Download inequality

Inequality and Human Experience
• Much of the human experience is influenced by
inequality
• Social differentiation refers to the level of
complexity characterizing a social relationship
• Canada has a high level of social differentiation
which means that people and interactions focus on
different tasks and activities
• This is linked to increased complexity and social
ranking
LO 1
Inequality and Human Experience
• eg. Ranking occupations in relation to other
occupations
• People are ranked in a range of different ways and
characteristics (age, education)
• Ranking determines and shapes our relationship to
valuable resources in two ways
•
1. differential distribution of valuable resources
•
2. differential access to valuable resources
LO 1
Inequality and Human Experience
• People experiencing inequality have fewer valuable
resources or less access to tangible and intangible
resources (money, wealth, real estate, influence,
knowledge)
• Sociologists use the ideas of power, privilege and
prestige to think about the relationship between
inequality and what we do and think
• Valuable resources are valuable because they allow
us to do things and they are scarce (eg. a tool)
LO 1
Inequality and Human Experience
• Weber – power is the chance that a person can do
what s/he wants even in the face of opposition,
resistance or constraint
• those with skill, strength or authority to control
valuable resources have a wider range of choices,
options and opportunities – privilege
• having power and privilege often brings about
prestige (respect, regard or status) eg. Formal
education
• the positive regard of education can be used to
influence decisions, thought and actions of others
LO 1