2-22-16
Reading Chapter 12:
1. Why is privilege often invisible? What categories of people are more and less likely to be aware of privilege?
Privilege is often invisible because people do not realize they possess the privileges they have. When among others of common class and ethnicity who share similar privileges, it can be difficult to see luxuries as anything more than basic necessities. Generally, higher class white people are less aware of their privilege than lower class people of color.
2. Why was Andrea so uncomfortable in Jewel’s Newark home? Do you think people can overcome the type of social differences described here? Explain.
Andrea was uncomfortable in Jewel’s Newark home because she was among people of differing class, differing race, and she possessed privileges that they did not. She felt out of place and like she was with people whose problems and lives she could not relate to. I think people can overcome the type of social differences described here through understanding. If people are able to empathize with people of different class and treat them with respect, as if they were equal in class, then hopefully they will be able to overcome differences.
3. Can you identify elements of privilege in your own life? How have they affected your relationship with others.
I can identify many privileges in my life. I am white passing, straight / cis passing, non poor, able bodied, allistic, and native English speaking. This has affected my relationship with others because the people I know and are friends with, for the most part, are in the same communities and have the same privileges as me.
Reading Chapter 35:
1. Why do Davis and Moore argue that all societies attach greater rewards to some positions that to others?
Davis and Moore argue that all societies attach greater rewards to some positions that others because some positions have greater importance to society. In general, the positions that yield greater rewards are ones that impact society in a noticeable way and require training and talent to master. That is why, for example, a doctor who saves the lives of their community is payed more than someone who flips burgers at a fast food restaurant.
2. Does the Davis and Moore thesis justify social stratification as it presently exists in the United States?
Davis and Moore’s thesis states that social stratification is a consequence of the fact that some social positions are more important to the operation of a social system than others. This thesis does justify the social stratification as it presently exists in the United States, but shouldn’t be used as a means to deem one type of person as inadequate as opposed to another person. For example, the thesis basically states that social hierarchies exist because some people’s professions require are challenging and help society more than others. This is true in many cases. People who train and study for years and years to become research scientists and doctors often have nicer houses, nicer cars, better incomes, and are socially higher than someone who is unemployed. This social stratification is currently present in the United States.
3. In what ways does Tumin argue that social stratification is dysfunctional for a social system?
Tumin argues that social stratification is dysfunction because it judges people based on their functionality in society rather than their character as a person. “At best, we tend to make primarily intuitive judgments. Often enough, these judgments involve the use of value laden criteria, or, at least, criteria which are chosen in preference to others not for any socially systematic reasons but by reasons of certain implicit value preferences.” Another reason he argues that Davis and Moore’s thesis on social stratification is dysfunctional is that only a limited set of people have the talents that can be trained into socially helpful skills. It also limits the possibility of the discovery of one's full range of talents, and the more stratified a society, the less that society can uncover new facts about its members.
Reading Chapter 36:
1. Were you surprised by anything you read in this article? If so, what? Why?
I was not surprised by a lot of the information in this article because I am aware of the severity of the conditions for low paying but hard working jobs. I was surprised that it was only recently that people were allowed to take bathroom breaks, and I didn’t know the minimum wage used to be so low. I am also more concerned that surprised (but shocked none the less) at the terribly poor working conditions that people have to live throught.
2. Have you ever had a job like the work described here? How did your experiences compare with the author’s?
No, I haven’t ever had a job similar to the work described here.
3. In today's economy, what would you consider a “living wage” to be?
The living wage should be around 15-17 dollars in today's economy. The cost of living has increased recently, and with things such as gas prices, rent, etc. rising, the amount that people are paid for the work they need to rise as well. Although an ideal wage for someone to live comfortably and with few luxuries would be more around 25 dollars an hour, it is unreasonable to expect it to rise above 18 dollars, so, around 15 is a better minimum wage $7.25.
Reading Chapter 37:
1. The author provides a number of ways in which people in rich nations benefit from global poverty. Which do you find the most convincing? Why?
I would say Point 1: the existence of global poverty helps to ensure the wealth of affordable foods for the Wester customers, is the most convincing. I find this point the most convincing because it shows how the underpaid workers of third world countries’s loss is our gain. By them making less and working more, we get not only more product, but more product for less money. This shows how the poverty of other countries helps America in more than one way.
2. What weaknesses do you find in the arguments? Explain.
One weakness that could be argued is that we, as consumers, are helping those workers from being taken over by the grasp of extreme poverty. Although it might seem like their situations could not be worse, without work, there would be no way for them to provide for themselves and their family, and ultimately would lose whatever they have left.
3. From another angle, do you think that rich countries provi assistance to poor countries? In what ways?
Although it can be argued that we help these countries and their workers in some way, I do not believe that we do. The only way for us to truly be helping them would be to pay them more money for the work that they do. It would not be ridiculous to mark up the prices of a product such as lettuce as long as the markup isn’t too extreme for the consumer. Personally, I wouldn’t have a problem paying $5 for something rather than $2 if I knew that the person who made the product could live free of starvation.
Reading Chapter 12:
1. Why is privilege often invisible? What categories of people are more and less likely to be aware of privilege?
Privilege is often invisible because people do not realize they possess the privileges they have. When among others of common class and ethnicity who share similar privileges, it can be difficult to see luxuries as anything more than basic necessities. Generally, higher class white people are less aware of their privilege than lower class people of color.
2. Why was Andrea so uncomfortable in Jewel’s Newark home? Do you think people can overcome the type of social differences described here? Explain.
Andrea was uncomfortable in Jewel’s Newark home because she was among people of differing class, differing race, and she possessed privileges that they did not. She felt out of place and like she was with people whose problems and lives she could not relate to. I think people can overcome the type of social differences described here through understanding. If people are able to empathize with people of different class and treat them with respect, as if they were equal in class, then hopefully they will be able to overcome differences.
3. Can you identify elements of privilege in your own life? How have they affected your relationship with others.
I can identify many privileges in my life. I am white passing, straight / cis passing, non poor, able bodied, allistic, and native English speaking. This has affected my relationship with others because the people I know and are friends with, for the most part, are in the same communities and have the same privileges as me.
Reading Chapter 35:
1. Why do Davis and Moore argue that all societies attach greater rewards to some positions that to others?
Davis and Moore argue that all societies attach greater rewards to some positions that others because some positions have greater importance to society. In general, the positions that yield greater rewards are ones that impact society in a noticeable way and require training and talent to master. That is why, for example, a doctor who saves the lives of their community is payed more than someone who flips burgers at a fast food restaurant.
2. Does the Davis and Moore thesis justify social stratification as it presently exists in the United States?
Davis and Moore’s thesis states that social stratification is a consequence of the fact that some social positions are more important to the operation of a social system than others. This thesis does justify the social stratification as it presently exists in the United States, but shouldn’t be used as a means to deem one type of person as inadequate as opposed to another person. For example, the thesis basically states that social hierarchies exist because some people’s professions require are challenging and help society more than others. This is true in many cases. People who train and study for years and years to become research scientists and doctors often have nicer houses, nicer cars, better incomes, and are socially higher than someone who is unemployed. This social stratification is currently present in the United States.
3. In what ways does Tumin argue that social stratification is dysfunctional for a social system?
Tumin argues that social stratification is dysfunction because it judges people based on their functionality in society rather than their character as a person. “At best, we tend to make primarily intuitive judgments. Often enough, these judgments involve the use of value laden criteria, or, at least, criteria which are chosen in preference to others not for any socially systematic reasons but by reasons of certain implicit value preferences.” Another reason he argues that Davis and Moore’s thesis on social stratification is dysfunctional is that only a limited set of people have the talents that can be trained into socially helpful skills. It also limits the possibility of the discovery of one's full range of talents, and the more stratified a society, the less that society can uncover new facts about its members.
Reading Chapter 36:
1. Were you surprised by anything you read in this article? If so, what? Why?
I was not surprised by a lot of the information in this article because I am aware of the severity of the conditions for low paying but hard working jobs. I was surprised that it was only recently that people were allowed to take bathroom breaks, and I didn’t know the minimum wage used to be so low. I am also more concerned that surprised (but shocked none the less) at the terribly poor working conditions that people have to live throught.
2. Have you ever had a job like the work described here? How did your experiences compare with the author’s?
No, I haven’t ever had a job similar to the work described here.
3. In today's economy, what would you consider a “living wage” to be?
The living wage should be around 15-17 dollars in today's economy. The cost of living has increased recently, and with things such as gas prices, rent, etc. rising, the amount that people are paid for the work they need to rise as well. Although an ideal wage for someone to live comfortably and with few luxuries would be more around 25 dollars an hour, it is unreasonable to expect it to rise above 18 dollars, so, around 15 is a better minimum wage $7.25.
Reading Chapter 37:
1. The author provides a number of ways in which people in rich nations benefit from global poverty. Which do you find the most convincing? Why?
I would say Point 1: the existence of global poverty helps to ensure the wealth of affordable foods for the Wester customers, is the most convincing. I find this point the most convincing because it shows how the underpaid workers of third world countries’s loss is our gain. By them making less and working more, we get not only more product, but more product for less money. This shows how the poverty of other countries helps America in more than one way.
2. What weaknesses do you find in the arguments? Explain.
One weakness that could be argued is that we, as consumers, are helping those workers from being taken over by the grasp of extreme poverty. Although it might seem like their situations could not be worse, without work, there would be no way for them to provide for themselves and their family, and ultimately would lose whatever they have left.
3. From another angle, do you think that rich countries provi assistance to poor countries? In what ways?
Although it can be argued that we help these countries and their workers in some way, I do not believe that we do. The only way for us to truly be helping them would be to pay them more money for the work that they do. It would not be ridiculous to mark up the prices of a product such as lettuce as long as the markup isn’t too extreme for the consumer. Personally, I wouldn’t have a problem paying $5 for something rather than $2 if I knew that the person who made the product could live free of starvation.