Sociology Index

INEQUALITY OF CONDITION

Inequality of condition is a characteristic of complex modern societies. Authors distinguish economic inequality, meaning income inequality, monetary inequality or, inequality in living conditions. And some authors distinguish a rights-based, legalistic approach to inequality, which is inequality of rights and associated obligations. Much progress has been made on the study of inequality of condition than on the study of Inequality of Opportunity. Inequality of condition occurs where individuals have very different amounts of wealth, status and power. Social Inequality is found in virtually all social processes. We cannot have Equality of Opportunity without Equality of Condition.

When it comes to general measurement of inequality of condition, inequality of consumption is probably more appropriate than inequality of income. Equality of condition is often present in small-scale, hunter-gatherer society. Inequality of Opportunity occurs where differences in individual possession of wealth, status and power result in definite advantages and disadvantages in the pursuit of personal success.

"Sympathy is rarely strong where there is a great inequality of condition." - Thomas Babington Macaulay. In American political discourse, a distinction is often made between inequality of condition and inequality of opportunity. The former involves the distribution of valued rewards in society, while the latter has to do with access to these rewards.

Stratification is the condition of being stratified. Educational Inequality is one of the topmost reasons for Social Inequality. Reducing inequality of condition is the central aim of huge and expensive welfare states, with not only income support for the poor, but excellent education and health care at all income levels.

Inequaity of condition is found in the fact that "The world's richest 2,153 people controlled more money than the poorest 460 crore people (4.6 billion people) combined in 2019, while unpaid or underpaid work by women and girls adds three times more to the global economy each year than the technology industry, Oxfam said on Monday, 20th Jan 2020."

"Two kinds of reasons to worry about inequality of condition. One is that inequality of condition undermines equality of opportunity, which is an important value. Another is that inequality of condition in part reflects previous unequal opportunities, which is unjust." - Matthew Yglesias is a writer living in Washington, DC.

Inequality of condition, like soft discrimination, hurts a child throughout a child's life. Equality of opportunity is, of course, quite consistent with inequality of condition. But is not the same as two runners given an even start, and equally good tracks. Inequality of condition does not necessarily equal inequality of opportunity.

Measuring opportunity - KRYMKOWSKI Daniel H. - Mathematical Sociology in Japan and America. Conference, Honolulu. This paper proposes an approach to defining and measuring inequality of opportunity that avoids many of the problems found in previous research. The approach is illustrated utilizing occupational data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Studies. The empirical evidence analysis reveals less inequality of occupational opportunity than inequality of income, somewhat more inequality of occupational opportunity among men than women, and more occupational opportunity among women than men.

In American political discourse, a distinction is often made between inequality of condition and inequality of opportunity. In terms of scientific work, progress has been made on the study of inequality of condition than on the study of inequality of opportunity. This paper proposes an approach to defining and measuring inequality of opportunity that avoids many of the problems found in previous research. It is important to measure inequality of opportunity at both the individual and group levels. Measuring opportunity - KRYMKOWSKI Daniel H.

Inequality of opportunity in comparative perspective: Recent Research on Educational Attainment and Social Mobility - Richard Breen and Jan O. Jonsson. Research published since 1990 into educational stratification and occupational or class social mobility, focusing on the importance of parental socioeconomic circumstances, and with particular emphasis on comparative studies. Large-scale data now available from many countries and several time points have led to more and better descriptions of inequality of opportunity across countries and over time.