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The division between social classes creates conflict in the United States. Social hierarchies can be based off of the attributes of a person or their economic state. It can degrade people causing built-up anger or resentment. The division between classes can appear to be subtle or be very present depending on the environment.
Social classes are a pressing issue, especially in the workforces. Many people are power-driven and want to prove their higher status. In the book Of Mice and Men social classes are shown within Lennie, Candy, Crook, and Curley's wife versus the other characters.
These four characters and ranked as less than the other people on the ranch either for being disabled, female or for just being a different race. In one chapter in the book, they are all together in a room, and it helps make you realize their social standings on the ranch.
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Curley's wife is seen as nothing more than a trophy wife; thus, placing her on the bottom tier of the social hierarchy on the ranch. She had no authority over anyone because life on the ranch was very much patriarchal. The only person she had authority over crooked, “you know what I could do to you?(Steinbeck 80) she had power over him and she felt the need to prove it. This was because he was African American and at the time was seen as less than every person on the ranch. Curley's wife knew she could say and do whatever she wanted to him making her feel powerful in a sense.
She wanted to prove her ground to the other people who were in the room. Social classes are very present and can affect the way an individual acts.
Conflict is common but has to be created and the division between social classes elevates that possibility. A bunkhouse in South Carolina disabled men were found living in an unacceptable situation, “living in virtual segregation”(Barrysept) they were living separately from the other men. They were getting paid less the legal amount and getting called derogatory names. This was not seen as wrong to the owners at the plant due to their standing at the plant since other men did not have a disability.
They were being taken advantage of causing a lawsuit against the plant. Another case was in New York with immigrant workers. Labor workers are placed within the class called the working poor, which is placed at the bottom of the United States social ranking. They had been doing all dirty work and felt mistreated “they treated the cows better “(Maslin) the workers, mostly immigrants felt this way as did many others at different farms. Workers did not want to speak up in fear of being deported since many are undocumented. Since the bosses know that some of their workers are most likely illegal immigrants they know they can work them for long hours doing very demanding labor without expecting much retaliation. These injustices cause conflict between the working poor and the upper class.
The United States has an issue of conflict in social classes. This is adherent within various cases. People like to argue that the strive for equality in classes are not a relevant topic in 2018, but the many individuals who experience division and conflict in their daily lives would beg to differ. Many of these collisions can be solved within time and the acceptance of every individual and that everyone should be treated with respect regardless of their social standings.
The consequences of social classes in the United States . (2021, Dec 02). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/the-consequences-of-social-classes-in-the-united-states-essay
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