HS103-Lect 2 Class

Class- From pyramid to hourglass


Divisions in class in society have been part and parcel of man’s evolutionary cycle since there was an order put in place. It is undoubtedly inevitable that different people will be classified into a particular group according to whatever values is defined by that society of that particular regioin at that particular time. These classifications differ with time and with the needs of that particular society, once upon a time, influcence and profession were the benchmarks for the inclusion into a particular class, such as nobles and peasants. Certain professions seemed to grant certain groups an amount of influence that immediately elevated their status into the upper echelons of the society, priests are an example of this.

In an age of gloablisation however, things are not so simple. Class is being increasingly defined via the socio economic potential of individuals. This economic potential does not necessarily rely on the individuals abilities or profession. It is very much dependant on the desires of the world markets of which most people have no control over, unless of course one falls in the category of the Super Rich, which is far too exclusive for many to enter. It is my opinion that the fact that most individuals are no longer in control of how their livelihoods survive in the global economy, is extremely alarming.This is especially so when there is no figure or institution that can guarantee the survival of their citizens or their way of life in the new interdependent economy. The needs of the markets can change almost overnight and certain products might no longer be in high demand hence the people who rely on it for their livelihoods are the hardest hit. It is this lack of control over ones future regardless of abilities and educational level, that should has to be addressed somehow. The income disparity between the rich and the poor is increasing, as even the middle class, those with abilities and some level of specialised skills are being relegated out of the economy as their skills and abilities are deemed obsolete.

This much power to change the lives of so many people in almost a blink of an eye should not rest in the hands of those who are propelled by wealth and generation of profits. At this rate everyone becomes expandable at one point or another. When one considers that more and more people are deemed expandable, and that more and more people are joining the painful poverty class, it becomes extremely alarming that this system is allowed to continue at the cost of so many lives. Surely this trend is set to continue as new technologies are invented that render human resource of lesser skilled labourers unnecessary, with the drive for efficiency at the forefront there is no doubt that more and more jobs will become irrelevant in the new economy. Of course it can be argued that machines for instance creates jobs for maintenance, however these jobs are not created at the same rate it takes away, hence there is a net unemployment and newer members to the poverty cycle are added. Lets not forget when these jobs are taken; there is a net increase in profits, which just gives the result of a widening income gap.

This system clearly will result in suffering and torment in the long run and even though governments are tasked to look after their citizens even there are powerless at the face of economic pressure and uncertainties. Would Marx’s theories then come true? History has proven that this ideology also has its pitfalls. Does this all add up to a word with a structure resembling a lopsided hour glass rather than the iconic pyramids associated with societal diagrams? Perhaps this is the evolution that the world is heading towards and it is just another part of our progress as mankind. At this rate however it does not indicate many bright days ahead.