little excitement or variation. Obviously, Esparanza is a poor child in a family stricken by poverty. She is a victim of strict social stratification. Social stratification is the separation of members in a social atmosphere into layers or strata. Unfortunately, these strata are formed on the basis of one’s income and tangible resources. Social forces are what influence the formation of our social classes. Once someone is established in a particular class, there is little hope of moving upward on the ladder; mobility within our social structure is very minimal. For instance, a child into the lower class has many obstacles in their path for betterment. A minority such as Esparanza will have even more difficulty than will a Caucasian. Lower class comes with low income. Low-income families are generally congregated in certain areas where their low taxes provide a bottom end education. If by chance a lower class minority receives a first-rate education, they will more than likely not put it to great use. Two reasons explain this. First, people generally stick to what they know. With a background as a member of a poor family, one is not likely to stray far from home. An education will not often change someone’s basic values, priorities, and aspirations. Second, though it has been addressed, discrimination is still apparent in our society. With the exception of cases concerning of affirmative action policies, minorities are often overlooked for jobs that would allow them to shift through a social stratum.An idea to keep in mind is that of having only one social class with a great deal of diversity. This ideal is impossible due to the natural process by which people are brought up and taught to perform in society. If people could just see the necessity of the diversity within a society, everyone could feel as if they fit and are performing their role in the larger scheme. After all, if there were no diversity i...
