(i) How Does Therborn Distinguish Between Inequalities and Differences?
As put out by Therborn, inequalities and differences are distinguished by the fact that differences are ascribed to human beings by nature (or God) whereas inequalities are as a result of human social constructions (Therborn 38). Human difference constitutes factors such as age and sex. Inequality constitutes aspects such as poverty and social classes.
(ii) Give an Example of an Inequality and a Difference Between Two Groups. Can you also describe a Situation where Inequality and Difference both exist Between the Two Groups?
Taking the case of men and women, their separate gender classifications (male and female) is an example of a difference in a group. Being male or female is given by nature. An inequality between the groups can be found in the socially constructed roles ascribed to each gender. In many traditional societies, men are said to be the heads while women are their subordinates. The women are supposed to be submissive to the men in such societies and have no say on whether they are comfortable with such an arrangement. Such is a case of inequality between the two groups where the female gender is not given an equal and fair chance to exist as men. Gender inequality provides an example of inequality and difference between two groups. Gender is a
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He cites dirty work and job creation as one of the economic functions that poverty serves (Gans 278-279). Dirty work refers to menial jobs that are important in society, but can only be performed by people with no other life options. Some professions, such as policemen and charity organisations, benefit from the existence of the poor. The author notes that, as much as these institutions claim to be in existence for the goodness of all, they would have no purpose if the poor did not
Inequality is defined as: a symbolic expression of the fact that two quantities are not equal. In “The Invention Of Wings”, a historical fiction novel written by Sue Monk Kidd, we see how the characters are affected by inequality. The book revolves around Sarah Grimke, and her hand slave Handful, and reveals to the readers of their hardships that they both face together and separately growing up in Charleston, Virginia in the 1800s. In this book, we see various forms of inequality, such as race, gender, and age, and how they affect the main characters of the book: Sarah, Handful, and Charlotte.
In the Working Poor, David Shipler shows the different levels of poverty in the United States. Although many people work every day they still do not have enough money to live their lives comfortably or contently. In chapter 1, Money and Its Opposite, discuss the different people that worked hard their entire lives only to remain in or below the poverty line. For instance, in the book Shipler speaks of the disadvantages that the working poor are susceptible to. Often being taken advantage of from employers that do not give accesses that they are entitled to, the working poor are more likely to be audit than the wealthy, and become victims of cons that point toward money for a small payment, first. The many that live in poverty often overspend.
Poverty is more functional to the affluent members of society because they are the ones who benefit greatly from others living in poverty. In my opinion, there are a great number of people who are a part of the affluent society that lack compassion for others. This in turn results in them having more financial gains and people on the other end of the spectrum falling deeper and deeper below the poverty line. Members of the affluent society has also been known to utilize the impoverished to do the “dirty work,” which are strenuous low paying jobs that sometimes require an excessive amount of hours. Working these types of jobs, are not very beneficial to those living in poverty because of the downfalls they may cause on their households. Due to the amounts of hours that may be required, the impoverished often faces risks of losing their subsidies.
This essay asks to discuss some of the ways in which differences and inequalities persist over time, suggesting that they are not static, continuing to be made and remade by the actions of people and society. With Inequality being defined as ‘‘The unequal distribution of valued social resources within society or between societies including money, housing, power, health and education”. whilst Differences is defined as “contrasts between groupings of people such as those based on gender, class, age, sexuality and race, including things people value and the variations between them including their physical, behavioural, attitudes and preferences”. (Blakeley and Staples, 2014 p 25). However, it is noted not all differences will lead to inequalities,
Inequality is an issue which has been analyzed by political thinkers for centuries. Some thinkers have long been supporting the subordination of one gender, race, or class over another with religious, moral, ethical, and scientific factors to support their claims; others, however, argue against any subordination of any decree. Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778), a famous philosopher of the eighteenth century, defined inequality in two parts: natural and social. Natural inequalities are the differences in bodily and mental strengths. Social inequalities, however, are the differences that exist between individuals in wealth, power and honor. For Rousseau, social inequalities are justified when they are able to reflect natural inequalities.
As Carol Brady said, “You mustn’t let the boys upset you.” The establishment of groups, in the society, occurred since the civilization began. Some examples of the groups formed are groups of men and women, rich and poor, and between coworkers. However, the common differences occur between the groups of men and women. Individuals of the society define masculinity and femininity as what they were taught while growing up, either by their family, friends, or television.
Gender is based on cultural beliefs that classify on what job positions should be held based on biological sex. Therefore, gender inequality affects people in the workforce because of the gender wage gap in institutions. For example, jobs are sex segregated based on gender roles and status. The gender wage gap is based on the differences of income between women and this causes for males and women to earn different wages because society classifies men to be superior to women, Even if they have the same positions, males are looked as authority. Men are favored because of the concept of being dominant. Ridgeway says “Not only the existing sex composition of the job, but also the stereotypical gendered nature of the work or the status
The issue of gender inequality will never truly be solved in the United States. This arises from differences in socially constructed gender roles as well as biologically through hormonal differences, chromosomes, and brain structures. Gender inequality is defined as unequal treatment or perceptions of individuals based on gender. One of the reasons for gender inequality is income disparities. Another reason is because of the positions in the workplace. Thirdly, the reason is because of beliefs that one another has. For these reasons is why these situations should be examined to get to the root of the problem.
Although, the difference between males and females in society is based on socialization. A lot of women faced discrimination in society and was seen as incapable or unfit to run family
The riddle of inequality, as Tillich explains, "...Cannot be solved." This inequality is the divider of people, of the have's and have-nots. It seems that this riddle has confused people since the beginning of time and was even discussed in the bible. People always wonder why some have more than others do; they wonder why this happens and how it can change. I believe that this riddle is natural and cannot be changed despite he best efforts of people.
No matter how hard they tried to find better jobs, they just couldn’t push through. Another benefit that the poor have to offer the world is that poverty creates jobs for a number of occupations that protect the rest of society from them. Without the poor, the police force would be minuscule. Also, the poor buy goods others do not want. This helps the economy immensely because these products would eventually just be thrown out if the poor didn’t purchase them. The poor are also culturally recognized in history. For example, most Americans listen to the blues, which originated from the southern poor. And on top of that, they serve as cultural heroes, such as the cowboy or hobo. One thing in particular that the poor have to offer is that poverty helps guarantee the status of those who are not poor. Nobody wants to live in poverty. However, not everyone can live in luxury. Therefore, people in poverty should not feel like complete failures. It isn’t easy to succeed in today’s world. They things that the poor do to help the middle and upper class helps out country in so many different ways. If they learn to realize this, they wouldn’t feel as much like failures. In every world there
Gans’ essay, “The Uses of Poverty: The Poor Pay All”, is extremely important in the analysis of the frontline documentary. Gans has a bit of a different approach on poverty and the poor. For example, he says, “Today, poverty is more maligned than the political machine ever was; yet it, too, is a persistent social phenomenon.” Basically, he argues that the poor are a very important part in society. He goes on to explain different functions of poverty. First, he states that the existence of poverty ensures that society’s dirty work will be done. Society in some ways forces the poor to do these jobs because they almost always don’t have the choice, and they make them do these at low wages. This was one of the hard things that the two families were facing. They both had to be satisfied with low wage dirty work jobs to get by. No matter how hard they tried to find better jobs, they just couldn’t push through. Another benefit that the poor have to offer the world is that poverty creates jobs for a number of occupations that protect the rest of society from them. Without the poor, the police force would be minuscule. Also, the poor buy goods others do not want. This helps the economy immensely because these products would eventually just be thrown out if the poor didn’t purchase them. The poor are also culturally recognized in history. For example, most Americans listen to the blues, which originated from the southern poor. And on top of that, they
Gender is the state of reference on which status differences are based, unlike sex, which is biological; gender is a social code of conduct specifying the social and cultural roles that men and women are expected to follow, making Gender Roles a very controversial topic.
Gender, on the other hand, refers to the sociological differences between male and female. This teaches males and females to behave in various ways due to socialisation (Browne, 1998). Example: masculinity and femininity. Girls are supposed to show their femininity by being non-competitive, sensitive, dependent, attractive and placid. If and when some girls don’t succeed in keeping this image, they will be referred to as a tomboy.
Gender refers to the psychological, social, and cultural differences between males and females. Gender also means the physiological and anatomical differences between the male and female bodies. Most socio-biologists believe differences in sex are a result of differences in the thinking and behavior of men and women. They argue gender identity is formed through socialization. Gender structures every aspect of an individual's life through social relationships and all forms of interaction with society including work.