In the film The Pursuit of Happiness, there is significant evidence of social stratification and inequality depicted throughout. It is clear from the start that Chris and his family are lower working class, ultimately living in absolute poverty as they did not have enough money to stay in a safe place and so had to go to a shelter .Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essay According to conflict theory, social stratification benefits the rich and powerful at the expense of the poor, creating a system maintained by those who are at the top. People at the bottom don't get a fair chance to compete and end up stuck at the bottom. In the film, Chris begins his journey at the bottom of the ladder as he is part of the lower class, is a struggling salesman, and becomes a single father. His situation puts him at a disadvantage compared to his peers when he begins his unpaid internship with Dean Witter Reynolds. Because he is competing with people of a higher class for a job at the company, Chris hid his lower class identity to be considered for a position, while secretly struggling and living between shelters . This shows the power of the upper class over the lower class. Functionalist theory views stratification as the fact that different aspects of society exist because they serve a necessary purpose. This essentially means that the most qualified people in society are in the most important positions. This is true in the film since all employees at the brokerage have at least some post-secondary education and degree. An example of this theory in the film is when Jay Twizzle originally didn't want to give Chris a chance in the internship program until Chis impressed him with the Rubix Cube and then gave him a chance. The Dean Witter company also proves to be an example of functionalist theory since interns are given the chance to learn a new trade, in the hopes of landing the only job available at the end of their internship. Brokers gain from unpaid employees who give their best. Ultimately, brokers choose the best person, thereby bringing an asset to the company. When Chris got the job at the company, it also represented an open class system, as he started as an entrepreneur selling bone density scanners and worked his way up to a higher social class. This is functional because it benefits both parties. The theory of symbolic interactionism helps explain social stratification, how people's social status affects their daily interactions and how an individual's appearance reflects their perceived social status. A major example of this in the film is when Chris shows up to his interview with the brokerage in paint-covered jeans and a tank top from the day before. Chris showed up in this outfit knowing that he would stand out from the rest and be seen as inferior because of his appearance. Even though he knew he wasn't at his best for this important interview, he still showed up because he wanted the chance to do better for his family and this was an opportunity for him to do it. After Chris gets a place in the internship program, to stay current with the symbol of what a successful businessman looks like, Chris alternates his only two suits, pretends the other cars are his, and runs away from a taxi after.