Socially produced inequalities
Also called: Social inequalities · Topic: Equality and Social Justice · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 3 "Equality"
Meaning
Socially produced inequalities are inequalities that society creates through unequal opportunity or through exploitation. Examples are paying intellectual work far more than manual work, or treating people worse because of their race, caste or gender. They are not fixed by birth or biology. They reflect the values a society chooses, so they can be changed and reduced. This is why the Constitution bans discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth (Art. 15) and abolishes untouchability (Art. 17).
Example
Untouchability kept Dalits out of temples, jobs and water sources for centuries. This was a socially produced inequality. It was later abolished by Art. 17 and the Protection of Civil Rights Act 1955.
Don't confuse with
- Natural inequalities: these come from people's different inborn abilities. They were long thought to be unchangeable, although that line is now seen as blurred.
Related concepts
- Equality of opportunity
- Equality of outcome
- Meritocracy
- Natural inequalities
- Inequalities of choice and circumstance