Citizen & Social Class

T.H. Marshall article fragmented citizenship into three components civil, political, and social. He clarifies that civil is linked with individual freedom; political aspect includes the power the individual possess to vote; social piece is connected with education and social services obtained in the community. For many decades the economic classification deprived the less fortunate from even obtaining an education. Parents had to choose between their child being schooled and the father not having enough to provide the family. In most cases mother were the main home care giver to the children, the father was the only provider and didn't make adequate money to support the family and the older children were brought in to work to get paid to provide their younger siblings. This situation impede the poor to achieve a good social status in the future and remain as a worker for the wealthy land owners. Marshall also explain the capitalist system and feudalism, explaining how the rich got richer and the poor remain struggling to survive. During the middle ages people of low economic status had no benefit of a better future.

Marshall quotes “But a man’s social rights, too, were part of the same amalgam, and derived from the status which also determined the kind of justice he could get and where he could get it, and the way in which he could take part in the administration of the affair of the community of which he was a member”(149). The law’s protecting society, also explains that the protection is mainly focused on the wealthy individuals. Providing no defense to those with low or without economic status. In simple terms your rights and justice are determined by your social and economic status. Equality is not existent in this case. Society has been very judgmental of the citizen in their community. To allow citizen to move forward and achieve a successful life a plan that allow equality has to be in place. Teaching society to adjust their ideas, beliefs, and values to accept the economic and social improvement of our citizens regardless of economic status. Individuals need to learn allowing society to improve we are helping the economy and better life styles can arise and be modernize.   

 I believe today we can observe this situation in some communities. The wealthy are able to provide their children with good education and good life style. In the other hand people with low income have to request the assistance of the social service department or other institutions. In some case getting educated and obtaining a good job will break the cycle of life providing better growth opportunity.