SOCI 340-72 by

Gladiator II | Official Trailer

ssmith22_25 — 2025-02-05 22:28:50 UTC

In Gladiator 2, the main character, Lucius, is captured as a prisoner after the Romans take over his city. A life of solidarity was stolen from him, and he was sold as a fighter and then chosen to train as a Gladiator. Even though Lucius is still a slave, as a Gladiator, he is paid to fight and win. Those who earn the title of gladiator can buy their way to freedom and are nearly invincible, but until then, they are enslaved and must obey their captors. This main plot of the movie, along with other storylines within it, is an excellent example of wealth class and how socioeconomic status outweighs all.

ssmith22_25 — 2025-03-18 21:21:21 UTC

This video touches on the idea that the rich keep the poor at a disadvantage so that they can benefit in their own lives. The focus need not be on 'Why are they poor?' but instead, 'How did this happen? What can we do to make a change and prevent people from living in poverty?'

ssmith22_25 — 2025-03-18 21:21:33 UTC

"The billionaires are buying out the millionaires." People making a six-figure salary are even being put at a disadvantage due to the rich taking over areas and inflating the value of property and goods. As seen in the video, the median salary of this Wyoming town is $108,000, but as the even richer people begin to buy vacation homes in their town, the value of their dollar begins to drop, and the locals are forced to move to a more affordable area.

ssmith22_25 — 2025-03-18 21:21:45 UTC

Privilege, naivety, and lack of awareness are seen throughout the United States as wealthy individuals believe that everyone has the same opportunity for success. If someone is raised with privilege, it is hard to understand that people face very different hardships than the society they surround themselves with. Poverty keeps the rich richer, so as long as rich people are in charge, poverty will not be fixed.

ssmith22_25 — 2025-03-18 21:21:57 UTC

Corporate America profits from so much and often pays its employees minimum wage. Because its employees are paid minimum wage, it often turns to government assistance programs that use American tax dollars. Teachers also pay their employees an unlivable wage and allow them to claim government assistance while banking on profit.

ssmith22_25 — 2025-03-18 21:22:09 UTC

100% death tax?! It's not a bad idea. The idea of circulating your money back into the economy is empowering, especially if it can allow "a more even starting line" for individuals, especially if it keeps the money from going back into the hands of the government—aka, the rich!

ssmith22_25 — 2025-03-18 21:22:21 UTC

Some people are so out of touch with reality and what some people must go through to survive. While some people were rich and sad that they didn't receive a designer brand until they were teenagers, a much larger percentage of people are unaware of... They are unaware of the large percentage of people who will never be able to buy a house, even if they are working 40+ hours a week. They are unaware that even a chance at affordable housing programs takes years. The world is not built to support people who are making less than a specific dollar amount.

ssmith22_25 — 2025-03-18 21:22:34 UTC

Sharing resources with the people in our community and working together can recycle money back into our community instead of big box stores! If we spread awareness about what resources there are to offer, we can help others with housing and food inequality.

ssmith22_25 — 2025-03-18 21:22:46 UTC

Purchasing power has gone down for the younger generation. Prices and rates are going up, and assets are being kept under the belt of the older generation who bought when prices were fair. Now, the younger generation is struggling to make ends meet, even with a college degree, and even opting out of having children because they can not take on the financial responsibility.

ssmith22_25 — 2025-03-18 21:22:56 UTC

Some people are born into wealthy families, while others are born into poverty. Those born into poverty are immediately at a disadvantage and do not have access to nearly as many resources as others. Understanding this concept and working towards correcting it will ensure a healthy and equally high quality of life for all.

ssmith22_25 — 2025-03-18 21:30:14 UTC

Financial illiteracy is a huge issue that, if taught in schools, could change the future for many people. Living in poverty or making a low paycheck may at times be inevitable, but if people have access to knowledge of things such as high-yield savings accounts and investments, it could put them on a path to a more financially secure future.

ssmith22_25 — 2025-03-18 21:30:29 UTC

The boots theory is an excellent metaphor for how systemic inequality forces people to make a short-term cost-saving decision that will keep them in debt and poverty, as opposed to a one-time investment of a large amount that they can benefit from for an extended time.

ssmith22_25 — 2025-03-18 21:37:00 UTC

ssmith22_25 — 2025-03-18 21:45:34 UTC

Tupac says it bet! Understanding how money reaches people can completely change the way our society runs. The top 1% has more money than they know what to do with, yet they often won't help or even acknowledge someone in need.

The Wolf of Wall Street

ssmith22_25 — 2025-03-18 21:49:39 UTC

The Wolf of Wall Street demonstrates several sociological perspectives: Conflict theory is seen when wealthy people manipulate the system to gain more money. Symbolic interactionism is seen as wealthy parties using fancy cars, big houses, and nice clothes to symbolize wealth. Structural functionalism is seen when financial capitalism continues to thrive, even immorally, due to its ability to create jobs and profit for the company.

Annie (1982) Original Trailer

ssmith22_25 — 2025-03-18 21:52:40 UTC

Annie is a classic film that demonstrates wealth inequality and social status. The movie portrays the rich vs. the poor and the struggles or benefits that come along with it. This includes theft, hunger, wealth, and privilege.

The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

ssmith22_25 — 2025-03-18 21:58:44 UTC

The Pursuit of Happyness includes themes of social class, socioeconomic status, homelessness, and critical race theory. The film follows the story of a black parent trying to create a positive life for his son. Systems and institutions set up by society force his family to work against it to achieve a better life.

Freedom Writers (2007)

ssmith22_25 — 2025-03-18 22:08:35 UTC

Freedom Writers is a powerful movie that follows a wealthy white teacher and her goal to improve students' lives in an impoverished area. The movie demonstrates themes of racism, poverty, crime, and discrimination. Conflict theory is seen as the teachers being wealthier and more privileged than their students; therefore, they see them as having no hope for their future.

Wealth Inequality in America (Updated)

ssmith22_25 — 2025-04-14 21:46:37 UTC

Wealth disparities are constantly growing across different racial groups and income levels in the U.S., with income inequality being a huge contributing factor. Income inequality keeps the poor living in poverty because they can not access resources to bridge the gap to wealth., whereas the rich get richer. Policy needs to change more than ever before to ensure that Americans have equal access to resources and opportunities.

Greed

ssmith22_25 — 2025-04-14 21:58:36 UTC

This photo stood out to me as it represents greed in those who are elite. The photo shows two rich men sitting on top of their money bags while a gun pokes out towards the people, which to me implies that if they come for their money, they will do whatever it takes to keep them in poverty.

Two Worlds Apart

ssmith22_25 — 2025-04-14 22:01:13 UTC

This photo represents the upper and lower classes. In today's world, many people live in poverty and struggle to make ends meet. Meanwhile, an entire upper-class community is unaware of what others are dealing with or chooses to ignore it.

We Are Not the Same

ssmith22_25 — 2025-04-14 22:08:49 UTC

This photo represents the different challenges people face depending on their socioeconomic status. The upper class has the privilege of expensive clothing and pets and luxuries like nice food and drinks. Meanwhile, those living in poverty are forced to work with minimum resources to provide for themselves and their families, often restricting them from things such as food, clothing, healthcare, or transportation.

ssmith22_25 — 2025-04-22 21:16:58 UTC

This image illustrates health inequality worldwide. Income and social status affect people's access to healthcare and nutrition. If you are wealthy, you can afford nutritious foods and get proper healthcare. However, if you are living in poverty, you likely live in a food desert, have little to no access to nutritious foods, and have a difficult time receiving healthcare. The images show the vast differences between the poor and wealthy people, and the inequality that they face when needing basic human care.

Greed

ssmith22_25 — 2025-04-22 21:17:27 UTC

This image represents the wealthiest top 1% of the world vs everyone else. There is a clear division between the wealthy, with their space and luxury, vs the rest of the population who live crowded and impoverished, fighting to make a better life for themselves.

Imbalanced

ssmith22_25 — 2025-04-22 21:17:41 UTC

To me, this photo illustrates the political power held by the elite and the fact that wealthy people don't see or understand the wealth imbalances in our society. The rich man is saying, "What?" as if he doesn't understand why the other people are upset.

Generational Wealth

ssmith22_25 — 2025-04-23 15:15:13 UTC

Generational wealth can be a considerable disadvantage or advantage many people must endure. Suppose someone is born into a family living in poverty. In that case, they automatically will have less access to resources such as housing, food, healthcare, and education, which will likely lead them to a less fulfilling life. Others are born into a life of wealth that automatically grants them privileges in the form of money, healthcare, food, jobs, and housing.

Education

ssmith22_25 — 2025-04-23 15:15:28 UTC

Good education is a resource that should be accessible to everyone. We have all been told that if we go to school and get good grades, we can become wealthy. However, that is not the case for people living in poverty. Unequal access to education and resources is a gap that has not been closed, keeping our youth at a disadvantage.

ssmith22_25 — 2025-04-23 15:16:13 UTC

Treating every individual as if they have come from the same background and have access to the same resources does not help our society grow. Instead, it holds people back from opportunities that could catapult them and their families into a successful life. Understanding that each individual has different strengths and not holding them back by their weaknesses or differences can result in a considerable turnover in success rates.

ssmith22_25 — 2025-04-23 15:18:47 UTC

There is a huge gap between education and income inequality. Our society is stuck in a vicious circle: Poor education limits job opportunities, which leads to low-paying jobs or unemployment. This keeps families impoverished and widens the gap between education and income inequality.

CNN

ssmith22_25 — 2025-04-23 15:21:57 UTC

This CNN chart shows the percentage difference between rich and poor in regard to education and life expectancy. Socioeconomic status can impact access to higher education, which contributes to better job opportunities and higher income. Socioeconomic factors affect education, as well as overall health and longevity. This type of inequality persists throughout generations.

U.S. Census Bureau

ssmith22_25 — 2025-04-23 15:25:13 UTC

The chart displays a significant wealth disparity between White, non-Hispanic, and Black householders in 2021. It compares the distribution of net worth between White, non-Hispanic, and Black householders across various net worth brackets and consistently shows a higher percentage of Black householders in lower net worth brackets and a higher percentage of White, non-Hispanic householders in higher net worth brackets. The chart highlights a significant inequality in wealth distribution between the two racial groups and shows a vast difference in the concentration of wealth.

Pew Research Center

ssmith22_25 — 2025-04-23 15:30:22 UTC

This graph from the Pew Research Center shows survey results regarding the issues Americans perceive as "very big problems." Its lower ranking suggests that while economic inequality is recognized, it may not be prioritized as highly as personal issues such as healthcare costs and education. Overall, the chart reflects the current societal priorities and challenges that many Americans are facing.

CBPP.org

ssmith22_25 — 2025-04-23 15:34:36 UTC

It is inhumane that only 1/3rd of households using housing vouchers are actually protected by non-discrimination laws. Bringing awareness to this issue so that people know such a large percentage is unprotected can make a huge difference. Advocating for stronger legislation that could push laws for better protection for those using housing vouchers could be a great way to ensure security.

Average Wealth by Race

ssmith22_25 — 2025-04-23 15:36:54 UTC

This chart represents the systemic inequalities and disparities in wealth distribution between racial groups. The difference between the average and median wealth of White and Black households highlights the long-standing effects of historical injustices, such as slavery, segregation, and discriminatory policies that have contributed to economic disadvantages for Black communities. The significant wealth gap indicates differences in income and a lack of access to resources, opportunities for wealth, and social mobility.

Food Insecurity - U.S. Average

ssmith22_25 — 2025-04-23 15:39:34 UTC

The lack of food access and security disparities across the United States are continuous issues. The map reflects the underlying socioeconomic factors, such as poverty levels, unemployment rates, and access to resources like transportation and grocery stores. Areas with high food insecurity often correlate with marginalized communities that face barriers such as racial and economic inequalities.

NPR - Food Insecurity by Race

ssmith22_25 — 2025-04-23 15:40:35 UTC

This chart represents food insecurity among different racial groups over time. It highlights how socioeconomic status and access to resources contribute to varying levels of food insecurity. The trends shown in the graph reveals significant insights into the experiences of marginalized communities, particularly Black and Hispanic populations, who often face higher rates of food insecurity compared to the White population.

Food Insecurity - Race/Ethnicity

ssmith22_25 — 2025-04-23 15:42:35 UTC

Addressing food insecurity requires empathy, understanding, and a willingness to make a change. Advocating for affordable housing and increasing funding for food assistance programs can make a huge difference in closing the gap between all races/ethnicities and food insecurity.

Wealth Distribution

ssmith22_25 — 2025-04-23 15:44:19 UTC

Such a small percentage of people own most of the world's wealth, raising the topic of economic mobility. Wealthy individuals can use their wealth to invest in assets and businesses, which keeps them rich. However, this limits opportunities for the rest of the population and puts them at a disadvantage. If more wealthy people invested in projects that helped the middle class, working class, and people living in poverty, then we would see the wealth gap start to close, and economic growth would rise.

Global Wealth Distribution

ssmith22_25 — 2025-04-23 15:45:02 UTC

It is mind-boggling to see the contrast between adults and their share of wealth. Wealth inequality in the U.S. has kept generations of families living in poverty and unable to climb the ladder to success. Making changes to policies to create equal access to education and job opportunities can be a great start to closing the wealth gap.

Racial Differences in Economic Security: Housing

ssmith22_25 — 2025-04-23 15:46:17 UTC

There is a massive gap in homeownership rates due to a racial wealth divide. White family's homeowner rates are significantly higher than Black and Hispanic families, which suggests a mean of wealth accumulation. If minority groups have less access to homeownership, their overall economic security is affected, and generational wealth is at risk, which will keep younger generations at an automatic disadvantage.

Racial Inequities in Housing

ssmith22_25 — 2025-04-23 15:46:56 UTC

Housing affordability, housing segregation, and housing quality are all factors that specifically people of color have to face. According to the website, particularly Black households are represented as low-income renters, which often puts them in segregated neighborhoods. These neighborhoods limit access to high-paying jobs, healthcare, and education, keeping them disadvantaged.

Baby Boomers Nearly 9 Times Wealthier Than Millennials

ssmith22_25 — 2025-04-23 15:47:43 UTC

Inflation is at a high, making it difficult for younger generations to purchase homes and other assets. Someone working a full-time job and making minimum wage, and even a bit more, doesn't cover the cost of living in today's world. One thing that makes it even more difficult is that 'baby boomers' bought houses when they were affordable yet refuse to sell or downsize for a new generation of families. On top of that, we see more corporations buying over houses and renting them out, which takes home-buying options away from families.

Food Insecurity Has Economic Root Causes

ssmith22_25 — 2025-04-23 15:50:49 UTC

Food insecurity is seen throughout the U.S., mostly in female-headed households, households below the federal poverty level, and communities of color. This demonstrates social stratification as there is an unequal distribution of resources amongst different communities. Deep-rooted economic issues such as affordable housing and low wages must be addressed to close the food insecurity gap.

Food Insecurity

ssmith22_25 — 2025-04-23 16:01:50 UTC

Intersectionality in the context of food insecurity is seen in race, disability, and employment throughout the U.S. Structural barriers affect low-income neighborhoods' access to healthy food options, people with disabilities have a difficult time commuting to receive high-quality foods and affording foods due to their medical expenses, and even people who work have a hard time affording healthier food options. Intersectionality shows that there are overlapping issues of oppression and that there needs to be a change in our social system.

The Gap Between Rich And Poor Americans' Health Is Widening

ssmith22_25 — 2025-04-23 16:03:02 UTC

Systematic inequalities affect people's health without them even realizing it. Factors such as zip code, income, race, and job status shape health outcomes by providing or limiting access to resources. Even though we have advanced technology and public health resources, the health gap is growing, which implies systemic inequality at play. Not having health accessible to everyone is a social injustice!

The Cost of Not Getting Care

ssmith22_25 — 2025-04-23 16:03:39 UTC

Healthcare in America seems to be treated as a privilege or commodity instead of a human right accessible to all citizens. Americans living in poverty and low-income households often have to choose whether to see a doctor for their illness, feed their family, or go into debt. This battle leads individuals to ignore their health and face the consequences later in life.

Income inequality affects our children’s educational opportunities

ssmith22_25 — 2025-04-23 16:04:49 UTC

Inequality will continue if social systems are not changed to favor everyone, not just the wealthy. Children who are born into poverty will likely stay in poverty as they get older because they will remain in a disadvantaged state of low income. School funding, safety, and housing are all factors that affect children's growth, well-being, and educational opportunities.

A Guide to Economic Inequality

ssmith22_25 — 2025-04-23 16:05:49 UTC

This website does a great job of highlighting how wealthy Americans are gaining much more money than our middle—and lower-class families. We live in a society structured to continuously give money and power to wealthy families and keep others disadvantaged from opportunities.

ssmith22_25 — 2025-04-23 16:19:40 UTC