Transcript 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