Understanding Culture,

Society and Politics

Quarter 2 – Module 6:
Ways to Address Social
Inequalities
Understanding Culture, Society and Politics – Senior High School
Quarter 2 – Module 6: Ways to Address Social Inequalities
First Edition, 2020

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Understanding Culture,
Society and Politics
Quarter 2 – Module 6:
Ways to Address Social
Inequalities
Introductory Message
For the facilitator:
As a facilitator, you are expected to orient the learners on how to use
this module. You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while
allowing them to manage their own learning at home. Furthermore, you are
expected to encourage and assist the learners as they do the tasks included
in the module.

For the learner:

As a learner, you must learn to become responsible for your own
learning. Take time to read, understand, and perform the different activities
in the module.
As you go through the different activities of this module, be reminded
of the following:
1. Use the module with care. Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any part
of the module. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises.
2. Do not forget to answer Let Us Try before moving on to the other
activities.
3. Read the instructions carefully before doing each task.
4. Observe honesty and integrity in accomplishing the tasks and in
checking your answers.
5. Finish the task at hand before proceeding to the next.
6. Return this module to your teacher/facilitator once you are done.
If you encounter any difficulty in answering the tasks in this module,
do not hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator. Always bear in mind that
you are not alone. We hope that through this material, you will experience
meaningful learning and gain a deep understanding of the relevant
competencies. You can do it!

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 Let Us Learn

Welcome to the world of Understanding Culture, Society, and

Politics! Our aim is to provide you more information on how these
social changes offer assistance to shape or alter social imbalance
that exists in a society, as well as their origin, affect, and long-
term impacts.

The focus of this module:

Suggest ways to address social inequalities
(local, national, global)
At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:
1. Define social inequalities.
2. Identify the sources of social inequalities.
3. Suggest ways to address social inequalities.

Let Us Try
Activity 1. PRE-TEST: True or False

Direction: Read each item carefully. Write TRUE if the statement is correct
and FALSE if the statement is incorrect. Write your answer on a sheet of
paper.

_______ 1. Political Capital refers to the trust, goodwill, and influence

possessed by a political actor, such as a politician, to mobilize
support toward a preferred policy outcome.
_______ 2. Social equality could be an alluring ascribed in a majority rule
and civilized society.
_______ 3. Women have continuously been obliged by social orders to have
an auxiliary predisposition, primarily due to social convictions, in
favor of men.
_______ 4. Patterns of unequal share to social assets are commonly called
social inequality.
_______ 5. Persons with disabilities (PWD) are also become the target of
discrimination and their physical impairments become bases for
them to be denied of equal opportunities in employment.
_______ 6. Gender equality can be fostered by legislating laws that promote
the rights of women, and the LGBT.

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_______ 7. Inequality does not exist as it were in social orders and states, but
also among states.
_______ 8. Inequality can also be an outcome of the relative strength of a
state vis-à-vis another in terms of strategic importance or
development assistance.
_______ 9. The situation in the West Philippine Sea between China and
The Philippines is a clear example of this unequal relationship.
_______ 10. Global inequality can also be shown through the operations of
transnational enterprises and organizations that work on a global
scale.

Let Us Study
Activity 2: Concept Map

Direction: Complete the concept map below by writing inside the

circles all the terms or concepts that you can relate to when you hear the
words “Social Inequality”?

Social
Inequality

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Activity 3: Let’s Read!

Read the text carefully.

SOCIAL INEQUALITY: THE HEART OF SOCIOLOGY

Patterns of an unequal share

of social assets are commonly called
social inequality. Social inequality
reflects natural contrasts between
people, for example, their changing
capacities and endeavors. Somebody
may be blessed with uncommon
insights or abilities or may have
worked exceptionally difficult to
attain their riches and status. From
the past lessons, it was fairly clear
that inequalities in numerous size
and shapes existed within the world. They can be observed within the four
corners of our social world. Thus, this phenomenon is additionally alluded to
as social stratification. It looks at individuals as having a place and involving
a particular layer or stratum within the social chain of command. The layers
are not one or the other blameless nor unbiased positions. Simply because it
is the persons’ real social area. It can be utilized to characterize the range and
spaces of their social capital: actual or symbolic (Contreras et al. 2013).

The apparent omnipresence of social inequality fascinates the social

sciences especially sociology. The range of topics covered by sociologists
regarding this feature of social reality allowed them to construct sophisticated
methodological techniques and procedures to enable them to follow its
lifecycle and dissect its anatomy. This is coupled with an equally increasing
sophistication in the analytic lens reflected by their theories. Social inequality
can be said to be the heart of sociology. By pursuing it, the discipline is able
to give a face to social realities given birth by the various social forces pushing
people in all sorts of directions. These social forces are so invisible, and most
of the time, taken for granted that people assume that they are natural
(Contreras et al. 2013).

The atmosphere of being “natural” makes social inequality impenetrable

to rough feedback as humanism is concerned. The commitment of the
discipline is to provide it a face, a title, and systematic ways to bargain with
its complex appearances. Concurring to sociologists, its imperceptibility
cloaks are due to its social constructedness. This implies that society
manages what ought to be considered vital or not; and through the method of

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socialization, individuals are driven to accept that such is the ways of nature.
The role of women, in most societies, is usually associated with the bearing of
children, doing household chores, and carrying subordinate responsibilities
as compared to men who commonly own major duties and accountabilities.
These are seen to be normal arrangements of positions in society.

Social Inequality

Social equality could be an alluring ascribed in a majority rule and

civilized society. Unfortunately, there are just so many sources of inequality.

1. Social Capital refers to the capacity of a collective to

act together to seek after a common objective.

2. Political Capital refers to the trust, goodwill, and

influence possessed by a political actor, such as a
politician, to mobilize
support toward a
preferred policy outcome. Translated to the
level of individuals in society, this would
amount to the access of one person to
his/her political representative. Again, this
would be a function not only of resources
but also of familiarity with the political
process and the venues available for
communication with one’s political
representatives. This would then redound
to political literacy which is usually a
function of social class and level of education. Although, one should
quickly add that it is not totally an assurance that just because one is well-
off economically and well educated, one is also politically literate and is
knowledgeable of the policy and political process.

3. Symbolic Capital refers to the resources that one possesses which is a

function of honor, prestige, recognition, or any other trait that one values
within a culture. It is an important possession that can influence the
ability of someone to access opportunities in society. Unfortunately, this is
largely influenced by class origin, and by other ascribed traits which lead
some individuals unable to access opportunities, or if so, with which they
find difficult.

Aside from social class, gender and sexual orientation have been a
source of inequality. Women have continuously been obliged by social

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orders to have an auxiliary predisposition,
primarily due to social convictions, in favor of
men. Men are seen in numerous societies as
normal pioneers and are agreed on more social
and political rights. It is maybe critical to point
out that women earned the right to vote much
later compared to men. In some societies,
women seem not allowed to claim property, and
they may not indeed drive their own cars.

Certainly, in more modern societies, there are

still inequalities against ladies. Whereas much of the
world has as of now, concurred women to have equal
political rights. Equality in women representation in
numerous legislatures in the world has yet to be
realized. Women are also still paid less despite doing
more work in a few industries.

Moreover, women endure harassment within the workplace and

they are also victimized by sexual assaults and violence. Indeed, even
within the security of their homes, numerous women are still subjected to
domestic violence and abuse.

A comparative circumstance is faced by lesbian,

gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons, who
are regularly subjected to discrimination and mock by
a society that considers them abnormalities or shapes
of deviancy. Individuals of the LGBT community
struggle to win recognition for their gracious rights,
such as the right for same-sex marriages that have as
of now been granted to them in a few states, and for
which still unfavored to them in others.

Ethnic minorities are also subjected

to discrimination. Aside from the cultural
marginalization that they suffer from the
dominant cultural majorities, their cultural
practices are also subjects of ridicule and
their physical appearances and demeanor;
they also end up as victims of development
aggression. Ancestral lands of ethnic
groups are either forcibly taken away from
them in the guise of project developments,

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such as the construction of government infrastructures, or to become
dumping grounds for toxic wastes.

Persons with disabilities (PWD) are also

become the target of discrimination, and their
physical impairments become the basis for
them to be denied equal opportunities in
employment. They also do not usually enjoy
the benefits that people without disabilities
receive.

Two ways by which social inequalities can be addressed in Local

and National Government in the Philippines:

1. Through policy legislation

Gender equality can be fostered by administering laws that
promote the rights of women, and the LGBT. We have laws within the
Philippines that advance the rights of women, but not for LGBT.
Similarly, laws that ensure the rights of ethnic minorities can be
passed. The Philippines, for example, has in place the Indigenous
People’s Rights Act that seeks to protect the rights of our cultural
communities (Jimenez 2017). We also have passed laws to protect the
rights of the persons with disabilities (PWD); the Republic Act 9442 of
the Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities that we will no longer
tolerate anyone who humiliates or bullies a PWD and the right to sue a
person who will treat him/her with “disrespect and condescendence.”

2. Through promoting cultural transformation

To promote cultural transformation and endeavoring to
transform the way society looks at women, LGBT, ethnic minorities, and
PWDs is a way to respond to social inequalities. The key to this will be
to teach the public, both in formal settings such as schools as well as
through well-known media. Stereotyping of women, LGBT, ethnic
minorities, and PWDs in television, radio, internet, and other popular
media are the most effective ways to perpetuate discrimination, and
these are also means, where that such discriminations can be
addressed and minimized, if not totally removed.

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Global Inequality

Inequality does not only exist between

social orders and states, but also among states.
Some states are wealthier and more effective
than other states. These privileged states most
likely become more powerful within the
worldwide community. Hence, it leads to a
circumstance of global inequality, where poorer
and less powerful states are being controlled
and influenced by the wealthier and more
powerful states.

In verifiable circumstances, the balance of power of states is more

frequent than not established, where the method of colonization in the past
led to a relation of unequal dependency between a previous colony and its
previous colonizer. The case of the Philippines and the United States may be
a great example of this. The Philippines is culturally, economically, and
politically, seen to be beneath the strong influence of the US.

However, inequality can also be an outcome of the relative strength of

a state vis-à-vis another in terms of strategic importance or development
assistance. Resource-rich states, such as the oil-producing countries, tend to
have more leverage. States that send official development assistance (ODA) to
other countries are well-positioned to dictate their policy conditionalities on
the states who receive their development funds in the form of grants or loans.

Military strength too gets to be a source of inequality when states that

have the prevalent military ability can bully other nations with weaker military
strengths. The situation in the West Philippine Sea between China and the
Philippines is a clear example of this unequal relationship. China forces its
way into our domains and claims such areas as part of their territory; taking
advantage of our weaker naval force defenses.

Global inequality can also be shown through the operations of

transnational enterprises and organizations that work on a global scale.
Numerous of these enterprises are powerful, or in case not, indeed more
powerful, than person states. Private organizations have gigantic control that
they can use to affect the economy of nations where they have ventured. The
World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the Asian Development
Bank ( ADB) are in a great position to have a colossal effect on the countries
that are bound by them as they are able to handle economic policies in order
to comply with their loan conditions.

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 Three ways to address Global Social Inequalities:

1. Formation of regional groups, such as the

Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) is one of the ways to address global
social inequality. The assumption, which is
not always the case, is that the formation of
regional groups can provide strength in
numbers. The main drawback is that
despite the presence of the ASEAN,
individual members may be constrained to provide assistance to others
due to the policy of noninterference, where members are hesitant to
intervene in the foreign and domestic issues of another country. For
example, in the West Philippine Sea issue where there is a dispute
between the Philippines and China, there is no firm ASEAN position.

2. To enter into bilateral treaties and

pacts with other countries, like the
mutual defense agreement between the
Philippines and the US could be done in
order to respond to global social inequality.
Unfortunately, while this provides some
semblance of security for the Philippines as
it sets the parameters for when the US can
help us in times of external aggression from another country, it further
reinforces our unequal relations with the US.

3. The recourse to international treaties

and agreements sets contracts on issues
as varied as climate change, transnational
crime, and international development. The
Philippines is a signatory to these
agreements, which bind other signatories to
a standard protocol. Any violation of these
agreements can be used as a basis to appeal
to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
For example, China’s incursion to our territories is presumed to be a
violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
(UNCLOS). This is the basis of our complaint against China that we filed
at the ICJ.

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 Let Us Practice
Activity 4: It’s Wise to Analyze
Direction: Answer the following questions and write them on a sheet of paper.

1. How social inequality became the heart of sociology?

2. Give and briefly define the sources of social inequalities.
3. Identify a law that promotes equality. Discuss briefly how the law
promotes equality.
4. How is global inequality manifested, and what are the effects of these
inequalities on the countries and people of the world?

Let Us Practice More

Activity 5: PIC-AND-LOG!

Analyze the pictures below, then label the forms and ways to address
the social inequality shown in each picture. Write your answer on your
answer sheet.

1._____________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________

2.___________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________

3.__________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________

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 Let Us Remember
Activity 6: Inequalities Lokal!

Directions: Based on your observation and with the help of your immediate
family, you need to:

1. List down at least three existing social inequalities in your

community and propose ways to address these inequalities. You may
also supply additional details or a brief description of them.

2. Include the activities that are being done in your community until
today (example: Rally, posting streamer, etc).

3. Write your answer using the table below.

Gathered Important Information on

Social Inequalities in ____________________________________
(name of your community)

Existing Social
Propose ways to address Additional details /
Inequalities in your
these inequalities brief description
community

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 Let Us Assess
Activity 7. POST-TEST: True or False

Direction: Read each item carefully. Write TRUE if the statement is correct
and FALSE if the statement is incorrect. Write your answer on a sheet of
paper.

_______ 1. Persons with disabilities (PWD) are also become the target of
discrimination and their physical impairments become bases for
them to be denied equal opportunities in employment.
_______ 2. Inequality does not exist as it were in social orders and states, but
also among states.
_______ 3. Global inequality can also be shown through the operations of
transnational enterprises and organizations that work on a global
scale.
_______ 4. The situation in the West Philippine Sea between China and
The Philippines is a clear example of this unequal relationship.
_______ 5. Political Capital refers to trust, goodwill, and influence
possessed by a political actor, such as a politician, to mobilize
support toward a preferred policy outcome.
_______ 6. Gender equality can be fostered by legislating laws that promote
the rights of women, and the LGBT.
_______ 7. Social equality could be an alluring ascribed in a majority rule
and civilized society.
_______ 8. Inequality can also be an outcome of the relative strength of a
state vis-à-vis another in terms of strategic importance or
development assistance.
_______ 9. Patterns of unequal share to social assets are commonly called
social inequality.
_______ 10. Women have continuously been obliged by social orders to
have an auxiliary predisposition, primarily due to social
convictions, in favor of men.

11
 Let Us Enhance
Activity 8: Promote the Rights!

Directions: From the data in Activity 6, choose one social inequality in your
community that you believe need to be prioritized and addressed. In a short
bond paper with your available art materials (such as crayons, oil pastels,
color pencils, markers, magazines, scissors, and glue), you need to create a
poster/illustration in any style (drawing, caricature, collage, etc.) that
promotes your rights. If you have a computer and printers at home, you may
opt to do a digital illustration (using applications like MS Paint, Adobe
Photoshop, and Illustrator). You may add taglines and other elements to
make it look like a real poster highlighting social inequality.

Be guided by the rubrics below in doing your artwork.

PROMOTIONAL
CREATIVITY ORIGINALITY NEATNESS
APPEAL
20 points 15 points 10 points 5 points
The local social The style and The concept and The artwork was
inequality was technique used were composition of the exceptionally
presented exceptionally artwork were organized and
exceptionally clear. executed. exceptionally unique, presented without
fresh, and unnecessary marks
innovative.
RUBRICS

15 points 10 points 7 points 3 points

The local social The style and The concept and The artwork was
inequality was technique used were composition of the fairly organized and
presented fairly fairly executed. artwork were unique, presented with a few
clear. fresh, and unnecessary marks
innovative.

10 points 5 points 3 points 1 point

The local social The style and The concept and The artwork was
inequality was technique used were composition of poorly organized and
presented poorly. poorly executed. artwork were not presented with many
unique, fresh, and unnecessary marks
innovative.
SCORES

TOTAL SCORE:_______________

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 Let Us Reflect

Activity 9: Be Insightful

Now that you know how to address social inequalities in local, national,
and global, try to provide your insights by completing at least one of the
following unfinished statements:

By doing various activity from the topic on how to address social

inequalities, I have realized
that________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
_______________
Doing activity on various ways to address local, national and global
social inequalities is important because
_________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________.
When young people like me engage in giving ways to address social
inequalities, we contribute to the greater good because
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________.

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 Answer Key
6.

10. TRUE FALSE 5.

10. TRUE TRUE 5.
9. TRUE TRUE 4.
9. TRUE TRUE 4.
8. TRUE TRUE 3.
8. TRUE TRUE 3.
7. TRUE TRUE 2.
7. TRUE TRUE 2.
6. TRUE TRUE 1. 6. TRUE FALSE 1.

Pre-Test Post Test

References

BOOKS

Antonio P. Contreras, Arleigh Ross D. Dela Cruz, Dennis S. Erasga, and

Cecile C. Fadrigon, Understanding Culture, Society and Politics (Quezon City:
Phoenix Publishing House, Inc., 2016), 241-250.

Everlida Diala-Jimenez, #iNTROSPECT: Understanding Culture, Society and

Politics (Makati City: Don Bosco Press, Inc., 2017), 236-242.

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For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

Department of Education – Region XI

F. Torres St., Davao City

Telefax: (082) 291-1665, (082) 221-6147

Email Address: [email protected]