The Old Saying

The old saying "It's not what you know, it's who you know" presented itself as a sociological topic while reading about social class inequality.  Social class, whether we like it or not, has the ability to push us in one direction or another when it comes to opportunities in society.  The stratification lines distinguish one class from another, and with it, opportunities and exposure as well.

Ideals of hard work will get you to a place you want to be isn't going to be prevalent in the future.  In more and more cases, low social background individuals are being overlooked for pistons in the workforce by interview teams, who instead turn their attention to the high class individuals with influential parents.  Eventually, the children of higher class individuals will have a much higher advantage in the workforce competition than those of lower class parents.  This eliminates the idea so ingrained into many children's minds at a young age, that they can be anything they want to be.  Hardworking, diligent individuals born into low class families have a much lower chance to be hired in high profile job setting.  Parents are now faced with a tough decision, do I tell my child that they may not be able to be in a successful job because of our social background?  This is entirely unfair because everyone should have equal opportunity to prove their worth and ability in a job setting.  High qualified job applicants are passed up to make room for the CEO's golf buddy's son, who has limited experience in the field.  Is this what society has become?  If so, we may be in trouble.

Social background will be the eventual criteria that determines who will get the job, not the old-fashioned ideals of hard work and personal sacrifice.