Analysis of Life Chances, Essay Example

Classes are subject to the income and property that a family holds. Scenario 1 shows that the single black mom manages to source for some income from casual work that is not constant and at the same time receives a child support of $100. Therefore, from the above analysis, the family is low-income class family. On the other hand, scenario 2 belongs to high-income class since she is educated, and owns a bigger construction company. In this scenario, it is problematic to determine the average income of the single black mom. In that, the mother does not have a stable income but has a child support of $100. Therefore, the average revenue of this family would range nearly from $1200 to $2000. On the other hand, scenario 2 could have an average income of $10000 – $ 20000.

The family of the single black mother does not have insurance. The research shows that 23 percent of the family has less income, hence tend to dedicate most of their salaries to satisfying the basic needs (Ferris & Stein, 2016). Also, if the family had health insurance, after the hurricane the insurance would have considered settling it in a better place. On the other hand, the second family has a health insurance as it has a bigger income. The family must have had health insurance. The luxurious family life the son is leaving is proof that the parents must have insured their life. The family in scenario one does not enjoy power or privilege. In that, the aspect that the family has insignificant income subjects the family to harsh and unfavorable standards of living. Besides, the underlying concept of gender stratification works to limit the women from accessing power and privileges. On the contrary, the family in scenario 2 has power and privileges as it has an income that is sufficient. The care subjected to their son is proof that they enjoy the prestige, privilege power enjoyed by the whites who are known to be capitalist.

Leisure in the above family is limited. In that, the family has a little income and has got no stable employment. Therefore, these requisites the family to dedicates most of its time sourcing for extra income and looking for additional employment (Ferris & Stein, 2016). However, the scenario 2 family enjoys leisure as it can cater for leisure activities. The family in scenario 1 does not have access to good education. The mother is a high school graduate and works at the cafeteria. The income levels of the family do not consent the family to seek quality education. Presently, income levels determine the quality of education. Therefore, she cannot afford to pay for her child for her to access quality education, she has to either find scholarships and sponsors from well-wishers. The scenario 2 has access to good education as the two parents are educated up to college level. Their son attends private school and has a private tutor to help him in his education.

The family income qualifies it to access substandard housing. The level of income determines housing that one has. Comparatively, the proper house is obtained with the families that are well established and have higher-income levels; scenario 2 has a good house and the estate they live, Manhattan, explains the level of their housing. As compared to scenario 1, after the disaster, the family has loosed their rental houses, and they have no cash to pay for rent to live in a better place. Though the neighborhood seems to be caring, they need a better place to stay. Gender plays a fundamental role in the society today. It determines the life chances, since; the cultural concepts and the ideas of patriarchy have led to unequal treatment amid the men and women. As observed in both families, the level of women income is lower compared to that of man despite the equal level of education and job chances. The culture tends to favor the male species and accords more life chances to the male as opposed to the female gender.

Race affects an individual life chance. Race influences discrimination. Reasonably, every race is subjected to discrimination. However, the white race tends to receive least levels of discrimination as compared to the black race. In fact, the black race is the most discriminated. Therefore, race influences allocation and access to life chances as employment among others. The race has put the gap between the whites and the blacks. The blacks are treated as slaves and thus have low access to better lives in the USA. The woman cannot get a better education as well as her child. The blacks have limited access to better quality life due to racial discrimination. As seen, despite the child in scenario 2 having disabilities, he still has access to better life considered that he is a white person.

The race is not a disability, but in this case, it appears to be like a disability. Sensibly, both have disabilities, and in that, scenario one captures the race of the black that works to limit her potential and likelihood to source for good jobs. Therefore, she is forced to undertake casual labor to provide for her child. Despite the child having the potential for educational excellence, she lacks better educational support. Moreover, the male in scenario 2 has a learning disability that limits his capacity to study, but the parents are much concerned about how to eliminate the disability and ensure the child have a better education. They go ahead to taking the child to a private school to have a personal care to uplift his education understanding.

Yes, both the families have a cultural capital. The profile of the mother shows that the woman has a high school education. Besides, she has a skill that is she has expertise as regards managing cafeteria. Therefore, this influences her capacity to seek for jobs and hence affect her way of life.  Besides, the second family has an education background and possesses a construction company.

Reference

Ferris, K., & Stein, J. (2008). The real world: An introduction to sociology. WW Norton. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2455461042718204830&ei=A6bOSKKPLYnGqQK74qyIAQ&q=tough+guise&vt=lf&hl=en