Social Inequality Chapter 1

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Social InequalityChapter 1

• Dr. Roderick Graham
• Fordham University

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Inequality
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What is inequality? (orwhat is equality)?

• How do we know it when we see it (what are the
  types of ways that people can be unequal)
• Economic
• Racial
• Ethnic
• Politically
• Gender
• Sexual Orientation
• Religion
• We can call these ways that people can be unequal
  as dimensions of inequality.

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What is inequality? (orwhat is equality)?

• What entities or categories do we use to compare
  dimensions in inequality?
• Individuals
• Occupational Groups
• Geographic Regions
• Nations

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Inequality Can be Very Complex

• Economic
• Racial
• Ethnic
• Politically
• Gender
• Sexual Orientation
• Religion

• Individuals
• Occupational Groups
• Geographic Regions
• Nations

28 different ways (at least that we can measure
inequality)
X

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Is Inequality Inevitable?

• Yes!
• There are no structural constraints stopping
  people. Inequality is always present because
  people are more or less talented/or exert more or
  less effort.
• No!
• Inequality is not inevitable. It is caused by
  our current political structure, discrimination,
  or by powerful social groups determining the
  reward structure in society
• Whether or not it is inevitable, it is hereso
  we study it as sociologists to understand its
  consequences

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Do We Want Inequality?

• Yes!
• The most important positions in societies are the
  most rewarded, and the most talented people will
  get those positions (we want really sharp
  doctors).
• No!
• It creates conflict between social groups.
  Social groups do not always believe the system is
  fair.

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Inequality and Economic Social Groups(Classes)

• What do sociologists mean by classes? Are you a
  member of class?
• What do we mean by subjective and objective
  class?

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Do We Have Classes in the US?

• No!
• No such thing as a social class structure where
  groups organize against one another based upon
  economic distinctions
• Yes..Kinda
• A second group argue that there are social
  classes at the economic extremes (the extremely
  wealthy and the underclass)
• Absolutely!
• A third group argue that classes existed in the
  past and continue to exist presently

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The Relationship between Capitalism, Democracy,
and Inequality
Inequality
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What Effect Does Globalization have on Inequality?

• Decreases Inequality
• Exchange of goods and ideas lowers inequality
  between nations (the lexus and the olive tree?)
• Increases Inequality
• Open markets make it easier for corporations in
  rich nations (and rich nations themselves) to
  exploit weaker countries

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The Problem of Measurement

• Definitions such as class or poverty can be
  defined in many ways leading to problems in
  comparison and hypothesis testing
• How do we measure class?
• How do we measure poverty?
• What is the most important measurement for
  inequality (income, wealth, health)
• What is the most important dimension (class,
  race, gender, religion)
• What is the best category (individuals, families,
  social groups)
• If we struggle with these basic measurements,
  all the questions raised previously will always
  be up for debate. Generally, we agree that there
  is great inequality in the US, and that it is
  risingbut we argue over specifics.

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The Goals of This Class

• In the first third of the class we will use
  theory to focus our analysis of inequality on the
  most sociologically relevant entities/categories
  (the why of the class)
• In the final two-thirds we will look at the
  consequences of inequality
• By the end of the semester, you will be able to
  come to your own conclusions about the effects of
  inequality, and be able to answer some of the
  questions/controversies raised in this
  presentation.