We explain what social inequality is and the types that exist. Also, the main causes and consequences of this social problem.
What is social inequality?
Social inequality is understood as a situation of disparity or disadvantage of some portion of the citizens of a countryor between countries in a region, or between regions of the world, with respect to others that are unfairly favored. It is the opposite, logically, of social equality.
Social inequality is a problem of contemporary societies, a product of the unequal development of the various regions of the globe and the imposition of certain ideologies or valuations of some human beings over others. In fact, social inequality is the origin of discriminationsince the latter consists of treating those who are economically, socially or morally disadvantaged differently.
Seen in this way, social inequality implies an inequitable distribution of opportunitiesrespect and access to goods and services, which is based on various cultural or social reasons. It is not, as many would have you believe, a natural or obvious feature of human existence, nor is it a form of “justice” or divine punishment.
Social inequality does not occur in the same exact way in all places and areas. In some societies this is an issue linked exclusively to socioeconomic class, while in other places it also involves considerations of race, religion, sexual orientation, etc.
Types of social inequality
The most obvious classification of social inequality has to do with the reasons for discrimination. Thus, we can talk about social inequality according to:
- Economic position. Probably the most common form of social inequality is anchored in the economic capacity of the individual or the class to which he belongs, thus separating the world of the rich, the middle class and the poor, obviously to the detriment of those who They occupy the lower rungs. Those lower on the scale have less access to goods and services, political representation, symbolic and cultural visibility, as well as study and even adequate food. Depending on how far apart these social strata are, we can speak of caste societies, in which climbing to the upper rungs is practically impossible.
- Religion. Religious struggles are as old as man, and in many modern societies they still constitute a factor of inequality between human groups, reserving power and opportunities for those who profess a certain faith, and condemning those of others, often referred to as “ infidels” or “heretics”.
- Gender. This is discrimination based on biological sex (as in the case of women) or sexual orientation (as in the case of the LGBT community), which reserves the leading and most favored positions for heterosexual men (especially if they are white). ) and marginalizes those who do not subscribe to a certain traditional ordering of sexual or erotic roles.
- Ethnicity. Racial discrimination grants the superior position to certain races or ethnic groups, subjugating others to its will by considering them “inferior” or “different”, and thus denying them access to goods or even fundamental rights, such as the right to life. Some of the great massacres and genocides in history are based on this type of discrimination.
- Ideology. In this case it is political discrimination, that is, the inequality of opportunities and goods between those who adhere to a political doctrine and those who do not, or those who oppose them. This is what happens in totalitarian governments or dictatorships, for example.
Causes of social inequality
Social inequality does not have a single cause, but is a consequence of the way our history as a species has unfolded. The French thinker Jean-Jacques Rousseau reflected on the origin of inequality among men and assured that its origin was found in the social state, that is, that man is not born into inequality, but rather acquires it when he begins to live. Compare yourself with your peers and see the way they live.
The study of primitive societies has shown that they were much more egalitarian societies in the distribution of work and benefits, but somewhere in the Neolithic period a process of hierarchization and construction of the State began that involved the distribution of work. and social division, something that would reach its peak with the invention of slavery and the exploitation of man by man.
See also: Gender equality
Consequences of social inequality
Social inequality has very concrete consequences that are very contrary to the harmonious development of nations or humanity. The perpetuation of poverty, the strengthening of resentment and the need for revolutions or violent conflicts are just some of them, since the discomfort of being stuck in immovable social strata usually leads to depression or anger in oppressed communities.
On the other hand, The oppressed never fully develop their potential, since the resources necessary for this are being used by others, which causes an incalculable loss of human potential. And poverty, far from being a simple evil, is the source of numerous difficulties that are extremely difficult to combat: the risk to health, the increase in crime, class hatred, the deterioration of politics, etc.
Continue with: Inequality
References
- “Social inequality” in Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
- “Types of social inequality” in Scribdt.
