Cold Day Is Saskatoon

Inequality is a common theme in our world today. It can be measured in many ways such as comparing the wealth of a few and the poverty of many others, by the education you receive, by the race you belong to, or the people you associate with in your life. The vast majority of people do not fall into the upper class.

The capitalist system preaches that with hard work, any individual can succeed in any dream they pursue. Unfortunately, this statement is detrimentally false. Only a small group of individuals control ownership of the wealth, and are solely focused on maintaining their success, by acquiring private property and investments. The middle and lower classes are not given these equal opportunities and are left to feel inferior.

Three articles have given extensive understanding to the reason inequality exists, and provide explanations regarding their cause and effect on society.

The first article, “Why are people unequal in society”, provides an explanation about how inequality originated in society, and was carried out through everyday processes. These policies are used to benefit a few by maintaining their wealth, protecting it at all cost, and controlling all major institutions. Propaganda is used by these policy makers, so the middle and lower classes do not rebel, and correlate their inequality to their own inferiority.

Charon argues that when individuals interact with each other, inequality is inevitable. An individual’s talents or material wealth provides them with autonomy, and separates humans from each other. If the qualities that people possess are valued, inequality is ultimately the result. Charon’s focus in the beginning of the article is to explain, that inequality emerges from our social interaction which in turn create social structures used to solidify inequality.

The fundamental areas that drive a permanent social structure are, a division of labour, social conflict, and the institution of private property.

A division of labour, where people perform various tasks, provides certain advantages for a few. Certain jobs are valued higher and create positions of authority over others, contributing to the acquisition of private property. If an individual controls private property, others will be dependant on the goods or services that person provides. With the income produced, that individual can attain more resources, and employ people, perpetuating inequality.

Charon states that the division of labour is created on purpose. When organizations are created, a division of labour is instituted intentionally, to allow a minority to make the decisions necessary, for the business to operate. These few will receive special advantages, reinforcing economic inequality and disparity.

Social conflict is the second basis for inequality. When a person or group is victorious, they will use the win to gain an advantage, and be economically