Social stratification - Wealth

I would like to share some of the knowledge I know through sociology subject I have learned.Enjoy reading.^^

For many rewards and status the people achieved, sociologists have identified few essential bases of stratification which affects how the society is shaped.They are wealth, power and also prestige.They are usually linked together such as the filthy rich people would likely to have political power and prestige.

Wealth, by definition is the person's ability to use his/her mind to achieve something.For example, ancient people made a spear for protection.The spear is a kind of wealth own by him.It is also can be defined as something you can buy with money such as a luxury car or even a house.

As the social mobility is taken place, the gap between the rich and the poor become further and further.The rich will become richer and the poor become poorer.It is because the rich able to gain more monetary wealth by investing some properties or even forex (foreign exchange).The more they invest the more money they make.Of course there are some exceptional cases whereby the rich are cheated by the scam laundering or the lack of knowledge in buying shares which may lead them to bankruptcy situation in just a day or two.While the poor cannot afford to own even a better house, therefore, most of the them do not involve in invesment banking or buying shares.

For example, farmers planting crop to sell just to earn a living which sometimes when monsoon rain is coming, they will have less production or maybe some of the crops they planted are destroyed.This will affect their income which is just adequately to support their family.Most of the time, they are not afford to buy luxury thing for better living.Apart from that, fisherman job also will be affected by the monsoon rain.They cannot go far from the sea to catch fishes as it is dangerous for the ship.These two occupations are mostly inherited by their family also.If their father/mother is a fisherman, it is very high percentage their children will continue their job as a fisheman.They are considered having an ascribed status.

While for the rich such as businessman, they afford to buy most of the things they wanted because they have money.They live in a better environment, better education and socialize more.They have the tendency to make more money through socialization.As their networking is growing, their business is also growing because networking is inter-related with their business.The more people they know, the more chances they can earn more money.Why there are all kind of business functions held every year?This is the chances for the rich to know more people who are mostly from profession or legal firms such as lawyer, doctor, engineer or nutritionist.They are considered middle/high income class of people.They have the ability to expand the business with the income they earn.

In addition, business function only allows people who are wearing proper attire to go in.If someone from lower class wants to attend the function,he/she must at least afford to buy a proper attire first.Not to say the rich look down to the poor but sometimes the world is very materialistic.The functions held actually can be attended by anyone.But because of the policy which is set by the people.Who is that people?They are the rich who have this policy.Therefore, the gap between the rich and poor exists even until now.We cannot run from the fact that, the people who set this policy is the people who are wealthy and have the power to do so.If we look from other perspective, it is the norm or politeness to show we respect the function thus we need to wear proper attire.

Wealth can be obtained by all means.It can be proper wealth or it can be improper wealth.Proper wealth means that the things we buy or own through legal means.For example, Robert Kuok also known as Sugar King is the richest man in SouthEast Asia in 2008 with his net worth about $10 billion according to Forbes.He  involves in many businesses such as sugarcane plantation, flour milling, finance, hotel and properties to mention a few.All the money he made is through legal means without going against the law.

How do we define improper wealth?It is a wealth gained illegally such as house burglary or smuggling drugs or wildlife.Do you still remember the case of a Malaysian who is known as Lizard King (Anson Wong)?He is a notorious wildlife trafficker who smuggles snake for sale to earn for living.He actually goes against the law because he tries to export the endangered boa constrictors to Indonesia without permit.