Essay: Causes, Effects, and Social Policies on Inequality

This essay delves into the multifaceted issue of social inequality, examining its core concepts and various dimensions, including class, gender, race, and income disparities. It explores the theoretical underpinnings of inequality through functionalist and conflict theories, providing a comprehensive understanding of its origins. The essay identifies key causes of inequality, such as poverty, social exclusion, poor health, and inadequate education, while also analyzing the detrimental effects on economic growth, crime rates, and health outcomes. Furthermore, it highlights the role of social policies, specifically the UK government's initiatives like "Improving lives: Helping Workless Families" and the "Troubled Families programme," in addressing inequality. The essay concludes with a discussion of social stratification models, offering a holistic perspective on the patterns and consequences of inequality within society.

Evaluate the causes and
effects of inequality and
disadvantage in society
Name of the student

What is ‘Social Inequality’?
 Social inequality is not just social
difference.
 It is a comparative term in comparison
with other individuals in a society
 It is a disadvantages or inequality with
respect to social context.
 Principle inequalities in a society can
be divided into –
- Class
- Gender
- Race
- disparities in wealth and income
(Scheffer 2017)

Social theories related to
inequalities
 Functionalist theory
- Primary focus is on the
functioning of beliefs, values
and institutions within a society.
- Associated with Emile
Durkheim
- it is desirable to a society
for its proper functioning (Ritzer
and Stepnisky 2017)

Social theories related to
inequalities (Contd.)
 Conflict theory
- suggested by Karl Marx.
- perpetual competition
because of limited resources.
- Four primary assumptions
are there for conflict theory.
They are:
-- Competition
-- Revolution
-- Structural
inequality
-- War (Ritzer and
Stepnisky 2017)

Causes of inequalities
Poverty
 Inability to purchase required
necessity by custom or nature -
Adam Smith
 Leads to stagnation of growth
and stability
 Creates unintentional poverty for
the future generation in
underprivileged families.

Causes of inequalities (Contd.)
Social exclusion
 Individuals suffering systematic
disadvantages because of their
race, sexual orientation, religion,
race, gender, disability, migration
status, HIV status and caste.
 Multi- dimensional aspect
 These dimensions are
-- Political
-- Social
-- Cultural
-- economic

Causes of inequalities (Contd.)
Health
 Individual with poor health or
illness are unable work in his/ her
full productivity.
 Poverty increase stress
 Stress is a risk factor for various
illness and disease.
 Unequal countries in Europe
have more outcomes of mental
health.

Causes of inequalities (Contd.)
Education
 Plays an important role in
inequalities present in a society
 Less educated person have less
of a chance of getting highly paid
job or to become a high skilled
labourer.
 Completion of education also
enhances the per capita income
of a country.

Effects of inequalities
Stifles Growth
 Can be a positive influence for
short term but in long term it has
negative correlation with
economic growth.
 Tends to increase predatory
market behaviour.
 Investment and capital became
scarce (Stiglitz 2015).

Effects of inequalities (Contd.)
Increases crime
 There is a positive correlation
between crime and inequality.
 Evidence points that inequality
tends to increase crime rate.
 High crime rate is prevalent in
poor area of u equal society
(Stiglitz 2015).

Effects of inequalities (Contd.)
Decreases health
 Unequal society suffers from
decrease in health index.
 Illness occurrence rate is higher
amongst the member of
impoverished group within the
society.
 Increases high disease and
mortality rates, lower income
work force, higher health care
cost (Stiglitz 2015).

Effects of inequalities (Contd.)
Increases fairness
 Society with inequality tend to be
fairer than without it.
 Unrestrained market generally
develops in to economic
inequality (Stiglitz 2015).