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Why does social inequality emerge and grow in a society?

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Why does social inequality emerge in society in the first place and why does it continue to persist once it is established.

Read the chapter on inequality in Joel Charon's book Ten Questions. The excerpt starts on p. 75 and can be found at:

http://books.google.com/books?id=40DdUTZEeH8C&pg=PA76&lpg=PA76&dq=charon+%22why+does+inequality+exist%22&source=bl&ots=NIpgjL32lY&sig=69RAf_HdtQO8F4C3tFvGuXHk6WA&hl=en&ei=szWrTdbwHIfYgQfo4sHzBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBQQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

"Every time we interact with one another, inequality emerges in some form or another." (Charon, 75) This is true because we are not equal. We are unequal in appearance, intelligence, dedication, honesty and virtually every other physical or character trait. Inequality then is inevitable when we compare ourselves to others especially in areas that our culture tells us are important. In Western culture these areas are wealth, power, fame, looks and youthfulness. This inequality is not isolated to individuals. We see inequality of wealth and power in organizations, businesses, universities and sports teams.

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Solution Summary

This solution looks at social inequality and attempts to discover why it emerges in the first place and later why it continues to grow after it has gained a foothold. Joel Caron's book "Ten Questions" serves as the backdrop for this discussion. OVer 650 words of original text.

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Why does social inequality emerge in society in the first place and why does it continue to persist once it is established.

"Every time we interact with one another, inequality emerges in some form or another." (Charon, 75) This is true because we are not equal. We are unequal in appearance, intelligence, dedication, honesty and virtually every other physical or character trait. Inequality then is inevitable when we compare ourselves to others especially in areas that our culture tells us are important. In Western culture these areas are wealth, power, fame, looks and youthfulness. This inequality is not isolated to individuals. We see inequality of wealth and power in organizations, businesses, universities and sports teams.

Sociologists claim that interactions between unavoidably unequal individuals results in unequal social structures. The processes that create permanent social structures are the division of labor, social conflict and the ownership of private property. As a result of working harder, greater skill or perhaps even good fortune some ...

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