Social inequality

Social inequality

Social inequality refers to a lack of social equality, where individuals in a society do not have equal social status. Areas of potential social inequality include voting rights, freedom of speech and assembly, the extent of property rights and access to education, health care and other social goods.

Inequality is socially created by matching two different kinds of processes. “The social roles in society are first matched to ‘reward packages’ of unequal value, and individual members of society are then allocated to the positions so defined and rewarded” [Grusky, David B. 2001. “The Past, Present and Future of Social Inequality.” Social Stratification: Class, Race, and Gender. Second Edition. Colorado: Westview Press.]

Social inequality is different from economic inequality but the two inequalities are linked. Economic inequality refers to disparities in the distribution of economic assets and income. While economic inequality is caused by the unequal distribution of wealth, social inequality exists because the lack of wealth in certain areas prohibits these people from obtaining the same housing, health care, etc. as the wealthy in societies where access to these social goods depends on wealth. “The degree of inequality in a given reward or asset depends, of course, on its dispersion or concentration across the individuals in the population” [Grusky, David B. 2001. “The Past, Present and Future of Social Inequality.” Social Stratification: Class, Race, and Gender. Second Edition. Colorado: Westview Press.] .

The Study of Social and Spatial Inequality (SASI) pionered by a research group with the same name at the Department of Geography, University of Sheffield. The group are now offering an excellent new masters course

Quotations

"An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics.” –Plutarch [ [http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/p/plutarch109440.html Plutarch Quotes ] ]

“Social inequality is the expression of lack of access to housing, health care, education, employment opportunities, politics, and status. It is the exclusion of people from full and equal participation in what we, the members of society, perceive as being valuable, important, personally worthwhile and socially desirable” [Preston, Christine. 1992. Nagle College, Blacktown South. http://www.ptc.nsw.edu.au/scansw/socineq.html] .

ee also

*Horizontal inequality
*Social stratification
*Equality (disambiguation)
*Civil rights
*LGBT social movements

References

External links

* [http://www.wsws.org/articles/2007/oct2007/usa-o16.shtml Social inequality in US hits new record]
* [http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/may2008/ineq-m20.shtml Global survey reveals growing anger over social inequality]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • social inequality — See inequality …   Dictionary of sociology

  • Social equality — is a social state of affairs in which all people within a specific society or isolated group have the same status in a certain respect. At the very least, social equality includes equal rights under the law, such as security, voting rights,… …   Wikipedia

  • inequality — inequality, social inequality Unequal rewards or opportunities for different individuals within a group or groups within a society. If equality is judged in terms of legal equality, equality of opportunity, or equality of outcome, then inequality …   Dictionary of sociology

  • Inequality (disambiguation) — Inequality may refer to:* Inequality (mathematics) * Social inequality * Economic inequality * International inequality * Inequalities (1934) is the title of a mathematics book by G. H. Hardy, J. E. Littlewood, and G. Polya …   Wikipedia

  • SOCIAL SECURITY AND WELFARE — SOCIAL POLICY In the first three decades of statehood through the end of the 1970s Israel acquired the basic features of a modern welfare state. This meant that Israel succeeded in developing a broad network of social services that included… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Social comparison theory — Social comparison is a theory initially proposed by social psychologist Leon Festinger in 1954. This theory explains how individuals evaluate their own opinions and desires by comparing themselves to others. Basic Framework The Social comparison… …   Wikipedia

  • Social dominance orientation — (SDO), is a personality variable which predicts social and political attitudes. It is a widely applied Social Psychological scale. SDO is conceptualised as a measure of individual differences in levels of group based discrimination and… …   Wikipedia

  • Social hierarchy — is a multi tiered pyramid like social or functional structure having an apex as the centralization of power. The term can also be applied to animal societies, but the term dominance hierarchy is preferred most times. Typically, institutions such… …   Wikipedia

  • Social and economic stratification in Appalachia — The Appalachian region of the Eastern United States is home to over 20 million people and covers parts of mostly mountainous areas of 13 states, including Mississippi, Alabama, Pennsylvania, New York, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina,… …   Wikipedia

  • Social inequity aversion — Inequity is injustice or unfairness or an instance of either of the two. [Merriam Webster Online. [http://m w.com/dictionary/inequity “Inequity.”] 3 Dec 2007.] Aversion is “a feeling of repugnance toward something with a desire to avoid or turn… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”