Stratification and the Income Gap An income gap leads to many socioeconomic differences that are clearly visible around us. Those who are financially well off enjoy a multitude of privileges that the less privileged do not enjoy. Some privileges include a better standard of living, better healthcare, better education, as well as power and prestige. It is therefore obvious why most people want to belong to the highest income group. The established belief is that anyone with merit can climb the social ladder to a better standard of living. But the question we need to ask ourselves is: is it possible for everyone? Is the ideology of equal opportunities for all entirely true? The point is that low-income groups in the United States are deprived of opportunities, especially high-level education, despite living in what is called a meritocratic institution due to the gap in income distribution between different social classes. modern world is that there are equal opportunities for all; anyone with the ability to excel will rise through the ranks and achieve success. However, the general trend seen in the United States is that there are three types of social classes: the upper class, the middle class, and the lower class. Wealth is concentrated in the upper class, with the middle class enjoying a more or less comfortable lifestyle while the lower class is disadvantaged and, in some cases, living in poverty. Upper class families enjoy a better standard of living where they can afford things like luxury cars, bigger houses, vacations, better healthcare and the one thing that automatically gives them a better chance of competing in the market. .middle of paper...a member of the middle class and lower class may never be able to achieve by relying solely on their own hard work. To summarize, the United States of America has thrived by advertising the ideology that this land offers equal opportunities to all, however socioeconomic trends and constraints do not allow this to happen freely. Some social classes are more privileged than others and enjoy a better standard of living thanks to the lack of real effort on the part of the individuals involved. Others have a much less privileged lifestyle, through no fault of the people involved. Low-income groups are indirectly denied higher education or the best education the country has to offer simply because they could never afford that level of education. This country still has a long way to go and many necessary reforms to implement before it can truly be called the land of opportunity.