The Impact of Social Class on Life Outcomes
Social class is an important factor in understanding how individuals develop and function in their lives. This paper will explore the impact of social class on life outcomes. It will discuss its influence on educational attainment, health, income, and occupational success. The paper will also discuss the various factors related to social class and the role of public policy in addressing its impacts.
Social class is a common way to measure differences in society and is usually based on income, education, and occupation. It has been argued that social class is an important factor that affects life outcomes such as educational attainment, health, and income (Hout & DiPrete, 2006). Research has found that individuals from lower-class backgrounds have lower educational attainment, poorer health, and lower income when compared to those from higher-class backgrounds (Hout & DiPrete, 2006). Additionally, it has been found that individuals from lower-class backgrounds are more likely to experience poverty, unemployment, and incarceration (Hout & DiPrete, 2006; Sundstrom, 2018).
The influence of social class on educational attainment has been studied extensively. Studies have found that individuals from lower-class backgrounds are less likely to attend college and more likely to drop out of high school (Hout & DiPrete, 2006). Additionally, those from lower-class backgrounds are more likely to have lower test scores, fewer extracurricular activities, and less access to college preparatory courses (Hout & DiPrete, 2006). These factors are often compounded by the fact that individuals from lower-class backgrounds may not have access to the same resources and opportunities as those from higher-class backgrounds.
Social class also has an impact on health. Research has found that individuals from lower-class backgrounds are more likely to suffer from health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (Sundstrom, 2018). This is likely due to a combination of factors such as access to healthcare, nutrition, and physical activity. Additionally, individuals from lower-class backgrounds are more likely to experience stressors such as poverty, unemployment, and incarceration, which can have a negative impact on mental and physical health (Sundstrom, 2018).
The influence of social class on income is also significant. Research has found that individuals from lower-class backgrounds are more likely to have lower incomes than those from higher-class backgrounds (Hout & DiPrete, 2006). This is due to a variety of factors, including lower educational attainment, fewer job opportunities, and fewer access to resources (Hout & DiPrete, 2006). Additionally, individuals from lower-class backgrounds are more likely to experience poverty, unemployment, and incarceration (Hout & DiPrete, 2006; Sundstrom, 2018).
Finally, social class can have an impact on occupational success. Research has found that individuals from lower-class backgrounds are more likely to have lower-status occupations and lower wages (Hout & DiPrete, 2006). This is due to a variety of factors, including lower educational attainment, fewer job opportunities, and fewer access to resources (Hout & DiPrete, 2006). Additionally, individuals from lower-class backgrounds are more likely to experience poverty, unemployment, and incarceration (Hout & DiPrete, 2006; Sundstrom, 2018).
Public policy can play an important role in addressing the impacts of social class. Policies such as increasing access to higher education, providing job training and employment opportunities, and increasing access to healthcare can help to reduce the disparities between individuals from different social classes (Sundstrom, 2018). Additionally, policies such as increasing the minimum wage, providing tax credits for low-income families, and increasing access to housing can help to reduce poverty and its associated effects (Sundstrom, 2018).
In conclusion, social class is an important factor in understanding how individuals develop and function in their lives. It has an impact on educational attainment, health, income, and occupational success. Additionally, public policy can play an important role in addressing the impacts of social class.
References
Hout, M., & DiPrete, T. A. (2006). The strengthening of the U.S. educational gradient in income and earnings. American Journal of Sociology, 111(5), 1493–1530.
Sundstrom, E. (2018). Social class and public policy. In C. S. White & J. M. Olson (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of public policy (pp. 591–601). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.