Levels of Inequality

Social Inequalities ANTH 2301 Levels of Inequality Studying the realities and experiences of inequality in one's own culture is equally essential as understanding how societies regulate the accumulation of resources. This section will look at the various ways that people are affected by social inequality. Experiences of social inequality in modern countries frequently derive from racism, sexism, capitalism, and colonialism—all of which contain the idea that one group is superior to another. Every day, power disparities that result from personal prejudices are known as interpersonal inequalities. These imbalances reify and normalise structural and institutional inequalities. The policies and practices of organisations (government agencies, businesses, and educational institutions) that support injustice are the root cause of institutional inequality. Beyond the contacts people have on a daily basis, institutional disparities exist. They are frequently invisible and give the impression of being the status quo. Because structural inequality is founded on the cumulative impacts of institutional decisions made across society and history, it exists at a level above personal interactions and institutions. This kind of inequity is widespread, widespread over the world, and very hard to overcome. Individual prejudices may be reinforced by structural disparities, leading to a vicious cycle of selfreinforcement. The culmination of interpersonal, institutional, and structural disparities is known as systemic inequality; it is commonly represented by "isms" including sexism, racism, and classism. The uneven distribution of resources is referred to as inequality. Most people encounter people from various socioeconomic groups in settings like schools, places of worship, or social organisations while they are young, and this exposes them to the concept of inequality. They acknowledge that certain individuals possess more resources due to their innate abilities or social connections. These individuals could drive more costly automobiles, dress more opulently, and perhaps have greater possibilities than others. Social disparities stem from people's histories and the ways that racism, sexism, classism, and other types of oppression have impacted their prospects in life. Here, the term "oppression" refers to the unfair use of force, whether overt or covert, that is frequently employed to damage or control entire populations. Conversely, inequality denotes the uneven allocation of resources as a result of an unfair power disparity. It is a kind of inequality brought about by this unequal distribution, frequently as a result of wrongs committed against historically marginalised communities. Inequities still exist in the US today in sectors including the banking sector, voting rights, and the housing market, where minority communities still struggle with issues of justice and resource allocation. When the organisations in control of resource distribution distribute funds in a way that further marginalises those groups, social inequality results. Images attempting to clarify the distinction between inequality and inequity—or, conversely, equality and equity—may have appeared on social media. Sarah Willen, Colleen Walsh, and Abigail Fisher Williamson (2021) point out that one issue with these photographs is that, because they include individuals, viewers may interpret them as advocating for individualised or localised solutions as opposed to systemic reforms. Most of the time, injustice and oppression are structural issues rooted in socialisation, politics, economics, and other areas that normalise their existence rather than being interpersonal. It is crucial to recognise that the term "system" has two distinct meanings in order to distinguish between systematic oppression and systemic oppression, inequality and injustice. A system can be a methodical approach to achieving an objective; for example, a system designed to help someone prepare for a foreign language exam by helping them study vocabulary. This definition gives rise to the phrase "systematic oppression," which refers to the deliberate maltreatment of particular populations. However, the word "system" may also refer to a group of components that work together to create a complex whole, like an organism's organs. The phrase "systemic oppression," which refers to the normalisation and perpetuation of political, economic, and social inequality, originates from this notion. Numerous academics have concluded that systematic injustice is engrained in US laws, culture, and government forever, meaning it is constantly supported both subtly and unconsciously. Understanding power is crucial when talking about injustice and inequality because, at its most basic, power is the capacity to exercise control, authority, or influence over other people. More power gives a person more agency, or the capacity to act and choose. The distinction between agency and free will needs to be made since societal factors like class, gender, and ethnicity frequently have a significant influence on an individual's agency. This chapter will cover social inequality as well as power and agency and how anthropologists conceptualise them from different angles and theoretical frameworks.