Social Inequality

 Social inequality would arise when resources are unevenly distributed in society, and such distribution is normally determined by the social class of the individuals. Social inequality may exist in many forms and affect an individual’s enjoyment of their social rights, including in employment, education, and political participation. For example, the rich-poor disparity, where it may be easier for economically-well-off individuals to access connections and opportunities that would guarantee an easier life or a larger slice of the pie; or gender inequality, as evidenced in the fact that women often struggle to cope with their dual-responsibility of the private sphere as a homemaker and caretaker and the public sphere where they would also be expected to work and make a living, despite they are often not given equal pay or equal access to promotion opportunities as their male counterparts.

 Social inequality can create very harmful outcomes that do not only pertain to the experience of an individual, but may affect the society as a whole - for instance, creating social norms, expectations, or practices that would be harmful to the less advantaged group. For instance, gender inequality does not only mean that a girl would be paid less, but it may also mean that society has expectations that girls could only occupy certain jobs like a teacher but not labor-intensive ones like a firefighter or police; it may also mean that women would be considered as less-human or people of low social standing that do not deserve the same respect, and this may heighten the rate of gender-based violence, which may cause irreparable physical and psychological harm. Arguably, social inequality and the persistence of social norms feed each other and create a never-ending cycle of harm to the victims. This is unless there is a mandatory change in society - for example, through law-making or social movement.