- What is inequality?
- Social inequality
- Economic inequality
- educational inequality
- legal inequality
- gender inequality
We explain what inequality is, in the social, economic, education and law. Also, what is gender inequality?
What is inequality?
Inequality occurs when two or more things or situations are not equal, that is, they are not equivalent, nor fair, nor do they correspond. This can refer to very different things, depending on the context.
For example, in the field of math, an inequality is called an order relationship between two values that are neither equal nor equivalent, that is, when there is no equality between them. This last relationship is represented by the “equals” symbol (=), while inequalities are represented with the symbols “greater than” (>) or “less than” (<) depending on which one corresponds. So, for example, 2 1, and 1 = 1.
However, in the context of social Sciences, the concept of inequality acquires numerous and complex meanings, which allude to the different forms of inequity that afflict the lives of Humans. This means that the existence of human beings is not usually egalitarian or equitable, but that some have a lot and others have little, some enjoy advantages and others drown in difficulties.
Below we will review the various ways in which this may be true.
Social inequality
Social inequality is a very broad category, in which the different aspects of people's lives are taken into consideration and the way in which they influence the opportunities they have, the place they occupy in society or the quality of life that awaits them.
Social inequality can be understood as the inequality in the place that people occupy in the world and in society, specifically in relation to their race and ethnicity, their economic position, their access to the institutions of a Condition, their work practice and other similar aspects.
Social inequality is based on discrimination, that is, on the establishment of classes and types of people, some of which are acceptable and welcome, and others contemptible and rejectable.
Social inequality manifests itself, for example, when a person is denied a job because of their gender, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation. Another example is denying people of low socioeconomic status entry to a store or a institution, since it is reserving certain opportunities, certain benefits and certain experiences for a specific, privileged sector of society. This usually means that some have a lot and others, on the other hand, very little.
Economic inequality
The economic inequality or inequality of income can be understood as just one aspect of social inequality, referring exclusively to the monetary and economic. In other words, income inequality has to do with the unequal distribution of money, and therefore of the goods and services available, between the different actors of a society, or even between the different countries of the world.
Thus, there are high-income countries and low-income countries. their respective citizens they have more or less opportunities for protagonism in the world depending on which one they belong to; but within each of them, in addition, there are high-income citizens and low-income citizens, that is, social classes rich and poor: the former have more than they need and the latter less than they need.
Economic inequality, in a capitalist world, quickly transforms into other types of inequalities, since everything revolves around money. Those who have more money can aspire not only to more and better life experiences, but also to more and better opportunities to make money, which means that wealth tends to accumulate in a few hands, leaving many others in situations of need. .
educational inequality
Educational inequality has to do with the inequitable distribution of access to education, either globally, or in a particular country. This allows illiterate people to coexist with people with many levels of education in the same country.
This inequality has repercussions on the work capacity of each one and therefore on their level of economic income: less educated people can aspire to lower-paid jobs and therefore constitute weaker households.
In addition, educational inequality forms a barrier between the popular classes and the wealthy, since education is much more than simply acquiring an economically profitable trade: it is also a way of conceiving the world, of understanding the functioning of the State and, therefore, hence, from independence. More educated people are freer, for the simple fact of having more conceptual tools in life.
Let us imagine, as an example, a person who does not know how to read or write.In the beginning, you will have the physical energy of youth and you will be able to take on demanding jobs that may not even be so poorly paid; but he will do it from the weakest possible position, since he will not even be able to read and understand the employment contract to which he adheres, and in case his employer fails to comply with any of its terms, he will not even be able to find out.
As he gets older, his strength will begin to fail him and with them probably the chances of making money, so he will have to depend on the rest of his family and the few opportunities that life, by chance, gives him.
legal inequality
Legal inequality or legal inequality refers to the significant difference in treatment by the State and the agencies of the law that is given to citizens depending on their socioeconomic position, their ethnic group, their gender, religion or their sexual orientation, for example.
Situations of legal inequality generally offer a softer and more considerate treatment to the wealthy classes, and a harsher and more merciless treatment to the lower classes, which contributes to widening the gap between those who have more and those who have not.
Legal inequality can occur in the discrimination of certain human groups, withdrawing the protection of the law, or it can consist of differential treatment according to social stratum, such as when criminals of one race are given longer sentences than criminals of another. , even though they both committed the same crime.
Legal inequality is typical of legal systems corrupt, authoritarian regimes and dictatorships, or of failed states and cultures in which the racism, sexism or deep religious fundamentalism.
gender inequality
Gender inequality is a form of social inequality, which has to do with discrimination based on sex or sexual orientation.This means that certain individuals are deprived of economic, educational, legal, or cultural opportunities simply because, for example, they were born female or homosexual.
Gender inequality is evident in the contemporary world in many ways, and is a symptom of a sexist and patriarchal culture, which provides fewer opportunities for women in terms of educational and professional development, or legal protection, than men. . This is a source of economic, educational and legal inequalities, naturally, such as women receiving lower wages for doing the same work as men (the so-called “gender gap”).