Agricultural Revolution Essay

Candace Eugene
Sociology 3100
Dr. Katia Perea
May 14,2013

The Agricultural Revolution which began in 17th century helped increase agricultural productivity and spearheaded the transformation of society to what it is today. During the Agricultural Revolution certain new tools such as the plow were introduced to the farmers. Animals, rather than humans pulled the plows through large expanse of land, allowing for greater agricultural productivity than before. Therefore, more land was farmed over a shorter period of time, and by fewer people. The use of irrigation and plows allowed for the increase in food and water supplies that enabled the domestication of trade, government, and technology. One of the key goals for survival of any society, is to have a sufficient supply of food and water, where a large groups of people can develop housing and an infrastructure that would sustain the demand of an evolving society.
The increased productivity resulted in more people being free to engaged in other types of work. As production increased , wealth increased. The plantation owners became the elite group and gained control as the plutocracies. Gradually, inequalities evolved around the ability to provide food by ownership of land, which were primarily held by the white land owners. Black workers were found to be more efficient and enduring of the warm climate, and were critical to the level of production of each land owner. As a result, land owners were the privileged group who were able to pursue an education and gain vital knowledge. Conversely non land owners and their families became the working class, dependant on the opportunities afforded by land owners for their subsistence. Even today one can see how entrepreneurs and business owners are the ones that drive productivity and opportunities for working class men and women.
Some concerns that came out of the Agricultural Revolution, which is still prevalent today is the inequality of gender roles. Due to the physicality of the work associated with farming, men and women were both responsible and subjected to work the fields, whist women had the additional burden of nurturing a family. Though many people in our society seem to forget that women also play major roles in families awhile holding a steady job, there is still pay bigotry that is upheld against women in our growing society. Wage discrimination against women of certain professions have increased and the inequality between men and women becomes more evident. However, great strides have been made, and legislations were passed to equalize pay for men and women doing the same work. The Lilly Ledbetter Act of 2009 allows persons who encounter pay discriminations to demand “equal pay for equal work”(Huffington Post).
During the Agricultural Revolution, patterns of unequal distribution of wealth and opportunities were established. Those who owned land and livestock became the head of the societal hierarchy, and “grandfathered” their wealth to their children. This allowed the new generation to continue to relish in their societal status. We see a similar trend in today’s society, where the rich keeps getting richer even as the working class continue to lack the income to provide basic needs such as food, shelter, education, and healthcare to their families. A new perspective has to be developed, where workers are considered to be the most valued resource, and are compensated accordingly. There must be an equal distribution of opportunities with corresponding rewards that consider all individuals to be equal. Workers should therefore be able to participate in the profits of the company if they are active contributors to the workforce.
It is evident that the formation of our society has led us to draw attention to the inequalities given to women within our social system. In time, women began earning important roles not only within businesses, but society itself. Men continue to hold their primary standing as the main provider, but women now have the opportunity to pursue what they want out of life, and not be limited to staying at home and nurturing a family. They also have the opportunity to be a matriarchal influence in their households.
Though America has come a long way from tending to farm and farm lands. Inequalities in social classes has yet to be changed. In many cases men continue to have superior roles, whilst the rich continue to live their lavish lives. And under paid middle class workers strive to only dream about living life comfortably. It is true that the social class we are born into makes it more difficult to move out of. However with education, equal opportunities and freedom to pursue our dreams, we stand the chance of improving our status in life. We need to persevere and continue to insist on equal opportunities with commensurate rewards for all.

Works Cited

1. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/lilly-ledbetter-act

Cited: 1. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/lilly-ledbetter-act