Signs of Hierarchy

Within all hierarchies, the groups or individuals of power normally have obvious features about themselves that make them identifiable to the citizens of the empire. The obvious features I am discussing are typically materialistic, meaning clothing, jewelry, transportation and housing. In the Incan empire the Inca (the King) wore a fabric called cumbi cloth that were very intricate pieces of clothing that only the people ranked high in the Incan empire wore. The weavers that made these pieces of clothing were also powerful people. This can heavily relate to contemporary society because in today’s world the A-list celebrities wear name brand designer clothing and expensive fabrics like silk and cashmere. Most of the pieces of clothing celebrities wear are normally very obvious to the public that they were carefully made and most of all, valuable. Material items are used to identify who has money or power and who does not.

Throughout history, this has all appeared to be true. In an article by Katalin Medvedev, a writer for the Love to Know fashion website, she explains how clothing relates to social class. Medvedev states, “Display of wealth through dress became customary in Europe in the late thirteenth century. Therefore, a person's class affiliation could be assessed with relative ease. Because dress was recognized as an expressive and a potent means of social distinction, it was often exploited in class warfare to gain leverage. Dress was capable of signifying one's culture, propriety, moral standards, economic status, and social power, and so it became a powerful tool to negotiate and structure social relations as well as to enforce class differences” (Medvedev, 2016). Medvedev is essentially saying that clothing and other materialistic items that could belong to oneself are social tools for other people to group and/or separate themselves among society.

Hierarchy is definitely a natural part of human society. Hierarchy is heavily connected to power structure and agency meaning what people within a societal structure are allowed to do and not do based on what the highest ranked in the hierarchy decides. I believe that we need it but I also believe everyone is entitled to make their own decisions and act upon whatever they please as long as it is not violent and without reason. Hierarchy is needed within society and in an empire for it to function peacefully. Without some type of power structure existent within an empire, it will lead to chaos. I agree mostly with John Locke’s views on how society should operate. John Locke was an optimist and was famous for consent of the people to the government and considers that humans are subject only to the laws of nature. He also believed that the government has obligation to everyone and the government has to protect our basic rights. If they do not, the people have the right to overthrow the government. A good example for this is our current government. I believe there are a few certain things that should be changed about how our government operates but we are a democratic country that essentially has power to the people.

In my own experience of hierarchy regarding materialistic items, I do not think that owning or wearing a name brand should determine people’s rank in the hierarchy. I could easily go to a thrift store and find a name brand to wear. No one would ever know that I paid less than for what it’s worth. Hierarchy should not be about the clothing you choose to wear, it should be for your worth among society or how hard you worked to get a good economic status so you can provide you or your family with nice things. Clearly it would be nice to have money and buy things that are new but you still would own something brand name. I wished that people would care less about the brand they wear or the car they drive and focus more on how they beneficially contribute to society. I do not feel anxiety about lacking them nor resent it because I know that I am capable of having style without wearing brand name clothing.

I do not think that some signs of hierarchy like education or elected office are better than others for establishing a social justice system. Most people that make a lot of money tend to have expensive things, instead of buying cheap things. The most telling signs of hierarchy is definitely housing and clothing. If a person has a large house, it shows as a sign of merit. People work extremely hard to be able to afford large luxurious homes and expensive clothing.

Works Cited:

Medvedev, Katalin

http://fashion-history.lovetoknow.com/fashion-history-eras/social-class-clothing