W13.1 TANG YINI 탕이니

1.Summary 


 Definition and Determinants

Social inequality refers to the unequal distribution of social resources, typically resulting from unfair distribution mechanisms. These patterns of inequality are based on factors such as power, religion, kinship, prestige, race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, and class. Social inequality includes both inequality of outcomes and inequality of opportunities.


Relationship with Economic Inequality  

Social inequality is often linked to economic inequality, which is described based on unequal distribution of income or wealth. While economics and sociology use different methods to study economic inequality, both fields actively research this phenomenon. Additionally, the unequal distribution of social and natural resources affects social status, rights, and privileges, including access to education, the judicial system, housing, and financial services.

Simple vs. Complex Societies 

In simple societies, such as tribal communities, social inequality is low, and the privileges of leaders are limited. Anthropologists describe such cultures as "kinship-oriented," emphasizing social harmony. In contrast, material-oriented cultures value status and wealth, leading to competition and conflict. As societal complexity increases, social inequality tends to rise.

Types of Societies

Societies can be classified as egalitarian, ranked, or stratified. Egalitarian societies advocate for equal opportunities and rights; ranked societies, typically agricultural, group individuals based on status and prestige; stratified societies are ranked hierarchically based on wealth, power, and prestige into upper, middle, and lower classes.

Five Types of Inequality  

Social inequality manifests in five types: wealth inequality, inequality in treatment and responsibility, political inequality, life inequality, and membership inequality. These inequalities impact individual opportunities and social status.

Ascribed vs. Achieved Characteristics

Social status is categorized into ascribed characteristics, which are inherent at birth, and achieved characteristics, which are acquired or chosen. Examples of ascribed characteristics include gender and race, while achieved characteristics include education level and marital status.

Social Mobility

Social mobility refers to the movement of individuals or groups within the social hierarchy. Vertical mobility involves upward or downward movement in social status, while horizontal mobility involves changes within the same social level. Social mobility reflects the potential for individuals to move between different social classes.

Ideologies and Inequality

Ideologies related to social inequality include individualism and collectivism. In Western societies, individualism promotes economic freedom and private property, while collectivists argue that inequality should be reduced or eliminated through collective regulation. Economic discontent and globalization-induced inequality are also targets of populist criticism.

Socioeconomic Status (SES)

Socioeconomic status is a measure of an individual's work experience and relative economic and social position, based on income, education, and occupation. Different interpretations of women's social class and its broader societal use have multiple impacts.

Social Classes and Stratification Systems  

Social classes are differentiated by characteristics such as occupation, education, income, and wealth, and are divided into upper, middle, and lower classes. Stratification systems include caste, estate, and class systems.

Measuring Inequality

Common measures of inequality include the distribution of income and wealth, GDP, and the Gini coefficient. The Gini coefficient measures the dispersion of income or wealth distribution and is an effective tool for describing economic inequality.

In summary, social inequality is a complex phenomenon determined by multiple factors and has profound effects on societal functioning and individual lives.

2.Interesting points 

The text mentions five types of social inequality, including wealth inequality, inequality in treatment and responsibility, political inequality, life inequality, and membership inequality. This classification demonstrates the diversity of inequality phenomena, which encompass not only the economic domain but also disparities in treatment, power, living conditions, and social identity.

3.Questions 

What is the relationship between social inequality and economic inequality? How do they influence each other?

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