9.2 Systems of Inequality

Racism, whiteness, and white supremacy shape social structures, creating unequal access to resources and opportunities. These systems perpetuate racial stereotypes and biases in institutions like education and criminal justice, reinforcing racial inequalities through discriminatory policies and practices.

Economic, social, and cultural capital play crucial roles in social stratification. Unequal distribution of these forms of capital contributes to class divisions and hierarchy, with high levels providing greater opportunities for upward mobility while lack of capital can limit one's ability to improve their class position.

Racism, Whiteness, and White Supremacy

Racism and White supremacy impacts

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  Systemic racism endures as Quebec fails to reckon with slavery history View original

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  How Data Can Map and Make Racial Inequality More Visible (If Done Responsibly) View original

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  Systemic racism endures as Quebec fails to reckon with slavery history View original

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• Racism involves prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against individuals based on their racial or ethnic group (African Americans, Latinx, Asian Americans)
• Can manifest at individual, interpersonal, or institutional levels perpetuating social inequalities and disparities
• Whiteness is a social construct that privileges people perceived as White, associated with power, privilege, and dominance often seen as the default or norm in many societies (Eurocentric beauty standards, White-dominated media)
• White supremacy is the belief that White people are superior to those of other races, seeking to maintain and defend a system of wealth, power, and privilege for White people
• Manifests through colonialism, segregation, and discriminatory policies (Jim Crow laws, redlining)
• Impacts social structures by creating unequal access to resources, opportunities, and power marginalizing and oppressing non-White individuals and communities
• Perpetuates racial stereotypes and biases in institutions like education, healthcare, and criminal justice (school-to-prison pipeline, racial profiling)
• Systemic discrimination reinforces and perpetuates racial inequalities through institutional policies and practices

Economic, Social, and Cultural Capital

Types of capital in stratification

• Economic capital includes financial resources like money, assets, and property playing a significant role in determining one's class position and opportunities (trust funds, real estate investments)
• Can be inherited, earned, or accumulated over time influencing social mobility
• Social capital involves networks, relationships, and connections that provide access to resources and opportunities (alumni networks, professional associations)
• Helps individuals navigate social structures and achieve upward mobility often tied to family background, education, and social circles
• Cultural capital encompasses knowledge, skills, and behaviors valued by dominant culture including education, language proficiency, and cultural experiences (art appreciation, etiquette)
• Can signal social status and gain access to elite spaces (private schools, country clubs)
• Unequal distribution of capital contributes to class divisions and hierarchy with high levels providing greater opportunities for upward mobility
• Lack of capital can limit one's ability to access resources and improve their class position perpetuating social stratification
• Privilege often results from the accumulation and inheritance of various forms of capital

Capitalism and Social Inequality

Capitalism's role in inequality

• Capitalism tends to concentrate wealth and power in the hands of a few leading to significant income and wealth disparities between social classes (billionaires, poverty)
• Perpetuates unequal access to resources and opportunities reinforcing class divisions
• Relies on the exploitation of workers for profit with low wages, poor working conditions, and limited bargaining power (sweatshops, gig economy)
• Contributes to the marginalization and oppression of certain groups, particularly those from lower classes (working poor, precarious employment)
• Commodifies various aspects of social life like healthcare, education, and housing limiting access for those who cannot afford them (medical debt, student loans)
• Interacts with and reinforces other forms of inequality, such as racism and sexism creating additional barriers to economic success and mobility for marginalized groups
• Perpetuates a cycle of disadvantage and oppression for certain communities (generational poverty, redlining)
• Often justified through the concept of meritocracy, which assumes equal opportunities for all

Gender Relations and Patriarchal Systems

Gender and patriarchal power dynamics

• Gender relations refer to the social, cultural, and economic relationships between men and women shaped by societal norms, expectations, and power structures
• Can be characterized by inequality, discrimination, and oppression (gender wage gap, sexual harassment)
• Patriarchal systems are social systems in which men hold primary power and predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege, and control of property
• Perpetuate male dominance and female subordination manifesting in various forms (unequal political representation, gender-based violence)
• Affects societal power dynamics through unequal distribution of power and resources between men and women
• Limits opportunities for women in leadership positions and decision-making roles reinforcing gender stereotypes and expectations (glass ceiling, emotional labor)
• Marginalizes and oppresses women and gender non-conforming individuals (trans discrimination, misogyny)
• Gender inequality often intersects with other forms of inequality, such as race and class with women from marginalized communities facing additional barriers and discrimination
• Patriarchal systems can perpetuate and exacerbate various forms of social inequality (feminization of poverty, lack of reproductive rights)

Intersectionality and Structural Violence

Understanding complex systems of oppression

• Intersectionality examines how different forms of discrimination and oppression intersect and compound, creating unique experiences of marginalization
• Structural violence refers to systematic ways in which social structures harm or disadvantage individuals
• Social stratification creates and maintains hierarchies based on various social categories, often reinforcing existing power structures
• Hegemony describes the dominance of one group over others, often maintained through cultural institutions and social norms