scs110 part two week 5

Maria's Education Choices

• Discussion centers on whether Maria needs to go to university.

• Prospects of attending university can lead to significant debt affecting her financial future.

• Access to quality education heavily influenced by socio-economic status.

Food Access Disparities

• There is a significant class difference in accessing nutritious food.

• Emily can afford organic food and direct farm purchases; Maria may rely on community support.

• Disposable income affects eating habits: Emily likely eats out more, while Maria and Daniel may rely on home cooking due to financial constraints.

Extracurricular Activities

• Emily's lack of children enables her to invest in her own activities.

• In contrast, Maria and Daniel's children may face limitations due to financial constraints on extracurricular participation.

• Access to organized free community activities is often necessary for families like Maria’s.

Systemic Influences of Class

• The concept of social class shapes opportunities; it's an inherited condition influencing life choices.

• Questions about the complexity of social class and its implications on individual mobility and opportunities.

Trends in Social Mobility in Australia

• Observations suggest social mobility has decreased, with the rich getting richer and the middle class shrinking.

• Increase in debt and stagnation of wages complicate upward mobility for many.

The Role of the Middle Class

• Middle class struggles with accumulating debt while lacking opportunities for significant upward mobility.

• Financial burdens reduce the ability to enjoy career fulfillment, differentiating between working to live and enjoying work choices.

Healthcare Access

• Emily and Daniel likely have the means to access mental health services, whereas Maria may have to rely on community resources or free counseling services such as Beyond Blue.

Cultural Expressions of Class

• Holidays and celebrations differ by class.

  • Working-class festivities might involve barbecues and drinking, whereas middle-class celebrations may still be casual but could involve a more restrained environment.

  • Upper class may celebrate in exclusive ways, potentially away from common social spaces.

Class Reflected in Income vs. Education

• Income and educational level can both reflect class standing.

• Critical discussions about class in Australia relative to historical contexts of classism in other countries, like England.

Employment Precarity

• Precarity leads to shorter-term job contracts and falling into the gig economy rather than stable employment.

• Discussion on how educational opportunities shape long-term career choices.

Social Identity and Class Performance

• Class identity is often performed through cultural tastes, language, and lifestyle choices.

• Hipsters versus bogans as cultural icons representing class distinctions in Australia.

Key Figures to Consider

• A brief overview of income levels among notable Australians:

  • Michael Spence, Vice Chancellor of USYD, $1.5M;

  • Scott Morrison, Former PM, $550K;

  • Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, $193B.

• Different theories (e.g., functionalism) struggle to explain discrepancies compared to perceived societal value.

Conclusion

• The discussion highlights how class, background, and opportunities shape individual lives within the larger societal framework, indicating a need for systemic examination and potential reform.