Who Cares?

This week in class we are focusing on the trends and realities that exist regarding the inequalities that exist throughout the world. While there is much information that exists about this topic, the fact is simple in that a small portion of the entire world is in control of the vast majority of this planets wealth. Our textbook claims that the GNI (per-person gross national income) in a typical high-income country is 56 times as much as in a classified low-income country.

All this interests me, however the bigger question I have is whether it seriously impacts our American lives or is this simply how the world is going to be and not much can be done. I know that the impact of globalization means that countries thousands of miles away are becoming more and more interconnected with each other. Every piece of clothing I wear is made in a different country. I heard an interesting story about wood in North Carolina that was chopped down then shipped to China to be made into furniture... shipped BACK to North Carolina to be sold. The cheap labor available in China makes this a profitable, all be it seemingly inefficient.

After looking at the statistics, the most personally impacting effect of inequality worldwide is the lack of food and health provided to those in poor countries. You see commercials on TV asking for donations to feed needy children and cannot help but feel impacted even in a small way. More than a personal connection, the malnutrition that exists in low income countries is a sign that many things are wrong throughout the world. We should care about this because it is a sign of natural drought, internal warfare, conflict, economic and health problem. These can have an impact on our lives as they can create a situation that calls for intervention by other countries. It also can impact American lives by raising prices of the products we buy. The rising cost of gas is just one product many of us purchase on a regular basis that can be driven up to uncomfortable rates.

Class Class Class

What is the importance of social class in the U.S. today? The reality is that class is of utmost importance to America. We base our dreams, goals, and family values on the kinds of people we are and want to be. We have an amount of money that we attain to make in our jobs and we have a persona that we are all trying to be. Whether you agree that class is necessary or not, even young children understand the importance of class.

I teach PE at a small K-8 school in Maryland. The younger kids are cute and the older kids get kinda bratty around the middle school age. You can even see the struggle of class in my school. Each child is trying to prove their worth based on their grades or the latest electronic device they own. These kids did not learn this on their own... they get it from their parents. Middle school kids especially are struggling to be the "top dog" in school. The textbook talks about this phenomenon citing a sociologist Murray Milner. He claims that they are attempting to establish themselves with some form of power. They are growing older but still live with and are under control of their parents. In class they are in class controlled by their teachers. So naturally, in between class and whenever they can they attempt to fill this void of adolescence between adulthood and childhood with "creating a social world in which their ability to evaluate one another gives them a sense of power." (Gidden)

In "People Like Us," a PBS documentary on social class, you can hear the many descriptions of class coming from the adults focused on in each story. Whether it was a soon-to-be married couple from New York struggling to understand each other while coming from different backgrounds or a group of people determining the status of someone based on the house they live in. Class is very apparent in America and while we might not use the term "class" we describe people and put them into categories of it without even thinking.

When I first came to this discussion on class I thought of its impact on relationships and marriage. I have been going to many weddings this summer and still have three to go! When I think of the idea of marriage and class I think of the many expectations we have as individuals coming from different class backgrounds and the problems this could cause when a man and woman decide to commit to each other. Suddenly their worlds collide together and they are in the closest of proximity dealing with each others expectations as to what life is supposed to look like. When I hear guys talking about finding the right girl you can hear them say "oh, I can't go for her, she comes from too much money... I wouldn't be able to provide the kind of life she would want."

I dated a girl in college from a very wealthy area outside of Richmond. She invited me and my family to her families yearly Christmas party. They told us it was "Tacky Christmas/Nascar" themed. So naturally my family and I went all out. I was wearing disgusting cut-off jorts and a sleeveless plaid shirt with a pack of marborols in my pocket (and a mullet wig!). When we got there I was completely embarrassed. Coming from a middle class family we thought a theme party meant dressing up in a way to make fun of yourself and be goofy. Her upper class family meant theme by finding a way to elegantly and stylishly dress towards the theme. Her dad wore slacks and a blazer and simply put a nascar hat on his head. Needless to say we did not work out... In many ways her coming from a different class background caused problems in our relationship.

The Unsocial Network?

I participate in a small group discussion at the basement of my church every Wednesday morning. Its basically ten men who gather each week to read the Bible, wrestle with what it looks like to be more like Jesus and share what is going on in our lives. We pray for each other at the end and one prayer request I hear from the men with children is that they do not have enough time to spend with them. One father just made partner in his law firm which is great but also means he has not had dinner with his kids in over two weeks since he gets home after they are in bed.

How do we solve this problem? One suggestion is to use the internet. He HAS to be in the office downtown at dinnertime, so why not set up a computer screen and link it up to a face-to-face webchat? The internet is an amazing thing that a father who otherwise would not be able to make a connection to his family during dinnertime can now interact as if he was right there. The kids loved it and it works with the fathers schedule, so here is a great example of how the internet has helped make a genuine connection whereas otherwise there would be something lacking.

But is the internet really helping us make a better connection to our social groups, families, and friends? Or are we just skimming the surface while making thousands of superficial connections each day. My friend is skyping into dinner... that can't really substitute for actually being there can it? But in his situation it is the best he can do, right?

I am not trying to raise an argument about the necessity of social networking and finding personal connections on the internet. I have heard many stories of old high school friends reconnecting on facebook and people finding love on dating sites. What I think is dangerous is when these internet connections replace the deep interactions we all need. We all have a deep desire to connect, to be known, and to feel love. If I only connect with people on facebook, they can only know a few bits about my personal info (favorite movies, books, quotes, etc) and possibly the few things I find interesting enough to share with the world each day (as long as it is under 140 characters). This, I believe, does not suffice.

But maybe I am wrong. Some would suggest that each connection is different for different people. There are social scientists that hold to the claim that the "weak" social connections of the internet are satisfying enough. An introvert might not have the courage to go up to someone at a bar and introduce themselves but a facebook friend invitation and wall post would satisfy. I can understand this in principle, however am fearful of the replacing effect this might have on normal face-to-face interaction.