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Inequality In Australia

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Inequality In Australia
To what extent is it accurate to claim that Australians are committed to a ‘fair go’ and that they belong to a classless society?

Since Australia opened its doors to the rest of the world it has been widely regarded as a land of ‘golden opportunity’ well endowed in resources with a small population; it appeared to be an escape from the rigid aristocratic ruling of European nations (Furze, 2008: 349). For such a long time many Australians have been reluctant to recognise that social classes do in fact exist within our society and that these classes perpetuate inequality. To claim that all Australians are committed to a ‘fair go’ would be ignorant, and I will explore in this discussion the barriers that prohibit Australians from being equal. I will begin by providing an understanding of class constructs and stratification, I will then go on to highlight the inequalities inherent in different spheres of Australian society and how these inequalities are products of a class hierarchy. I have chosen to concentrate on healthcare; education and the legal system for these are resources that all citizens should have equal access to.
Class is a significant force in all societies, understanding class is crucial if we are to see how groups of people within our society have different experiences. Social stratification refers to the way society is organised within hierarchical layers (Furze, …show more content…
Class generates inequality- the unjustifiable distribution of opportunity and power and the chance of a good life in a demonstrably unfair society. (McGregor,
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