Inequality and Poverty in Australia: A Sociological Perspective

This reading explores the aspect of inequality in the Australian society based on income and wealth. It discusses the sociological approaches to inequality and the research on the Australian way of life across class boundaries.

Running head: SOCIOLOGY 1
Introductory Sociology
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SOCIOLOGY 2
Brief Summary of the reading
In this reading it talks about classes and poverty levels within the Australian community (Habibis
& Walter, 2009). Even though the Australia is the imaged community of the nation that does not
mean all the individuals has equal access to the resources in the country (Habibis & Walter,
2009). The reading further explains that even though the country is amongst the rich in the world
there also exists another side of the affluence and poverty that exists in the country.
It goes further to show how the income and wealth have influenced the life of the individuals
who are living in the country because they have unequal access to the financial resources
(Saunders, 2005). There are those that have wealth and those that are poor but at the end of the
day the income and wealth is the one which determines the kind of education which one will
have.
The reading has also discussed on how political charged the atmosphere which surrounds the
poverty in the new millennium. There was also discussion on the inequality amongst the
Australian, and the sociological approaches to that inequality. The reading has also explored on
the sociological research for the past decade on whether to partake Australian way of life could
differ across the class boundaries.
Reflection on the content
The content of the reading explore on the aspect of inequality in the society. In Australia
individuals are different in society based on the income and wealth one has (McGregor, 1997).
There are those that are affluent and those that are poor. There are also low levels of
unemployment in Australia and this has been influenced by status quo, whereby if one does not
have wealth they would likely not access education and they end up jobless. There has also been

SOCIOLOGY 3
debate that Australia has a ruling class and this group fits uncomfortably with the myth of the
egalitarianism. Nonetheless, it is the aspect of globalization and the market reform which have
shaped on the nature of the class relations in the country.
How the reading fits with the ideas own interest
This reading has provided information on inequality exhibited in the wealthy nations. As much
as there are wealth nations in the world, there are individuals who are in poor conditions and do
not have access to the education (McGregor, 1997). There are a lot of things that are taken for
granted and many assumes that every person in the wealth countries is doing well than them.
Every person does not possess the same attributes of wealth and status in the society and agree
on the Egalitarianism view on this aspect that individuals’ attributes are different in the
community (McGregor, 1997). I believe everyone should be treated equally regardless of the
status and they need to be accorded fair treatment. The reading provides overview that each
individual is not equal in the society but they need to be treated equally regardless of this aspect.
Equality of the opportunity principle would be my guiding principle and this is what would apply
on my own interest
Activities that emerge from the reading
In the reading there have been activities which have emerged and debate in class have been done
on aspect such as evidence of the poverty and the hierarchical social relations to see if it been
exhibited throughout the history. We have discussed class structures where there is ruling class
in Australia and this has been largely debated if it is linked to the aspect of globalization. There
has also been debate over the class spill into the areas of the sociological investigation. In the

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class we have debated whether class continuous to have significant influence to the way
Australians live.

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References
Habibis, D., & Walter, M. (2009). Social inequality in Australia: Discourses, realities and future,
Oxford University Press, Melbourne.
McGregor, C. (1997). Class in Australia, Penguin, Melbourne
Saunders, P. G. (2005) .The Poverty Wars, University of New South Wales Press, Sydney