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Processes of social inequality
Edited by Dr Paul Lambert
The extent of inequality around the world is enormous. From one country to another and within each country there are huge social and economic inequalities. We see this clearly in the pricing of goods made in the poorer countries for sale in the affluent ones. Only a tiny proportion of the selling price goes to the workers who make the goods. For example, in the rich countries, like those of Europe and North America, people pay quite substantial sums for a pair of trainers, while those who make them do not even receive enough to live, yet when they die there are others to take their places. Others do rather better. For instance, in 1992 baseball superstar Michael Jordan received more than $20,000,000 for advertising Nike shoes; this was more than the entire payroll for the six Indonesian factories that made them ([8] Breverton, 1996). Such inequalities have continued to the present, indeed the $100,000,000 paid to Tiger Woods in 2000 dwarfs Jordan's riches ([25] Nosweat, 2003). Inequalities of wealth are equally stark, with a few hyper-rich owning much of the world's wealth. The contrasts between rich and poor countries are well known, and even in affluent Britain, without any hyper-rich, the richest 1 per cent own 23 per cent of wealth ([27] ONS, 2006, Table 5.24).
While economic inequalities are striking and important, social inequality embraces much more. Social inequality "is the condition where people have unequal access to valued resources, services, and positions in the society" ([19] Kerbo, 2003, p. 11). Here, we are concerned with the inequalities entailed in social stratification: power, class, status, money and lifestyle.
Social inequality has been increasing throughout the world, and as it increased it has become fashionable to ignore it. As [13] Dworkin (2000, p. 1) puts it, equality has become "the endangered species of political ideals". Social scientists and politicians do not ignore it totally, but they no longer appear to give it high priority. Yet it is fundamentally important. However, even when it is considered, understanding is hampered by confusion of meaning. It is important, therefore, to be clear just what is social inequality.
Identity or equality
A common confusion arises from failing to appreciate...