other than Switzerland and Denmark, Weissmann, Jordan (2013). The top 1% (also known at the elites) of the American population owns 42.7% of the country’s total wealth. Meaning the next 19% of Americans owning 50.3%, and the bottom 80% owning 7%, Deborah L. Jacobs (2011). However, after the Great Recession (which started in 2007), the share of total wealth owned by the top 1% of the population grew from 34.6% to 37.1%, and that owned by the top 20% of Americans grew from 85% to 87.7%. The Great Recession also caused a drop of 36.1% in median household wealth but a drop only 11.1% for the top 1%, further widening the gap between the top 1% and the bottom 99%. According to the Institute for Policy Studies, in September 2012 over 60% of the Forbes richest 400 Americans grew up in substantial privilege. A remarkable study reveals that Americans have no idea that the wealth distribution is as concentrated as it is, Norton and Ariely (2010). It is clear to say that the elites are a modern societies of large bureaucratically structured organizations (corporate, nonprofit...
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...Whittington for exam Question: What is strategy? There is not much agreement about strategy in other textbooks. Rather than taking ‘strategic management’ for granted, this book starts from the basic question ‘what is strategy anyway?’. Four basic conceptions of strategy are introduced which all have different implications for how to go about ‘doing strategy’. Each perspective has its own view of strategy and how it matters for managerial practice. The Classical approach gives the textbook answers. - Classicists broadly see strategy as a rational process of long-term planning, vital to securing the future. - Evolutionists usually regard the future as too volatile and unpredictable to plan for, and warn that the best strategy is to concentrate on maximizing changes of survival today. - Processualists too doubt the value of rational long-term planning, seeing strategy best as an emergent process of learning and adaptation. - Systemic theorists take a relativist position, arguing that the forms and goals of strategy-making depend particularly on social context, and that strategy should therefore be undertaken with sociological sensitivity. These are four starkly different perspectives (p. 119), but it is the Systemic sensibility that helps us finally to choose. For the Systemic strategist, effectiveness depends upon understanding context and playing by local rules. Classical, evolutionary, processual, they can all take place in some conditions. There is no one...
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...White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack Peggy McIntosh states that the privilege that Whites have is not seen as an advantage by them where as it is seen as an advantage by different races. Whites, as a race, do not take into account what they do not have to overcome in order to live life in the way that they do. This lack of acknowledgement of the domination that the White race has is closely related to the domination that males have in the US. If you are in this elite class you do not think of yourself as having more advantages, you just see others as having disadvantages. Unlike many individuals of the White race, McIntosh is attempting to place herself in the shoes of those that have a different skin. Her analysis of the factors that allow a White person to lead a life with less speed bumps is not all inclusive; however it does assist to paint a picture in the mind of the reader. Each of the 26 points may not fit in every sector of the US, although the most likely fit the majority of communities. When specifically we look at the African American perspective, it can seem that the world around them is not reflective of them. This melting pot that we call the US is still controlled by a dominate race, even though our population percentages grow smaller and smaller every year. McIntosh also references that the White races has an unearned entitlement and advantage simply due to the course of history and the mindset that it implemented since. When we speak of...
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...REVISTA DE SOCIOLOGÍA, Nº 28 (2013) pp. 31-49 Elites, political elites and social change in modern societies1 Luis Garrido Vergara* Resumen Los estudios académicos acerca de las élites políticas poseen una vibrante historia reciente. El objetivo aquí es proveer un resumen selectivo de esa historia, enfocándose en la importancia de la distinción social y en las teorías de la estructura de poder como el marco teórico para comprender la influencia de las élites políticas en el cambio social. Dado que nuevas perspectivas y preocupaciones han surgido en este campo, la organización de este artículo no es completamente cronológica. Aunque puedan haberse ignorado muchas contribuciones relevantes, la intención aquí es brindar algún sentido de la riqueza e importancia de lo que han logrado los académicos acerca de la relación entre élites y representación, los vínculos entre élites, democracia y cambio social y las teorías de la estructura de poder. En este artículo también se estudia hasta qué grado la introducción de una nueva metodología de investigación por parte de la teoría de la dominación de clase de Domhoff abrió una nueva perspectiva en los estudios sobre las élites. Finalmente, se presentan una estrategia de investigación para las élites y dos conclusiones principales. Palabras clave: Élites políticas - cambio social - estructura de poder - representación. Abstract Scholarly studies of elites and political elites have a vibrant recent history. My aim here is to provide a selective...
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...come in contact with each other in cross-class encounters. We also elucidate how class work perpetuates inequality, as well as the consequences of class work on organizations and those at the lower end of the organizational hierarchy. By examining microlevel interactions and how they become institutionalized within organizations as prevailing rules and practices, we contribute to both institutional theory and the sociology of social class differences. We encourage future research on social class and discuss some of the challenges inher- ent in conducting it. Several contemporary developments—includ- ing the financial crisis of 2008 (Rajan, 2010), the shrinking of the middle class (Leicht & Fitzger- ald, 2007), and the rise of the “new poor” in America (Cohen, 2010)— have reinjected the is- sue of social class differences and inequality (Stiglitz, 2012) into contemporary discourse. Within organization studies, however, social class has received only scant consideration (cf. Castilla & Benard, 2010; Dacin, Munir, & Tracey, 2010; Scully & Blake-Beard, 2006). While two re- cent exceptions report the consequences of class differences on individual behavior at work (Coté, 2011; Fiske & Markus, 2012), this work does not theorize about how organizational members interact in the face of these differ- The authors contributed equally to the preparation of this manuscript. We are grateful to our talented and fearless friend and colleague, Lindsey Pilver, for bringing us...
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...STALIN, THE GREAT PURGE, AND RUSSIAN HISTORY: A NEW LOOK AT THE ~EW by MARSHALL SHATZ Paper No. 305 1984 CLASS' STALIN, THE GREAT PURGE, AND RUSSIAN HISTORY: A NEW LOOK AT THE 'NEW CLASS' ~ MARSHALL SHATZ Paper No. 305 1984 Marshall S. Shatz received his B.A. from Harvard College and his M.A., Certificate of the Russian Institute, and Ph.D. from Columbia University. He edited The Essential Works of Anarchism (New York: Bantam Books, 1971; Quadrangle Books, 1972) and is the author of Soviet Dissent in Historical ¥erspective (Cambridge and New York: Cambridge University Press, 1980). He is Professor of History, University of Massachusetts at Boston. 1 STALIN; THE GREAT PURGE; AND RUSSIAN HIsroRY: A NEW IOOK AT '!HE • NEW CLASS' Though nearly fifty years in the past; Stalin •s Great Purge of the 1930s still loans as one of the nost enigmatic events of the twentieth century. Whether we think of the Great Purge as a IOOre or less continuous process fran the assassination of Kirov in 1934 to Ezhov's replacement by Beria as head of the secret police at the em of 1938; or limit it to the EzhoVshchina of 1937 and 1938; When the terror reached its peak; operation is astounding. the sheer nagnitude of the The nuniber of arrests; deportations; imprisonments; and lives lost in these years is impossible to measure; and attempts to do so have varied wildly. Even the lOi/est estimates; however; are staggering.l It ...
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...A REPORT ON “PRODUCT FEATURES OF HDFC CURRENT ACCOUNT WITH OTHER BANK, CA ACCOUNTS AND CUSTOMER REQUIREMENTS” A Thesis Submitted in the partial fulfilment of the requirements for The award of the degree of POST GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN MANAGEMENT SUBMITTED TO:HDFC BANK Paschim Vihar SUBMITTED BY:Aalok Aashish Kachhap 1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The success and final outcome of this project required a lot of guidance and assistance from many people and I am extremely fortunate to have got this all along the completion of my project work. Whatever I have done is only due to such guidance and assistance and I would not forget to thank them. I respect and thank Mr. Uttam Ahluwalia (CH) for giving me an opportunity to do the project work on “Product Features Of HDFC Current Account With Other Bank, CA Accounts And Customer Requirements” and providing me all support and guidance which made me complete the project on time. I would also like thank my industry guide Mr. Raja Saha (BM), I am extremely grateful to him for giving such a nice support and guidance though he had busy schedule and of course I should not forget to thank my faculty guide Dr. KM Kumar, for his full support and guidance throughout the SIP period. I would like to extend my gratitude to Mr. Rohit Parmar (Branch Operations Manager) and Mr. Danish Raza (ABM) who went out of their way to guide me throughout my project and gave varied insights. At last but not least I am also thankful to and fortunate enough...
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...Book and Film Contemporary Segment: I An Analysis of Warren’s Anchorites and Their Patrons in Medieval England And Newby’s Historical Drama the Anchoress Anchoritism, a tradition where individuals voluntarily relinquish their freedom for an eternity of solidarity in the confinement of a cell, is arguably one of the most shocking traditions of medieval England. It is the modern reaction of bewilderment and even horror that a person could elect such a fate that manifests the immense cultural difference from the medieval era to our own. Through her historical assessment, Ann K. Warren sheds light on the factors that have generated this perplexing phenomenon. A predominant argument that can be drawn through the analysis of Warren’s writing is the notion of sacrifice as means to salvation. “Medieval England was an environment in which individuals chose to become religious recluses in order to assure their own salvation.” (17) The cell of enclosure was equated with a prison into which the anchorite propelled himself for fear of hell and for love of Christ. The eternal punishment of hell might be escaped by the lifetime refusal of escape from the anchorhold. Therefore, by sacrificing the freedoms of the outside world and fighting against perpetual temptations of desire, a “union with Christ could be achieved in this life.” (93) In order to fully experience the “high” of salvation, one must first know the “low” of suffering. The internalization of these “psychological rewards”...
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...Introduction Modern African states have several problems ranging from corruption, to armed conflict, to stunted structural development. The effects of colonialism have been offered as a starting point for much of the analysis on African states, but the question of why African states are particularly dysfunctional needs to be examined, given the extent to which they have lagged behind other former European colonies in many aspects. In the first section, I will consider the problems with African states from the level of the state. That is, the nature of the states' inceptions and the underlying flaws may explain some of the issues that have been associated with African states today. Next I examine the development of, or lack of, civil society and the institutions which took place across the continent in the colonial era. In particular, I consider the lack of education and judicial authority and how this affected the formation of the structures which exist in the post-colonial era. Lastly, the economic legacy of colonialism is analysed, and whether the failure of African states to prosper can be explained by colonial practices. State Formation Ever since the boundaries of Africa were drawn up in 1884/5, very little has changed in terms of the continent's territorial divisions. Much has been made of the fact that the post-colonial states which constitute Africa were the products of colonial demarcations, and whose territories are not congruent to existing political and...
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...when it has not been high on education policy agendas.” (Whitty, 2001, p.287) While issues and effects of social class exist in all countries, the English experience is particularly problematic. (Goldthorpe, 1996) In the United Kingdom at the turn of the 19th century a university education was a privilege enjoyed by the sons of the wealthy and influential. Although members of the social elite “passed through the universities, they rarely completed their degrees. The subsidiary mission of the pre-industrial universities was to complete the socialisation of future elites, social and political”. (Scott, 1995, p.12) The last two decades have witnessed a considerable amount of rhetoric with regard to improving this situation; with access and inclusion being the keystones of nearly every government policy issued. New Labour went so far as to announce in its election manifesto an explicit aim of increasing participation in higher education to 50 per cent of 18 to 30 year olds – though its best level of attainment was some 39.8 per cent as of 2007. (Kirkup, 2008). However, access and inclusion have not even begun to address education’s subsidiary purpose of socialising future elites. New Labour positioned itself as the government which would address the class issues plaguing British education. The then UK Secretary of State for Education,...
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...“White Privilege: American Reality“ America is the land of the free and the land of opportunity. All men are created equal and can achieve the “American Dream”. These are the kinds of phrases one hears throughout life. Unfortunately, these words are misleading because not everyone has the same opportunity. Court documents from the Dred Scott decision state: “… people of African-American descent are a subordinate and inferior class that, whether slave or free, remains subject to the authority of the dominant and superior white race.” (Day & Schiele, 2013) The concept that we live in a land where all people are equal and success is achieved through hard work alone is nothing more than a myth. White Privilege provides a distinct advantage to white Americans over all non-whites simply by virtue of birth. White Privilege is like gravity, everyone feels the effects but you don’t see it. According to Eduardo Bonilla-Silva most whites believe that racism is less relevant in today’s society. Focus is placed on cultural differences as the reason why some people achieve more success than others. A closer look reveals that this idea still supports the status quo of White Privilege (Bonilla-Silva, 2001). White Privilege is so ingrained in American society that it is virtually invisible (O'Malley Halley, Eshleman, & Vjaya, 2011). The dominant American social values (Day & Schiele, 2013) while separate are still to some extent an extension of White Privilege. White privilege is...
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...Surviving Poverty in Medieval Paris was written by Sharon Farmer, who thoroughly analyzes the many differences between the poor and the elite during the High Middle Ages of Paris. Her main purpose was to provide perspective on urban poverty during this era, while also emphasizing the important aspects of an individual that ultimately decided their faith within a society. Farmer analyzes the poverty from an elite’s perspective, while supplying sufficient details on the gender roles among the poor and the social classes among society that separated the poor from the rich. Such factors not only played a major role in forming their social standing and networks available to them, but also affected the altruistic assistance by those in power that...
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... “Minimum Need for a Minimum Wage Increase”, and Shamus Khan’s, “The Promise of More: Why We Should Raise the Minimum Wage”. By using rhetorical analysis on both opinion pieces Laska clearly makes a better argument. He makes use of logos by including statistics, an expert’s research in the field of minimum wage, and historical data to attack Obama’s decision to raising the minimum wage. He includes pathos to create a sense of disappointment and hopelessness in Obama’s decision effectively to convince his mainly conservative audience. In comparison, Khan also makes use of logos by mainly focusing on historical and some statistical data to convince his more liberal target audience. He also makes use of pathos to instill a sense of remorse for minimum wage workers, and also to call the readers to action. His evidence seems a little weak though, because in one case he forces the reader to open a link for another article for evidence and it seems that his claim relies too much on pathos. First, it is important to note how the author’s ethos affects the basic effectiveness of the article since credibility of writers is vital to convince the target audience. Interestingly, neither author makes use of the ethos appeal in their respective articles, but their credentials are readily available. David Laska is Communications Director of the New York State Republican Party. His credentials make him a credible source about the minimum wage increase debacle because his involvement in politics...
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...and how might it direct you towards one or other levels of analysis? In looking at the Bosnian conflict the most important aspect of the conflict was social constructivism. The definition of Social constructivism is “identities are molded, refabricated, and mobilized in accord with reigning cultural scripts and centers of power”(Cerulo, 1997, p.387). In Bosnia there were three major ethnic groups fighting for control of Bosnia: 1. Serbs- The Serbian people are Orthodox Christians 2. Croats- The Croatian people are Catholic Christians 3. Bosniaks- The Bosniaks are Muslim The two main actors in this conflict originally came from Croatia and Serbia which were all part of Yugoslavia and Russian controlled at one point in time. There is some primordialism overtones in this conflict however, “it is almost impossible for people in the region to trace the ethnic line of most inhabitants”(Jesse &Williams, 2011, p.146), and due to intermarriage between the Croats and Serbians in the region, there are no “physical differences among people of different ethnic origins”(Harvey, 2000, pp.42-43). It seems that everything that I read tells me that the Croats and Serbs were very similar in culture. Social constructionist sees that are three major contributors to the outbreak of the war in Bosnia: * Economic, political and military threats to the identity and/or existence of ethnic group attachments. * Elites with political skills and resources to play on those fears...
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