socialogy

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Part 1 Explain three characteristics that qualify the named human condition as a Social Problem with supporting evidence. Due to its three primary features, income inequality is a human-caused state that constitutes a societal issue. Firstly, wealth disparity is unjust and unfair. Compared to the poor, the affluent have more access to resources, opportunities, and advantages, which produces a feeling of injustice and unfairness. During the epidemic, the world's billionaires grew their fortune by $5.5tn, while the world's poorest people battled to live, according to a study published by Oxfam in 2021(Birdsong, 2015). Second, wealth disparity is detrimental to society. It may result in higher crime rates, worse health outcomes, less access to school and employment opportunities, and lower social mobility. More wealth disparity is related with higher rates of violent crime and worse health outcomes, according to studies. Furthermore, income disparity may contribute to political and economic instability. It leads to social instability, riots, and even bloodshed by creating a division between those with power and wealth and those without. According to a research by the International Monetary Fund, income disparity may delay economic growth and contribute to political instability, both of which are detrimental to economic progress. Thus, income disparity is a fundamental societal issue that must be resolved to guarantee justice, prosperity, and social stability (Birdsong, 2015). Describe the named social problem via the lenses of two sociological theories. The interconnectedness of diverse societal components is emphasized by functionalism, a theoretical viewpoint, in order to sustain social stability and order. According to functionalism, social disparity encourages people to put in extra effort and succeed in life, which is an essential function for society. This perspective does not consider economic disparity to be a negative as long as it fulfills a required purpose for society(Crossman, 2020). Conflict theory, however, presents an alternative perspective on income disparity. The significance of power and economic interests in preserving social inequality is highlighted by conflict theory. According to conflict theory, power battles between various social groups are what cause social inequality rather than being

a necessary aspect of society. Conflict theory contends that income inequality is a product of the concentration of economic and political power in the hands of a few number of powerful people and businesses that take advantage of the labor of the working class to increase their profits. According to conflict theory, social conflict is a result of social tensions brought on by wealth disparity. The working class may become resentful of the rich and elite class because they make less money and have less access to resources and opportunities. As seen by groups like Occupy Wall Street and the current upsurge in rallies against economic injustice worldwide, this anger may cause social unrest, riots, and even bloodshed(MOKLEIV NYGÅRD, 2018). Utilize three related working concepts and definitions in your analysis for each theory. Sociological theory “functionalism" places a strong emphasis on the value of social order and stability. According to this argument, socioeconomic disparity serves a vital purpose in society. Functionalists contend that social disparity spurs people to put in extra effort and succeed, which promotes social stability. The foundation of functionalism is the idea of social organization. Social institutions are arranged according to their dependency in upholding social order, which is referred to as social structure. Functionalists contend that social structures like the school system and job market, which are related to economic disparity, enable people to climb the social ladder based on their skills and abilities. Functionalism also places a lot of emphasis on the idea of social integration. The level of a person's social integration is referred to as their connection to their social group or community. Functionalists contend that those who are economically successful are better integrated into society and contribute to its stability in the setting of income disparity. Ultimately, functionalism offers a paradigm for comprehending the purpose of social disparity in preserving social stability and its role in society(Trueman, 2015). A sociological perspective of conflict theory stresses the part that economic and political interests play in preserving social inequality. Power, exploitation, and class conflict are three crucial ideas in conflict theory when discussing income disparity. Power is the capacity of people or organizations to manage resources and exert influence over others. The rich wield greater influence than the poor in the setting of income disparity because they have access to more financial and political resources. Exploitation is the process by which individuals in positions of authority utilize the labor of the working class to increase their financial gain.

Conflict theory holds that this exploitation of the working class by the capitalist class leads to economic disparity. The concept that socioeconomic disparity causes tensions and conflict between various social classes is known as class conflict. According to conflict theory, societal tension and unrest are caused by the gap that economic disparity produces between the rich and the working class. Examples of this class struggle include the current worldwide demonstrations against economic inequality and the growth of populist groups in several nations. Ultimately, conflict theory offers a lens through which to view the role of exploitation and power in establishing and perpetuating economic disparity as well as the potential for class conflict that results from it ( Social Conflict Theory in Sociology: Definition & Contributors - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com , 2015). Part 2 A crucial aspect of capitalism is private ownership of the means of production. It follows that the assets required to generate products and services, including as factories, land, and equipment, are owned and under the control of certain people or organizations. Individual property rights, which are the foundation of private ownership, enable people to amass money and make investments in new businesses. As a result, people are encouraged to innovate and start businesses because they may profit from their wise investments. Moreover, private ownership enables effective resource allocation based on supply and demand. Consumers are free to choose the products and services that best suit their requirements, while producers are incentivized to develop in-demand commodities. As people who possess the means of production have more influence over economic resources than those who do not, private ownership also contributes to economic inequality. This disparity may result in the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a select few people or businesses, which may have unfavorable social and political repercussions. Overall, one aspect of capitalism that impacts economic incentives and results is private ownership of the means of production. The working poor, a byproduct of the market economy's characteristics, is one emerging contradiction of capitalism. Resources are distributed according to supply and demand in the market economy, which may result in winners and losers. Due to low pay, limited benefits, and unstable employment, a large number of people who are working poor nevertheless live in poverty. This conflict emerges because the goal of economic efficiency and profit may result in low pay and unfavorable working conditions for employees. Companies

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could try to reduce labor expenses in order to increase profits, which might lead to worker exploitation. The working poor are trapped in a scenario where they have a job but not enough money to cover their essential expenses like housing, healthcare, and food. The conflict between the desire for profit and the welfare of employees in capitalist countries is highlighted by this dilemma. The working poor serve as a reminder that not everyone benefits equally from economic progress and prosperity and that the advantages of capitalism may often be unequally distributed. Part 3 What is whiteness Links to an external site.(or who is white) according to the Commonwealth of Virginia Statutes? The State of Virginia Laws do not define whiteness specifically. Yet, the state's constitution outlaws discrimination based on race, color, or national origin, which shows that whiteness is not an inherent advantage. In reality, the state constitution has clauses that clearly defend minorities' rights and advance equality, indicating that being white is not a position of power. Moreover, the state has made measures to encourage diversity and inclusion via programs like affirmative action, which aims to remedy past injustices by giving disadvantaged groups opportunity. Provide a brief critique of the definition. One flaw in the Commonwealth of Virginia Laws' strategy for tackling racial disparity is the absence of a clear definition of what constitutes whiteness. While the state constitution forbids discrimination based on race, color, or national origin, it does not specifically recognize the advantages and privileges that being white might bring about in society. The state may not be able to properly address the complex problems of racial inequality and discrimination that exist in Virginia and the rest of the country because of this absence. Although it may be challenging to understand how whiteness functions as a social construct that influences power relations and cultural norms, the absence of a precise definition of whiteness may also make it difficult to detect and fight systematic racism in the state. To promote equality and resolve racial inequities in the Commonwealth of Virginia, more successful policies and practices may be influenced by a more explicit recognition of whiteness as a social construct and its influence on power relations.

Identify and explain 2 specific problems whiteness and/or white privilege present to minorities (pick any 2 groups of your choice) in the U.S.? Systemic racism, which is the outcome of past and contemporary discrimination against black people, is one issue that whiteness and white privilege bring to African Americans in the US. Black Americans have been denied access to opportunities and resources because of systems of power and privilege that have been established and are still in place because of the social construct of whiteness. Although Black Americans confront tremendous obstacles to achievement and opportunity, white folks enjoy relative comfort and ease navigating society. These obstacles may take the form of unfair employment procedures, uneven access to healthcare and education, and differences in wealth and income. Compared to white people, Black Americans are more likely to endure poverty, unemployment, and incarceration (Braveman et al., 2022). The erasure of indigenous culture and the marginalization of indigenous communities are two additional issues that whiteness and white privilege pose for Native Americans in the US. Many Native American groups have lost their territory, languages, and customs as a consequence of the employment of whiteness as a tactic for colonialism and cultural assimilation. Due to white privilege, white people have been able to appropriate land and resources that should have belonged to Native American groups, resulting in continuous territorial and resource conflicts. Significant gaps in health, education, and economic opportunities have also resulted from the marginalization of indigenous groups. Because of the continued effects of systematic racism and prejudice on indigenous communities, Native Americans are more prone than white people to face poverty, drug misuse, and suicide (Glenn, 2015). Link your analysis to one scholarly article. The academic paper "White Privilege and the Problem with Affirmative Action" by Peggy McIntosh is one that connects to my thesis (1990). In this piece, McIntosh makes the case that white privilege is an undefinable system of benefits that white people get at the cost of people of color. She argues that despite their good intentions, affirmative action measures really serve to perpetuate white privilege by maintaining the myth that people of color are fundamentally underprivileged and need special treatment in order to achieve. The research of McIntosh emphasizes how whiteness functions as a social construct that affects

power dynamics and privilege in society. In her paper, she highlights the necessity for a greater understanding of how whiteness affects society as well as the creation of practices and policies that may deal with the root causes of racial inequality and discrimination.

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References Birdsong, N. (2015, February 5). The Consequences of Economic Inequality . Seven Pillars Institute. https://sevenpillarsinstitute.org/consequences-economic-inequality/ Braveman, P. A., Arkin, E., Proctor, D., Kauh, T., & Holm, N. (2022). Systemic And Structural Racism: Definitions, Examples, Health Damages, And Approaches To Dismantling. Health Affairs , 41 (2), 171–178. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2021.01394 Crossman, A. (2020, January 28). The Sociology of Social Inequality . ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/sociology-of-social-inequality-3026287#:~:text=Functionalist %20theorists%20believe%20that%20inequality Glenn, E. N. (2015). Settler Colonialism as Structure: A Framework for Comparative Studies of U.S. Race and Gender Formation. Sociology of Race and Ethnicity , 1 (1), 52–72. https://doi.org/10.1177/2332649214560440 MOKLEIV NYGÅRD, H. (2018, March 29). Inequality and conflict—some good news . Blogs.worldbank.org. https://blogs.worldbank.org/dev4peace/inequality-and-conflict-some- good-news Social Conflict Theory in Sociology: Definition & Contributors - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com . (2015). Study.com. https://study.com/academy/lesson/social-conflict-theory-in- sociology-definition-lesson-quiz.html Trueman. (2015, May 25). Concepts of Functionalism . History Learning Site; History Learning Site. https://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/sociology/theories-in-sociology/concepts-of- functionalism/ York, U. of. (2018). Exposing the impact of social inequality . University of York. https://www.york.ac.uk/research/impact/social-inequality/

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