Inequality to Indigenous People: A Sociological Perspective

This essay discusses the social issue of inequality to indigenous people utilizing social theory. The reasons for the inequality existing toward the indigenous people are highlighted. The essay also explains the challenges faced by indigenous people in society.

Running head: INEQUALITY TO INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
INEQUALITY TO INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
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Introduction:
Every year countries across the world represent the reports on the condition of
aboriginals. In most of the reports, the negative conditions are highlighted for they are indeed
disadvantaged and deprived of equal rights (Einarsson, 2014). Sociological theory helps in
explaining a social phenomenon. The reasons that justify the social phenomenon through the
study of human behaviour, human life and human society (Luhmann, 2017). Since the beginning
of scientific reasoning people have relied on theories, similarly, this essay aims to discuss the
social issue, inequality to indigenous people, utilising social theory. In order to understand the
reasons for the inequality existing toward the indigenous people the essay has been carried out.
Social issue:
Indigenous people consists of more than 370 million people of total population. They are
found in more than 70 countries across the world. Similar to any other groups in society, they
have their own cultural norms, language, institutions and customs (Smylie & Firestone, 2016).
However, these practices are different than another part of the societies that makes it a
distinguishing feature. Any universal definition of indigenous people is no there however, they
are often known by the national terms. Aboriginal people, native people, first nation and many
more are some of the examples. According to WHO, these are the communities that live within,
they are committed to geographically distinct traditional habitats or territories belonging to their
ancestors (Mesfin, Tekle & Tesfay, 2013). They identify themselves as a distinct cultural group.
Indigenous groups are descended from groups present in the areas before modern states were
formed and present borders were defined. Indigenous people prefer to sustain their cultural and

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societal identities and social, political, economic and cultural institutions that are isolated from
the dominant or mainstream society or culture.
Indigenous people are faced with several challenges in society. Due to distinct cultural
factors they have been deprived of several fundamental rights for a very long time. Although
there have been profound actions taken in order to eliminate the problems of indigenous people,
the process is severely slow. Indigenous people are constantly struggling in the society in order
to survive decently and avail the fundamental human rights that every person is eligible for. It is
also important to know that it is not a news to anyone anymore as people are well aware of the
ways dice are loaded against indigenous people. The major challenges that are faced by
indigenous people are as follows:
 Poor health: poorer health is observed widely among the indigenous people due to chronic
diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. There is an inevitable link between the income
source, social factors and education that creates obstacle to a healthy lifestyle.
 Low education levels: It is a well-known factor that colonialism is responsible for various
bitter, demoralizing legacies and among all the issues education system is one of the root
because that have spoilt majority of the system.
 Inadequate appropriate housing: indigenous people who usually prefer staying in their own
territories belonging to their ancestors have been intervened by modernization. This have led
to homelessness of the indigenous population.
 Low income: the median income for aboriginal people are far lesser than the non-indigenous
people. The earning gap between the indigenous and non-indigenous people have made the
group lack behind.

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 High unemployment, high rates of suicide, high death rates, high levels of incarnation and
many more are the issues indigenous people face.
Sociological theory:
First published in 1848, Communist manifesto was a document written by Karl Marx. It
put forward various issues and problems that were faced by Russian such as oppressive leaders,
inequality between classes and a way to organization and structuring of the industry was possible
in the country (Harrison, 2017). According to Marx, the act of using another person for gaining
profit without providing fair compensation is exploitation (Vrousalis, 2013). It is an act that is
done intentionally in order to gain profit. In the similar way, the reason indigenous people face
discrimination for suppressing them would help in saving resources for the dominant group.
Marx stated in his conflict theory that civilization is a fight for authority. For authority would
give the access to limited resources. Therefore, the reason for indigenous people’s high
unemployment, homelessness, social discrimination helps the dominant group save the
resources. The dominant group includes the group of people that possess the power of wealth and
resources to manufacture or produce products in other way, they are powerful due to the
economic wealth. On the other hand the suppressed group, where individuals are that have no
power are only to follow what is asked as they need the minimum wealth for survival (Eskov,
2014). This is the reason that gives the dominant group advantage over the oppressed class. The
suppressed group are compelled to rely on the dominant group for income, as they maintain their
power position of wealth. The indigenous group are provided with laws that works on behalf of
them however, it is a well-known factor that they would not be able to utilize the benefits as the
power lies in the hands of non-indigenous people.

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Conclusion:
It is certain that a large number of inequalities are faced by indigenous people. The
concrete reason that is identified is low income, low education, high unemployment, social
discrimination and many other related. The social theory applied to the above social issue is
conflict theory. According to conflict theory, the society is a struggle between two groups,
dominant and suppressed. In the end, it can be concluded that the main reason for the existence
of the social issue as the resources are limited. There is a constant struggle for these limited
resources which make one group dominant each other based on power.

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References:
Einarsson, N. (2014). Arctic human development report (AHDR). In Encyclopedia of Quality of
Life and Well-Being Research (pp. 213-214). Springer, Dordrecht.
Eskov, V. M. (2014). Evolution of the emergent properties of three types of societies: The basic
law of human development. Emergence: Complexity & Organization, 16(2).
Harrison, A. H. (2017). 1848. A Companion to Victorian Literature and Culture, 19-34.
Luhmann, N. (2017). Risk: a sociological theory. Routledge.
Mesfin, K., Tekle, G., & Tesfay, T. (2013). Ethnobotanical study of traditional medicinal plants
used by indigenous people of Gemad District, Northern Ethiopia. Journal of Medicinal
Plants Studies, 1(4).
Smylie, J., & Firestone, M. (2016). The health of indigenous peoples. D. Raphael (3rd ed.) Social
determinants of health: Canadian perspective, 434-469.
Vrousalis, N. (2013). Exploitation, vulnerability, and social domination. Philosophy & Public
Affairs, 41(2), 131-157.