A certain inequality between social groups is called. How and why social inequality arises

FEDERAL AGENCY FOR EDUCATION

STATE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION OF HIGHER PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION

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Department UP-1

Sociology homework

“SOCIAL INEQUALITY, ITS CAUSES AND TYPES”

Student: …………………………

080504 - State and municipal administration

1st year, gr. UP-1

Checked:

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Introduction………………………………………………………………………………..….. 3

1. The essence of social inequality……………………………..………..4

2. Causes of social inequality…………………………………………...5

3. Modern types of inequality……………………………………..……….8

Conclusion……………………………………………………………...………..11

References……………………………………………………………..12

INTRODUCTION

The formation of “New Russia” noticeably changed social relations, social institutions, and gave rise to new forms of social differentiation and inequality.

Discussions about social inequality, its content and criteria for its occurrence have a long history. The problem of social inequality, taking into account the values ​​of traditional society, appears in the works of Aristotle, Plato, Tacitus.

In my opinion, in the modern world, indicators characterizing social inequality must be continuously monitored and assessed. This is necessary for one reason - the degree of social inequality may exceed certain acceptable limits. Exceeding the permissible degree of inequality leads to a large difference in the standard of living of individual status groups in society, which can be regarded as discrimination and infringement of certain groups of the population. This fact often leads to social tension in society and aggravates social conflicts.

The object of my research is society, and the subject is the study of inequality.

Since my essay is devoted to the problem of inequality in society, my task is to determine the essence and causes of social inequality, as well as to consider the types of social inequality.

1. THE ESSENCE OF SOCIAL INEQUALITY

To begin with, I would like to define what the term “inequality” means? In general terms, inequality means that people live in conditions in which they have unequal access to resources for material and spiritual consumption. And inequality between groups of people is characterized by the concept of “social stratification.”

When considering the problem of social inequality, it is fair to proceed from the theory of socio-economic heterogeneity of labor. It is the socio-economic heterogeneity of labor that is the consequence and cause of the appropriation of power, property, prestige by some people and the absence of all these signs of “advancement” in the social hierarchy by others. Each of the groups develops and relies on its own values ​​and norms, and if they are placed according to a hierarchical principle, then they are social layers.

In social stratification there is a tendency to inherit positions. The principle of inheritance of positions leads to the fact that not all capable and educated individuals have equal chances to occupy positions of power, high principles and well-paid positions. There are two selection mechanisms at work here: unequal access to truly high-quality education; unequal opportunities for equally qualified individuals to obtain positions.

I would like to note that the inequality of position of different groups of people can be traced throughout the history of civilization. Even in primitive societies, age and gender, combined with physical strength, were important criteria for stratification.

2. CAUSES OF SOCIAL INEQUALITY

Some representatives of sociological thought believe that the main reason for the unequal position of people in society is the social division of labor. However, scientists explain in different ways the ensuing consequences and, especially, the reasons for the reproduction of inequality.

Herbert Spencer believes that the source of inequality is conquest. Thus, the ruling class is the winners, and the lower class is the losers. Prisoners of war become slaves, free farmers become serfs. On the other hand, frequent or constant wars lead to the deliberate dominance of those who function in the state and military sphere. Thus, the law of natural selection operates: the stronger dominate and occupy a privileged position, while the weak are subordinate to them and are on the lower steps of the social ladder.

The development of the sociology of inequality, the idea of ​​evolution and the law of natural selection had a significant influence. One of the directions of evolutionism is social Darwinism. What all representatives of this trend had in common was the recognition that the same struggle is going on between human societies as between biological organisms.

Ludwig Gumplowicz is convinced that the cause of any social movement is economic motives. The means to realize these interests are violence and coercion. States arise as a result of military clashes between races. The winners become the elite (ruling class), and the vanquished become the masses.

William Sumner is the most influential Social Darwinist. He uniquely interpreted the ideas of Protestant ethics and the principle of natural selection in his works. He most clearly demonstrated the ideology of social Darwinism in his writings of the 70s. Since evolution does not occur at the will of people, it is therefore stupid and absurd to design models of society, Sumner believed. The struggle for existence and survival is a natural law of nature that does not need to be changed. And capitalism is the only healthy system, the rich are a product of natural selection.

Karl Marx believed that initially the division of labor does not lead to the subordination of some people by others, but, being a factor in the mastery of natural resources, causes professional specialization. But the increasing complexity of the production process contributes to the division of labor into physical and mental. This division historically preceded the formation of private property and classes. With their appearance, certain areas, types and functions of activity are assigned to the corresponding classes. From this time on, each class is engaged in its assigned occupation, owns or does not own property, and is located on different rungs of the ladder of social status. The causes of inequality lie in the system of production, in the different attitudes towards the means of production, which allows those who own property not only to exploit those who do not have it, but also to dominate them. To eliminate inequality, it is necessary to expropriate private property and its nationalization.

Subsequently, within the framework of conflict theory, R. Dahrendorf, R. Mikels, C.R. Mills and others began to view inequality as the result of the conditions under which people who control social values ​​such as wealth and power derive benefits and advantages for themselves. In any case, social stratification is seen as a condition of social tension and conflict.

Proponents of structural functionalism, following Emile Durkheim, identify two causes of social inequality

Hierarchy of activities Degree of talent

in a society of individuals

Of decisive importance for the formation of modern ideas about the essence, forms and functions of social inequality, along with Marx, was Max Weber (1864 - 1920), a classic of world sociological theory. The ideological basis of Weber's views is that the individual is the subject of social action.

In contrast to Marx, Weber, in addition to the economic aspect of stratification, took into account such aspects as power and prestige. Weber viewed property, power, and prestige as three separate, interacting factors that underlie hierarchies in any society. Differences in ownership give rise to economic classes; differences related to power give rise to political parties, and differences of prestige give rise to status groupings, or strata. From here he formulated his idea of ​​“three autonomous dimensions of stratification.” He emphasized that “classes”, “status groups” and “parties” are phenomena related to the distribution of power within a community.

Weber's main contradiction with Marx is that, according to Weber, a class cannot be a subject of action, since it is not a community. In contrast to Marx, Weber associated the concept of class only with capitalist society, where the most important regulator of relations is the market. Through it, people satisfy their needs for material goods and services.

However, in the market people occupy different positions or are in different “class situations”. Everything is bought and sold here. Some sell goods and services; others - labor. The difference here is that some people own property while others do not. Weber does not have a clear class structure of capitalist society, so different interpreters of his works give different lists of classes.

Taking into account his methodological principles and summarizing his historical, economic and sociological works, we can reconstruct Weber's typology of classes under capitalism as follows:

Working class deprived of property. He offers on the market

its services and is differentiated by skill level.

petty bourgeoisie- a class of small businessmen and traders.

Dispossessed white collar workers: technical specialists and intellectuals.

Administrators and managers.

Owners, who also strive through education for the advantages that intellectuals possess.

5.1 Owner class, i.e. those who receive rent from land ownership,

mines, etc.

5.2 “Commercial class”, i.e. entrepreneurs.

3. MODERN TYPES OF INEQUALITY

3.1. Poverty as a type of inequality (let’s consider the period when changes in this area were especially noticeable)

The phenomenon of poverty became the subject of research in modern Russian sociology in the early 1990s. During the Soviet period, the concept of poverty in relation to Soviet people was not used in domestic science. In the socio-economic literature, the category of poverty, which was revealed within the framework of the theory of welfare and socialist distribution, received official recognition.

Today, an important characteristic of society is its social polarization, stratification into the poor and the rich. In 1994 per capita cash ratio the income of the richest 10% and the poorest 10% of Russians was 1:9, and already in the first quarter of 1995 - almost 1:15. However, these figures do not take into account the 5% of the super-rich population, about which statistics do not have data.

According to official statistics, for 1993-1996. number of unemployed increased from 3.6 million to 6.5 million (including those officially registered with the state employment service - from 577.7 thousand people to 2506 thousand).

Working-age population amounted to 83,767 thousand in 1994, 84,059 thousand in 1995, 84,209 thousand in 1996, 84,337 thousand in 1997, 84,781 thousand in 1998. Human.

Economically active population in 1994 amounted to 73,962.4 thousand, in 1995 - 72,871.9 thousand, in 1996 - 73,230.0 thousand, in 1997 - 72,819 thousand people.

Number of people with incomes below the subsistence level is 30.7 million or 20.8% of the population of the Russian Federation. IN

1997, the 10% of the richest population accounted for 31.7% of cash income, while the 10% of the least affluent population accounted for only 2.4%, i.e. 13.2 times less.

According to official statistics, the number of unemployed was 5478.0 thousand in 1994, 6431.0 thousand in 1995, 7280.0 thousand in 1996, 8180.3 thousand in 1997 .

3.2.Deprivation as a type of inequality.

Deprivation should be understood as any condition that gives rise or may give rise to an individual or group feeling of their own deprivation in comparison with other individuals (or groups). Five types of deprivation can be distinguished.

Economic deprivation.

It arises from the uneven distribution of income in society and the limited satisfaction of the needs of some individuals and groups. The degree of economic deprivation is assessed using objective and subjective criteria. An individual who, according to objective criteria, is economically quite prosperous and even enjoys privileges, may nevertheless experience a subjective feeling of deprivation. For the emergence of religious movements, the subjective feeling of deprivation is the most important factor.

Social deprivation.

It is explained by the tendency of society to value the qualities and abilities of some individuals and groups higher than others, expressing this assessment in the distribution of such social rewards as prestige, power, high status in society and corresponding opportunities for participation in social life.

Ethical deprivation.

It is associated with a value conflict that arises when the ideals of individuals or groups do not coincide with the ideals of society. Often a value conflict arises due to the presence of contradictions in social organization. Such conflicts between society and intellectuals are known.

Mental deprivation.

It arises as a result of the formation of a value vacuum in an individual or group - the absence of a significant value system in accordance with which they could build their life. A common reaction to mental deprivation is the search for new values, new faith, meaning and purpose of existence. Mental deprivation manifests itself, first of all, in a feeling of despair, alienation, and a state of anomie, resulting from objective states of deprivation (social, economic or organismic). It often results in actions aimed at eliminating objective forms of deprivation.

Conclusion

In its most general form, inequality means that people live in conditions in which they have unequal access to limited resources for material and spiritual consumption. To describe the system of inequality between groups of people in sociology, the concept of “social stratification” is widely used.

When considering the problem of social inequality, it is quite justified to proceed from the theory of socio-economic heterogeneity of labor. Performing qualitatively unequal types of labor, satisfying social needs to varying degrees, people sometimes find themselves engaged in economically heterogeneous labor, because such types of labor have different assessments of their social usefulness.

It is the socio-economic heterogeneity of labor that is not only a consequence, but also the reason for the appropriation of power, property, prestige by some people and the absence of all these signs of “advancement” in the social hierarchy by others.

In social stratification there is a tendency to inherit positions. The principle of inheritance of positions leads to the fact that not all capable and educated individuals have equal chances to occupy positions of power, high principles and well-paid positions.

Social stratification has a traditional character, since despite the historical mobility of its form, its essence, that is, the inequality of position of different groups of people, is preserved throughout the history of civilization. Even in primitive societies, age and sex, combined with physical strength, were important criteria for stratification.

Considering the dissatisfaction of members of society with the existing system of distribution of power, property and conditions for individual development, it is still necessary to keep in mind the universality of human inequality.

Bibliography

Goffman A. B. Seven lectures on the history of sociology. M., 1995.

Zborovsky G. E. Orlov G. P. Sociology. M., 1995.

Komarov M. S. Introduction to sociology. M., 1995.

Komarov. M.S. Social stratification and social structure. Sociol. research 1992, no. 7.

A brief dictionary of sociology. - M.: Politizdat, 1988

Losev A. F. History of ancient aesthetics Vol. II Sophists Socrates. Plato. M., 1969

Fundamentals of political science: Course of lectures. Textbook for universities / N. Sazonov, B. Reshetnyak and others - M., 1993.

Subject and structure of sociological science, sociological research, 1981.№-1.p.90.

Sociology. Textbook for higher educational institutions. G.V. Osipov, A.V. Kabyshcha, M.R. Tulchinsky and others - M.: Nauka, 1995.

Sociology: General course: Textbook for universities.-M.: PER SE; Logos, 2000.

Sociology: Workshop. Comp. and resp. ed. A. V. Mironov, R. I. Rudenko. M., 1993.

The structure of social stratification and trends in social mobility // American Sociology / Transl. from English V.V. Voronina and E.E. Zinkovsky. M.: Progress, 1972. P. 235-247.

Philosophical Dictionary, 1991, - ed. I.T. Frolova.

Sociology: textbook / Ed. N.D. Kazakova. – M.: MGUPI, 2008. – 120 p.

Social inequality is a consequence of uneven access of members of society to spiritual and material resources, which leads to stratification and the formation of a vertical hierarchy. People at different levels of the hierarchy have unequal life chances in realizing their aspirations and needs. Any society is structured in one way or another: according to national, geographic, gender, demographic or other characteristics. However, social inequality has a completely unique

nature. Its main source is the development of civilization itself, existing in the form of society.

Causes of social inequality

Every society in human history has been characterized by the specialization of its members. This fact alone in the future gives rise to social inequality, since specialization sooner or later leads to a difference between more and less popular forms of activity. Thus, in the most primitive societies, shaman healers and warriors had the highest status. Usually the best of them became the heads of the tribe or people. At the same time, such differentiation does not necessarily imply the accompanying material benefits. In primitive society, social inequality is not at all the result of material stratification, since trade relations themselves did not yet matter. However, the fundamental reason remains the same - specialization. In modern society, people, for example, find themselves in a privileged position

creating a cultural product - film actors, television presenters, professional athletes and others.

Inequality criteria

As we have already seen from the example of primitive societies, social inequality can be expressed not only in material status. And history knows many such examples. Thus, for medieval Europe, pedigree was an extremely important factor in social status. Noble origin alone determined a high status in society, regardless of wealth. At the same time, the countries of the East hardly knew such a class-hierarchical model. All subjects of the state - viziers and peasants - were equal slaves in the face of the sovereign, whose status came from the simple fact of power. Sociologist Max Weber identified three possible criteria for inequality:

Thus, the difference in income, social respect and honor, as well as the number of subordinates, depending on the value guidelines of society, can have different effects on the final social status of a person.

Social inequality coefficient

Over the past two hundred years, there have been debates among economists and sociologists about the degree of stratification in a particular society. Thus, according to Vilfredo Pareto, the ratio of poor and rich is a constant. In contrast, the teachings of Marxism indicate that there is a constant increase in social differentiation - the poor are becoming poorer, the rich are getting richer. However, the practical experience of the twentieth century has demonstrated that if such increasing stratification occurs, it makes society unstable and ultimately leads to social upheaval.

And they have unequal life chances and opportunities to meet their needs.

In its most general form, inequality means that people live in conditions in which they have unequal access to limited resources for material and spiritual consumption.

Fulfilling qualitatively unequal working conditions and satisfying social needs to varying degrees, people sometimes find themselves engaged in economically heterogeneous labor, because these types of labor have different assessments of their social usefulness.

The main mechanisms of social inequality are relations of property, power (dominance and subordination), social (i.e. socially assigned and hierarchized) division of labor, as well as uncontrolled, spontaneous social differentiation. These mechanisms are mainly associated with the characteristics of a market economy, with inevitable competition (including in the labor market) and unemployment. Social inequality is perceived and experienced by many people (primarily the unemployed, economic migrants, those who find themselves at or below the poverty line) as a manifestation of injustice. Social inequality and wealth stratification in society, as a rule, lead to increased social tension, especially during the transition period. This is what is characteristic of Russia today.

The main principles of social policy implementation are:

1. the establishment of socialist power with the subsequent transition to communism and the withering away of the state;
2. protecting the standard of living by introducing various forms of compensation for price increases and indexing;
3. providing assistance to the poorest families;
4. issuance of assistance in case of unemployment;
5. ensuring social insurance policy, establishing a minimum wage for workers;
6. development of education, health protection, and the environment mainly at the expense of the state;
7. pursuing an active policy aimed at ensuring qualifications.

Literature

• Shkaratan, Ovsey Irmovich. Sociology of inequality. Theory and reality; National research University "Higher School of Economics". - M.: Ed. House of the Higher School of Economics, 2012. - 526 p. - ISBN 978-5-7598-0913-5

Links

• "Ideology of Inequality" Elizaveta Aleksandrova-Zorina

See also

Categories:

• Social inequality
• Social systems
• Economic problems
• Social problems
• Socioeconomics
• Income distribution

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

See what “Social inequality” is in other dictionaries:

For inequalities in the socio-economic sense, see Social inequality. In mathematics, an inequality (≠) is a statement about the relative size or order of two objects, or that they are simply not the same (see also Equality).... ... Wikipedia

SOCIAL EQUALITY- – a type of social relations characterized by the same rights and freedoms of individuals belonging to different classes, social groups and strata, their equality before the law. Antipode S. r. - social inequality that arose with... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary of Psychology and Pedagogy

A concept denoting the same social position of people belonging to different social classes and groups. SR idea. as a principle of organizing society in different historical eras was understood differently. Philosophy of the ancient world... ... The latest philosophical dictionary

English inequality, social; German Ungleichheit, soziale; frlpedašo sociale; A specific form of social differentiation, when cutting individual individuals, social. boundaries, layers, classes are at different levels of vertical social. hierarchies, have unequal... Encyclopedia of Sociology

INEQUALITY, a, cf. 1. Lack of equality (in 1 and 2 meanings), equality. N. forces. Social n. 2. In mathematics: a relationship between quantities, showing that one quantity is greater or less than another. The inequality sign (>... Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary

SOCIAL EQUALITY- a concept denoting the same social position of people belonging to different social classes and groups. The idea of ​​S.R. as a principle of organizing society in different historical eras was understood differently. Philosophy of the ancient world... ... Sociology: Encyclopedia

Liberalism ... Wikipedia

A; Wed 1. Lack of equality in anything. Social, economic n. N. forces. N. before the law. N. women. 2. Math. A relationship between numbers or quantities, indicating that one of them is greater or less than the other (indicated by the sign ≠ or ◁, ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

inequality- INEQUALITY, a, cf. Social rule, which consists in non-observance of equal rights of people in society, equal status of someone, something, lack of equality; Syn: inequality; Ant.: equality. Economic inequality of regions. Inequality... ... Explanatory dictionary of Russian nouns

inequality- A; Wed 1) Lack of equality in anything. Social, economic inequality. Inequality of power. Inequality before the law. Inequality of women. 2) math. A relationship between numbers or quantities indicating that one of them is greater or less... ... Dictionary of many expressions

Books

• There is social inequality! , Plantel Group. After reading this book, old fairy tales about princes and princesses sound and are perceived differently. After all, it is about economic and social inequality that existed in the past...

Social inequality - This is a type of social division in which individual members of society or groups are at different levels of the social ladder (hierarchy) and have unequal opportunities, rights and responsibilities.

Main inequality indicators:

• different levels of access to resources, both physical and moral (for example, women in Ancient Greece who were not allowed to participate in the Olympic Games);
• different working conditions.

Causes of social inequality.

French sociologist Emile Durkheim identified two causes of social inequality:

1. The need to reward the best in their field, that is, those who bring great benefit to society.
2. People have different levels of personal qualities and talent.

Robert Michels put forward another reason: the protection of the privileges of power. When a community exceeds a certain number of people, they nominate a leader, or an entire group, and give him greater powers than everyone else.

Criteria of social inequality.

Key inequality criteria Max Weber stated:

1. Wealth (difference in income).
2. Prestige (the difference in honor and respect).
3. Power (difference in the number of subordinates).

Hierarchy of inequality.

There are two types of hierarchy, which are usually represented as geometric shapes: pyramid(a handful of oligarchs and a huge number of poor people, and the poorer, the greater their number) and rhombus(few oligarchs, few poor people and the bulk are middle class). A diamond is preferable to a pyramid from the point of view of stability of the social system. Roughly speaking, in the diamond-shaped version, middle peasants happy with life will not allow a handful of poor people to stage a coup and civil war. You don't have to go far for an example. In Ukraine, the middle class was far from being the majority, and dissatisfied residents of poor western and central villages overthrew the government in the country. As a result, the pyramid turned over, but remained a pyramid. There are other oligarchs at the top, and at the bottom there is still the majority of the country's population.

Addressing social inequality.

It is natural that social inequality is perceived as social injustice, especially by those who are at the lowest level in the hierarchy of social division. In modern society, the issue of social inequality is under the control of social policy bodies. Their responsibilities include:

1. Introduction of various compensations for socially vulnerable segments of the population.
2. Help for poor families.
3. Benefits for the unemployed.
4. Determination of the minimum wage.
5. Social insurance.
6. Development of education.
7. Healthcare.
8. Ecological problems .
9. Improvement of workers' qualifications.

A distinctive feature of any society is its division along national, social, class, demographic or some other grounds. This is precisely the reason why social inequality arises. In past centuries, it manifested itself in the form of violence, infringement of human rights and other actions.

Today this is not happening as clearly as before. But, nevertheless, social inequality does exist, only it manifests itself in a more subtle form, because it is impossible to destroy it forever. Let's take a closer look at what it is and what its causes are.

In ancient Rus' there was a division of people into certain layers of society (nobles, princes, landowners, peasants, etc.). Each of these groups was on a specific rung of the social ladder and had its own rights and responsibilities. This division is also called This situation is typical for any society.

Social inequality is a different level of accessibility, proximity to such social benefits as money, prestige, power.

Initially, there was a simple form: there were leaders who had the broadest rights, and ordinary people who obeyed them and had some restrictions on their actions and capabilities. Since then, new hierarchical levels have appeared, and social inequality has acquired a more complex form.

Every society strives to achieve equality at all levels, which means equal opportunities for all people regardless of their gender, age, nationality and other characteristics. However, this is impossible to achieve for various reasons.

Firstly, this is the unequal distribution of material wealth and opportunities. This is mainly due to the heterogeneity of labor. Performing work of different importance and satisfying the needs of society in different ways, people receive different assessments of their work. This is precisely what can be called the main cause of social inequality.

Inheritance of certain rights and privileges is another reason for the unequal distribution of benefits and opportunities. Sometimes this is why people with high abilities and good education do not always have the opportunity to get a good job, to occupy a certain position with a salary worthy of their intellectual level.

There are two primary causes of social inequality. One of them is the level of accessibility of quality education for different segments of the population. The second reason is unequal opportunities with the same level of training.

The reasons for the division of society and the signs by which this occurs can be very different. The criteria are both objective and subjective. In modern society, they are profession, income level, position held, participation in government, education, ownership of property and some other characteristics. Social inequality gives rise to class divisions.

If a society is predominantly dominated by the middle class, then it can be considered stable, with a low level of social inequality. But in Russia so far only the formation of this social layer is taking place.

Social inequality cannot be completely eradicated for various reasons.

In any society, someone must exercise control over the distribution of resources and benefits. And this sometimes becomes more desirable than owning material goods themselves. A category of officials with great potential is emerging.

Every society has its own political, economic and governmental structure, headed by certain people who have more rights than other people.

And the last factor is the person himself and the characteristics of his character. He always strives to surpass others in order to occupy more advantageous social positions.