Social inequality

• Social inequality is the state of

unequal distribution of valued
goods and opportunities. AIl
societies today have social
inequality. Examining social
stratification requires a macro
sociological perspective in order
Social inequality to view social systems that make
inequalities visible, although
individuals may support or fight
inequalities, social stratification is
created and supported by society
as a whole through values and
norms and consistently durable
systems of stratification.
The Meaning of Social Inequality
Social inequality is the difference in
the distribution of social desirables
such as wealth, power, and prestige.
• It also refers to the unequal
opportunities of individuals based on
their social class or status.
• This explanation is mostly inspired by
Karl Marx's analysis the rise of
industrialization.
• Social inequality results from a society organized by
hierarchies of class, race, and gender that unequally
distributes access to resources and rights. It can manifest
in a variety of ways, like income and wealth inequality,
unequal access to education and cultural resources, and
differential treatment by the police and judicial system,
among others.
• Social inequality goes hand in hand with social
stratification, Social inequality is characterized by the
existence of unequal Opportunities and rewards for
different social positions or statuses within a group or
society. It contains structured and recurrent patterns of
unequal distributions of goods, wealth, opportunities,
rewards, and punishments.
• The following are some of the social inequalities and the
programs that the government is undertaking to address
 1. Inequality in the access to social, political, and
symbolic capital
For us to understand well these inequalities, we have to define first these
concepts: Social Capital is the ability of a collective to act together to
pursue a common goal. It refers to the connection of individuals within the
society. An example of this is your social status. Rich people have
preferential treatment than that of poor people.
Political Capital refers to the trust, good will, and influence possessed by a
political actor, such as politician, to mobilize support toward a preferred
policy outcome. Example is that, governor will be given a preferential
treatment over those with lower have no civic equality. Moreover, political
actors coming from political families had given preferential treatment to
enter politics than those who are not.
Symbolic Capital refers to the resources that one possesses which is a
function of honor, prestige or recognition, or any other traits that one
values within a culture. Like also in many other circumstances, rich people
had greater opportunities to enter into politics or in any other aspects
because of their level in the society.
Government Programs
Addressing these
Inequalities are:
Conditional Cash Transfer program locally
known as Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program, or
4Ps, is a government program that provides
conditional cash grants to the poorest of the poor
in the Philippines. Households receive cash
grants if children stay in school and get regular
health check-ups, have their growth monitored,
and receive vaccines. Pregnant women must get
prenatal care, with their births attended to by
professional health workers. Parents or guardians
are required to participate in monthly
community-based Family Development Sessions
to learn about positive child discipline, disaster
Agrarian reform in the Philippines seeks to
solve the centuries old problem of landlessness
in rural areas. Through the Comprehensive
Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) initiated in
1987,the government addressed key national
goals: the promotion of equity and social justice,
food security and poverty alleviation in the
countryside. After over 14 years of the CARP,
however, the program is yet to be completed and
is currently burdened with major issues - from
opposition by landlords and lack of support from
legislators, to wide gaps in fund resources.
SK Reform Act of 2015 has the provisions
that prohibits political dynasty. It prohibits
any person to run in any Sanggunian
Kabataan Office either elected or appointed if
it has a relative up to second degree in the
barangay level to governorship.
The Universal Access to Quality Tertiary
Education Act is a law that institutionalizes free
tuition and exemption from other fees in state
universities and colleges (SUCs), local universities
and colleges (LUCs) in the Philippines. The law also
foresees subsidies also for private higher education
institutions. It is intended to give underprivileged
Filipino students a chance to earn a college degree.
The law allows financially-able students to avail of
the free higher education provision but also
contribute a specific amount to the higher education
institution (HEI). SUCs, LUCs, and TVET providers are
required to create a proper system so students can
make voluntary contributions for their education.
2. Minority groups are groups
composed of less-dominant
classifications in society that experience
disproportionately lower opportunities
than their dominant counterparts.
Below are some relevant issues
involving minority groups:
1. Gender Inequality
• In some countries women are paid relatively
lower than men due to their sexuality and
biological differences.
• The LGBT community has always been
treated indifferently and discriminatively
because they do not fall within biologically
defined gender group.
 Programs:
• The Philippine Plan for Gender-Responsive
Development(PPGD) rests on a vision of
development that is equitable, sustainable, free
from violence, respectful of human rights,
supportive of self-determination and the
actualization of human potentials, and participatory
and empowering . It places people at the center
and aims to make development work for all groups.
However, it recognizes that discrimination exists on
the basis of gender, class and ethnicity. In the light
of historical gender inequalities and inequities, it
puts greater emphasis on women as a
disadvantaged group. It is in here where gender
and development was anchored into.
• The Magna Carta of Women (MCW) is a
comprehensive women's human rights law that seeks to
eliminate discrimination through the recognition,
protection, fulfillment, and promotion of the rights of
Filipino women, especially those belonging in the
marginalized sectors of the society. It conveys a
framework of rights for women based directly on
international law. It salient features are:
• Increasing the number of women in third level positions
in government to achieve a fifty-fifty (50-50)gender
balance within the next five years while the composition
of women in all levels of development planning and
program implementation will be at least 40 percent;
• Leave benefits of two (2) months with full pay based
on gross monthly compensation for women
employees who undergo surgery caused by
gynecological disorders, provided that they have
rendered continuous aggregate employment service
of at least six (6) months for the last twelve
(12)months;
• Non-discrimination in employment in the field of
military, police and other similar services that include
according the same promotional privileges and
opportunities as their men counterpart, including pay
increases, additional benefits, and awards, based on
competency and quality of performance.
• Provision for equal access and elimination of
Discrimination in education, scholarship, and
training. Thus, “expulsion, non-readmission,
prohibiting enrollment, and other related
discrimination of women students and faculty due
to pregnancy out of marriage shall be outlawed.
• Non-discriminatory and non-derogatory portrayal of
women in media and film to raise the consciousness
of the general public in recognizing the dignity of
women and the role and contribution of women in
family, community, and the society through the
strategic use of mass media;
• Equal status given to men and women on the titling
2. Ethnic Minorities
• Because some minorities live traditionalistic lives far
away from the city and technology, and some may
appear differently than usual, they have been
consistently labeled and treated as people with
minimal knowledge and capabilities.
• Lack of resources easily available for many are not
utilized within their group, and thus receive negative
attention from the dominant public.
 Programs:
• Republic Act 8371, known as the Indigenous
Peoples Rights Act (IPRA), was enacted in 1997. It
has been praised for its support for the cultural
integrity of indigenous peoples, the right to their
lands and the right to self-directed development
of these lands. Under the Indigenous Peoples'
Rights Act of 1997 (IPRA), self-delineation shall be
the guiding principle in identifying and delineating
ancestral domains. As such, indigenous cultural
communities (ICC) and indigenous people (IP)shall
have a Readmore:
decisive role in all activities pertinent
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thereto.indigenous-peoples-rights-to-their-ancestral-domain#ixzz6cFd64VGL
3. Other Minorities
• This may include people with disabilities or
people with religions that are less prevalent in
society.
• These minorities experience discrimination in
work, especially when the disabled have physical
limitations, while the religious have practices and
beliefs that are greatly disagreed upon by the
majority.
Programs:
• Republic Act No. 9442, an Act Amending
Republic Act No. 7277, Otherwise known as the
Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, and For Other
Purposes' Granting Additional Privileges and
Incentives and Prohibitions on Verbal, Non-verbal
Ridicule and Vilification Against Persons with
Disability. Its objective is to provide persons with
disability, the opportunity to participate fully into
the mainstream of society by granting them at
least twenty percent (20%) discount in all basic
services. It is a declared policy of RA 7277 that
persons with disability are part of Philippine
society, and thus the State shall give full support
to the improvement of theirtotal well-being and
into the mainstream of society. They have the same
rights as other people to take their proper place in
society. They should be able to live freely and as
independently as possible. This must be the concern
of everyone the family, community and all
government and nongovernment organizations.
Rights of persons with disability must never be
perceived as welfare services. Prohibitions on
verbal, non-verbal ridicule and vilification against
persons with disability shall always be observed at
all times.
• Department of Education has adopted the policy to
provide special protection to children who are gravely
threatened or endangered by circumstances which
affect their normal development and over which they
have no control, and to assist the concerned
agencies in their rehabilitation. Furthermore, the
Department aims to ensure such special protection
from all forms of abuse and exploitation and care as
is necessary for the child's well-being, taking into
account the primary rights and duties of parents,
legal guardians, or other individuals who are legally
responsible and exercise custody over the child.
DepEd recognizes the participatory rights of the child
in the formulation and implementation of policies,
and in all proceedings affecting them, whether they
• Enactment of Anti-Bullying Law which
mandates directed all elementary and
secondary schools to adopt policies to
address the existence of bullying in their
respective institutions.
Analyzing Social Inequalities
The existence of minority groups in functionalist and
conflict societies are also embedded in each type of
society's principles.
• In a functionalist society, minorities also play social roles
that contribute to social balance and equilibrium.
However, these roles are bound by limitations and social
norms.
• In conflict societies, minority groups are seen as lower-
class individuals that will not be able to keep up with the
consistent competition occurring within the environment.
• In both societies, discrimination against minorities is
possible. Inequality among minority groups is greatly
Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda
for Sustainable Development
This Agenda is a plan of action for people, planet and
prosperity. It also seeks to strengthen universal peace
in larger freedom. We recognize that eradicating
poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including
extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and
an indispensable requirement for sustainable
development. All countries and all stakeholders, acting
in collaborative partnership. Will implement this plan.
We are resolved to free the human race from the
tyranny of poverty and want and to heal and secure our
planet. We are determined to take the bold and
transformative steps which are urgently needed to shift
 As we embark on this collective journey, we pledge
that no one will be left behind. The 17 Sustainable
Development Goals and 169 targets which we are
announcing today demonstrate the scale and
ambition of this new universal Agenda. They seek to
build on the Millennium Development Goals and
complete what these did not achieve. They seek to
realize the human rights of all and to achieve gender
equality and the empowerment of all women and
girls. They are integrated and indivisible and balance
the three dimensions of sustainable development:
the economic, social and environmental.
The Goals and targets will stimulate action over the
next fifteen years in areas of critical importance for
humanity and the planet:

a) People. We are determined to end poverty and

hunger, in all their forms and dimensions, and to
ensure that all human beings can fulfil their potential
in dignity and equality and in a healthy environment.
b) b) Planet. We are determined to protect the planet
from degradation, including through sustainable
consumption and production, sustainably managing
its natural resources and taking urgent action on
climate change, so that it can support the needs of
the present and future generations.
c) Prosperity. We are determined to ensure that all
human beings can enjoy prosperous and fulfilling lives
and that economic, social and technological progress
occurs in harmony with nature.
d) Peace. We are determined to foster peaceful, just
and inclusive societies which are free from fear and
violence. There can be no sustainable development
without peace and no peace without sustainable
development.
e) Partnership. We are determined to mobilize the
means required to implement this Agenda through a
revitalized Global Partnership for Sustainable
Development, based on a spirit of strengthened global
solidarity, focused in particular on the needs of the
The interlinkages and integrated nature of the
Sustainable Development Goals are of crucial
importance in ensuring that the purpose of the
new Agenda is realized. If we realize our
ambitions across the full extent of the Agenda,
the lives of all will be profoundly improved and
our world will be transformed for the better.
Sustainable Development Goals
• Goal 1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
• Goal 2. End hunger, achieve food security and
improved nutrition and promote sustainable
agriculture
• Goal 3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-
being for all at all ages
• Goal 4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality
education and promote lifelong learning
opportunities for all
• Goal 5. Achieve gender equality and empower all
Goal 6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of
water and sanitation for all.
Goal 7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and
modern energy for all.
Goal 8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable
economic growth, full and productive employment and
decent work for all.
Goal 9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and
sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.
Goal 10. Reduce inequality within and among countries.
Goal 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe,
resilient and sustainable.
Goal 13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its
impacts.
Goal 14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and
marine resources for sustainable development.
Goal 15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial
ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification,
and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.
Goal 16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable
development, provide access to justice for all and build effective,
accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.
Goal 17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize
the global partnership for sustainable development.