W13.1 May 27 (Mon) Kim da young

summary

Social inequality occurs when resources within a society are distributed unevenly, often as a result of unequal allocation practices that create distinct patterns of inequality according to socially defined categories of people. Differences in access to social goods within a society are influenced by factors such as power, religion, kinship, prestige, race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, and class. Social inequality generally refers to a lack of equality of outcomes, but it can also be conceptualized as a lack of equality of access to opportunities. Social inequality is usually associated with economic inequality, which is explained based on unequal distribution of income or wealth. Although the fields of economics and sociology typically use different theoretical approaches to examine and explain economic inequality, both fields are actively engaged in studying these inequalities. However, other than purely economic resources, social and natural resources are also distributed unevenly in most societies and can contribute to social status. Allocative norms can also affect the distribution of rights and privileges, social power, access to public goods such as education or justice, adequate housing, transportation, credit, and financial services such as banking and other social goods and services.

Interesting point

Philosophical questions about social ethics and the desirability or inevitability of inequality in human society have given rise to numerous ideologies to address such questions. By looking at the inequalities in a given situation as they currently exist, we identify the roots of how inequality can increase and demonstrate the rise in the way we see life. By classifying these ideologies according to whether they justify or legalize inequality, classify inequality as desirable or inevitable, equality as desirable, and inequality as a social feature that should be reduced or eliminated, we can define this important aspect. . One end of this ideological continuum might be called “individualism” and the other “collectivism.” Western societies have a long history associated with private ownership of property and economic liberalism, that is, the ideological belief of organizing the economy along individualistic lines so that the most economic decisions possible are made by individuals rather than individuals. By a collective body or organization. Laissez-faire and free-market ideologies, including classical liberalism, neoliberalism, and right-wing liberalism, are built around the idea that social inequality is a "natural" feature of society and therefore inevitable and, in some philosophies, even desirable. Inequality ensures that a wide range of goods and services are available in open markets, fosters ambition, and provides incentives for hard work and innovation. At the other end of the continuum, collectivists have little or no confidence in “free market” economic systems and point to a widespread lack of access to market entry costs among certain groups or classes of individuals. Widespread inequality often leads to conflict and dissatisfaction with the current social order. These ideologies include Fabianism and socialism. In this ideology, inequality must be reduced, eliminated, or strictly controlled through collective regulation. Moreover, according to some views, inequality is natural but should not affect certain basic human needs, human rights and early opportunities afforded to individuals (e.g. education), and imbalances are due to various problematic systemic structures. This happens.

Points to discuss

What are the patterns of inequality in the economy?