UCSP Lesson 11- Social and Political Inequalities PDF

UCSP Hi, students! How is everyone doing? OBJECTIVES: Define social inequality; Identify inequalities prevalent in the society; Distinguish government programs and initiative in addressing these inequalities; Discuss the government programs...

UCSP Hi, students! How is everyone doing? OBJECTIVES: Define social inequality; Identify inequalities prevalent in the society; Distinguish government programs and initiative in addressing these inequalities; Discuss the government programs and initiative in addressing the social inequalities; Propose ways to address social inequalities in the society Directions: The following are examples that show social inequalities. Using these pictures give three meanings of the word social inequalities. Write your answer on 1/2 crosswise.  Social and Political Inequalities as features of Societies and the Global Community Social Inequality Lack of access to natural and societal resources A denial of choices and opportunities It means lack of basic capacity to participate effectively in society Result of unequal, ineffective, and inefficient allocation of goods and services. Problem is that some people have more than enough resources to last their entire lives  POVERTY refers to the lack of adequate financial resources such that individuals, households, and entire communities don't have the means to subsist or acquire the basic necessities for a flourishing life. Classification of Poverty ABSOLUTE OR EXTREME POVERTY RELATIVE POVERTY ABSOLUTE OR EXTREME POVERTY Severe deprivation of the basic necessities of life. There should be a minimum standard of living that no one in the world should be under. RELATIVE POVERTY Inadequate access to goods and services in relation to the standards within a particular country. RURAL POVERTY URBAN Is mainly associated POVERTY with people living Closed linked with outside the cities and cities and towns towns, with big Agricultural setting populations. PROGRAMS IN ALLEVIATING POVERTY  Provide Better living Conditions for the poorest segment of society Livelihood projects Education development Feeding Program or medical mission Microfinance for small-scale livelihood Enterprise projects Community driven development initiatives Promotion of education, science and technology, population development, and natural resources sustainability projects The government (or any private entity) would provide cash to families living in absolute or relative poverty given that they meet certain criteria. The goal is to provide accessible financial assistance to families who are struggling to provide for the basic necessities of life. CONDITIONAL FUND TRANSFER PROGRAM Other Forms Of Social And Political Inequality: 1. GENDER INEQUALITY Still a major issue faced by societies across the world. Girls and women across the country are experiencing discrimination in areas of health, education, political presentation, labor market and others. 2. ETHNIC MINORITIES An ethnic minority refers to a group of people who have different national or cultural traditions from the main population. ❑ It is a term used to describe a group of people who share a common culture, language, history, or other traits that distinguish them from the majority of the population in a particular country or region. Other Forms Of Social And Political Inequality: 3. PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES 10%of the world’s population live with disabilities. Persons with disabilities are more likely to be victim of discrimination, violence, rape. 4. GLOBAL INEQUALITIES Staggering difference between the rich, the middle class, and the poor populations of the world. This is something that demoralizes people Global Inequality poses the extreme differences between the standards of living across the world. Here are eight ways to reduce inequality through economic democracy: 1. A Check on Illicit Outflows In developing countries, inadequate resourcing for health, education, sanitation, and investment in the poorest citizens drives extreme inequality. 2. A Progressive Income Tax How much the highest income earners should be taxed? This is obviously a question to be decided domestically by citizens, and opinions differ. For instance, economist Tony Addison suggests a top rate of 65 percent rate on the top 1 percent of incomes. 3. A Global Wealth Tax Because wealth tends to accumulate over generations, fair and well-designed wealth taxes would go a long way towards combating extreme inequality. 4. A Living Wage Governments should establish and enforce a national living wage. Corporations should also prioritize a living wage for their own workers and for the suppliers, buyers, and others with whom they do business. 5. The Right to Organize The right of workers to organize has always been a cornerstone of more equal societies, and should be prioritized and protected wherever this basic right is violated. 6. An End to Labor Abuses Companies worldwide are also replacing what was once permanent and stable employment with temporary and contingent labor. 7. An Open and Democratic Trade Policy Negotiating international trade agreements behind closed doors with only bureaucrats and corporate lobbyists present has to end. 8. A New Economics Economists are often imagined as stuffy academics who value arcane economic theory above humanitarian values. Thankfully, there’s a movement among economics grad students and scholars to reimagine the discipline. As they acknowledge, we clearly need a new economics that works to improve the lives of everyone, not just those already well off. Five reasons why we need more equality 1. Health Life expectancy is shorter and mortality rates are higher in 1 more unequal societies – this applies to both the poor and, perhaps surprisingly, also to the rich in these societies. 2. Social relationships 2 Levels of social cohesion, including trust and social capital, are lower in more unequal societies. More unequal societies have more property crime and violence, especially homicides. 3. Human capital development 3 Scores on the UNICEF index of child well-being are significantly worse in unequal countries and decline as inequality rises. More equal countries tend to have higher rates of innovation, probably because of greater social mobility. 4 4. Economic progress and stability Poverty reduction is compromised by income inequality. In rich and poor countries, inequality is strongly correlated with shorter spells of economic expansion and less growth over time. Inequality is associated with more frequent and more severe boom-and-bust cycles that make economies more volatile and vulnerable to crisis. 5 5. Sustainable economies Inequality drives status competition, which drives personal debt and consumerism. More equal societies promote the common good – they recycle more, spend more on foreign aid, score higher on the Global Peace Index. Inequities between countries are impairing cooperation between nations and the development of international environmental agreements on climate change.