Social Inequality In Louisville, Kentucky

Social stratification is a system in which a society organizes members into social positions based on factors such as wealth, race and ethnicity, and education. Each layer of the system possesses different privileges and constraints, forming the distribution of resources and opportunities in a society. While social stratification can create a productive society, motivated to achieve a higher status, social stratification is a barrier for those in disadvantageous positions and perpetuates inequality in society. In a case study conducted on residents in Louisville, Kentucky, there is a direct link between income and life expectancy. Mary, from District 5, receives a median income of $24,268 with a life expectancy of 69.8 years. In comparison
This case study serves as an example of the social inequality in Louisville, as residents face differing levels of income, education, and life span based on their geographic location within the city. Whereas prosperous areas of Louisville see higher incomes and longer lives, poor areas face lower rates of education and employment, thereby becoming impoverished and experiencing shorter life spans. In Virginia, poverty is geographically concentrated in the southwestern and southern parts of the state. Southern Virginia contains the majority of rural areas in the state, contributing to current trends of poverty based on rurality. Rural areas typically experience higher poverty rates in comparison to urban areas, where there are more job opportunities as a result of the higher population and infrastructure. Rural areas lack the resources of urban cities, limiting job opportunities and decreasing educational opportunities. Without sufficient education or work, rural areas see higher levels of poverty and
The limited amount of opportunities creates tight competition in these areas, forcing many into poverty or unemployment. The area where someone lives has a massive impact on their poverty status, as access to quality education decreases with the population of the area. Higher education institutions are less likely to be installed in low population areas, as these regions lack the resources and wealth to fund education. People born in these more rural areas suffer from lack of education and therefore lack of job opportunities. Businesses are often established in urban areas where they have the opportunity for wealthier customers, causing low population and low income areas to lack job opportunities in comparison to urban workers. Social services are typically not established in low income and low population areas as they cannot be properly funded, causing residents to see shorter life spans and decreased quality of life. Overall, social stratification serves as an omnipresent influence on individuals’ lives and opportunities in