essay questions about social inequality

105 Social Inequality Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best social inequality topic ideas & essay examples, 💡 interesting topics to write about social inequality, 🎓 good research topics about social inequality, ⭐ simple & easy social inequality essay titles, ❓ research questions about social inequality.

• Essay on Social Class Inequality & Discrimination In this paper, I analyze three articles on social class and inequality to find out whether the authors’ views agree with mine on the negative attitudes towards the poor by the middle class and the […]
• Social, Cultural and Gender Inequality From a Global Perspective It is the duty of the tutor to craft a lecture-room environment that serves to enhance meaningful discussions concerning gender. This is due to the fact that students learn best in various ways. We will write a custom essay specifically for you by our professional experts 808 writers online Learn More
• Hip-Hop and Rap Impact on Social Inequality For instance, Beyonce is one of the most famous artists in the world who have stated her opinion regarding misogyny related to artists and other black women.
• Zora Neale Hurston “Sweat”: The Issue of Social Inequality of Women and Men On the one hand, it represented a true social situation, and on the other hand, it helped to illustrate the life of Afro-American people at the beginning of the twentieth century.
• Social Inequality, Socialization, and Values Living in terms of limited access to resources also influences career choice and the level of income. As a result, the problem remains unresolved, and communities suffer from the unfair distribution of benefits.
• Social Inequality and Discrimination Gender discrimination is when a person or a group of people is treated unfairly or unfairly because of their gender. Moreover, there is a classification of the thinking model in which a person exalts his […]
• Researching of Social Inequality In this paper, I look at the social injustices suffered by minority communities in these eras, how they sought to solve them, and the coverage of these critical periods of American history in the textbooks. […]
• Solution for Social Inequality by Transforming Human Attitudes On the macro-scale, the poverty redress policies emphasize the importance of economic growth while the issue of social inequality remains in the background.
• Issue of Unemployment: Social Inequality The deep socio-economic divides in American society have impacted the unemployment rates even before the COVID-19 pandemic; however, the virus has exacerbated the issue.
• Social Inequality in Literary Works For example, in Recitatif, the writer describes the adversities of the lives of two girls living in a shelter, Twyla and Roberta.
• Social Inequality, Capitalism, and Globalization It replaces slavery of antiquity and negatively affects almost all aspects of society, from the inequality of men and women to the sphere of science and education.
• Social Inequality Principle According to the COVID-19 From the five principles that figured out the emergence of social inequality, I would like to discuss the principle about the interplay of Power, Privilege, and Prestige according to the current terrifying occasion of a […]
• COVID-19 Pandemic and Social Inequality Currently, the world community is rethinking the problems of a multinational state in the context of measures that can stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus on the planet.
• Social Inequality in Canada and Its Main Factor The promotion of capitalism, the living conditions of most of the citizens, the percentage the rich control in terms of national wealth, and the promotion of stratification are the key factors that explain why social […]
• Comparing Perspectives on Social Inequality The authors formulate two categories, according to which the society’s employees receive compensation for their contribution the functional importance and the scarcity of personnel.
• Social Inequality Problem Overview Both in the case of Arabic women and black slavery, people are depicted as their basic rights by some groups of individuals, which is inappropriate.
• The Problem of Social Inequality The project is one of the ways to convey the urgency of the problem to the broad public. This will keep the site up to date and highlight the relevance of problems.
• Social Inequality: Family, Economics and Wages The first is the world of work, living in a declining share of income for the majority of the people, and which has an extreme shortage of money for the purchase of even essential goods.
• Social Inequality at School: Vision Winterkorn was in charge of the company when it faced the major crisis, the echoes of which are still causing issues.”The Volkswagen Diesel Fraud” as the world knows it, was a major scandal that Winterkorn […]
• Social Inequality at School: The G-Spot The gland is claimed to have the connection to the G-spot that is perceived rather as a system of glands, tissue, and nerves.
• The Inter-Sectionality Theory and Social Inequality The inter-sectionalist theory indicates that cultural identifiers such as ethnicity, gender, as well as race, are the prime factors contributing to actions that result in mistreating a group of individuals, and uplifting others. The fact […]
• Chinese Women and the Social Inequality A number of activists were intensively working on the liberation of women and the reinforcement of women’s consideration in the political arena.
• Culture of Social Inequality: Get in Where You Fit Although stereotypes serve the basic function of making people feel superior to others or releasing frustration, there is a belief that they are also a part of a broader context in which they justify social […]
• Social Inequality in the United States Social inequality refers to the difference in the quality of life experienced by different people in the same community, usually between the rich and poor.
• Social Inequality Issue Analysis Thesis Social inequality is a system and systematic worked as the framework of society and its functionality. What is acknowledged to be a hierarchical social structure are essentially confined to the primary units of economic […]
• The Question of Social Class Inequality The difference between the indicators used determines the various views on the problem of social class inequality. The rules which the people in power establish are expected to be followed by the rest of the […]
• Social and Economic Inequality in the United States I believe that there is a strong negative reaction to women on welfare for two reasons: First, the general public perceives welfare for women, especially single mothers, as a government handout to assist individuals who […]
• Social Factors Perpetuating Inequality It seems reasonable to analyze the problem of inequality and factors perpetuating it from the point of the symbolic interactionist perspective.
• Nigeria vs. Sweden: Education System & Social Inequality The evaluation of the education systems in Sweden and Nigeria will prove the need for increased literacy levels and the solution of financial problems to find out the balance between developed and developing countries.
• Social Inequality: Hip-Hop Culture and Movement When it comes to defining the term ‘social movement’, it is important to understand that the process of a particular group of people striving to have their voice heard in the public sphere, must be […]
• Social Inequality, Constitution, and Revolution Rousseau argued that in the past people had no hunger for individual ownership of the property until one person fenced a piece of land and claimed that the land belonged to him; after this, people […]
• Social Inequality in Australia This paper seeks to interrogate the presence of social inequality and discrimination in Australia, focusing especially on the social disadvantages that are faced by the indigenous people as a result of it.
• Hip-Hop Subculture as Answer to Social Inequality One of the most notable aspects of a contemporary living in America is the fact that, as of today, the sub-culture of Hip-Hop had ceased being considered in terms of a largely marginalized socio-cultural phenomenon.
• Social Inequality and Uneven Educational Distribution Social inequality has a greatly influenced the distribution of resources in the American society. The majority class has created a culture of favoritism that has resulted in suffering amongst people of the minority class.
• Public Policy and Social Inequality From the studies that have been conducted, it has been identified that the inequality changes that have been experienced in the different states of the world are not monotonic; other factors play a critical role […]
• Media Patterns and Social Inequality An example of bias in the media can be illustrated by observing the ratio of men to women in society, and placing that ratio to the available job opportunities in the media.
• Social Capital and Health Inequality This paper will take in hand the issues of understanding and demonstrate how social relationships, specifically social capital, can become the defining factor for influencing individual health, as well as the health outcomes of an […]
• The Problem of Social and Economic Inequality in Modern Society The author claims that it is the role of the government to ensure the efficiency of the current employment legislation. In summary, the analyzed articles are devoted to the problem of social and economic inequality.
• Social and Economic Inequality While structural changes have reduced economic and social inequalities in some areas, the concept has led to a worsening of conditions in some countries.
• Social Welfare Policy That Facilitates Reduction of Poverty and Inequality in the US In spite of the scale of the increase in the inequality, the political class in the US rarely discusses this subject in the public.
• The Income Gap Between Low-Income Families and Others: Signs of Individual Freedom or Proof of Social Inequality
• Argentina: The Many Problems of Social Inequality
• Social Inequality and Political Change
• Women Criminals and Social Inequality
• Child Protection and Social Inequality
• Economic and Social Inequality Today
• Courage, Social Inequality, and Prejudice
• Educational Attainment and Social Inequality in Russia: Dynamics and Correlations With Education Policies
• Closed Circuit Television Promotes Social Inequality and Control
• Social Inequality in Terms of Class Andor Ethnicity
• Induced Innovation and Social Inequality: Evidence From Infant Medical Care
• Social Inequality and the Criminal Offenses Associated With It
• Two Major Theories of the Persistence of Social Inequality
• Corporate Monopoly and Social Inequality
• Theories of Social Inequality: Can Inequality Be Eliminated
• Critical Thinkings About Social Inequality in School and Employment
• Family Patterns and Social Inequality Among Children in the United States
• Are Victims Still Being Blamed for Social Inequality
• The Macro-Sociological Theories of Karl Marx: Social Inequality, the Role of Culture, Religion, Sexuality, the Environment, Work and Alienation, and Social Deviance
• Climate Change and Social Inequality
• Global Social Inequality Reveals the Cracks in Our System
• Cyberspace and Social Inequality
• Political Analysis: Consensus Democracy and Reduce Social Inequality
• Growth Dynamics and Social Inequality in European Regions
• Caste System and Social Inequality
• Functionalist Explanations of Social Inequality
• Economic and Social Inequality in the United States and the Use of Urban Sociology in the Effectively Tackling of These Challenges
• Biased Aspirations and Social Inequality at School: Evidence From French Teenagers
• Globalization: Economic and Social Inequality Issues
• Equality and Social Inequality of Class and Class Equality
• Social Inequality and Minorities in the United States
• Classical and Modern Explanations of Social Inequality
• Injustice: Why Social Inequality Persists
• Rethinking the Role of Religion in the Emergence of Social Inequality
• Dominance, Prejudiced Stereotypes, and Social Inequality
• Childcare, Early Education and Social Inequality: An International Perspective
• Education and Social Inequality
• Gifts, Bequests, and Social Inequality in West Germany
• Neuromodulation and Enhance Social Inequality: Some Possible Indirect Interventions of the State
• Explicit and Implicit Issues in the Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience of Social Inequality
• What Is Social Inequality?
• What Are Examples of Social Inequality?
• Why Is Social Inequality a Problem?
• What Causes Social Inequality?
• How Do You Identify Social Inequality?
• What Is Social Inequality Essay?
• How Can We Stop Social Inequality?
• What Is the Conclusion of Social Inequality?
• How Did Social Inequality Start?
• Is It Important to Know Social Inequality?
• How Can Students Reduce Social Inequality?
• Why Should We Stop Social Inequality?
• How Does Social Inequality Affect Students?
• Is Social Inequality Good or Bad?
• What Are Types of Social Inequality?
• What Causes Social Inequality in Education?
• Which Country Has the Most Social Inequality?
• How Does Social Inequality Affect Human Rights?
• Why Is Social Inequality a Moral Problem?
• Is Social Inequality Inevitable?
• How Is Social Inequality Measured?
• How Do Social Differences Lead to Social Inequality?
• How Does Social Inequality Affect Quality of Life?
• How Is Social Inequality Connected to Power?
• What Will Happen if Social Inequality Continues?
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2023, September 27). 105 Social Inequality Essay Topic Ideas & Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/social-inequality-essay-topics/

"105 Social Inequality Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." IvyPanda , 27 Sept. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/topic/social-inequality-essay-topics/.

IvyPanda . (2023) '105 Social Inequality Essay Topic Ideas & Examples'. 27 September.

IvyPanda . 2023. "105 Social Inequality Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." September 27, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/social-inequality-essay-topics/.

1. IvyPanda . "105 Social Inequality Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." September 27, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/social-inequality-essay-topics/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "105 Social Inequality Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." September 27, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/social-inequality-essay-topics/.

• American Dream Research Topics
• Capitalism Paper Topics
• Apartheid Essay Topics
• Black Lives Matter Topics
• Conservatism Essay Titles
• Demographics Topics
• Economic Inequality Questions
• Discrimination Essay Titles
• Equality Topics
• Gender Inequality Research Topics
• Homelessness Questions
• Globalization Essay Topics
• Masculinity Topics
• Poverty Essay Titles
• Sexism Essay Ideas

21 Social Inequality Examples

Social inequality is “the condition where people have unequal access to valued resources, services and positions in society” (Kerbo, 2003, p. 11).

It is broader than just wealth inequality because it also includes factors like discrimination and access to government support.

When social inequality occurs, there is an uneven distribution of resources between individuals or groups, and this happens in almost all societies. These resources and rights go from education, to power, status and so on.

Social inequality is the result of social hierarchy or stratification , with class, gender, race, ethnicity , or sexuality being part of the experience of social inequality. According to theories like the Davis-Moore thesis , it’s also an inevitable feature of society.

Social Inequality Definition

In the field of sociology, unlike economics, social inequality is taken to include differences on many levels: income, resources, power, status, social capital, as well as in levels of social inclusion and exclusion (Warwick-Booth, 2018).

When social inequality occurs, there is an unequal distribution of and unequal access to material and non-material goods:

• Material goods could be income, but also things like housing.
• Non-material social goods refer to intangible things such as access to social networks or social status .

In this sense, social inequality is a multi-faceted approach to uneven differences in access to resources for different social positions or statuses within a group or society.

Thus, dimensions like gender, sexuality, ethnicity or class all impact on being able to access, or not, social goods and resources as well as opportunities.

Social inequality is important because it has an impact on people’s life chances, in their living conditions, their work opportunities and the overall life outcomes of both individuals and groups (Suter, 2014).

Social Inequality Examples

• Wealth inequality: Wealth plays a major role in social perpetuating inequality. People with higher net worth have greater access to resources, can out-bid poorer people for access to limited resources, and can buy access to people in power.
• Income inequality: Income inequality functions in a similar way to wealth inequality, but refers to unequal distribution of money in the workforce. For example, the wage differential between CEOs and workers has spiked in recent decades, which has exacerbated social inequalities.
• Access to basic education: Access to basic education is unequal when wealthier neighborhoods have better primary schools, or when lack of public transit to schooling acts as a substantial barrier for poorer people.
• Access to higher education: Inequal access to education can be a result of factors such as geographical barriers and financial barriers. Without higher education, it is harder to achieve social mobility .
• Age inequality : Also known as ageism , this refers to discrimination against people based on their age. For example, it occurs in relation to access to employment for those over the age of 50.
• Deprived neighborhoods: Deprived neighborhoods are an example of how it is not only individuals who suffer inequality. Sometimes, whole areas can be affected by the unequal distribution of rights and resources. This happens, for example, when some neighborhoods have restricted access to hospitals and transport.
• Housing inequality: Having access to a house, or living in sufficient accommodation, is both a cause and a consequence of social inequality. Living in a social housing, for example, is related to being at the bottom of the social hierarchy.
• Racial inequality: Inequality based on race can be a result of systemic and intergenerational racism, a discriminatory attitude by which access to rights has not been distributed equally across people of different races, and which has been passed down through generations of deprivation.
• Gender inequality: Inequality based on gender is called sexism, a discriminatory attitude by which women are more likely to be worse off in the equality scales. For example, they tend to earn less than men for the same jobs.
• Health access inequality: Inequal access to healthcare is most starkly shown by the rural-urban divide (where rural people often need to travel to cities to receive care) and the class divide, where working-class people often find funding to be a barrier to access to quality care ( see more social determinants of health here ).
• Caste systems: Traditional caste societies deny access to jobs based on your ascribed status at birth. Furthermore, they may deny people from marrying one another across castes.
• Geographical inequality: Geographical inequality can be within a nation (e.g. the rural-urban divide) as well as globally (e.g. developing vs developed nations).
• Citizenship status: People may face limited protections based upon their citizenship. While it’s generally accepted that a tourist in a country shouldn’t access some public services covered by taxation, when non-citizens are denied human rights like access to a lawyer, we might start to consider citizenship status as a dimension of inequality in a society.
• Child poverty: Child poverty is a key driver of social inequality. People born into poverty can experience malnutrition, poorer educational results, and lower overall lifetime earnings on average.
• Power and status inequality: Access to powerful people is unequally distributed. People who are privileged on the social hierarchy have higher social status and consequently have more access to people in powerful political and corporate positions. There is also inequal power distribution between men and women, as demonstrated by the glass ceiling phenomenon .
• LGBT discrimination: Historically, LGBT people have faced discrimination that has affected their ability to do many things heterosexual people can access, including starting and raising a family, and accessing healthcare as spouses.
• Intergenerational inequality: This occurs when one generation in society has had greater access to resources than others at similar points in their lives. For example, in the UK and Australia, baby boomers had free higher education, which was denied to future generations who had to pay for it. This affected future generations’ prospects in a way that did not affect baby bookers.
• Incarceration rates: Taking a look at incarceration rates versus rates in which different racial groups commit crimes can demonstrate how people of color are more likely to be imprisoned if they are caught committing a crime.
• Service inequality: Unequal access to services can be seen across many vectors of society, including the rural-urban divide and rich-poor divide.
• Discriminatory laws: Laws that entrench discrimination, such as segregation laws , can be a source of social inequality.
• Indigenous inequality: Fist nations groups have long suffered from inequal access to resources in society. One demonstration of this is the lack of clean drinking water in many first nations communities in Canada.

Case Studies

1. social inequality and gender.

Gender is a key dimension of social inequality, as for a variety of reasons, the unfair treatment of people based on their gender still happens in contemporary society. 

There are three main areas in which gender inequality can be found: health, education, and the workplace.

For example, in relation to health, although women live longer than men, they have more ill health throughout their lives.

In terms of education, there is still segregation in certain subjects, for example, computing or engineering are still dominated by men. Finally, in the workplace, we find that is called the glass ceiling , which stops women from progressing in their careers. 

2. Social inequality and ethnicity

Racism is the expression of social inequality based on a person’s, or a group, race or ethnicity.

It has been shown that people of ethnic minority backgrounds experience higher rates of unemployment, they are more likely to be prosecuted by the criminal justice, and also be victims of crime, live in inadequate housing, have bad mental and physical health or be excluded from education. These are examples of institutional racism .

All of these cause social inequality in the middle and longer term and slims down ethnic minorities’ life chances.

3. Social inequality and health

There is a clear relation between social inequality and health, for multiple reasons.

For example, income determines being able to afford things like gym membership or fresh fruit, which keeps people healthier..

Occupation also has a role in health inequality a life expectancy, for example, teachers live longer than plumbers.

Finally, in countries in which there is no universal health coverage those with higher incomes will have greater access to services, from health promotion, to prevention or treatment.

4. Social inequality and age

Ageism refers to stereotypes (how we think), prejudice (how we feel) and discrimination (how we act) towards others or oneself based on age.

While ageism can be directed towards younger or older people, in terms of inequality, it is in older groups that the focus will be put on. People who are older may experience discrimination in the workplace, for example, in terms of accessing jobs which can lead to higher rates of unemployment.

Furthermore, older people with small pensions have less spending power and thus less access to certain resources, for example, paying for leisure and cultural activities , thus putting them at a disadvantage.

5. Social inequality and income or wealth

While social inequality is not solely based on income or wealth, money, whether from the job one does or from access to family wealth, plays a role in accessing resources.

This greater access to resources mean that some people at a greater advantage than others, for example, in relation to good health and educations. As has been explained, this difference in access to resources is at the heart of social inequality and it impacts on people’s life changes, hence its importance.

Social inequality is a complex subject due to its transversal nature: as it has been pointed out, it is more than just having more or less money. In social inequality there are many factors at play, such as gender, age or ethnicity as well as other aspects like class or neighborhood.

The importance of fighting off social inequality lies in its cumulative nature and in how it determines people’s life chances, sometimes for generations.

Doob, C. B. (2019). Social inequality and social stratification in US society. London: Routledge.

Hurst, C.; Fitz Gibon, H. & Nurse, A. (2016) Social Inequality: Forms, Causes, and Consequences . New York: Routledge

Kerbo, H. R. (2003).  Social stratification and inequality. Class conflict in historical, comparative, and global perspective . Boston: McGrawHill.

Thompson, R. (2019). Education, Inequality and Social Class. Expansion and Stratification in Educational Opportunity . New York: Routledge.

Warwick-Booth, L. (2018). Social Inequality . New York: Sage

Wisdom, S., Leavitt, L., & Bice, C. (Eds.). (2019).  Handbook of research on social inequality and education . London: IGI Global.

Rosa Panades (PhD)

Dr. Panades is a multifaceted sociologist with experience working in a variety of fields, from familiy relations, to teenage pregnancy, housing, women in science or social innvovation. She has worked in international, european and local projects, both in the UK and in Spain. She has an inquisitive and analytical mind and a passion for knowledge, cultural and social issues.

Rosa holds a PhD in Sociology on the topic of young fatherhood from the University of Greenwich, London.

• Rosa Panades (PhD) #molongui-disabled-link Manifest Functions in Sociology (10 Examples)
• Rosa Panades (PhD) #molongui-disabled-link Latent Functions in Sociology (with 10 Examples)
• Rosa Panades (PhD) #molongui-disabled-link 15 Oppression Examples
• Rosa Panades (PhD) #molongui-disabled-link 10 Institutional Discrimination Examples

Chris Drew (PhD)

This article was peer-reviewed and edited by Chris Drew (PhD). The review process on Helpful Professor involves having a PhD level expert fact check, edit, and contribute to articles. Reviewers ensure all content reflects expert academic consensus and is backed up with reference to academic studies. Dr. Drew has published over 20 academic articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education and holds a PhD in Education from ACU.

• Chris Drew (PhD) #molongui-disabled-link 25 Positive Punishment Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) #molongui-disabled-link 25 Dissociation Examples (Psychology)
• Chris Drew (PhD) #molongui-disabled-link 15 Zone of Proximal Development Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) #molongui-disabled-link Perception Checking: 15 Examples and Definition

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

75 Social Inequality Essay Topics

🏆 best essay topics on social inequality, ✍️ social inequality essay topics for college, 👍 good social inequality research topics & essay examples, 🎓 most interesting social inequality research titles.

• Effects of Social Inequality: Essay Example
• Social Inequality in Poems, Songs, and Films
• Approaches to the Study of Social Inequality
• Social Inequality: “The Notebook” by Nick Cassavetes
• Social Problem Analysis: Social Inequality in Education
• Social Stratification and Inequality
• Social Inequality, Discrimination, and Solution
• Gender Inequality in Social Inequality This topic was chosen because the problem of gender inequality has existed for a long time and is being solved with varying success.
• Social Inequality and Juvenile Delinquency There is a high crime rate among adolescents. At the same time, as it is commonly believed, young people are considered to be the future of the country.
• Social Institutions Maintaining Inequality Systems The paper investigates the aspects of influence that social institutions have on oppression and privilege as well on access to resources.
• Social Inequality Depicted in Art Works Understanding social inequality is important since it is the root of major social problems such as unemployment, substance abuse, and criminality.
• Why It Is Important to Fight Social Inequality Seems vital to take action and do something about this problem. The following paper will discuss why it is important to deal with social inequalities.
• The Concept of Social Inequality The concept of social inequality is essential for making a global change and improving everyone’s quality of life since it reflects the problems on a societal level.
• The Problem of Social Inequality at Schools in Canada Social inequality at schools is a issue that undermines the effectiveness of secondary education and leads to long-term and short-term problems of individual and group nature.
• Social Problem of Inequality Studies of social inequality included non-urban areas and social inequality factors that had not been included in previous studies.
• Social Inequality: Challenges and Benefits Social inequality can be eliminated by massively investing in public finances to provide free education to everyone.
• Social Inequality at School The aim of this project is to contribute to the development of tailored solutions for the problems of Canadian school education.
• Social Inequality in the United States Social inequality is a critical aspect in the United States since it is intertwined with economic, cultural, and political issues.
• Social Inequality and Human Rights in the Modern World This paper theorize civil rights to be the basis of developing the main social fields of education, healthcare, and career opportunities.
• Social Inequality and Discrimination in the US The problem of social inequality in the country has continued to widen the gap between the rich and the poor over the years.
• Negative Consequences of Social Inequality This paper aims to prove social inequality has always led to negative consequences, analyze the injustice of the superiority of one gender, nation, or social group over another.
• Activism and Social Theory: Inequality The issues of equality became central to the U. S. social, political, and economic agendas. This paper dwells upon the coloniality of power, knowledge, and gender in American society.
• Social Inequality and Stratification in the US One of the factors of social inequality in the US is social stratification. There is a specialization of people that defines more and less valuable types of activities.
• Criminal Behavior, Structural and Social Inequality Forms of structural inequalities that can be seen take the form of community marginalization wherein particular types of races are concentrated in certain communities.
• International Development, Colonialism, Social Inequality and Class Stratification A social inequality exists because of inadequate wealth in certain places which hinders these people from accessing goods, housing, and health care.
• Assessing the Functionalist Explanations of Social Inequality
• Social Inequalities and Exercise During Adulthood
• Combating Social Inequalities Through Education
• Social Inequalities and Ethnic Differences in the United Kingdom
• The Rise and Consequences of Social Inequality in the United States
• Social Inequalities Perpetuated Through Advertisements
• Identifying, Defining, and Measuring Social Inequalities
• Social Inequalities Between Blacks and Mulattoes
• Education and Social Inequalities in the Urban Space
• Social Inequality and Disadvantage of Indigenous People
• Propagation of Social Inequalities by the Media
• Social Inequality During the Industrial Revolution
• China, Globalization, Economic and Social Inequality Issues
• Social Inequality and Health Among Children in the Netherlands: Causes and Consequences
• Regional Social Inequality and Social Deprivation in Guangdong Province, China
• The American Dream: Supporting Social Inequalities
• Social Inequalities: The Individual Significance of a Society’s Issue
• Ecological Thought and Concern for Social Inequalities: Indifference, Opposition or Convergence
• Social Inequalities and International Trade: A Cross-Country Perspective
• Political, Economic, and Social Inequalities That Caused the French Revolution of 1789
• Social Inequalities and Wage, Housing and Pension Reforms in Urban China
• The Effects of Social Inequality on Education
• Social Inequality: Classical and Contemporary Theorists
• A New Approach to Social Inequality: Inequality of Income and Wealth in South Korea
• Poverty and Social Inequality in the Structure of Society
• Social Inequalities in Classical Societies
• The Impact of Climate Risks on Social Inequality
• Social Inequality and Educational Disadvantage
• Potential Links Between Social Inequalities and the Health of the Population
• Social Inequalities: Race, Class, and Gender
• Cultural Diversity and Social Inequality in the US
• Structural Social Inequality Between Men and Women
• Renal Diseases and Social Inequalities in Access to Transplantation in France
• Social Inequalities, Public Policies, and Classifications of Race
• Health and Social Inequalities in Turkey
• Social Inequalities and Failures in College Education
• The Role of Taxes in Correcting the Economic and Social Inequalities on the Base of the Globalization Process
• Social Inequality Rather Than Individual Behavior Choices
• The Correlation Between Lack of Early Childhood Development and Social Inequality
• Social Inequality and Industrialization in the US and Soviet Union
• How Social Inequalities Affect a Person
• Health for Everyone? Social Inequalities in Health and Health Systems
• Social Inequality and Its Effects on Society
• The Political Context of Social Inequalities and Health
• Racial and Social Inequalities in Our School System
• Social Inequalities in Accelerated Aging Among Southern U.S. Women
• Biosocial Measures of Social Inequality
• Social Inequalities Along the Childhood Cancer Continuum
• Technology Diffusion and Its Effects on Social Inequality
• Social Inequality and Macroeconomic Instability

Cite this post

• Chicago (N-B)
• Chicago (A-D)

StudyCorgi. (2023, May 7). 75 Social Inequality Essay Topics. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/social-inequality-essay-topics/

"75 Social Inequality Essay Topics." StudyCorgi , 7 May 2023, studycorgi.com/ideas/social-inequality-essay-topics/.

StudyCorgi . (2023) '75 Social Inequality Essay Topics'. 7 May.

1. StudyCorgi . "75 Social Inequality Essay Topics." May 7, 2023. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/social-inequality-essay-topics/.

Bibliography

StudyCorgi . "75 Social Inequality Essay Topics." May 7, 2023. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/social-inequality-essay-topics/.

StudyCorgi . 2023. "75 Social Inequality Essay Topics." May 7, 2023. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/social-inequality-essay-topics/.

These essay examples and topics on Social Inequality were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on December 28, 2023 .

Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.

Chapter 9. Social Inequality

9.1. What Is Social Inequality?

Sociologists use the term social inequality to describe the unequal distribution of valued resources, rewards, and social positions in a society. Key to the concept are the notions of social differentiation and social stratification . The question for sociologists is: how are systems of stratification formed? What is the basis of systematic social inequality in society?

Social differentiation refers to the social characteristics — social differences, identities, and roles — used to differentiate people and divide them into different categories, such as race, gender, age, class, occupation, and education. These social categories have implications for social inequality. Social differentiation by itself does not necessarily imply a division of individuals into a hierarchy of rank, privilege, and power. However, when a social category like class, occupation, gender, or race puts people in a position where they can claim a greater share of resources or rewards, then social differentiation becomes the basis of social inequality.

The term social stratification refers to an institutionalized system of social inequality. It refers to a situation in which social inequality has solidified into an ongoing system that determines and reinforces who gets what, when, and why. Social differentiation based on different characteristics becomes the basis for social inequality.

Students may remember the word “stratification” from geology class. The distinct horizontal layers found in rock, called “strata,” are a good way to visualize social structure. Society’s layers are made of people, and society’s resources are distributed unevenly throughout the layers. The people with the most resources represent the top layer of the social structure of stratification. Other groups of people, with progressively fewer and fewer resources, represent the lower layers of society. Social stratification assigns people to socio-economic strata based on a process of social differentiation — “these type of people go here, and those type of people go there.” The outcome is differences in wealth, income and power. Again, the question for sociologists is how systems of stratification are formed. What is the basis of systematic social inequality in society?

Equality of Condition and Equality of Opportunity

In Canada, the dominant ideological presumption about social inequality is that everyone has an equal chance at success. This is the belief in equality of opportunity , which can be contrasted with the concept of equality of condition . Equality of opportunity is the idea that everyone has an equal possibility of becoming successful. It exists when people have the same chance to pursue economic or social rewards. This is often seen as a function of equal access to education, meritocracy (where individual merit determines social standing), and formal or informal measures to eliminate social discrimination.

Equality of condition is the situation in which everyone in a society has a similar actual level of wealth, status, and power. Although degrees of equality of condition vary markedly in modern societies, it is clear that even the most egalitarian societies today have considerable degrees of inequality of condition. Ultimately, equality of opportunity means that inequalities of condition are not so great that they greatly hamper a person’s opportunities or life chances. Whether Canada is a society characterized by equality of opportunity, or not, is a subject of considerable sociological debate.

To a certain extent, Ted Rogers’ story illustrates the idea of equality of opportunity. His personal narrative is one in which hard work and talent — not inherent privilege, birthright, prejudicial treatment, or societal values — determined his social rank. This emphasis on individual effort is based on the belief that people individually control where they end up in the social hierarchy, which is a key piece in the idea of equality of opportunity. Most people connect inequalities of wealth, status, and power to the individual characteristics of those who succeed or fail. The story of the Aboriginal gang members, although it is also a story of personal choices, casts that belief into doubt. It is clear that the type of choices available to the Aboriginal gang members are of a different range and quality than those available to the Rogers family. The available choices and opportunities are a product of habitus and location within the system of social stratification .

While there are always inequalities between individuals in terms of talent, skill, drive, chance, and so on, sociologists are interested in larger social patterns. Social inequality is not about individual qualities and differences, but about systematic inequalities based on group membership, class, gender, ethnicity, and other variables that structure access to rewards and status. In other words, sociologists are interested in examining the structural conditions of social inequality. There are of course differences in individuals’ abilities and talents that will affect their life chances. The larger question, however, is how inequality becomes systematically structured in economic, social, and political life. In terms of individual ability: Who gets the opportunities to develop their abilities and talents, and who does not? Where does “ability” or “talent” come from? As Canadians live in a society that emphasizes the individual (individual effort, individual morality, individual choice, individual responsibility, individual talent, etc.) it is often difficult to see the way in which life chances are socially structured.

Wealth, Income, Power and Status

Factors that define the layers of stratification vary in different societies. In most modern societies, stratification is indicated by differences in wealth , the net value of money and assets a person has, and income , a person’s wages, salary, or investment dividends. It can also be defined by differences in power (e.g., how many people a person must take orders from versus how many people a person can give orders to, or how many people are affected by one’s orders) and status (the degree of honour or prestige one has in the eyes of others). These four factors create a complex amalgam that defines an individual’s social standing within a hierarchy.

Usually the four factors coincide, as in the case of corporate CEOs, like Ted Rogers, at the top of the hierarchy — wealthy, powerful, and prestigious — and the Aboriginal offenders at the bottom — poor, powerless, and abject. Sociologists use the term status consistency to describe the consistency of an individual’s rank across these factors.

Students can also think of someone like the Canadian Prime Minister — who ranks high in power, but with a salary of approximately $320,000 — earns much less than comparable executives in the private sector (albeit eight times the average Canadian salary). The Prime Minister’s status or prestige also rises and falls with the fluctuations of politics and public opinion. The Nam-Boyd scale of status, based on education and income, ranks politicians (legislators) at 66/100, the same status as cable TV technicians (Boyd, 2008). There is status inconsistency in the prime minister’s position.

Teachers often have high levels of education, which give them high status (92/100 according to the Nam-Boyd scale), but they receive relatively low pay. Many believe that teaching is a noble profession, so teachers should do their jobs for the love of their profession and the good of their students, not for money. Yet no successful executive or entrepreneur would embrace that attitude in the business world, where profits are valued as a driving force. Cultural attitudes and beliefs like these support and perpetuate social inequalities.

Systems of Stratification

Sociologists distinguish between two types of stratification systems. Closed systems accommodate little change in social position. They do not allow people to shift levels and do not permit social relations between levels. Open systems, which are based on achievement, allow movement and interaction between layers and classes. The different systems also produce and foster different cultural values, like the values of loyalty and traditions versus the values of innovation and individualism. The difference in stratification systems can be examined by the comparison between class systems and caste systems.

The Caste System

Caste systems are closed stratification systems in which people can do little or nothing to change their social standing. A caste system is one in which people are born into their social standing and remain in it their whole lives. It is based on fixed or rigid status distinctions, rather than economic classes per se.

As noted above, status is defined by the level of honour or prestige one receives by virtue of membership in a group. Sociologists make a distinction between ascribed status: a status one receives by virtue of being born into a category or group (e.g., caste, hereditary position, gender, race, ethnicity, etc.), and achieved status:   a status one receives through individual effort or merits (e.g., occupation, educational level, moral character, etc.). Caste systems are based on a hierarchy of ascribed statuses, because people are born into fixed caste groups. A person’s occupation and opportunity for education follow from their caste position.

In a caste system, people are assigned roles regardless of their individual talents, interests, or potential. Marriage is endogamous (from endo- ‘within’ and  Greek gamos ‘marriage’) which means marriage between castes is forbidden, whereas exogamous marriage is a marriage union between people from different social groups. There are virtually no opportunities to improve one’s social position. Instead, the relationship between castes is bound by institutionalized rules, and highly ritualistic procedures come into play when people from different castes come into contact. People value traditions and often devote considerable time to perfecting the details of ritualistic procedures.

The feudal systems of Europe and Japan can, in some ways, be seen as caste systems in that the statuses of positions in the social stratification systems were fixed, and there was little or no opportunity for movement through marriage or economic opportunities. In Europe, the feudal estate system divided the population into clergy (first estate), nobility (second estate), and commoners (third estate), which included artisans, merchants, and peasants. In early European feudalism, it was still possible for a peasant or a warrior to achieve a high position in the clergy or nobility, but later the divisions became more rigid. In Japan, between 1603 and 1867, the mibunsei system divided society into five rigid strata in which social standing was inherited. At the top was the Emperor, then court nobles ( kuge ), military commander-in-chief ( shogun ), and land-owning lords ( daimyo ). Beneath them were four classes or castes: the military nobility ( samurai ), peasants, craftsmen, and merchants. The merchants were considered the lowest class because they did not produce anything with their own hands. There was also an outcast or untouchable caste known as the burakumin, who were considered impure or defiled because of their association with death: executioners, undertakers, slaughterhouse workers, tanners, and butchers (Kerbo, 2006).

The caste system in India from 4,000 years ago until the 20th century probably best typifies the system of stratification. In the Hindu caste tradition, people were expected to work in the occupation of their caste and enter into marriage according to their caste. Originally there were four castes: Brahmans (priests), Kshatriyas (military), Vaisyas (merchants), and Sudras (artisans, farmers). There were also the Dalits or Harijans (“untouchables”). Hindu scripture said, “In order to preserve the universe, Brahma (the Supreme) caused the Brahmin to proceed from his mouth, the Kshatriya to proceed from his arm, the Vaishya to proceed from his thigh, and the Shudra to proceed from his foot” (Kashmeri, 1990).

Accepting this social standing was considered a moral duty. Cultural values and economic restrictions reinforced the system. Caste systems promote beliefs in fate, destiny, and the will of a higher power, rather than promoting individual freedom as a value. A person who lives in a caste society is socialized to accept their social standing, and this is reinforced by the society’s dominant norms and values.

Although the caste system in India has been officially dismantled, its residual presence in Indian society is deeply embedded. In rural areas, aspects of the tradition are more likely to remain, while urban centres show less evidence of this past. In India’s larger cities, people now have opportunities to choose their own career paths and marriage partners. As a global centre of employment, corporations have introduced merit-based hiring and employment to the nation. The caste system has been largely replaced by a class system of structured inequality. Nevertheless, Dalits continue to experience violence and discrimination in hiring or obtaining business loans (Jodhka, 2018).

The Class System

A class system is based on both socio-economic factors and individual achievement. It is at least a partially open system. A class consists of a set of people who have the same relationship to the means of production or productive property — that is, to the things used to produce the goods and services needed for survival, such as tools, technologies, resources, land, workplaces, etc. In Karl Marx’s (1848) analysis, class systems form around the institution of private property, dividing those who own or control productive property from those who do not, who survive on the basis of selling their labour. In capitalist societies, for example, the dominant classes are the capitalist class and the working class.

In a class system, social inequality is structural , meaning it is built into the organization of the economy. The relationship to the means of production (i.e., ownership/non-ownership) defines a persistent, objective pattern of social relationships that exists independently of individuals’ personal or voluntary choices and motives.

Unlike caste systems, however, class systems are open in the sense that individuals are able to change class position. Individuals are at least formally free to gain a different level of education or occupation than their parents. They can move up and down within the stratification system. They can also socialize with and marry members of other classes, allowing people to move from one class to another. In other words, individuals can move up and down the class hierarchy, even while the class categories and the class hierarchy itself remain relatively stable. It is not impossible for individuals to pass back and forth between classes through social mobility , but the class structure itself remains intact, structuring people’s lives, privileges, wealth, and social possibilities.

In a class system, one’s occupation is not fixed at birth. Though family background tends to predict where one ends up in the stratification system, personal factors play a role. For example, Ted Rogers Jr. chose a career in media like his father but managed to move upward from a position of modest wealth and privilege in the petite bourgeoisie, to being the fifth-wealthiest bourgeois in the country. On the other hand, his father Ted Sr. chose a career in radio based on individual interests that differed from his own father’s. Ted Sr.’s father, Albert Rogers, held a position as a director of Imperial Oil. Ted Sr. therefore moved downward from the class of the bourgeoisie to the class of the petite bourgeoisie.

Making Connections: Case Study

The commoner who could be queen.

On April 29, 2011, in London, England, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, married Catherine (“Kate”) Middleton, a commoner. Throughout its history, it has been rare, though not unheard of, for a member of the British royal family to marry a commoner. Kate Middleton had an upper-middle-class upbringing. Her father was a former flight dispatcher, and her mother was a former flight attendant. The family then formed a lucrative mail order business for party accessories. William was the elder son of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Diana, Princess of Wales. Kate and William met when they were both students at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland (Köhler, 2010).

The rules regarding the marriage of royals trace their history to Britain’s formal feudal monarchy, which arose with William of Normandy’s conquest in 1066. Feudal social hierarchy was originally based on landholding. The monarch’s family (royalty) was at the top, vassals, nobles and knights (landholders) below the king, and commoners or serfs on the bottom. This was generally a closed system, with people born into positions of nobility or serfdom. Wealth was passed from generation to generation through primogeniture , a law stating that all property was to be inherited by the firstborn son. If the family had no son, the land went to the next closest male relation. Women could not inherit property, and their social standing was primarily determined through marriage. From the late feudal era onward, a royal marrying a commoner was a scandal. In 1937, the British parliament obliged Edward VIII to abdicate his succession to King of the United Kingdom, so he could marry the American divorcée, Wallis Simpson. Not only was she a commoner, but she was also divorced , which contradicted the Church of England doctrine.

The rise of capitalism changed Britain’s class structure. The feudal commoner class generated both the new dominant class of the bourgeoisie or capitalists and the new subordinate class of the proletariat or wage labourers. The aristocracy and the royals continued as a class through their wealth and property, but their position in society became increasingly based on status and tradition alone. Today, the British government is a constitutional monarchy, with the prime minister and other ministers elected to their positions.  The royal family’s role is largely ceremonial. The historical differences between nobility and commoners have blurred, and the modern class system in Britain is similar to Canada. Since Edward VIII’s abdication in 1937, Queen Elizabeth II’s sister and several of her children and grandchildren have married commoners.

Today, the royal family still commands wealth, power, and a great deal of attention. In 2017, Forbes estimated the total wealth of the royal family to be $88 billion (Rodriguez, 2017). Since Queen Elizabeth II passed away in September 2022, Prince Charles has ascended the throne as king. His wife Camille Parker-Bowles, also a commoner and divorcée, is expected to become “Princess Consort.” If Charles had abdicated (chosen not to become king) or died, the position would go to Prince William. If that happened, Kate Middleton would be called Queen Catherine and hold the position of Queen Consort. She would be one of the few queens in history to have earned a university degree (Marquand, 2011). Of note here is, of course, Prince Harry, who married the commoner and divorcée Meghan Markle. Prince Harry is currently 6th in line for the British throne, after Prince William’s children. If she succeeded to Queen Consort, Meghan Markle would be the first queen with African heritage.

Initially there was a great deal of social pressure on Kate Middleton not only to behave as a royal, but to bear children. The royal family recently changed its succession laws to allow daughters, not just sons, to ascend the throne. Her firstborn son, Prince George, was born on July 22, 2013, so the new succession law is not likely to be tested in the near future. However, behind George is Princess Charlotte (b. 2015) and Prince Louis (b. 2018). Kate’s experience — from commoner to possible queen — demonstrates the fluidity of social class position in modern society.

Social Class

Social class is both obvious and not so obvious in Canadian society. It is based on subjective impressions, outward symbols, and less visible structural determinants. Can one tell a person’s education level based on clothing? Is opening an $80 bottle of wine for dinner normal, an exceptional occasion, or an insane waste of money? Can one guess a person’s income by the car they drive? There was a time in Canada when people’s class was more visibly apparent. In some countries, like the United Kingdom, class differences can still be gauged by differences in schooling, lifestyle, and even accent. In Canada, however, it is harder to determine class from outward appearances.

For sociologists, too, categorizing class is a fluid science. One debate in the discipline is between Marxist and Weberian approaches to social class (Abercrombie & Urry, 1983).

Marx’s analysis emphasizes a historical materialist approach to the underlying structures of the capitalist economy. Classes are historical formations that distribute people into categories based on the organization and structure of the economy. Marx’s definition of social class rests essentially on one materialist variable: a group’s relation to the means of production (ownership or non-ownership of productive property or capital). Therefore, in Marxist class analysis, there are two dominant classes in capitalism — the working class and the owning class — and any divisions within the classes based on occupation, status, education, etc. are less important than the tendency toward increasing separation and polarization of these two classes.

Marx referred to these two classes as the bourgeoisie and the proletariat . The capitalist class (bourgeoisie) lives from the proceeds of owning or controlling productive property (capital assets like factories, technology, software platforms or machinery, or capital itself in the form of investments, stocks, and bonds).  The working class (proletariat) live from selling their labour to the capitalists for a wage or salary.  Their interests are in conflict, as higher profits depend on lower wages, which accounts for the characteristic power dynamics, conflicts, instabilities and periodic crises of capitalist societies.

In addition, he described the classes of the petite bourgeoisie (the little bourgeoisie) and the lumpenproletariat (the sub-proletariat). The petite bourgeoisie are those like small business owners, farmers, and contractors who own some property and perhaps employ a few workers, but still rely on their own labour to survive. The lumpenproletariat are the chronically unemployed or irregularly employed, who are in and out of the workforce. They are what Marx referred to as the “reserve army of labour,” a pool of potential labourers who are surplus to the needs of production at any particular time.

Weber defined social class slightly differently, as the life chances one shares in common with others by virtue of possession of property, goods, skills or opportunities for income (1969). Life chances refer to the ability or probability of an individual to act on opportunities and attain a certain standard of living. Owning property or capital, or not owning property or capital, is still the basic variable that defines a person’s class situation or life chances. However, class position is defined with respect to markets rather than the process of production . It is the value of one’s capital, products or skills in the commodity or labour markets at any particular time that determines whether one has greater or fewer life chances.

This yields a model of class hierarchy based on multiple gradations of socio-economic status, instead of a division between two principle classes. Analyses of class inspired by Weber tend to emphasize gradations of status relating to several variables like wealth, income, education, and occupation. Class stratification is not just determined by a group’s economic position, but by the prestige of the group’s occupation, education level, consumption, and lifestyle. It is a matter of status — the level of honour or prestige one holds in the community by virtue of one’s social position — as much as a matter of class.

Based on the Weberian approach, some sociologists talk about upper, middle, and lower classes (with many subcategories within them) in a way that mixes status categories with class categories. These gradations are often referred to as a group’s socio-economic status ( SES ): their social position relative to others based on income, education, and prestige of occupation . For example, although plumbers might earn more than high school teachers and have greater “life chances” in a particular economy, the status division between blue-collar work (people who “work with their hands”) and white-collar work (people who “work with their minds”) means the plumbers might be characterized as lower class but teachers as middle class.

There is a randomness in the division of classes into upper, middle, and lower in the Weberian model. However, this manner of classification based on status distinctions captures something about the subjective experience of class and the shared lifestyle and consumption patterns of class that Marx’s categories often do not. An NHL hockey player receiving a salary of $6 million a year is a member of the working class, strictly speaking. He might even go on strike or get locked out according to the dynamic of capital and labour conflict described by Marx. Nevertheless, it is difficult to see what the life chances of the hockey player have in common with a landscaper or receptionist, despite the fact that they might share a common working-class background.

Class: Materialist and Interpretive Factors

Social class is a complex category to analyze. It has both a strictly materialist quality relating to a group’s structural position within the economic system, and an interpretive quality relating to the formation of status gradations, common subjective perceptions of class, differences of power in society, and class-based lifestyles and consumption patterns. Considering both the Marxist and Weberian models, social class has at least three objective components: a group’s position in the occupational structure (i.e., the status and salary of one’s job), a group’s position in the power structure (i.e., who has authority over whom), and a group’s position in the property structure (i.e., ownership or non-ownership of capital). It also has an important subjective component that relates to recognitions of status, distinctions of lifestyle, and ultimately how people perceive their place in the class hierarchy.

Making Connections: Classic Sociologists

Marx and weber on social class: how do they differ.

Often, Marx and Weber are perceived as at odds in their approaches to class and social inequality, but it is perhaps better to see them as articulating different styles of analysis.

Weber’s analysis presents a more complex model of the social hierarchy of capitalist society than Marx. Weber’s model goes beyond the economic structural class position to include the variables of status (degree of social prestige or honour) and power (degree of political influence). Thus, Weber provides a multi-dimensional model of social hierarchy. As a result, although individuals might be from the same objective class, their position in the social hierarchy might differ according to their status and political influence. For example, women and men might be equal in terms of their class position, but because of the inequality in the status of the genders within each class, women (as a group) remain lower in the social hierarchy.

With respect to class specifically, Weber also relies on a different definition than Marx. As noted above, Weber (1969) defines class as the “life chances” one shares in common with others by virtue of one’s possession of goods or opportunities for income. Class is defined with respect to markets, rather than the process of production. As in Marx’s analysis, the economic position that stems from owning property and capital, or not owning property and capital, is still the basic variable that defines one’s class situation or life chances. However, as the value of different types of capital or property (e.g., industrial, real estate, financial, etc.), or the value of different types of opportunity for income (i.e., different types of marketable skills), varies according to changes in the commodity or labour markets, Weber can provide a more nuanced description of an individual’s class position than Marx. A skilled tradesman like a pipe welder might enjoy a higher class position and greater life chances in Northern Alberta where such skills are in demand, than a high school teacher in Vancouver or Victoria where the number of qualified teachers exceeds the number of positions available. If one adds the element of status into the picture, the situation becomes even more complex, as the educational requirements and social responsibilities of the high school teacher usually confer more social prestige than the requirements and responsibilities of the pipe welder.

Nevertheless, Weber’s analysis is descriptive rather than analytical . It can provide a useful description of differences between the levels or “strata” in a social hierarchy or stratification system but does not provide an analysis of the formation of classes themselves.

On the other hand, Marx’s analysis of class is essentially one-dimensional. It has one variable: the relationship to the means of production. If one is a professional hockey player, a doctor in a hospital, or a clerk in a supermarket, one works for a wage and is therefore a member of the working class. In this regard, his analysis challenges common sense, as the difference between these different “fragments” of the working class seems paramount — at least from the point of view of the subjective experience of class. It would seem that hockey players, doctors, lawyers, professors, and business executives have very little in common with grocery clerks, factory or agricultural workers, tradespeople, or low level administrative staff, despite the fact that they all depend on being paid wages by someone.

However, the key point of Marx’s analysis is not to ignore the existence of status distinctions within classes, but to examine class structure dialectically in order to provide a more comprehensive and historical picture of class dynamics.

The four components of dialectical analysis were described in Chapter 1. An Introduction to Sociology : (1) Everything in society is related; (2) everything is caught up in a process of change; (3) change proceeds from the quantitative to the qualitative; and (4) change is the product of oppositions and struggles in society. These dialectical qualities are also central to Marx’s account of the hierarchical structure of classes in capitalist society.

With regard to the first point — everything in society is related — the main point of the dialectical analysis of class is that the working class and the owning class have to be understood in a structural relationship to one another. They emerged together out of the old class structure of feudalism. More significantly for Marx, each exists only because the other exists. The wages that define the wage labourer are paid by the capitalist; the profit and capital accumulated by the capitalist are products of the workers’ labour.

In Marx’s dialectical model, “everything is caught up in a process of change” occurs because the system is characterized by the struggle of opposites.  The classes are structurally in conflict because the contradiction in their class interests is built into the economic system. The bourgeoisie as a class is defined by the economic drive to accumulate capital and increase profit. The key means to achieve this in a competitive marketplace is by reducing the cost of production by lowering the cost of labour (by reducing wages, moving production to lower wage areas, or replacing workers with labour-saving technologies). This conflicts with the interests of the proletariat who seek to establish a sustainable standard of living by maintaining their level of wages and employment in society. While individual capitalists and individual workers might not see it this way, structurally, their class interests clash and define a persistent pattern of management-labour conflict and political cleavage in modern, capitalist societies.

So, from the dialectical model, Marx can predict that the composition of classes changes over time: the statuses of different occupations vary, the proportions between workers’ income and capitalists’ profit change, and the types of production and the means of production change (through the introduction of labour-saving technologies, globalization, new products and consumption patterns, etc.). In addition, change proceeds from the quantitative to the qualitative, in the sense that the multiplicity of changes in purely quantitative variables like salary, working conditions, unemployment levels, rates of profitability, product sales, supply and demand, etc., lead to changes in qualitative variables like the subjective experience of inequality and injustice, the political divisions of “left” and “right,” the formation of class-consciousness, and eventually change in the entire economic system through new models of capital accumulation or even revolution.

The strength of Marx’s analysis is its ability to go beyond a description of where different groups fit within the class structure at a given moment in time to an analysis of why those groups and their relative positions change with respect to one another. The dialectical approach reveals the underlying logic of class structure as a dynamic system, and the potential commonality of interests and subjective experiences that define class-consciousness. As a result, in an era in which the precariousness of many high status “middle class” jobs has become clearer, the divisions of economic and political interests between the different segments of the working class becomes less so.

Media Attributions

• Figure 9.3 Office Politics: A Rise to the Top by Alex Proimos, via Flickr, is used under a CC BY-NC 2.0 licence.
• Figure 9.4 Strata in the Badlands by Just a Prairie Boy, via Flickr, is used under a CC BY 2.0 licence.
• Figure 9.5 Fort Mason Neighborhood by Orin Zebest, via Flickr, is used under a CC BY 2.0 licence.
• Figure 9.6  Woman, construction, worker, temple, india, manual, poor, labourer, labour , via PxHere, is used under a CC0 Public Domain licence. 
• Figure 9.7 Royal wedding Kate & William by Gerard Stolk, via Flickr, is used under a CC BY-NC 2.0  licence. 
• Figure 9.8 Item B-03624 – Group of Nanaimo coal miners at the pithead by unknown photographer, [ca. 1870]  (Creation) via the Royal BC Museum/ British Columbia Archives Collection (Item B-03624), is in the public domain .
• Figure 9.9 James and Laura Dunsmuir in Italian Garden at Hatley Park, by unknown photographer, 1912-1920  (Creation), courtesy of Craigdarroch Castle Society,  is in the public domain .
• Figure 9.10 File:MAX WEBER.jpg  by Power Renegadas, via Wikimedia Commons, is used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.
• Figure 9.11   Karl Marx by John Mayall, via Wikimedia Commons, is in the public domain .

Introduction to Sociology – 3rd Canadian Edition Copyright © 2023 by William Little is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

Share This Book

Home — Essay Samples — Social Issues — Social Inequality — Equality

Essays on Equality

What makes a good equality essay topic.

When it comes to crafting an exceptional equality essay, the choice of topic plays a pivotal role. A remarkable essay topic should not only captivate the reader's attention but also provoke thought and remain relevant to the subject of equality. Below are some innovative suggestions on how to brainstorm and select the perfect essay topic:

• Brainstorm: Initiate the process by brainstorming ideas that revolve around equality. Delve into various aspects such as gender equality, racial equality, LGBTQ+ rights, social justice, and economic equality. Jot down any ideas that spring to mind during this creative process.
• Research: Once you have compiled a list of potential topics, embark on thorough research to gather more information. Explore recent news articles, scholarly journals, and books that delve into your chosen topics. This process will help you gain a deeper understanding and unearth unique perspectives.
• Consider your interests: Handpick a topic that genuinely captivates your interest. Writing about something you are passionate about will not only make the process more enjoyable but also reflect in the quality of your essay.
• Relevance: Ensure that your chosen topic remains pertinent to the current socio-political climate. Consider the impact it has on individuals and society as a whole. Seek out topics that are timely and hold significance in today's world.
• Uniqueness: Aim for a topic that stands out from the crowd. Steer clear of ordinary or overexplored subjects. Instead, focus on a specific aspect or angle that hasn't been extensively explored. This will make your essay more compelling and original.
• Controversial issues: Controversial topics have the potential to generate lively discussions and debates. However, it is crucial to approach these topics with sensitivity and respect for diverse opinions. Present balanced arguments and consider multiple perspectives to ensure a well-rounded essay.

Remember, an exceptional equality essay topic should ignite curiosity, encourage critical thinking, and promote a deeper understanding of the subject. Now, let's proceed to explore some of the best equality essay topics that will inspire your writing.

Revolutionary Equality Essay Topics

Here are some groundbreaking equality essay topics that you can consider:

• The Empowering Role of Education in Achieving Gender Equality.
• Exploring the Intersectionality of Race and Gender in the Battle for Equality.
• Analyzing the Impact of Socioeconomic Factors on the Rights of the LGBTQ+ Community.
• The Challenges Faced by Minority Women in Paving Their Way to Corporate Leadership.
• The Evolution of Feminism: From Suffragettes to Modern Activism.
• The Pivotal Role of Media in Shaping Public Perception of Equality.
• Breaking Barriers and Overcoming Stereotypes: Promoting Equality in the World of Sports.
• The Profound Impact of Gender Equality on Economic Growth.
• The Significance of LGBTQ+ Representation in Mainstream Media.
• Exploring the Connection Between Disability Rights and Equality.
• Masculinity Unveiled: The Role of Men in the Feminist Movement.
• The Struggles Faced by Transgender Individuals in Today's Society.
• The Complex Relationship Between Religion and LGBTQ+ Rights.
• Analyzing the Wage Gap: Causes, Consequences, and Potential Solutions.
• Government Policies and Their Effectiveness in Promoting Equality.
• The Impacts of Colonialism on Indigenous Peoples' Quest for Equality.
• The Psychological Effects of Discrimination on Marginalized Communities.
• The Power of Inclusive Language in Fostering Equality.
• The Nexus of Immigration and Equality.
• Social Media as a Catalyst for Activism in the Pursuit of Equality.

These topics encompass a wide range of equality issues and offer ample opportunities for in-depth exploration and analysis.

Provocative Equality Essay Questions

To delve deeper into the chosen equality topics, here are ten essay questions that can guide your research and analysis:

• How has the feminist movement evolved over the past century, and what obstacles does it face in the present day?
• In what ways do socioeconomic factors influence access to education and opportunities for marginalized communities?
• What are the main hurdles faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in their pursuit of legal recognition and societal acceptance?
• How does media representation contribute to the perpetuation of gender stereotypes and inequality?
• What are the ethical implications of affirmative action policies in promoting equality?
• How does systemic racism affect the criminal justice system and contribute to racial disparities?
• What role does religion play in either fostering or hindering LGBTQ+ rights?
• How does the concept of intersectionality contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of inequality?
• What are the psychological effects of discrimination on individuals from marginalized communities?
• How can society achieve true equality without neglecting individual differences and unique cultural identities?

These questions serve as a launchpad for exploring different aspects of equality and provide opportunities for critical analysis and discussion.

Equality Essay Prompts

To ignite your writing on equality, here are five creative essay prompts:

• Envision a world where gender roles are completely reversed. How do you think this would impact society, and what challenges might arise?
• Compose a personal reflection on a time when you witnessed or experienced inequality. What lessons did you learn from this experience?
• If you could interview any historical figure who fought for equality, who would it be and why? What questions would you ask them?
• Create a fictional story set in a utopian society where equality is fully realized. What does this society look like, and what measures were taken to achieve equality?
• Analyze the role of art and creativity in promoting social change and advancing the cause of equality.

These prompts encourage creative thinking and offer unique angles for exploring the concept of equality.

Writing Equality Essay FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about writing equality essays:

Q: How can I make my equality essay stand out?

A: To make your essay stand out, choose a unique topic, provide compelling evidence and examples, and present original insights. Additionally, ensure your writing is clear, concise, and well-structured.

Q: Can I use personal experiences in an equality essay?

A: Yes, incorporating personal experiences can add depth and authenticity to your essay. However, remember to connect your experiences to broader societal issues and provide a balanced perspective.

Q: How can I engage readers in my equality essay?

A: Engage readers by starting with a captivating introduction, using thought-provoking questions, providing real-life examples, and encouraging readers to reflect on their own beliefs and actions.

Q: Is it necessary to consider counterarguments in an equality essay?

A: Yes, considering counterarguments demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of the topic and allows you to present a balanced viewpoint. Addressing counterarguments strengthens your essay's credibility and persuasiveness.

Q: How can I ensure my equality essay is well-researched?

A: Conduct thorough research using reliable sources, such as academic journals, reputable news outlets, and books written by experts in the field. Take notes, cite your sources accurately, and critically evaluate the information gathered.

Remember, writing an equality essay is an opportunity to contribute to important discussions and promote positive change. Embrace creativity and critical thinking to make your essay impactful and inspiring.

Analyzing Katherine Phillipss a Married State

The impact of absolute equality, made-to-order essay as fast as you need it.

Each essay is customized to cater to your unique preferences

+ experts online

Rhetorical Analysis of 'Ain't I a Woman?' by Sojourner Truth

The worldwide issue of women's equality, the case for equality in modern society, environment for social justice and equality, let us write you an essay from scratch.

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

All Men Are Still not Created Equal in America

All people are equal: how equality is achieved in modern america, the way how i see the world, the purpose of education and the importance of equality of educational opportunity, get a personalized essay in under 3 hours.

Expert-written essays crafted with your exact needs in mind

Understanding Diversity Leads to Equality

Liberty vs. equality debate: 'equality' marginalizes people, woman's rights as global issue: gender inequality, the civil rights movement: a struggle for equality, equality in the treatment of white defendants and black defendants in the united states, the right to equality in islam, sexuality does not determine equality, gender pay gap phenomenon, good and evil are equally important, equality in america: keeping our country happy, women's rights and equality in marriage in the ucf theatre's production of man and superman by george bernard shaw, the fight for equality and civil rights in the life and career of jackie robinson, gender wage gap issue: equal pay for equal work, separate but equal is equal: plessy v ferguson, the applicability of transformative, fractured and imposed constitutionalism in africa, race-based affirmative action in postsecondary institutions, the lack of equality in society in shakespeare’s "the merchant of venice" and in hansberry’s "a raisin in the sun", the legal dilemma behind equal pay for equal work in india, topdog/underdog: a sociological approach to norms and inequality, interpreting global inequality in "guns, germs, and steel".

1. Lynch, K., & Baker, J. (2005). Equality in education: An equality of condition perspective. Theory and research in education, 3(2), 131-164. (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1477878505053298) 2. Subrahmanian, R. (2005). Gender equality in education: Definitions and measurements. International Journal of Educational Development, 25(4), 395-407. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0738059305000349) 3. Lynch, K. (2001). Equality in education. Studies: An Irish Quarterly Review, 90(360), 395-411. (https://www.jstor.org/stable/30095506) 4. Hallinan, M. T. (1988). Equality of educational opportunity. Annual review of sociology, 14(1), 249-268. (https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.so.14.080188.001341) 5. Coleman, J. (1968). The concept of equality of educational opportunity. Harvard educational review, 38(1), 7-22. (https://meridian.allenpress.com/her/article-abstract/38/1/7/30900/The-Concept-of-Equality-of-Educational-Opportunity) 6. Gamoran, A., & Long, D. A. (2007). Equality of educational opportunity a 40 year retrospective (pp. 23-47). Springer Netherlands. (https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4020-5916-2_2) 7. Bol, T., & Van de Werfhorst, H. G. (2013). Educational systems and the trade-off between labor market allocation and equality of educational opportunity. Comparative Education Review, 57(2), 285-308. (https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/669122) 8. Brighouse, H., & Swift, A. (2009). Educational equality versus educational adequacy: A critique of Anderson and Satz. Journal of applied philosophy, 26(2), 117-128. (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1468-5930.2009.00438.x)

Relevant topics

• Gender Equality
• Animal Testing
• Pro Life (Abortion)
• Women's Rights
• Black Lives Matter
• Illegal Immigration
• I Have a Dream
• Gun Control

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Bibliography

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

Home / Essay Samples / Sociology / Identity / Social Inequality

Social Inequality Essay Examples

The dynamics of social class: exploring inequality and mobility.

Social class is a fundamental concept that underpins the structure of societies and shapes individuals' life experiences. It refers to the hierarchical divisions of society based on factors such as economic resources, occupation, education, and cultural capital. This essay delves into the complexities of social...

Discussion of Whether Racial Discrimination is Wrong Or Right

What is racial discrimination? And why do people continue to be racist after many things happen, and after many talks about how much the racism is a disgusting thing? When we look at the meaning of racism word in the dictionary, we see and discover...

Canadian Minorities, the Forgotten People: Racial Discrimination in Canada

Canada has always been under exceptionalism in the aspect of discrimination of people of a visible minority. Racism in the country has long been believed to only be persistent in the neighboring southern nation, USA. Multiculturalism in Canada has faced various threats from the legal...

Causes and Solutions to Racial Discrimination in America

Civil rights refer to rights upheld to protect individuals of a particular region from violation of human rights by private individuals, government, and social organization. However, in the United States there are department that act as civil rights justice, although many of the black Americans...

Advantages of Universal Basic Income for the Future Society

Many people have suffered from financial and economic problems throughout the globe. The idea of a universal basic income (UBI) has sparked this trend. The UBI is an actual cash payment for all people (2016), the economist states. Indeed, the idea behind the UBI is...

The Relation of Socioeconomic Status to Health Inequities and Inequalities

People from different backgrounds and social communities living in different countries enjoy health at different levels. In Australia, the level of health enjoyed by its citizens is generally good, however, good health is sometimes not shared equally. There are noticeable differences in the health status...

Socially Disadvantaged Castes and Poverty in India

This paper is composed considering the constraints and in addition positive experiences from prior scholarly endeavours on the issue of inter-social group inequalities and human poverty and destitution and prohibition of socially burdened and disadvantaged groups in Indian culture. The investigation endeavours to embrace a...

Social Inequality in America as a Result of Social Stratification

I believe that over the years or looking at the history of where the social inequality really generates from is very important. As we look back, we might be able to see the real reason members of U. S. society see social inequality as a...

Racial Discrimination and Its Traumatic Impact

It was dreamlike to see the people of colour walking down Oxford Road all accompanied by unarmed British cops. The instinctive frightfulness of George Floyd's public execution under the knee of a Minneapolis cop has sliced through the worldwide cognizance in a manner unheard of...

How Racial Discrimination in the United States Violates Human Rights

Racial discrimination is one of several words used to express the suppression of a race or various races, but more specifically, it refers to the ill-treatment a person or group receives as a result of differences in their culture, color, nationality, ethnic origin or immigrant...

Trying to find an excellent essay sample but no results?

Don’t waste your time and get a professional writer to help!

You may also like

• Social Justice
• Intersectionality
• Same Sex Marriage
• Nonverbal Communication
• First Impression
• Effects of Social Media
• Animal Cruelty Essays
• Cultural Identity Essays
• Equality Essays
• Homosexuality Essays
• Masculinity Essays
• Americanism Essays
• Ethnicity Essays
• Gender Essays
• Gender Identity Essays
• Self Identity Essays

samplius.com uses cookies to offer you the best service possible.By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .--> -->