Although there are many contributing factors to social inequality in modern society, there is one problem that stands out above the rest. In terms of socio-economic class, gender, and race, the unfair treatment of different peoples is clearly engrained in our social systems. Because there are so many different circumstances responsible for the separation of different groups, it is often hard to pinpoint exactly what is to blame for this division, and this is because structural inequality is something that is not easily visible to the naked eye.
In a society where bias viewpoints are upheld without the knowledge of the people who uphold them, a cycle of generational inequality ensues. Institutional discrimination is easily recognized in the form of neighborhoods divided by race, ethnicity, and social class, but not so obvious in the selection of elected leaders and wealth distribution that play a crucial role in keeping minorities from reaching the top of the social ladder. A gap between the prestigious and lower class people becomes wider as people maintain “the advantage for the dominant group while providing the appearance of fairness to others” . Preconceptions of where certain people should live, the jobs they should hold, and their status in society further stratify the system, making upward social mobility very difficult.
Often times, people are unaware of their participation in further stratifying the system because the framework for a predominantly white-male system was laid much before our time. Efforts to eliminate race, class, and gender disparities have come a long way, but the truth remains that society supports a dominant ideal, one which people inadvertently practice without question. And, as long as structural inequality exists, social inequality will continue to be the norm.
References
Carl, John D. Think Social Problems 2013. Pearson, 2013.
