Social inequality Study Guide

📖 Core Concepts Social inequality – uneven distribution of resources, opportunities, or outcomes across socially defined groups. Social goods – rights, privileges, education, housing, credit, etc., whose access is shaped by power, prestige, race, gender, class, etc. Stratification – hierarchical division of society (e.g., egalitarian vs. stratified) based on wealth, power, prestige. Status types – ascribed (born‑in, e.g., sex, race, parentage) vs. achieved (earned, e.g., education, job). Social mobility – movement of individuals/groups across strata; can be vertical (up/down) or horizontal (same rank). Ideological continuum – individualist (inequality seen as natural) ↔ collectivist (inequality as undesirable, to be reduced). Key quantitative measures – income, wealth, Gini coefficient (0 = perfect equality, 1 = max inequality), Palma measure (share of top 10 %). 📌 Must Remember Gini coefficient ranges 0–1; higher values = greater inequality. Palma measure focuses on top 10 % share of national income. Ascribed status cannot be changed; achieved status can be altered through personal effort or policy. Vertical mobility = upward or downward; horizontal mobility = lateral moves within same class. Individualist ideologies (e.g., neoliberalism) argue inequality spurs innovation; collectivist ideologies (e.g., socialism) argue it causes conflict. Wealth concentration: top 10 % own 60‑90 % of wealth; top 10 % own 30‑50 % of income. Gender wage gap & glass ceiling persist despite equal qualifications. 🔄 Key Processes Measuring Inequality Collect income/wealth data → compute distribution → calculate Gini (or Palma). Social Mobility Assessment Identify individual's current stratum → compare with parental stratum → classify as absolute (higher than parents) or relative (rank change). Ideology Influence on Policy Identify dominant ideology → predict policy stance on redistribution (individualist = minimal, collectivist = strong). CORE‑index Risk Evaluation (childhood obesity) Gather early‑life factors (birth weight, infant feeding, parental BMI) → compute composite score → flag high‑risk children → apply preventive interventions. 🔍 Key Comparisons Ascribed vs. Achieved Status → Born characteristics (sex, race) vs. earned characteristics (education, job). Egalitarian vs. Stratified Society → No formal classes, leaders have influence only vs. hierarchical classes (upper, middle, lower) with power differentials. Individualist vs. Collectivist Ideologies → Inequality = natural/desired vs. inequality = harmful and to be regulated. Wealth Inequality vs. Income Inequality → Wealth = assets, more concentrated; Income = earnings, less concentrated. Absolute vs. Relative Mobility → Absolute: higher absolute status than parents; Relative: change in rank regardless of absolute level. ⚠️ Common Misunderstandings “Inequality = only income” – wealth, power, prestige, and access to social goods also matter. “Meritocracy eliminates inequality” – structural biases (race, gender, class) still shape outcomes even with merit‑based systems. “Higher inequality always drives growth” – contemporary research shows the relationship is weak or negative in many contexts. “All age‑related discrimination is illegal” – ageism persists in hiring, promotion, and resource allocation despite legal protections. 🧠 Mental Models / Intuition “Layered cake” model – imagine society as a multi‑layered cake: each layer (class) holds a different slice of resources; ascribed traits determine the initial layer, achieved traits can move you up or down. “Inequality as a filter” – think of policies as filters: individualist filters let more resources flow to top layers; collectivist filters spread resources more evenly. “Mobility ladder” – vertical moves are steps up/down; horizontal moves are stepping sideways on the same rung. 🚩 Exceptions & Edge Cases Caste systems – pure ascribed status; virtually no upward mobility. Universal health care – reduces health‑care access gaps but does not erase all health inequalities (social determinants persist). Globalization – can increase cultural exchange yet widen global wealth gaps between North and South. Fiscal policy impacts – expansionary spending reduced inequality in the UK but increased it in the US/Canada. 📍 When to Use Which Gini vs. Palma – Use Gini for overall dispersion; use Palma when focusing on top‑10 % income share. Individualist vs. Collectivist policy lens – Apply individualist rationale when arguing for market‑driven solutions; use collectivist lens to justify redistribution or regulation. CORE‑index – Deploy in early‑life public‑health screening to pre‑empt obesity; not suitable for adult populations. Relative vs. Absolute mobility analysis – Use absolute mobility to assess inter‑generational improvement; use relative mobility to study changes in social rank distribution. 👀 Patterns to Recognize Cluster of ascribed disadvantages (e.g., race + gender + low class) often predicts compounded inequality outcomes. Policy outcomes mirror ideology: neoliberal reforms → widening gaps; socialist reforms → narrowed gaps. Health disparities mirror wealth gaps: poorer neighborhoods → higher obesity, lower access to care. Gender/ racial wage gaps persist despite equal education – look for systemic bias beyond individual merit. 🗂️ Exam Traps “Inequality always improves growth” – distractor; modern evidence shows mixed/negative effects. Confusing absolute with relative mobility – absolute refers to higher status than parents; relative concerns rank change. Assuming “universal health care = no health inequality” – false; social determinants still create gaps. Equating “egalitarian society” with “no social classes” – trick: egalitarian societies aim for equal opportunity but may still have informal hierarchies. Mix‑up between wealth and income concentration – remember wealth is far more skewed than income. --- This guide condenses the most exam‑relevant concepts from the outline. Review each bullet, test yourself on the contrasts, and practice applying the decision rules to sample questions.