Much like many of the other terms that we discussed in this class, I knew what inequality meant but I never took the time to actually look it up in the dictionary. This is how the dictionary defined inequality:
noun
1 : the quality of being unequal or uneven: as
a : lack of unevenness
b : social disparity
c : disparity of distribution or opportunity
d : the condition of being variable
2 : an instance of being unequal
3 : mathematics: a formal statement of inequality between
two qualities usually separated by a sign of inequality
(as <, >, or ≠ signifying respectively is less than, is greater
than, or is not equal to)
synonyms: imbalance, inequity, inconsistency, variation
I think the third definition is the one that allows for a visual understanding of inequality. In math, the less than and greater than signs help us identify which of the two values has the most value. For example, take 9 > 2; 9 is greater than 2. Now, take the same numbers and add an object to it: 9 apples > 2 apples. Having 9 apples is better than having 2 apples. Additionally, If you add an object of more value: 9 dollars > 2 dollars. Having $9 in your pocket is better than only having $2 in your pocket. You get the picture.
So these signs ( <, >) mean that there an imbalance occurring. This will help us see the inequality between two different sets of groups in our world. For instance, first world countries > third world countries. First world countries have better health care, education, produce, sanitation, upward mobility, and more wealth compared to third world countries so there is a clear inequality between the two.
< > ≠ < > ≠ < > ≠ < > ≠ < > ≠ < > ≠ < > ≠ < > ≠ < > ≠
Throughout the course we learned that inequality is a core area in sociology. We examined how concepts (stigma, cumulative advantage, reference groups, etc.) and different key axes (gender, race, immigration, age, etc.) intersect to create inequalities. I learned a great amount this quarter about the ways in which social inequality works, starting at the beginning.
After viewing others neighborhood videos, I was able to see how different each one of our experiences have been due to the neighborhoods we grew up in. What I found the most interesting was that even though each one of us came from difference backgrounds (some advantaged and others disadvantaged), we all ended up at UCI enrolling in this class, getting the same education. During the week of cumulative advantage, I started to fully piece together how great of an advantage (or disadvantage) a person has based on how they look, who their parents are, where they are from, when they were born, and what sex they are.