Why social inequality persists. What forms of social inequality were there between . What is the real cause of inequality and injustice. Why has social and economic inequalities in UK risen since 1979. Why was inequality worlds biggest issue in January 2014. Why is exclusion considered necessary. W...
Why social inequality still persists. Danny Dorling
o Great inequality = inevitable & sometimes desirable.
o Highs in income & wealth inequalities in the UK coincide with inequalities in how
people vote depending on where they live.
|_> 2015 general election = most segregated outcome of all time. Reflects 5 yrs of
rapidly growing social divides.
o 2010-2015 = increase in poverty, hunger & destitution in UK.
|_> result = food banks became vital & housing crisis deepened.
o Social inequality occurs when resources unevenly distributed.
o Richest 1% of people in the world will own more then the other 99% put together.
o 2015 edition of injustice = five social evils: elitism, exclusion, prejudice, greed &
despair.
Real cause of inequality & injustice:
o It’s accepted that inequalities between poor & rich nations result in injustice, also
injustice within rich nations.
|_> some claim differences are ‘natural’ due to genetic differences.
|_> many others claim differences are the inevitable effect of market forces &
globalisation.
o Since 1979 = social & economic inequalities in UK have risen year on year. BUT
between 1918 – 1979 inequalities had fallen.
|_> injustice looks at what drives this increase in inequalities.
o Live in hierarchical society. People are either ‘above’ or ‘below’ others.
o Hierarchy created by elitism, exclusion, prejudice & greed.
|_> end result increases despair, not only among the poor.
o Direction is crucial.
|_> many changes can be better for everyone BUT other changes can be disastrous
for society as a whole.
o JAN 2014 = ‘masters of the universe’, growing inequality had become most
important world issue, along with climate change.
Dispelling myths that cause injustice:
MYTH 1: ELITISM IS EFFICIENT
o Despite ever-improving compulsory education many young people are seen as failing
as they’re not reaching official targets.
o Even those in politics, business or are celebrities (who believe they’re gifted & that
they should be rewarded appropriately) are also victims of elitism.
o Under elitism, ed is less about learning & more about dividing people.
|_> Conferring high status upon a minority.
o Poor people most damaged by elitism.
|_> told they’re poor because they lack ability to be anything else.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller lucypike3343. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £7.99. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
