Differences_and_Inequalieties_in_Society_Tma01

Probably every human being sometimes, if not always, feels unequal to others. A state in which all citizens are equal could not exist, as there will always be traits that make one person feel worse or better than other people. We are divided into social groups which are further differentiated by their character and role. Many other factors influence social inequality, including social goods to which everyone has varied access, social strata and classes, and social mobility. Social goods can be divided into wealth, prestige, and power. Wealth. It is obvious that each human being strives to acquire wealth and achieve a better existence. In our civilisation, it is not enough to have an adequate supply of food, we are also expected, for example, to dress fashionably or invest in our future, which we all know is expensive. Different people have different spending needs, creating personal hierarchies of material values. While one person is happy in a modest apartment, another cannot live without a villa, swimming pool, and house-maid. These additional goods are not necessary, but they improve the quality of life and give a satisfaction that arises from the very fact of possession. Some people worship possession for its own sake, as they understand that if you have enough wealth, you can treat certain people like property as well. This is a bitter but true statement which has become especially obvious in our times of rampant dishonesty and corruption. Those of lesser means have fewer possibilities and sometimes are doomed to failure from the very start. Prestige. We learn to see ourselves through the eyes of others. If someone admires and respects us, we become more self-assured and find it easier to achieve our goals. People who are not respected acquire an inferiority complex and might never realise their potential. Every one of us, at least as a child, dreamed of being world-famous, of becoming an actor, sports star or musician, as even children know that becoming “somebody” means money and power. This is why prestige, or widespread respect and recognition, is in such demand. Logically of course we cannot all be famous and admired, because if we all shared these traits, they would become invisible and it would be impossible to define what “fame” or “popularity” was. Power – which is everything to some people – gives a feeling of dominance, authority, and security. It has been scientifically proven that every human being gains great pleasure from feeling superior to others. It is claimed that we even like to feel better than our friends, so we subconsciously choose those who are less attractive or poorer than ourselves, and so pose no threat to our self-image. Access to real power is nevertheless more difficult than to wealth or prestige. As can be seen, these factors divide people the most and can create insurmountable rifts between them. A person who works hard and has a bit of luck (or, just as well, knows the right people) can achieve any goal, and will climb to the very top. On the other hand, a person who does not put much effort into achieving their goals will remain a “nobody” and will have a strong feeling of inequality. The problem of social inequality is common to the thoughts and feelings of all people. The average person, even if not in the least interested in sociology, will still perceive the fact that some people are not equal to others. This observation has been expressed over the years in various ways – the differences between people being defined as just or unjust, incorporated into religious or secular ideologies which accepted or challenged inequality, as well as described in political programs and doctrines or in philosophical theories. The issue of inequality will always exist; it has always been the focal point of mass protests, revolutions, and social movements. Inequality constitutes a very important feature of human society.