Data Bases • Custom Term Papers • Free Term Papers • Free Research Papers • Free Essays • Free Book Reports • Plagiarism? Links • Top 100 Term Paper Sites • Top 25 Essay Sites • Top 50 Essay Sites • Search 97,000 Papers @ DirectEssays.com • Search 101,000 Papers @ ExampleEssays.com • Search 90,000 Papers @ MegaEssays.com Free Essays • Term Paper Sites • Chuck III's Free Essays • Free College Essays • TermPaperSites.com • My Term Papers • Get Free Essays • Essay World • Planet Papers	Search Lots of Essays Back to Subjects - Book Reports Where we Stand by Hooks Where we Stand by Hooks In our current society, it is acceptable to talk about race or gender. However, when it comes to the subject of class, people tend to tense, and are uncertain as to where they stand. At one time in history money afforded prestige and power, however now, money is a large part of our society and tends to rule many peoples lives. In the book Where We Stand: Class Matters, by bell hooks, she describes a life growing up in a family who had nothing, to now becoming one of America’s most admired writers. She wrote this book because she wanted to write about her journey from a working class world to class-consciousness, and how we are challenged everyday with the widening gap between the rich and the poor. In her book, hook’s describes a life dominated by the haunting issues of money, race, and class. Looking at this from the different perspectives of a functionalist, symbolic interactionist, and conflict helps to show other points of view. If you were to look at this book from a functionalist’s perspective you would be looking at it from an extremely greedy aspect. A functionalist would say that their parents and society told them that only people with money were good and successful. Thus, causing you to feel like “trash” or class if you did not make a huge salary, and live a wealthy life. A symbolic interactionist would tell you that they grew up where all of their peers drove nice cars, and had large homes, so to fit in, you need to be able to buy those things. However, a person with a conflict point of view would say that it was her ongoing struggle with society, and having to defend her class, that has made her who she is today. There are many ‘norms’ and values expressed throughout hook’s writing. In the early part of the twentieth century survival belonged to the fittest. Not necessarily meaning fittest as ‘strongest,’ but able to produce, work hard, and make a secure life for yourself and family. On the other hand, in today’s society the message is that survival belongs only to the greedy. Also many young kids have the notion that in order to ’live the good life’ you must be wealthy of material possessions. Younger kids have to deal a lot more with the pressures associated with wealth. For example, when kids turn 16 the first material possession that they want is a car. In today’s society the BMW’s, Mercedes-Benz’s, and all of the other luxury cars that are impressed upon us through commercials and advertisements surround us with the thought that material items equal success. Young kids see that as a sign of happiness and wealth, so in their mind driving a luxury car will bring you happiness. There are many symbols of the rich. For example, we see designer clothing, fancy cars, and large homes, as a sign of wealth. Many people in today’s society feel that you need to acquire items such as these to live a fulfilled and successful life. If people can attain such items than they can see themselves as ‘rich’ or upper class. Thirty-six million poor in America are white, however when we think of poverty, it is still seen as a face of color. Hopefully, one day will come when the wealth of this nation will be redistributed, and we as the people will unite, standing for economic justice, and a world where we can all have enough to live full and happy. Bibliography: Word Count: 589
Copyright © 2005 College Term Papers, INC All Rights Reserved.