Mr. Moneybags vs. The Majority by Asiya Kadivar

My very own father grew up poor in Pakistan. His family didn’t have a car. The first time he entered a car that used a button to control windows he was shocked. The thought that ran through his mind at the moment was that, “My family didn’t amount to much compared to… this guy’s family (the guy that owned the car).” (Abdullah). The way he felt was a result of the class struggle and economic inequality. Both are important issues that we face today.

When I say “class”, I am referring to the commonly accepted definition of a socioeconomic class. A group of people that are similar to each other in their social and economic standing (impacted by occupation). The “class struggle” I referred to is the hostility that can be felt between members of different classes. This tension is a result of basic differences in how people of separate classes live, interact, and are treated by the world.

Economic inequality plays a part in this tension between socioeconomic groups. It’s no secret that those who are rich get access to more resources than those that are less wealthy. You have probably heard that kids with more familial wealth get access to better education than those without. From the start, this difference between available resources to people of different classes makes their perspective of the world different. Then of course, there are certain stereotypes about people of varying financial status. You might know of the idea that richer people are snobbier. Because of stereotypes like this, people might judge others or fear being judged, which can lead to them trying to keep away from other classes. That’s only the tip of the iceberg. The class struggle actually contributes to economic inequality as well. People are born into certain classes, and it’s difficult for them to join a different socioeconomic group (due to available resources or the lack of them) and thus more difficult for them to get more wealth and income. It’s a suffocating cycle, and I don’t know about you, but I enjoy being able to breathe.

Economic inequality is a troublesome issue even on its own. According to Britannica, “On a global level, income inequality is extreme by any measure, with the richest 1 percent of people in the world receiving as much as the bottom 56 percent in the early 21st century.” (par. 2). Please take into consideration the fact that wealth inequality is hardly any better. It’s ridiculous that things have gotten this bad. Not only is the problem severe, Britannica also shares that, “Income inequality in the United States has been rising since 1979.” (par. 5). We need to deal with this issue as soon as possible, before things get worse.

Karl Marx, a well-respected philosopher, defined the classes as, “determined by the division of labour.” (Marx and Engels, pg. 160). This thought was published in 1932. Marx went on to detail that this was his definition because those in a similar position within the division of labor had similar living conditions. If his definition can be translated to simply “similar living conditions'', then things haven't actually changed all that much since 1932. This is not a new issue.

One 8th grader from Coleytown Middle School shared that they found themselves feeling frustrated when in the presence of some of their richer friends. Specifically, because these friends seemed to not understand money’s value and act irresponsible. Have you ever felt alienated like this because of financial differences? The issues about money in today’s society are so important that even teenagers like us know of them. While it’s great for kids to be aware, it’s much less optimal that this is an issue that makes us worry. The fact that it is, though, is just proof as to how important this issue has gotten.

Some would argue that people are poor because of their personal issues and use that argument as an excuse to avoid addressing the issues I’m discussing. This is little more than a common misconception. As Frances Fox Piven, professor of political science and sociology, explains, “When household income increases, other problems like poor school performance or drug use tend to diminish.” (par. 15). The entire argument is quite simply incorrect, and as an obvious result, so too are its conclusions. It’s a shame that there are people that would choose to hide behind such an excuse to avoid addressing the problems that we face.

Class conflict and economic inequality are two vitally important issues that are connected and continue to get worse as a result. This divide affects everyone. We need to attempt to ease the current situation or at least to spread awareness. If equality is truly important to us, things as they are cannot stand.

]]>