Social Inequality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Social Inequality - Essay Example Although the country has gone a long way toward an appearance of classlessness, class is still the prevailing force determining the way people are distinguished in the contemporary America. As Janny Scott and David Leonhardt maintain, "class is still a powerful force in American life. Over the past three decades, it has come to play a greater, not lesser, role in important ways. At a time when education matters more than ever, success in school remains linked tightly to class. At a time when the country is increasingly integrated racially, the rich are isolating themselves more and more. At a time of extraordinary advances in medicine, class differences in health and lifespan are wide and appear to be widening." (Scott and Leonhardt) Therefore, there are several evidences from education sector, health industry, and financial sector which prove the increasing influence of class in American life. Social inequality in health sector provides one of the most important evidences for the escalating influence of class in American life. ... Miele's, Mr. Wilson's and Ms. Gora's (people belonging to different classes) struggles to recover. "Class is a potent force in health and longevity in the United States. The more education and income people have, the less likely they are to have and die of heart disease, strokes, diabetes and many types of cancer. Upper-middle-class Americans live longer and in better health than middle-class Americans, who live longer and better than those at the bottom." (Scott) According to the scholars who have researched social factors in health the gaps among the various classes are widening. In their attempt to support the claim that class matters in American life, the New York Times Correspondents provide examples from marriages that cross class boundaries. Although these challenges are not as obvious as those that cross the lines of race or nationality, "people who marry across class lines are also moving outside their comfort zones, into the uncharted territory of partners with a different level of wealth and education, and often, a different set of assumptions about things like manners, food, child-rearing, gift-giving and how to spend vacations. In cross-class marriages, one partner will usually have more money, more options and, almost inevitably, more power in the relationship." (Lewin) According to the New York Times Correspondents, evidences from religious practices also suggest that class matters in American life and the growing power and influence of evangelical Christians illustrates this social inequality. "Their growing wealth and education help explain the new influence of evangelicals in American culture and politics. Their buying power fuels the booming market for Christian books, music