Class and Poverty in Australia

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Class is a key idea related to inequality, prejudice and discrimination in Australian society. It has been considered out of fashion, because some Australian people think that there is no class difference between people in Australia, everyone enjoys equality in society. In fact, the recent de-regulation of the workplace, and the widening gap in access to hospitals, schools and employment opportunities between the rich and poor, have made class more visible in Australian than ever before. Class is "a category of people who have generally similar educational histories, job opportunities, and social standing and who are conscious of their membership in a social group that is ranked in relation to others and is replicated over generations" (Kent, 1998:87). This essay argues that class cause continues to inequality in Australian society. Firstly, class structures labor market inequality. Secondly, class shapes the quality of a person's life. Thirdly, class inequality produces continuing class differences into the next generation. Finally, class has becoming a debate in Australian society, because class inequality encourages the `right' people to work more efficiently in the workforce and helps people to identify themselves in society, but continuing relevance of the concept of class is a matter in contemporary Australia. First, class has determined inequality in labor market, because labor market is directly linked with the main source of income for most people, which provides everyday purchase on food, clothing, transport and housing. In Australian labor market, a large number people are employed in middle working class, for example sales, clerical or service job. However, there are a few people working in the top occupations, such... ... middle of paper ... ... Culture, Melbourne, Oxford University Press. Greig, A. & F. Lewins & K. White (2003), Inequality in Australia, New York: Cambridge University Press. Kent. H. (1998), The Australian Oxford Dictionary Second edition, Melbourne: Oxford University Press. Najman, J. M. and Smith, G. S.(2000), `The embodiment of class -related and health in equalites, Australian politics', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, Canberra,Vol. 24, Iss. 1; pg.1-3pgs. Preston, C. (1999), `Social Inequality, Prejudice & Discrimination', [Online, accessed 30 April 2004].URL http://hsc.csu.edu.au/pta/scansw/socineq.html Tahlin, M. (1993), `Class Inequality and Post-industrial Employment' in GostaEsping, A. ed., Changing Class: Stratification and Mobility in Post-industrial Societies, London, SAGE.

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