What Are the Examples of Social Inequality? (Tips for Students)

Social inequality has always been a concern within society and in this article, we have discussed examples, effects, and types of social inequality.

Social inequality is defined as the existence of unequal opportunities or rewards for people of different social positions or statuses within a society or group.

Generally, inequality exists in every society and it has various dimensions with each state with its own unique dimension. It’s widely believed that citizens from first-world countries are living better than those from third-world countries.

Is that a fact or an assumption? Well, we will get to that and more as we discuss the examples and types of social inequality.

What Are the Examples of Social Inequality?

Social inequality is defined as the existence of unequal opportunities or rewards for people of different social positions or statuses within a society or group.

Social inequality is a major concern in today’s society. According to Studylecturenotes.com, inequality exists in different dimensions and every state has its unique dimension.

Take the United States for example where people always think that those living in the country are enjoying a better life than most people from other parts of the world.

That may be true but America also has its own problems of social inequality. According to Cnbc.com, about 11.6% of people living in America are poor. The reports show that over 37 million Americans are living in poverty.

It’s a common belief that the poor are responsible for their poverty. Since they are not educated, it will be difficult to gain employment or start a business.

Also, we can blame society for the cause of poverty. If society had provided job opportunities to support families living in poor neighbourhoods, it would have reduced the rate of poverty.

Throughout history, there have been different types of social stratification. An example is the slave trade and the caste system. In today’s society, the class system determines the nature of our modern societies.

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Social inequality is a major concern in today’s society.

According to Study.com, children born into families with lower income are three times more likely to die from diseases, neglect, accident or violence within the first year of their life than children born into middle and upper-class families.

This has always been the fate of children living in poor neighbourhoods across America.

Additionally, those who belong to the middle or upper class live longer than those with lower income. On average, they live five years longer than people with lower incomes.

Generally, there are different types of social inequality which include;

Political Inequality

This is an inequality where there is no civic equality in front of the law.

Income and Wealth Inequality

This is the result or outcome which is primarily based on the earnings of individuals who belong to different social classes.

Inequality of Treatment and Responsibility

We pay less attention to this idea but it causes more problems in agency and responsibility.

Life Inequality

This refers to the unequal opportunities in a society. if everyone gets an equal opportunity, this can improve livelihood.

Inequality of Membership

Inequality of membership exists in the membership of family, faith and nation.

Social inequality is a societal issue affecting many countries today. There are several examples of social inequality and they include;

Income Inequality

Everyone deserves fair pay provided they are committed to working for their paycheck. Income inequality refers to the unequal distribution of salaries within the workforce.

In recent times, the wage difference between business owners and their employees has increased.

Workers sometimes demand a pay rise and better working conditions. Their demands are mostly ignored by their employers and in order not to lose their job, they will continue to work under strict conditions.

Health Access Inequality

Because we belong to different social classes, there is a gap when it comes to access to good healthcare. People living in rural areas hardly have access to healthcare.

They live in rural areas where they have to travel to cities to receive adequate healthcare.

Health inequality is most prevalent in nations that are yet to implement a universal healthcare system.

Take the United States for example. Because the country’s healthcare system is privatized, gaining access to healthcare is strictly dependent on an individual’s economic capital.

In the United States, healthcare is a commodity which can be purchased through private insurance companies. The United States organizes its healthcare in a way that contributes to healthcare inequalities based on socioeconomic status, race, and gender.

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Wealth Inequality

Wealth creates a gap between individuals of different social classes. The rich have easy access to resources, while the poor must struggle for them.

In countries around the world, the rich can gain easy access to people in power. They are influential and can get almost whatever they want.

Intergenerational Inequality

Intergenerational inequality occurs when a specific generation within a society has enjoyed access to resources more than others at similar points in their lives.

For example, baby boomers in Australia and the UK enjoyed free higher education. On the other hand, future generations were not treated in the same manner and had to pay for higher education.

Intergenerational inequality is one of the primary examples of social inequality.

Access to Basic Education

People living in rich neighbourhoods have access to better primary schools, while those living in poor neighbourhoods can hardly afford to go to school.

Everyone deserves a chance to acquire an education. However, living in a rich neighbourhood can make a lot of difference when it comes to attending the best schools.

Age Inequality

Age inequality is also known as ageism and it refers to discrimination against people because of their age. In several industries, it’s difficult for those above the age of 50 to be employed.

They are considered to be too old by some employers.

Access to Higher Education

In a country like America, it’s a bit difficult to get a high-paying job without a college degree.

Between those living in rich neighbourhoods and people living in poor neighbourhoods, who can afford to attend college?

When you consider the cost to attend college, then you know who has a better chance to access higher education.

Deprived Neighbourhoods

Deprived neighbourhoods are among the examples of social inequality. This shows that it’s not only the people that suffer inequality.

According to Helpfulprofessor.com, an entire area can be affected by the unequal distribution of rights and resources. The geographical location of a place can deprive people living there of easy access to healthcare.

Racial Inequality

We are still dealing with the issue of racism in sports, business, and the society at large. Systemic racism still exists across different devolved countries.

A discriminatory act that has treated people from a particular race unjustly. The response to racial inequality sometimes leads to mass demonstrations or protests.

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Housing Inequality

Living in a suitable accommodation or having access to a house is a cause of social inequality. Those living in social housing can’t afford to live in sufficient accommodation like others because they belong to a certain social class.

Incarceration Rates

When you look at the incarceration rate and the rate of crimes committed by different racial groups, you will notice that people of colour are more likely to be imprisoned.

Gender Inequality

Gender inequality is a major issue around the world today. Men are dominating in today’s politics and it has been for a very long time.

Women have made great contributions by participating in various fields and industries. Despite their contribution, there is still a huge pay gap between men and women.

Child Poverty

Child poverty is among the primary examples of social inequality. We talked about children born into lower-income families being three times more likely to die from disease, violence, or accident than children born into middle or upper-class families.

Kids born into poverty are likely to be malnourish and also lack access to proper education.

Citizenship Status

Some people do experience limited protection based on their citizenship status. For example, it’s widely accepted that tourists visiting a country should not have access to certain public services provided by taxpayers’ money.

If the non-citizens can’t have access to a lawyer, then we might start asking questions about citizenship status.

Power and Status Inequality

The rich are influential and have easy access to people holding top political positions. This shows how gaining access to powerful people is distributed unequally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are a few frequently asked questions on examples of social inequality.

Some of the social inequality examples besides the examples related to class are ageism, ableism, ethnic inequality, and gender inequality.

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People who belong to the upper social class have access to better healthcare, while those who belong to the underclass can hardly afford proper healthcare.

The government can improve through progressive tax systems, creating more job opportunities, and access to proper healthcare and education.

Conclusion

Social inequality creates a gap within society. It defines the social class of people living within a society and remains a major concern in today’s society.

Everyone deserves an equal opportunity and social inequality should in no way determine people’s life chances.