...Introduction Income distribution inequality has long been a topic of interest as it has fluctuated for many years. Recently, it is of increasing interest as inequality levels have grown substantially, reaching record high levels. The inequality in income distribution is an important social problem that cannot be ignored. I’m interested in learning more about whether education level influences this increasing inequality. According to Piketty et al. (2016), the top 1% started making a greater share of the total income than the bottom 50% in 1995. This trend continues to diverge, and as of 2014, the bottom 50% held only a 12.5% share of the national income, while the top 1% of people owned over 20%...
Words: 1687 - Pages: 7
...of Social Inequality Julie McElwain Park University Abstract Social inequality is how different categories of individuals are prescribed by the society. The society uses basic characteristics such as gender, sex, education, and ethnicity among other factors in order to categorize an individual. The social inequalities determine the access to limited goods such as market labor force, education, health care facilities, and other forms of participation in the society. Different forms of social inequalities are constructs of geographical distribution, and status within the country, however, cultural aspects, mostly integrated with cultural identities, of society are perceived to be the major contributor of social inequality. Discourses have, therefore, been raised on whether the poor deserve to be poor or not and whether the rich deserve to be rich or not. In order to address this question, I examined different dimensions of social inequalities in my life such as social class, educational level, and race among other factors. In this paper, I will also try to bring out understanding of different theories in attempt to explain social stratification. A comparison will be done between different perspectives through interviews and my own perspective of social inequalities. In essence all factors discussed in this paper show a link between social inequalities and different factors such as economic and political system. Trends such as widening inequalities among the...
Words: 3161 - Pages: 13
...Running Head: SEX ROLES AND GENDER INEQUALITY Sex roles and Gender Inequality SEX ROLES AND GENDER INEQUALITY Introduction Sex is defined as the biological differences between a male and female. Gender, however, can be identified as the way society organizes understandings of sexual difference (Shaw & Lee, 2001). In this essay, I will try to discuss whether gender differences, and in turn inequality, is a creation of people and society or it is indeed the natural state with virtue of their sexual character. This essay, which is written under the guidance of Daniel Bosley, part-time lecturer at Maldives National University, will focus upon the formation of gender, sex roles, feminine and masculine character, gender stereotypes and how it leads to gender inequality. SEX ROLES AND GENDER INEQUALITY Formation of Gender: Feminine and Masculine As people live together in a society, different roles are taught based on their sex known as sex roles, not much different from social role and socialization. The way individuals of different sexes acquire these roles, also known as role learning or socialization, is important in understanding how sexual characters are formed. “Feminine character is produced by socialization into the female role, masculine character by socialization into the male role – and deviants by some kind of failure in socialization” (Connell, 1987). The sex roles are therefore a set of prescriptions, attributes and expectations...
Words: 1281 - Pages: 6
...Abstract This term paper delineates 1) gender, race and inequality, 2) its antediluvian (historic) attachment, 3) sociological perspectives, 4) modernization paradigms (examples), 5) the synopsis (summary), 6) a glossary of vocabulary words, and 7) references (works cited). Gender is Race and inequality produces such a predominate upshot on our daily lives. When we say gender, we often think that gender is sex. In reality gender is not sex. Imagine you are born into a society in which you never knew your factual identity. That is, you don’t know who you are, except for that fact that you are alive. Moreover, suppose you were applying for a job and you encounter a query (question) saying, “What is your gender?” or “Are you a Male or...
Words: 847 - Pages: 4
...either related to or similar to each other. (6/26) The major difference between an equation and an expression is that while an equation has to be solved, an expression does not. For instance, this is an equation: 3x + 1 = 5.if x is multiplied by 3 and add 1, the result will be a 5. In similar vein, an equation consists of two expressions connected by an equals sign. It can only be true or false (Miller, 2009). The primary difference between the two is an equal sign. References: Miller, M. (2009). Algebra: Book 3. Eugene, OR: Garlic Press. Answer to Nathan: (6/26) Hi Nathan, I agree with you when you say "an expression is a mathematical "phrase". " In most cases it stands for a single element. 3x + 1 is an example of an expression. The expression means that its value three times the value of x, plus 1. An expression can also be a single number or variable, since those have a numerical value. Unlike in the case of an equation, an expression is never true or false, but just has a numerical value. Are the properties used to solve inequalities the same as those used to solve equations? Explain your answer. (6/27) The properties to solve inequalities are NOT exactly the same as the properties to solve equations. But, the properties to solve equations ARE exactly like those used to solve inequalities. Inequalities have an exclusive property while solving because of the character of the comparability of the inequality. The exclusive property is the function of multiplying or dividing...
Words: 917 - Pages: 4
...JUSTICE The world is full of inequalities and these inequalities defer from country to country. Some children are born into rich families and they get all what it needs to prosper in life. Others are also born into poor families and it even becomes difficult for them to survive. This situation is a matter of luck. We are not responsible for the social or economic class or country into which we are born. Some inequalities are deliberately imposed. Some are not because of bad luck but it is our societies or people that make it so. Racism and sexual discrimination are typical examples of inequalities that are imposed our societies or people and they are unfair. Fairness requires that opportunities should be open to those who qualify for it and it is clearly a good thing when government tries to enforce such equality of opportunities. But it is harder to deal with inequalities that arise in our ordinary events without deliberate racial ore sexual discrimination because even if equal opportunities are given to people without racial or sexual discrimination it will still come to the fact that it is only the rich who could afford these opportunities like good school, better health care and the like. Even with people of the same native talent, when a system of equality of opportunity is given, some people will have a head start and will end up with greater benefits than others. Differences in native talent will also produce big difference in the resulting benefits in a competitive system...
Words: 536 - Pages: 3
...segregated areas in the City of Saginaw emerge. Another study (Smith 2002) addressed the conflict of segregation in the work field. Smith claimed there was a difference in the process to obtain authority between whites and minorities. The author stated, “Employers reward the credentials of one group more than the other,” (Smith, 2002). As a result, racial groups have to attain authority through different means. The standards for a minority to achieve authority are stricter. Essentially, they have to convince their superiors that they are better than the bias of comparison. Even if they were given a position, Smith argued it was the lowest position on the...
Words: 570 - Pages: 3
...Into the Great Divide The digital divide can be understood as inequalities in four successive types of access: motivation, physical access, digital skills and different usage. It is claimed that the divide has shifted from the first to the last-called types of access in the last ten years. For the purpose of this paper I will touch base on all types of access. Disadvantages Amongst Man Contemporary research of the digital divide and digital skills is marked by a descriptive nature. Inequalities are described using simple demographics of individuals who have more or less access to computers and the Internet and a different level of digital skills. The explanation of these differences has far less attention. One of the reasons for this state of affairs is the predominance of individualistic notions of inequality. Like most social scientific and economic investigations, digital divide research works on the basis of so-called methodological individualism (Wellman & Berkowitz, 1988). Differential access to information and computer technologies (ICTs) is related to individuals and their characteristics: level of income and education, employment, age, sex, and ethnicity, to mention the most important ones. This is the usual approach in survey research, which measures the properties of individual respondents. Making multivariate analyses of several individual properties and aggregating them to produce properties of collectivities, one hopes to find background explanations. This...
Words: 2142 - Pages: 9
...STATE AND DISCUSS FIVE FACTORS OF INEQUALITY IN OUR SOCIETY. Gender refers to socially constructed roles and responsibilities of women and men. The difference in roles and responsibilities among women and men stems from our families, societies and culture. The concept of gender includes our expectations about the characteristics, attitudes and behaviours of women and men, and is vital in facilitating gender analysis. The different roles, rights and resources that both the genders have in society are important determinants of the nature and scope of their inequality and poverty. Inequality in access to resources between women and men is most common in Poor and developing countries. Gender inequality refers to inequality in conditions among women and men for realizing their full human rights. It refers to unequal treatment or perceptions of individuals based on their gender. It arises from differences in socially constructed gender roles as well as biologically through chromosomes, brain structure, and hormonal differences. Gender systems are often dichotomous and hierarchical; gender binary systems may reflect the inequalities that manifest in numerous dimensions of daily life. Gender inequality stems from distinctions, whether empirically grounded or socially constructed. There are factors that influence gender inequality in our society. Some of these...
Words: 732 - Pages: 3
...Income inequality Name Date Abstract In any given population, there is a difference between what people within the population earn. The uneven distribution of income in any given population is income inequality. In order for there to be income, there has to be several sources of income. These sources of income may be combinational or independent per person receiving the income. Income may result from wages, rent, bank account interests, salaries or even profits made in business transactions ( Stiglitz, 2012). In his hypothesis, Karl Marx foresaw income inequality in a capitalistic as a major problem that would lead to an economic evolution. The main reason he foresaw an evolution was due to the recurrent nature of income inequality. In an income inequality situation, the richer keep getting richer due to a better income, while the poor keep getting poorer. The gap between the top earners and the low-income earners keeps widening in an income inequality situation. In America, almost 95% of the national wealth is under 5% ownership; this situation leaves 95% of the population to scrounge for the limited 5% wealth (DeNavas et. Al, 2005). Introduction In order to understand the complexities of economic inequality, the best specimen to use for the study is a family. In the study, the family’s income is under analysis, and then the family members ranked from the lowest income earner to the highest income earner. After the ranking, the incomes aid in establishing a Lorenz...
Words: 3040 - Pages: 13
...Plato’s ideal polity, inequality of outcome and inequality of opportunity are not essential, however, inequality in organization and gender inequality are necessary for a viable state. Inequality of outcome will harm the state as Plato believes that wealth and poverty will prevent citizens from fulfilling their duties. Moreover, inequality of outcome will cause division within the state, leading to conflict between classes and disrupting internal peace. Inequality of opportunity also stands in contrast to Plato’s ideal polity as the purpose of removing children from their families and providing communal education is to establish equal circumstances for all citizens. This will also allow the rulers to correctly identify which children will...
Words: 481 - Pages: 2
... 2015). The gap between rich and poor has grown larger in last few decades, and the problem is getting worse (Treanor, N.P). The reason why the widening gap between rich and poor is a problem is that the wider gap often lead to greater inequality among people, yet society has not found a way to solve this inequality (Treanor, Oct 13, 2015). To make it easier to demonstrate how income difference results in social inequality, CEOs, for example, who gives workers minimum compensation, work in top floor of high rise office buildings where they can overlook an entire city, whereas some people work more than 40...
Words: 1019 - Pages: 5
...Position Paper Racial and Ethnic Inequality Amongst Blacks : A Economic Problem of Society Tameekah Myers SOC 1000-Comtemporary Social Issues Thesis Statement In this essay one will come to a better understanding of racial and ethnic inequality and why it exists. It is evident that Inequality amongst certain races is evident however it also linked to a variety of perspectives that account for the continuation of racial, ethnic discrimination and inequality. Inequality amongst Races and Ethnicity ▪ What is race and ethnicity? ▪ Should race exist ▪ Inequality among races Racism against African Americans ▪ Slavery ▪ Racial Profiling ▪ Stereotypes ▪ Causes and Effects of Racism Social status and race inequality ▪ Social/Racial classification ▪ Education inequality ▪ Labor/income Inequality Laws and Policies ▪ Affirmative action policies ▪ Equal Opportunity Policy ▪ Civil Right Act The social stance of American Minorities Now ▪ African Americans Conclusion In this essay one will come to a better understanding of racial and ethnic inequality and why it exists. It is evident that inequality amongst certain races is evident; however, it also linked to a variety of perspectives that account for the continuation of racial, ethnic discrimination and inequality. The story of race is intricate and may challenge how we think about human differences and race as whole entity. Race...
Words: 1935 - Pages: 8
...development economists generally. The focus on poverty reduction reached a high point perhaps with the articulation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and with the extensive analytic work that has accompanied the MDGs.[2] Yet, much of the discussion of poverty reduction and economic development in low and middle income countries has either ignored the issue of income distribution or has tended to view income distribution only in terms of its impact on economic growth. Poverty and inequality, however, are intimately bound up with one another.[3] Both as an analytic issue and as a policy issue, there are severe limitations in attempting to deal with poverty – or, more broadly, with economic well-being – without also examining income inequality. Indeed, it is questionable that we can even define poverty independently of income distribution. In this essay, I want to develop the argument that economists and economic policy-makers should focus much greater attention on inequality as measured by the distribution of income (and wealth). The traditional focus simply on absolute levels of income as a measure of poverty and economic well-being is fundamentally flawed. My argument here has thee parts: • Poverty or, more generally, economic well-being cannot be effectively defined as distinct from income distribution. • Income distribution is fundamental to our understanding of justice (fairness) and human rights, and relative...
Words: 9565 - Pages: 39
...Feminist strategy refuse that the idea of gender inequality is natural. The ways that reformist feminists explain gender inequality in a denominating are social and cultural attitudes, like sexism and discrimination. Forward-looking feminists allege that men are responsible for the misuse of women through patriarchy the systematic domination of females by males. Black feminists identify factors such as class and ethnicity, in addition to gender, as essential for understanding the oppression experienced by nonwhite women”. (Jackson) According to Jackson “Globalization is expected to enhance women's roles in economics and politics, resulting in a greater shift toward gender equality worldwide.” “Feminism, unlike almost every other social movement,...
Words: 311 - Pages: 2
