In simple terms, social inequality is the lack of equal social status among individuals. There are several ways in which inequality is practiced, for instance, unequal income, access to education, health care, sexism and property rights among others. Types of social disparities include; racism, sexism and class inequalities. Social inequality has existed from the start of civilization, up today. In today’s societies, sociologists have examined disparities in dimensions of life, which include income, gender, life quality and race.
Table of Contents
The document does not contain a table of contents.
Objectives and Themes
The essay examines social inequality and class relations in Australia through a Marxist perspective, asking how the idea of an egalitarian society emerged and has been maintained alongside economic and social disparities.
- Social class and control over production
- Wealth, income and access to essential services
- Class struggle between workers and employers
- The colonial origins of Australian egalitarianism and mateship
- Government policies and the persistence of egalitarian beliefs
Excerpt from the Book
Class and class struggle in Australia
The creation of different social classes results in a class struggle. Class division within a society implies that one class is exploiting another and thus, the capitalist benefits from the surplus produced by the workers for themselves. Though this exploitation seems hidden, the value created by workers in excess of their pay is taken by the employers during production. In this manner, the job contract appears to be a just one. The workers use their manpower and they are paid accordingly, while the employers retain a profit from their investment. Yet, the workers produce a lot more that what they are paid.
However, the distribution between what part of social production is taken by each class is not determined. And thus, for many years, here has been a continuous struggle among these classes, fighting over which class should own a bigger share. The better standard of living Australian workers enjoy today, and the civil rights the citizens have, were obtain from as a result of class struggle. As observed by Marx and Engels all through the history, there has society has been in class struggle (65).
The struggle involving the capitalist and the workers is a compulsory outcome of capitalist ways of production. Each side struggles to survive. Competition between corporations over profits, labor, capital and market compels them to try and reduce costs of productions such as wages, while increasing the hours of work. On the other side, the increasing cost of living that workers face forces them to fight for better pay and less hours of work. Employers and employees thus have opposing interests, created by their relation of production, hence the continuous class struggle.
Sometimes, these class struggle are displayed in the public, lockouts, restructuring, pay cuts and layoffs are some of the measures that are taken by employers to maintain their profits. Similarly, workers use strikes, protests and refusing some types of work are some of the ways workers use to fight for their interests. Owing to the fact that individual workers have less power, they normal fight in a collective manner
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: The introduction defines social inequality and identifies dimensions such as income, education, health care, gender and race.
Explaining social class: This section contrasts income-based definitions of class with the Marxist emphasis on control over the means of production.
Social class in Australia: Class and Economic disparities: The essay discusses wealth and income disparities and their relationship to education, health and living conditions. It argues for examining inequality through social structures rather than individual characteristics alone.
Class and class struggle in Australia: This section describes opposing interests of workers and employers and considers collective action, labor unions and Australian legislation.
How the myth of egalitarianism was created: The author traces ideas of Australian egalitarianism and mateship to the colonial period and discusses their exclusions.
How the myth of egalitarianism has been maintained in Australia: This section considers the role of government policies, legislation and institutions in sustaining egalitarian beliefs.
Conclusion: The conclusion brings together the discussion of social class, class struggle and the persistence of the egalitarian ideal in Australia.
Keywords
social inequality, egalitarianism, Australia, social class, Marxism, class struggle, wealth inequality, income inequality, means of production, labor unions, mateship, government policy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this essay about?
It examines social inequality, class relations and the idea of egalitarianism in Australia.
What are its central themes?
The essay addresses social class, economic disparities, class struggle, mateship and the role of government in sustaining egalitarian beliefs.
What is the essay’s main objective?
Its main objective is to explore how Australian egalitarianism relates to social and economic inequality.
What research method does the author use?
The essay develops an interpretive argument using cited literature and statistics, particularly through a Marxist understanding of class. It does not describe original empirical research.
What does the main body cover?
It discusses definitions of class, economic disparities, conflict between workers and employers, and the origins and maintenance of Australian egalitarianism.
Which keywords characterize the essay?
Key terms include social inequality, egalitarianism, Marxism, class struggle, wealth inequality and mateship.
How does the essay define class from a Marxist perspective?
It emphasizes a person’s control over the means of production rather than income alone.
How does the essay connect mateship with egalitarianism?
It discusses mateship as part of the historical development of egalitarian beliefs while also considering groups excluded from that ideal.
What role does government policy play in the discussion?
The essay considers legislation and policies on areas such as wages, pensions, housing and education in its discussion of how egalitarian beliefs have been maintained.
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- Kathy Ndinda (Autor:in), 2011, Social Inequality and Egalitarianism in Australia, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/270029
