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Social Inequality in Society Essay

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Social Inequality in Society Social inequality influences all aspects of our lives. The following essay will look at evidence highlighting inequalities in society today. In particular it will focus upon inequalities found between men and women, referred to as gender inequality. Additionally it will integrate sociological perspectives such as functionalism, radical, Marxist or liberal feminism to explain the causes of inequalities and in particular those found in the …show more content…

In western society there are two terms of reference for men and women ~ ‘sex’ or ‘gender’. Sex, defined by Giddens (1993:762) as the “biological and anatomical differences distinguishing females from males”, refers to the visual or physiological differences between men and women, such as genitalia or a women’s ability to bear children. Gender, however, described by Thompson (1993:40) as “the social aspect of the differentiation of the sexes”, refers to the socially constructed ideology of the expected behaviour of men and women, a theory some sociologists refer to as social constructionism. For example, boys are expected to be loud and assertive whilst girls are expected to be passive and submissive.

Feminist sociologist Ann Oakley, argues that behaviour displayed by men and women is cultural, can differ according to socially accepted ‘norms’ and arguably is ‘learnt’, a theory supported by the research of anthropologist Margaret Mead. Meads study of the Arapesh, Mundugamor and Tchambuli tribes in New Guinea (cited O’Donnell 1987:312), revealed conflicting gender role behaviour. Amongst members of the Arapesh and Mundugamor tribes there was little noticeable difference in gender behaviour, as both sexes were either gentle and nurturing or aggressive and

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