Throughout U.S. history, the power of the upper classes has been maintained by assigning “different” people an inferior, less desirable place in society, predisposing them to social inequalities. Social stratification creates a social class system where people born into a specific class have different “life chances” (Macionis 28). These classes are somewhat maintained by the fact that people tend to "look after themselves," meaning that members of the upper class generally favor other members of the upper class and provide opportunities for advancement in society to those who are they feel more similar. Doran). People from lower socioeconomic classes generally experience fewer life opportunities, have greater poverty, and therefore have greater health problems, increased crime, decreased education, and decreased employment opportunities (Macionis 38-39). These people are often also politically alienated and therefore also lack the appropriate governmental influences to change their current status (Macionis 39). The fact that the United States is a capitalist country positions its population towards social stratification. In recent history, the effect of this stratification has significantly increased as income inequality has reached its highest level in 50 years (Macionis 29). Technology may have had an impact on income inequality as computers and machines have reduced the required number of workers for many jobs. Many large companies have also outsourced jobs to other countries, perhaps further exacerbating income inequality problems due to a lack of jobs for the middle and lower classes. This caused a decrease in producers and an increase in consumers, forming an unequal distribution in society which once again favors the development and m...... middle of paper ......shared structure, hence the perpetuation of social society. inequality can be a necessary evil. Works Cited Doran, Adam. “The Self-Perpetuation of Social Inequality in America.” Yahoo Contributor Network, December 20, 2005. Web. March 13, 2012. .Farber, Henry S. “Job Loss in the United States 1981-2001.” NBER.org. National Bureau of Economic Research, May 2003. Web. March 12, 2012. .Macionis, Giovanni. Social problems, census edition. 4th ed. Prentice Hall, 2012. Kindle editionMerton, Robert K. “Deviation from Social Conformity and Opportunity Structures.” American Sociological Review 24.2 (1959): 177-89. Network. March 12, 2012.Orey, Michael. “Fear of getting fired.” Businessweek.com. Bloomberg Businessweek, April 23, 2007. Web. March 12. 2012.