Social Inequality
Social Inequality
"...all animals are equal here, but some are more equal than others." [G,Orwell, Animal Farm]
What does Social Inequality Mean?
Differential Access to Wealth Power Prestige
In What Areas does Social Inequalities Exist Gender Race Age Ethnicity Religion Kinship
How does differential access to wealth, power and prestige arise from differences between people?
Differences are accorded varying degrees of value Those who are most similar to “me” have the highest value Those who are the most unlike “me” have the lowest value Making that which is most like me a social value requires an act of hegemony Hegemony is the domination of culture by one particular cultural group, resulting in the empowerment of certain cultural beliefs, values, and practices over others. To some extent it also requires the “buy in” of the lower ranked group
I.e. anything that can be used to differentiate people
1
Classification of Societies Based on the Equality-Inequality continuum
Egalitarian Societies Ranked Societies Stratified Societies
Egalitarian societies
Eg. Hadza of Tanzania, !Kung bushmen of the Kalahari, and Batek of Malaysia Foragers with few possessions, no land ownership, and little specialization, other than a division of labour based on gender and age lack any clear organisational structure There is a continuing debate as to whether there is inequality between men and women in foraging societies.
Hadza of Tanzania
Marx and Engels argued that the real basis of social and political inequality was property, and that since there was no private property in primitive societies, there was no state and no class or inequality.
Foragers recognize individuals with special skills, but those who possess them are not seen superior in other respects Leaders have influence, but no authority The people possess norms that emphasize sharing and ideals of interpersonal equality.
!Kung bushmen of the Kalahari
Ranked societies
Common in
"...all animals are equal here, but some are more equal than others." [G,Orwell, Animal Farm]
What does Social Inequality Mean?
Differential Access to Wealth Power Prestige
In What Areas does Social Inequalities Exist Gender Race Age Ethnicity Religion Kinship
How does differential access to wealth, power and prestige arise from differences between people?
Differences are accorded varying degrees of value Those who are most similar to “me” have the highest value Those who are the most unlike “me” have the lowest value Making that which is most like me a social value requires an act of hegemony Hegemony is the domination of culture by one particular cultural group, resulting in the empowerment of certain cultural beliefs, values, and practices over others. To some extent it also requires the “buy in” of the lower ranked group
I.e. anything that can be used to differentiate people
1
Classification of Societies Based on the Equality-Inequality continuum
Egalitarian Societies Ranked Societies Stratified Societies
Egalitarian societies
Eg. Hadza of Tanzania, !Kung bushmen of the Kalahari, and Batek of Malaysia Foragers with few possessions, no land ownership, and little specialization, other than a division of labour based on gender and age lack any clear organisational structure There is a continuing debate as to whether there is inequality between men and women in foraging societies.
Hadza of Tanzania
Marx and Engels argued that the real basis of social and political inequality was property, and that since there was no private property in primitive societies, there was no state and no class or inequality.
Foragers recognize individuals with special skills, but those who possess them are not seen superior in other respects Leaders have influence, but no authority The people possess norms that emphasize sharing and ideals of interpersonal equality.
!Kung bushmen of the Kalahari
Ranked societies
Common in