Question
How is inequality reproduced within Western society?
Answer
Inequality within Western society is reproduced through various social, economic, and cultural mechanisms that perpetuate disparities across generations. These mechanisms are deeply embedded in the structures and practices of society, influencing both material and non-material aspects of life.
Mechanisms of Inequality Reproduction
Social Reproduction Strategies: Households develop strategies to cope with socio-economic pressures, which vary based on their access to resources and information. These strategies can reinforce existing inequalities, leading to what is termed “compound inequality” (Nunn and Tepe-Belfrage, 2019).
Cultural Processes: Inequality is perpetuated through cultural processes such as racialization, stigmatization, standardization, and evaluation. These processes shape societal norms and values, influencing how resources and opportunities are distributed (Lamont, Beljean and Clair, 2014; Latypov, 2024).
Economic and Social Capital: The unequal distribution of economic and cultural capital leads to the perpetuation of social classes. This is evident in the intergenerational transfer of wealth and status, which maintains the dominance of certain social groups (Farid, Abbasi and Mahmood, 2021; Galster and Wessel, 2019).
Housing and Wealth Transmission: Housing wealth plays a significant role in the transmission of socioeconomic status across generations. The location and value of housing owned by previous generations can significantly impact the economic opportunities available to future generations (Galster and Wessel, 2019).
Interactionist Processes: Inequality is reproduced through processes such as othering, subordinate adaptation, boundary maintenance, and emotion management. These processes maintain social hierarchies and reinforce existing power dynamics (Schwalbe et al., 2000).
Financialization and Debt: The deepening of mortgage debt and financial markets under neoliberal policies has individualized social reproduction, exacerbating gender and class inequalities (Roberts, 2013).
Conclusion
Inequality in Western society is reproduced through a complex interplay of social, cultural, and economic processes. These mechanisms ensure the persistence of disparities across generations, often making them invisible or normalized within societal structures. Understanding these processes is crucial for addressing and mitigating inequality effectively.
References
Nunn, A., & Tepe-Belfrage, D., 2019. Social reproduction strategies: Understanding compound inequality in the intergenerational transfer of capital, assets and resources. Capital & Class, 43, pp. 617 – 635. https://doi.org/10.1177/0309816819880795
Schwalbe, M., Godwin, S., Holden, D., Schrock, D., Thompson, S., & Wolkomir, M., 2000. Generic Processes in the Reproduction of Inequality: An Interactionist Analysis. Social Forces, 79, pp. 419-452. https://doi.org/10.2307/2675505
Lamont, M., Beljean, S., & Clair, M., 2014. What is missing? Cultural processes and causal pathways to inequality. Socio-economic Review, 12, pp. 573-608. https://doi.org/10.1093/SER/MWU011
Farid, S., Abbasi, S., & Mahmood, Q., 2021. Modelling Bourdieusian Social Reproduction Theory. Social Indicators Research, 157, pp. 297 – 333. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-021-02649-z
Latypov, I., 2024. Unintended Consequences of Intentional Actions: Why Does Inequality Remain Stable?. Sotsiologicheskoe Obozrenie / Russian Sociological Review. https://doi.org/10.17323/1728-192x-2024-3-72-93
Roberts, A., 2013. Financing Social Reproduction: The Gendered Relations of Debt and Mortgage Finance in Twenty-first-century America. New Political Economy, 18, pp. 21 – 42. https://doi.org/10.1080/13563467.2012.662951
Galster, G., & Wessel, T., 2019. Reproduction of social inequality through housing: A three-generational study from Norway.. Social science research, 78, pp. 119-136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssresearch.2018.12.016
