Inequality: Inequalities of Social Class

Inequalities of Social Class
IN EQ U A LITY
Equality is one of the social concepts
in which everyone is longing.

Inequality is one of the most
sensitive issues in every societies.
Inequality exist in different aspects
of life; social class, race and ethnicity
and even gender and age.
Caste system
Caste System is a fixed arrangement of
social strata.
It is unalterably at birth
The boundaries are distinctly sharp
The mobility is extremely rare
They regulate marriage to avoid confusion
Confusion on the part of both spouses
Confusion on the part of children
Thus neither both partner or children can
acquire mobility.
India
India as the best example of caste
system
The life of an Indian is very much
affected by caste system;

Whom one should marry
Whom should they relate with
Where should they live or work
Types ofCaste System

1. Varnas highest caste (priest and
2.
3.
4.
5.
scholars)
Kshatriyas second to the highest
(warriors, rulers and large
landholders.
Vaishyas merchant, farmers,
skilled artisan
Shudras lowest caste (laborers and
unskilled artisan)
Harijan, beneath Shudras
W orst com e to w orst

The distinction is reinforce by
practicing ritual cleansing.

Physical contact is prohibited among
castes
To touch or even to get close to lower
caste.
It might bring revulsion to higher caste.
(the polluted person must undergo ritual

avoidance: cleansing of the body and
clothes.
India Today
Some rituals have diminished
(communication and transportation)

Ritual of avoidance
India has become more industrialized

They developed links with global
economy
The number of middle class has
increased
India has become more democratic

Low-ranking class now hold higher
political position
The untouchables now have certain
benefits and resources (seats in national
legislature, power to vote)
C LA SS S Y S TEM
Class system
Social status, at some point, is
determined by the people.

Unlike caste system class system is
more relaxed in terms of mobility.
How people control their status? (education,
income and work)
However, this control is very minimal.

There is no clear distinction between
classes
The boundaries of strata are continuous.
D eterm inants ofSocioeconom ic Status

Education it enables one to move
upward.
(Ask your students why are they in
school)
Economic gain is one of the major
reasons why people go to school.
We want to raise our material standard
of living.
Thus raise their socioeconomic status.
However, the benefits of education is not
shared equally by everyone. (race and
African-American high school
graduates have higher rate of

unemployment than white high
school graduate.
Gender also plays a role. Women
earn 30 to 40% less than men.
Therefore, education is not
enough in acquiring higher
economic rewards.
Wealth sociologist divide wealth into
two kinds: assets; real states, stocks,

and jewels and income; salaries, wages,
interests received and stock dividends.
Both assets and income influence
socioeconomic standing most especially
in capitalist society.
Pyramid of wealth: the wealthiest are at
the top while the poorest are at the
bottom.
Rich vs. Poor in terms of Asset and
Income
In terms of asset, rich people owns assets
that often increase in value; stocks, bonds and

real state. Whereas poor people own assets that
often decrease value; household furnishing.
In terms of income, typically the income of
wealthy people rise as they mature. On the
other hand as poor people grow old their
income tends to decline.
Thus, the felt gap between wealthy and the
poor tend to increase over peoples life span.
Occupation and prestige ones
socioeconomic standing may also

determine by ones occupation.
Categories of occupation
White-collar occupation
Professional, manager, administrator
Technical
clerical
Blue-collar job
Craft, precision production, and repair
Operative
Labor (excluding farm)
Farm worker
W hite-C ollar Job vs. B lue-C ollar

Job
White-collar job involves
mental activity amidst pleasant

workplace w/ little supervision
Blue-collar job requires heavy
labor in a poor quality of

workplace w/ close supervision
P ink-collar Job
Pink-collar job- this category
reflects the segregation of women
into certain occupation such as;
kindergarten teachers, secretary, file
clerks, waitress, nurse, library
science and pet grooming.
These are highly feminized and
characterized by low pay and low
prestige.
Education, wealth and prestige in
work interplay with one another in

determining ones socioeconomic
status.
But any of the three factors might
not be enough if taken singly.
And at some cases, even these three
are present in a particular individual,
one might still be considered as
lower class.
Race and ethnicity, and gender.
Things to ponder
Which element most affects mobility
in the Philippines: (a) hardwork, (b)

expansion of opportunities, (c) luck,
(d) family background
Do you think people are really the
same, regardless of their social class

position? Why or why not?
Age and G ender

Patriarchy and everyday life
Gender socialization is very common in our
everyday life, but despite its pervasiveness

we hardly think about it.
Gender plays vital role in our lives, it is
express in different realms of life.
Now let us examine how gender affects
our everyday life and how patriarchy,
or male dominance, is ingrained in

the way society is organized.
Language and Patriarchy

Language is a subtle yet powerful
mechanism that assaults women selfesteem and help perpetuate male

dominance. (Richardson 1988)
Many of the slang words denote women as,
chick, sexy, putang ina are extremely

demeaning.
Forms of address also subtly imply unequal
gender relationship.
Mrs. Or Ms. indicates whether a woman is
married
Mr. makes no reference
Often times, man is addressed by his last
name preceded by Mr., Dr. and other title.

Whereas, women are addressed by their
first name only.
If man says no people assume he really
means it.
If a girl says no people think that she
really mean maybe or yes
The traditional way in which name change
when people marry further reflects
patriarchy.
From Ms. Ortega to Mrs. Pedro
Why not Mrs. Ortega-Pedro?
Socialinteraction and Patriarchy

Placing the arms of a man on the
girls
When having conversation; man is
more likely to interrupt.
Gender and Pornography
Gender and work
Fem inism
Feminism is a counter ideology that
has arisen to challenge sexism,

patriarchy and they seek
independence and equality for
women.
Gender inequality and the law.
These domains of moral inequalities
are social convention, meaning that

men are responsible for the
existence of those inequalities.
But the sad truth is it seem everyone
is fine with it for it has been long
practiced.
And we are too comfortable living
with it.
That we too afraid to leave our
Race and Ethnicity

Race and ethnicity are often used
interchangeably, but it has specific and

technical meaning.
Race is a group of people who have been
singled out on the basis of real or alleged

physical characteristics.
Race is a social construct base on biological
traits endowed with social meaning.
Dark as inferior and white as
superior
Implications of this belief if fair-skinned
people will act on their belief:

They may deny black-skinned people
education
They will refuse to hire them for wellpaying job.
they may deprive black people of their
rights.
Ethnicity refers to the people who
have common cultural

characteristics such as, language,
place of origin, dress, food and
values.
In addition, ethnic group also share
ethnic identity

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Inequalities of Social Class

Equality is one of the social concepts

in which everyone is longing.

affected by caste system;

Types ofCaste System

W orst com e to w orst

practicing ritual cleansing.

(the polluted person must undergo ritual

(communication and transportation)

India has become more industrialized

India has become more democratic

determined by the people.

income and work)

However, this control is very minimal.

D eterm inants ofSocioeconom ic Status

African-American high school

graduates have higher rate of

Wealth sociologist divide wealth into

two kinds: assets; real states, stocks,

Rich vs. Poor in terms of Asset and

that often increase in value; stocks, bonds and

poor tend to increase over peoples life span.

Occupation and prestige ones

socioeconomic standing may also

W hite-C ollar Job vs. B lue-C ollar

mental activity amidst pleasant

labor in a poor quality of

Education, wealth and prestige in

work interplay with one another in

in the Philippines: (a) hardwork, (b)

same, regardless of their social class

Age and G ender

everyday life, but despite its pervasiveness

or male dominance, is ingrained in

Language and Patriarchy

mechanism that assaults women selfesteem and help perpetuate male

chick, sexy, putang ina are extremely

Often times, man is addressed by his last

name preceded by Mr., Dr. and other title.

Socialinteraction and Patriarchy

has arisen to challenge sexism,

These domains of moral inequalities

are social convention, meaning that

Race and Ethnicity

interchangeably, but it has specific and

singled out on the basis of real or alleged

traits endowed with social meaning.

Dark as inferior and white as

people will act on their belief:

Ethnicity refers to the people who

have common cultural

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