Social Inequality Essay

InequalityhasbeenshownthroughoutAmericanhistoryandhasaffectedvariouscountries includingtheUnitedStates.Thetwoformsofinequalitythispaperwilladdressareglobalandsocial inequalitySocialinequalityreferstothedistributionofresourcesbasedonsociallydefined characteristics,whileglobalinequalityisthesystematicdifferencesinwealthandpowerbetween countries.Childrenlivinginpovertydon'thavethesameopportunitiesasthosewholiveinahigher incomecounty.Discrimination,segregation,andunequaldistributionofincomeandresourceshave causedinequalitiestoform.Thesetwotypesofinequalityarestillaffectingoursocietytodayand makingitdifficultforpeopletostriveforabetterfuture

Inequalityisdifferentwithindifferentcountries.Highincomecountriesareusuallytheonesthat wereindustrializedfirst.IndustrializingisaprocessthatbegantwohundredyearsagoinEngland andlaterspreadtotheUnitedStates,Canada,andtherestofEurope(WorldBank,2007)High incomecountrieshavealargeandgrowingamountofpoorpeople,butunlikethelowerincome countriestheyofferdecenthousing,adequatefood,drinkablewater,andothercomforts.Someofthe middleincomecountriesinclude:EastandSoutheastAsia,MiddleEastandNorthAfrica,partsof theAmericas,andmostoftheoil–richcountries.Thesecountriesbegantoindustrializeinthe twentiethcenturywhichhavecausedthemtonotbeasdeveloped

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SocialInequityPaper

Peoplecannotputonthenewswithoutseeingatleastonestoryaboutsocialinequalityorinjustice, ifeveryoneknowsabouttheseinequitieswhyaretheynotbeingsolved?Inequitiesarenotlimitedto America,socialinequityisaglobalproblemmakingitextremelyimportanttoraiseawarenessofthe topicInequitiessuchasracismandsexismimpactteenagersinAmerica,buttocounteractthis persecutionauthorscanusevariousgenresofliteraturetopromotetoleranceandreducetheeffects ofinequities.Racismandsexismviolatespeople'srightsinschools,theworkplace,andalmostevery placeintheworldThroughthewordsofauthors,societycanlearntheharmfuleffectsofthese inequities,andlearnhow...showmorecontent...

Speechesandmusicaregreatwaystobringawarenesstoinequalitiesaroundtheglobe.Music createdbyartistscanhelpsupportmanycauses,throughtheirlyricspeoplesubconsciouslylearn aboutsocialinequities."Knownthroughouttheworld,YoussouN'Dourisamusicalpeacemakerin hisnativeSenegalandlendshiswordsandmusictocriticalcampaigns,suchasmalariaprevention programmes."(DaSilva)AnotherexampleisOliverMtukudzi,amusicianfromZimbabwe,who helpsraiseawarenessofdiseasesbyshapinghislyricstoinspirepeopletohelphiscauses.Yet anotherexampleisAngeliqueKidjo,anambassadorofgoodwill,whohelpscauseslikehungerby singingaboutthem.Insynopsis,musichasamajoreffectonsocialinequitiesandcangreatlyhelp changetooursocietyLastly,speecheshavehadthebiggestimpactonoursocietyoutofanygenre ofliterature.SusanB.Anthonygreatlypavedapathforwomen's'rightsbytenaciouslycampaigning togetwomen'srightstobeequaltomen's.Forexample,shehelpedwomengettherighttovote. Correspondingly,inTheGettysburgAddress,Lincolnfocusedonfixingtheinequalityofslavery andhelpingcoloredpeoplegainequalrights.WhenMartinLutherKinggavetheIHaveADream speech,hecompletelychangedsocialinequitiesbygreatlydecreasingracism."Africansfounda particularlypoignant

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SocialInequalityintheUnitedStatesThereisahighdegreeofsocialinequalitywithintheUnited States.Ofmostmodernindustrialcountries,theUnitedStatedhassomeoftherichestandsomeof thepoorestpeopletobefound.Thatfactisverydisturbing,however,explainswhymuchofthe inequalityexistsintheUS.InthefollowingessayIwillexplaintoyouabouttheinequalityinour countryandwhyitoccurs,basedonthetheoreticalperspectivesofafunctionalist,conflicttheorist, andsocialinterationist.Functionalistarguethatstratificationis"necessaryandbeneficial"toa societytoensurethehighestqualifiedindividualswillfillthebestsocietalpositions.Inequalityin theshowmorecontent

Thefunctionalistfeelsthatsocialinequalityisnecessaryforthesocietytoworkasawhole. Accordingtotheconflicttheoryonsocialstratification,thoseintheupperlevelsofastratification structureholdamonopolyoverthecommunity'sorsociety'sdesirablesandtheuseoftheir monopolytodominateothers.In"ImagineaCounty",itreadsabouttheUSschoolsystemsthatare riggedinfavorofthealready–privleged,withthelowercastechildrentrackedbyraceandincome intodeficientanddemoralizingclassrooms.Publicschoolsbudgetsaredeterminedbyproperty taxes,allowingthehigherincomedistrictstospendmoremoneythanthelowerincomedistricts. Whentalkingaboutconflicttheory,therearethebourgeoisieandtheproletariats,whichinthis instancearethewealthyandthelessfortunate.Thewealthyschoolsarepackedwithwellstocked libraries,andthepoorschoolsareluckytohaveuptodatebooksThisnotonlycausesconflict betweenthetwo"classes",butahighlevelofinequalityaswell.Theseelementsofthissocietytend tocontributetotheinstabilityandinequalityofthissociety.SymbolicInteractionismsuggestthat humansdefinesituationsuponpastexperiences,andthenactonthosedefinitionsThelegitimacyof thestratificationstructureisestablishedandperpetuatedthroughteachingbeliefstotheyoungand enforcingthosebeliefs.Childrenaretaughtthatonesplaceinthestratification

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Thereproductionofsocialinequalitieshasalwaysbeenakeyissueinsociology,especiallyto Bourdieu,asalargebranchofhisstudywassurroundingtheissueofclass.Inthisessay,an understandingofwhatismeantbysocialinequalityandreproductionwillbelookedattobegin with,andwillbeappliedtothespecificformsofsocialinequalitywhichwillbediscussed,mainly genderandclassinequalityThiswillbefollowedbyhowPierreBourdieuaccountsforthe reproductionofsocialinequalities.Thevariousinstitutionsandsystemswhichhebelievesarethe causesofthisreproductionwillbediscussedandevaluated,aswellastheirexemplificationofhis pessimisticdeterminismThesesuchinstitutionsandsystemsare,distinctionoftaste,habitus, symbolicviolence,education,socialisation,andmarriage.Furthermore,Bourdieu'spessimistic determinismwillbelookedatinmoredetail,regardinghisviewasawhole,andtherelationshipit hastowidersociology.So,wecancometoconcludeuponhowBourdieuaccountsforthe reproductionofsocialinequality,andtowhatextentthisexemplifieshispessimisticdeterminism.

Throughoutthisessay,theterm'socialinequality'willbeusedtodiscussthequestioninhand.For clarity,adefinitionofthisterm,andwhatismeantbyit's'reproduction'willbelaidouthere.When referringto'socialinequality',whatismeantisunequalopportunities,orlifechances,dueto hierarchieswithinsocial

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Accordingtowww.investopedia.com"Theoveralleffectofeconomicgrowthonsocialinequalityis, liketheeffectofamarchingcolumn:thecolumnadvancesandthelastrankeventuallypassesthe pointwhichwasreachedbythevanguardsometimebefore".Thissuggeststhattherichest individualsinsocietyhavestayedrich,orevenbecomericher,butforthosewhoareclassifiedas poor,themajorityofthemhavestayedthesameThepoorcontinuetomakeupalargepercentageof theEuropeanpopulation.Thisislargelyduetolowincomesandemployment.Accordingto www.theindependent.co.uk"UKinequalityhasincreasedby42%since1977".Thisisaclear indicatorthatthegapbetweentherichestandpoorestindividualsinsocietyisatitshighestlevelin decades.Socialconsequencesaretheimpactofaneventoractiononasocialenvironment.For example,education.Somesaythatbelongingtoawealthyfamilyaidsinhowchildrendoatschool. Whileeducationandworkinghardareseenasimportantfordoingwellandgettingahead,knowing therightpeopleandbelongingtoawealthyfamilycanalsobecritical.www.teachfirst.org.uk suggeststhat"ThelinkbetweenlowincomeandlowacademicattainmentisgreaterintheUKthan almostanyotherdevelopednation".Withinanysociety,thosewithhigherincomestendtodobetter onavarietyofoutcomes.Therefore,thereisasocialgradientinhealth,whichmeansthateverystep upthesocioeconomicladderleadsto

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TheoriesofSocialInequalityInbrieflyevaluatingtheclassicalandmodernexplanationsofsocial inequality,itisessentialthatwestepoutsidetherealmofourownlives,classposition,anddiscard anyassumptionswemighthaveaboutthenatureofinequality.Thisprocessofcriticalpedagogy allowsustoviewourworld,notfromourperspective,butfromawider,morecriticalanalysisof inequality'snatureAlso,itshouldbeconsideredwithinthiswiderperspectivethatalltheoriesof inequalityhaveaclassperspective,wherethetheorist,basedonthepositiontheirtheorytakes,is makingclaimsfrom(orfor)aparticularclass(whethertheywanttoornot).Withthisinmind,it seemsthatmostofthesetheoriescomeshowmorecontent

Withinthisstructure,Weberdescribestherebeingthreedimensionsofinequality:class(which correlateswiththeeconomy),status(whichcorrelateswiththesocialaspectsofsociety),andparty (whichcorrelateswiththepoliticalaspectsofsociety).Ibelievemostofthemodernexplanationsof inequality,atmost,helpbuilduponWeber'sgeneraltheories,andatleast,reflectthesameelitist pessimismthatWeberalsoholdsThedual–labormarketthesiscontendsthattherearetwolabor markets(intermsofincome),inwhichthehigherincomemarketisofprimaryimportanceandthe lowerincomemarketisofsecondaryimportance.Thistriestojustifythosepeoplewithinhigh powerpositionsby(somehow)tryingtoprovethatoursystemisobjectivelyrewardinghigher incomestoprofessionsthathavehighersocialimportancethanlowerincomeprofessions.Similarly, thefunctionalisttheoryofstratification"viewssocietiesassocialsystemsthathavecertainbasic problemstosolveorfunctionsthathavetobeperformedifthesocietyistosurvive"(243).Sothe reasonforinequality,forfunctionalists,isbecauseoursystemmustreward(withsignificantly higherincomes)thoseindividualswhoaremotivatedenoughtoyieldthestressesofsuch functionallyimportantpositions.Thefactthatoursystemreproducesclassesintothesameclass assumesthe

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SocialInequality

Perspectivesbyconflicttheoristsinsociologysuggestthatthesocial,political,ormaterialinequality ofasocialgroup,areusedasaninstrumentofoppression.Powerisaconceptthatcanbeexplained byinteractionsbetweenindividualsandgroups.Thelawisaninstrumentofoppressionusedto maintainpowerandprivilege(Henslin164)Socialinequalitycanbeseenasmanydifferentthings. ThemostcommonwouldbegenderrolesordiscriminationbysocialstereotypingTheycanalsobe establishedthroughtheunjustcriminaljusticesystem,health,andeducation.Inequalitiesexist betweenraceorreligiongroups,classes,andevencountries,makingthisaworldwidephenomenon. MoreoftenyouwouldseeitintheformofracismorsegregationInsociology,classificationof peopleintogroupsarebasedonsharedsocialandeconomicconditions;thesethreemaingroupsare thecapitalistclass,workingclass,andmarginalworkingclass.Withinthesegroupsaremany inequalities.Thecapitalistclasswouldbeconsideredthewealthywhoowncompaniesandbuylabor fromtheworkingclass.Workingclassarethegroupthatsellstheirlabor.Themarginalworking classisthemostdesperatemembersofsocietywhohavelittlemoneyorskills,mostoften unemployedorjailed.Becauseoftheirstrugglewithpoverty,mostendupasprisoninmatesor repeatoffenders.

Inequalityismostoftenusedtodescribehowpowerisdistributedandhowsomeobtainmorethan others.Theway

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SocialInequalityinSocietySocialinequalityinfluencesallaspectsofourlives.Thefollowingessay willlookatevidencehighlightinginequalitiesinsocietytoday.Inparticularitwillfocusupon inequalitiesfoundbetweenmenandwomen,referredtoasgenderinequality.Additionallyitwill integratesociologicalperspectivessuchasfunctionalism,radical,Marxistorliberalfeminismto explainthecausesofinequalitiesandinparticularthosefoundintheshowmorecontent Inwesternsocietytherearetwotermsofreferenceformenandwomen~'sex'or'gender'.Sex, definedbyGiddens(1993:762)asthe"biologicalandanatomicaldifferencesdistinguishingfemales frommales",referstothevisualorphysiologicaldifferencesbetweenmenandwomen,suchas genitaliaorawomen'sabilitytobearchildren.Gender,however,describedbyThompson(1993:40) as"thesocialaspectofthedifferentiationofthesexes",referstothesociallyconstructedideologyof theexpectedbehaviourofmenandwomen,atheorysomesociologistsrefertoassocial constructionism.Forexample,boysareexpectedtobeloudandassertivewhilstgirlsareexpectedto bepassiveandsubmissive

FeministsociologistAnnOakley,arguesthatbehaviourdisplayedbymenandwomeniscultural, candifferaccordingtosociallyaccepted'norms'andarguablyis'learnt',atheorysupportedbythe researchofanthropologistMargaretMead.MeadsstudyoftheArapesh,Mundugamorand TchambulitribesinNewGuinea(citedO'Donnell1987:312),revealedconflictinggenderrole behaviour.AmongstmembersoftheArapeshandMundugamortribestherewaslittlenoticeable differenceingenderbehaviour,asbothsexeswereeithergentleandnurturingoraggressiveand

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Imagineanutopiainwhichthereisnosocialinjustice.Nodiscriminationongender.Status.Mental health.

WhenIwaslittle,IreadabookaboutanAfricanAmericangirlnamedClover,wholivedinatown thatwasinterestinglydividedbyafenceDarkskinnedpeopleseparatedfromlightskinned EventuallylittleCloverwouldfindaplaymatefromtheothersideofthefenceandbeshunnedby herdarkskinnedfriends.Mynaivefiveyearoldbraindidn'tthinkmuchofit.Atthetime,itwasjust anotherbookbeingreadtomeEventually,Irealizedthat,thiswasthesocietythatwelivein

Lookingbackonitthough,Inoticedthatthefenceisgivenalotmoreimportancethanitdeserves. That'sbecauseitisn'tmerelyashowmorecontent

Wecouldstayherealldayandtalkaboutwhatsocialinequalityisandunfortunately,givethe thousandsofexamplesstrewnintomedia,history,andtheworld

However,Iprefertodiscusshowthiscanbereversed.Tobeginwith,learntorecognizeexamplesof thisinjustice.Then,wecanreviseourattitudetowardsinequality.Additionally,wecanchallenge someofthestereotypesassociatedwithpeopleofdifferentgroups.

Firstly,tobeabletotrulyfixaproblem,themechanismsneedtobeunderstood.Unfortunately,the conceptissocommonthatitisintegratedevensubtlyintomedia.Asanactivist,Ifeelthatintoday's dayandage,weseealotofinequalityinsexualorientationandsubtlegenderandracialinequality However,itisprettyobviousthatcertainonesresurfacethroughouthistoryandothersaremore prominentindifferentpartsoftheworld.Forexample,thepersecutionofgaymeninChechnya.The tendencyforthemediatoshowcaseafemale'soutfitandmakeupeveniftheyarefamousforbeing involvedinsports.Thefirststepistodefinitelybeconsciousoftheselittleaspectsinoureveryday lifeandthebigoneswehearaboutinthenews

Youendupgettingalotofexampleswherepeoplehavebeendiscriminatedagainstduetowhothey areandhowtheyaren'tdefinedbywhatisontheoutsideThiswillhelpchangeviewsonsocial inequality.No,peoplewithlearningdisordersdonothaveableakfuture.

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Socialinequalityreferstoasituationinwhichindividualgroupsinasocietydonothaveequal socialstatus,socialclass,andsocialcircle.Areasofsocialinequalityincludevotingrights,freedom ofspeechandassembly,theextentofpropertyrightsandaccesstoeducation,healthcare,quality housing,traveling,transportation,vacationingandothersocialgoodsandservices.Apartfromthatit canalsobeseeninthequalityoffamilyandneighbourhoodlife,occupation,jobsatisfaction,and accesstocredit.Iftheseeconomicdivisionsharden,theycanleadtosocialinequality.Thereasons forsocialinequalitycanvary,butareoftenbroadandfarreaching.Socialinequalitiesexistbetween races,classesandcountriesTheshowmorecontent Womenareunderrepresentedinpoliticalactivitiesanddecisionmakingprocessesthroughoutmost oftheworld.Itisimportanttoincreaseenrollmentratesinschoolforgirlsandensuretheyhave safe,stableandgoodqualityeducation.Women'sparticipationinworkhasbeenincreasingglobally, butwomenarefacedwithwagediscrepanciesanddifferencescomparedtowhatmenearn.Thisis truegloballyevenintheagriculturalandruralsectorindevelopedaswellasdevelopingcountries Structuralimpedimentstowomen'sabilitytopursueandadvanceintheirchosenprofessionsoften resultinaphenomenonknownastheglassceiling,whichreferstounseen–andoften unacknowledgedbarriersthatpreventminoritiesandwomenfromrisingtotheupperrungsofthe corporateladder,regardlessoftheirqualificationsorachievements.Thiseffectcanbeseeninthe corporateandbureaucraticenvironmentsofmanycountries,loweringthechancesofwomento excel.Itpreventswomenfromsucceedingandmakingthemaximumuseoftheirpotential,whichis atacostforwomenaswellasthesociety'sdevelopment.Ensuringthatwomen'srightsare protectedandendorsedcanpromoteasenseofbelongingthatmotivateswomentocontributeto theirsociety.Onceabletowork,womenshouldbetitledtothesamejobsecurityandsafeworking environmentsasmen.Untilsuchsafeguardsareinplace,

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CoreAssessmentPaper CarrieBailey ParkUniversity

SocialInequalityinMyLifeSocialinequalityisdescribedbythepresenceofunequalopportunities andrewardsforvarioussocialpositionsorstatusesinsideasocietyorgroup.Itcontainsorganized andrepetitiveexamplesofunequaldistributionsofgoods,riches,opportunities,prizes,and disciplinesRacism,forinstance,iscomprehendedtobeawonderwherebyaccesstorightsand resourcesisunreasonablydisseminatedcrosswiseoverraciallines.WithregardstotheU.S., minoritiesordinarilyencounterracism,whichbenefitswhiteindividualsbypresentingthemwith whiteprivilege,whichpermitsthemmorenoteworthyaccesstorightsandresourcesthanshow morecontent...

Asachild,Igrewupwiththreesiblingsandasinglemother,inpublichousingOnwelfareandfood stamps,ourhouseholdincomewasbelowthepovertyline.Myfatherwasabsentandhadnever finishedhighschoolandmymotherhadahighschooldiploma,however,sheneverattended college.Although,IlookCaucasian,mymotherwasofMexicanandNativeAmericandescent. BecauseIwasraisedbyasinglemotherwhowasraisedintheMexicanculture,Iwasalsoraisedin thesamewayInourhome,whatwelackedinfinances,wemadeupforinloveandaffection Multi–racialchildrenoftenfindithardto"fitin"whentheydon'treallyfitintothecultureofone ethnicityovertheother.Paststudieshadexpectedthatifanindividualhadamultiracialheritagethat heorshenaturallyidentifiedwiththatheritageHowever,Binningandhisfellowresearchers theorizedthatbasicallyhavingaplacewithdifferentracialgroupsdidnotensurethatamanwould psychologicallyrelatetothosegroups."Weimaginedthatdivingfurtherintothemultiracial classificationtoinspecthowsuchpeopletranslatedtheirracialcharacterwouldhelpour comprehensionofmultiracialpsychology,"saidBinning,apost–doctoralresearcheratStanford GSBandcoauthorof"TheInterpretationofMultiracialStatusandItsRelationtoSocial

Isitpossiblethatthemostimportantsolutiontoeconomicandsocialinequalityisn'taddressing policy,butinsteaditisfacingtheproblemofracism?WhileAmericanclaimstobethelandof "Equalofopportunity",wehaven'tfollowedthroughonourpromisesverystrongly.Americahad alwaystriedtopursuetheideathatwhereyoucomefromshouldnotdetermineyoursocialaspects insocietybecausewebelievethateveryoneiscreatedequalnomattergenderorrace"Equalityof Opportunity"isaverycentralconceptofprogressivesinAmerica.Therefore,thestateshould guaranteeeachcitizen'sequalrighttoafairtrial,qualitypubliceducation,orhavingaccesstogood housingandfoodButifyouweretotakeanyoneoftheseareasandapplyittothecommunity, therearehundredsofinequalityproblemsthatcouldbefound.Alotofpeoplethatwanttoreduce inequalitybelievethatraceisn'trelevanttounderstandingorfixingtheproblem,butalargemajority oftheproblemcomesfromthecorrelationofpovertyandracialtensions.

Alotofprogressivesthinkthatifwetalkaboutrace,thatitwillendupdivingus.Butthehardtruth is,wearealreadydividedAndwe'redividedbecausethereisconstanttalkofraceinoursocietyby conservatives.Theyarenottalkingaboutraceexpressly,theyareusingdogwhistles.Dogwhistle politicsiswhenpoliticiansusecodedlanguagetheydefendasbenign,butisintendedtoprovoke strongemotionalresponseson

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nAmericaSocialinequalityisdefinedasthesetofunequalfordifferentsocialclassesorstatusesfor variousindividualswithinagrouporsociety.Itusuallyreferstopeopleofdistinctgenders,agesand ethnicities.ManyAmerican'shaveexperiencedsometypeofsocialinequalitythroughouttheir lifetime.America'sgapinginequalityisseeneverywherefromeducationtotheworkforce.Society tendstooverseeinequalitybasedonrace,gender,andothersocialcharacteristicsbelievethatracial discriminationnolongerhindersoraffectstheadvancementofminorities.Racialandethnicactions arestillbeingtakentowardsminoritiesineducation,employment,housing,arrests,andmanyother issuesofsocietySocialinequalityanddiscriminationtowardsminoritiesisclearineveryday society.Thiscanbeseenbythewayinequalityisstillpersistentamongthesocialclasses.Among theseclassesformedbysociety,minoritiestendtobeoneofthemostaffected.Thisisnoticedbythe wayeducationremainssegregated,thewageinequalitysocialprejudiceintheworkforce)andsocial disparity(inequalityPoverty).Manyhaveusedtheirvoicetoshinelightontheseissues,authors suchasMichelleAlexanderinheressay"TheNewJimCrow"arguesthefakeabolishmentofthe racismandsegregation,and ClassandTheHiddenCurriculumofWork"inheressayrevealstheinequalitybasedonastudent's communityandsocioeconomicstatus.

Socialinequalityaffects

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Socialinequalityisdefinedasthesetofunequalopportunitiesfordifferentsocialclassesorstatuses forvariousindividualswithinagrouporsociety.Itusuallyreferstopeopleofdistinctgenders,ages, andethnicities.ManyAmerican'shaveexperiencedsometypeofsocialinequalitythroughouttheir lifetime.America'sgapinginequalityisseeneverywherefromeducationtotheworkforce.Society tendstooverseeinequalitybasedonrace,gender,andothersocialcharacteristicsAmericans believethatracialdiscriminationnolongerhindersoraffectstheadvancementofminorities.Racial andethnicactionsarestillbeingtakentowardsminoritiesineducation,employment,housing, arrests,andmanyotherissuesofsocietySocialinequalityanddiscriminationtowardsminoritiesis clearineverydaysociety.Thiscanbeseenbythewayinequalityisstillpersistentamongthesocial classes.Amongtheseclassesformedbysociety,minoritiestendtobeoneofthemostaffected.This isnoticedbythewayeducationremainssegregated,thewageinequality,andtheconstantcycleof poverty.Manyhaveusedtheirvoicetoshinelightontheseissues,articlesandauthorssuchas "SocialInequalityandEducationalDisadvantage"bytheRusselSageFoundationarguethelackof equalassortmentofresourcesbetweentherichandthepoorisleavingthemwiththedisparityof properresources,andJeanAnyon's"FromSocialClassandTheHiddenCurriculumofWork"inher

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Asweprosperthroughtime,inequalityisslowlylessevident.Alotofpeopledon'trealizethat althoughthingsareimprovingwithtime,inequalityisstillprominentinoursociety.Thepeoplethat arefailingtorealizethattherestillisinequality,arethefortunateones.Theyrisewellabovethe povertyline,andusuallyliverelativelyeconomicallysoundlives.Theyarethepeoplewhoare suppliedwithoursociety'sbenefits

Thepeoplethatareinpursuitofsocialchange,andconstantlybringattentiontoissuesofequal rightsandprivileges,areoftenthepeoplethatdonothavethemTheyaretheoneswhosufferdaily fromdifferentlevelsofinequality.

Theshowmorecontent

Thisquizwasthefirstmarkofthecourse,andwasIworriedthatmyfirstgradewasgoingtobea poorone

WhentheinstructorexplainedthepurposeoftheexerciseIrealizedwhatanexcellentpointhehad proven.Heforcedusinanunequalsituationthatwasoutofourcontrol.Itwasnothingwecould havepredictedordoneanythingabout.

ThisuniqueexerciseputmeonanewlevelofstratificationthatIwasnotusedto.Itmademefeel howotherpeople,notonlyinmysociety,butworldwide,feelaboutinequalityeveryday.The differencewasthatIwassoongivenanexplanation,andreturnedtomyregularlevelof stratification.Manypeopleinoursocietyaregivennoexplanationtotheirforcedinequality. Althoughtheclassroomexercisedoesnotcomparetotherealworld,itstillstirredfeelingsofrage, helplessnessanddiscouragement.Lookingthroughthewindowoftheunequalsituationchangedmy viewsonlowergroupsofsociety.Itmademerealizehowdifficultsocialmobilitycanbe.Ican understandtheDavis–Moorethesis,whichstatesthatstratificationhasbeneficialconsequencesItis easyforpeopleonthehigherendofthestratificationhierarchytoagreewiththisbecausethey believethattheharderoneworks,themoretheywillachieve,thuspromotingproductioninsociety. IndividualsatlowerendsofthestratificationsystemdisagreewiththatTheirsocialstatusprevents

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Whatareyourthoughtsonthestatementonslide28statingthat"socialinequalityaffectshealth outcomes?"Unfortunately,socialinequalitiesofdifferentsocioeconomicclassesgreatlyaffectthe outcomesofhealth.AccordingtothePowerPoint,groupswhoidentifywithahighersocioeconomic statustypicallyarehealthierincomparisontothosewhoidentifywithalowersocioeconomicstatus.

(1)Individualsinhigherclassestendtohavehealthcoverage,themeanstopayforhealthservices, andreceivebetteraccesstohealthcare.Whenitcomestothelower–classcommunity,accessto healthcareislimited,incomeislowornon–existent,qualificationforinsuranceorgovernment assistedprogramsprovestobedifficult,andoverall,theyareleftwithsubstandardoptionsThe poorestofthepoorandthehighest–classhavethemostaccesstohealthcare.Thesegroupsqualify forinsurancethroughworkandorthroughgovernmentassistanceprogramslikeMedicareand Medicaid.Sadly,theworkingpoorormiddleclass,areaffectedmostbysocialinequalities.As explainedinthePowerPoint,theworkingpoorstruggletoearnenoughmoneytoobtaininsurance ontheirownorthroughworkbutearntoomuchaccordingtogovernmentguidelinestoqualifyfor assistanceprograms.(1)InanarticlebyAbbyGoodnough,shereportsthatsomeworkingpeople haveoptedtostayuninsuredandpaythepenaltyassociatedwiththeAffordableCareAct,because thefeewouldbecheaperthanpayingthehighpremiumsofhealthinsurance.(2)Withlimitedorno access,individualsareatriskfordevelopingchronicillnesses.Inmanycases,accesshaslittletodo withtransportationorfunds,butratheraprovider'swillingnesstoworkwithcertaingroupsOn moreoccasions,provider'sdonotwanttodealwiththedifficultiesthataccompanyMedicaid insuranceorfinditdifficulttoworkwithpatientswhodonothavetheabilitytopayforneeded treatment(1)Itisdishearteningthatourcitizensarefacedwithsuchinequalitiesthatsomemustgo withoutinsurance,gowithouttreatment,andfacemortalityduetocircumstancesoutoftheir control.Ourcountryneedstofindbetteralternativestobridgethegapthatexists

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Civillibertyandsocialinequalityhavebeensomeofthemostprotestedandtalkedaboutsubject, evenbeforethecivilrightsmovementthatbeganinthemid–50s.Manydifferentpeoplefindthe couragetobringtheseinjusticestolightandspeakoutagainstthesubject,creatingamoreequaland trulybringingjusticetoall,nomatterrace,religion,ethnicity,orgender.Whetheritbethrougha peacefulprotestormovingspeech,courageousminoritieshelpresolvecivilissueswithinAmerica anddemandchange.Civillibertyissueshavebeen,andstillisbeing,resolvedthroughvocal advocateswillingtoprotestandusethefirstamendmenttospeakoutagainstdiscriminationand unfairtreatmenttowardsminoritiesWithoutthefreedomofspeech,civilinjusticeswouldneverbe broughttolightandresolved.ThefirstamendmentisthebiggestreasonthatAmericahasbeenso successfulincreatingciviljusticeandinsuringthatAmericalivesuptoitspromiseoffreedom.

Withoutthisrightandpeoplewillingtouseitandbecomethefaceofamovement,social inequalitieswouldstillbearound.ThisisproventhroughSusanB.Anthonyandherwomen's suffragemovementthattransformedAmericaandgavewomentherighttovoteSheutilizedher righttofreespeechinordertograntheranotherright,tovote.Herspeechin1873broughtinjustice tolightasshequotedtheconstitutiontoprovethattheinequalityofwomenwasa"violationofthe supremelaw."Herrightto

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Socialinequalitydifferentiatessociety,dividesitintodifferentsocialgroupsandclasses.Inequality hasmanyfacetsanditappearsinvarioussectionsoftheunifiedsocialsystem:family,institutions, enterpriseandsocialgroupsFornormalfunctioningofsociety,itisneededtheoptimalcombination ofallactivities.Thesocietyreproducesinequality,becauseitneedsitasasourcesustenanceand development.Intermsoffunctionalismeverysocietydoesneedaclassstratification,sincethe unequaldistributionofsocialgoodsservesasatoolforsolvingproblems,allocationandmotivation ofindividualswithinthesocialstructure.Itconcludesthatsocialinequalityisusefulforsociety, becausesocialstratification...showmorecontent...

Noteverybodycanrunthecountryorbusiness,justbecauseofthelackoftalent;noteverybodycan beadoctororscientist;musicianoraplumber.That'swhyeverybodyshoulddowhatheisableto andlikethemost

Parsonsassumedthatindividualsarebornwithattributedstatus,butlaterduetotheeducationthe differentiationprocessbeginsbyacquiringcertainroles.Childrenareenrolledinprimaryschool relativelyhomogeneouswithintheirinherentsocio–economicstatusandageSchoolsinfact organizeacompetitionbetweenindividuals,wherethecontestantsareinitiallyintermsofequal opportunitiesParsonsbelievesthatthereisdependencebetweeneconomicbackgroundofthe familyandtheabilityofthechild.Usuallychildrenwhohaven'tanyproblemsatschoolarelivingin familieswithahigherlevelofcultureandincome.Suchparentsdocaremoreaboutthe achievementsoftheirchild,theytrytoencouragetheirchildtoschool,greatachievementsand results,whichinfuturemightleadtosuccess.Theydevelopchildren'sskillsandtalents,involve themtotheculturebyreadingthembooks,attendingtheateretc.Usuallysuchparentspossessa secondaryeducation.Furthermore,thechildrenofparentswithahighlevelofcultureandincome oftencommunicatingwitheducatedpeopleoutsidethefamily(friendsofthefamily)whatisplaying ahugeroleonthechildlifeoutlookThesamerulebutfromtheothersidecanbeappliedtothe

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Socialinequality

Whentheresourcesinasocietyaredistributedunevenlyitleadstosocialinequality.Often inequalityisunderstoodasbeingsocio–economicanditisnowcloselyassociatedwithsocial inequality."Socialinequalitiesaredifferencesinincome,resources,powerandstatuswithinand betweensocietiesSuchinequalitiesaremaintainedbythoseinpowerfulpositionsviainstitutions andsocialprocesses."(Warwick–Booth,2013p.2)

Socialinequalitiesaresubjectiveandrelativetothosearoundus.Individualscomparethemselvesto thosetheyseewhichinturnmayaltertheirexpectationsofequalityintermsofsuchthingsas wealth,educationandgenderequalityforthemselves.Generalneedsandexpectationsdiffer dependingonwhereintheworldyouare.Inmostwesterncountrieswehavecometoexpectcertain levelsofgenderequalityforinstance.Thisessaywilllookintosocialinequality,particularlyinthe formofgenderinequality.

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Thetwotypesofcapitalareculturalcapitalandeconomiccapital.Thisisthenusedbyshowingthe resultinginequalitiesandallocatingvarioussocialslotsformenandwomenbasedonsaid differences.Thisinturnlegitimizestheinheritanceofsocialprivilegesinsocietieswheredemocracy isthoughttobetherightandvirtuousway.(Wacquant,1996)

Culturalandeconomiccapitalamongothersarealargepartofdeterminingtheopportunitiesthat andindividualwillhave.Thereforesocialinequalityintermsofgenderinequalityetc.isanissue whichneedstobeaddressed.Socialinequalityisnotonlybadfortheindividualbutalsoforsociety asawholeInthatsensemenarealsovictimsofgenderinequalityinarelativeway(Bourdieu,

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ExaminingtheEffectsofSocialInequalitiesSocialinequalitiesarepresentinallformsofpersonal andprofessionalaspectsofsociety.Asaneducator,effortsmustbeputforthtorecognizeand eliminateinequalitiesthatexist,analyzeeducationalstructuresthatlimitthehumanpotential, examinetheroleofcultureinlearning,andexplorelinguisticallydiversityandlearning.Therefore manyindividualsarenotwillingtodeveloprelationshipsoftrustduetothehumaninequalitiesor personalbiasestowardsothersLikewiseinmanycommunities,thereisthelackofsupportfromthe communitystakeholders'.Inmanyinstances,studentsarestereotypedandlabeledaslowerclass, middleclass,andupperclass.In1983PresidentRonaldReaganwascitedinthearticleANationat Risk.Hispurposesharedhisenthusiasmtogaininvolvementandinvestmentfromthepeopleof Americabyremindingthemwheretheyoncerankedamongothercountries.Ultimatelyhis resolutioninvolvedinterestsinassistingstudentsandprovidingresourcestosuccessfullydevelop competentcitizensinordertocompetewiththerestoftheworldregardlessofgender,race,religion, andethnicity.Meanwhile,thirty–threeyearslatersocialinequalitiesarestillinexistenceanddoesn't appeartobecomenon–existentFurthermore,justasindividualssuchasAmericanIndiansand immigrantfamiliessuchasAsians,Latinos,andItalianswereforcedtoacclimatethemselvesto speaking ...Getmorecontent...