What Attempts Have Been Made To Reduce Social Inequalities? (Copy)
O Level Sociology – Cheat Sheet
3.2 What attempts have been made to reduce social inequalities?
3.2.1 Legislation to Reduce Inequality
| Measure | Purpose | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Progressive Taxation | Higher earners pay a higher percentage of tax | Helps redistribute wealth from rich to poor |
| Wealth Redistribution (Benefits) | Government gives money to low-income groups | Supports unemployed, disabled, single parents, etc. |
| Minimum Wage | Sets a legal lowest hourly wage | Protects workers from exploitation, reduces working poverty |
| Equal Opportunities Laws | Prohibit discrimination based on gender, race, age, etc. | Promotes fairness in education, employment, and services |
| Other Government Measures | Includes food subsidies, housing support, free childcare | Improves life chances and reduces social exclusion |
3.2.2 Welfare States and Life Chances
Welfare State = Government actively provides for citizens’ welfare through public services and support.
| Service | Description | Impact on Life Chances |
|---|---|---|
| Free/Universal Education | Access to schooling for all | Reduces class and gender gaps in education |
| Unemployment Benefits | Financial help for job seekers | Provides security and reduces poverty |
| Pensions | Income for elderly post-retirement | Prevents old-age poverty |
| Low-Cost Housing | Affordable housing options for low-income families | Reduces homelessness and housing inequality |
| Free Healthcare | Medical services funded by the state | Improves health outcomes across all social groups |
| Universal Basic Income (UBI) | Fixed income for all citizens regardless of employment | Reduces extreme poverty and promotes social dignity |
3.2.3 Global Role of NGOs in Reducing Inequality
| NGO Initiative | Description |
|---|---|
| Reducing Poverty | Food aid, cash transfers, rural development programs |
| Medical Assistance | Mobile clinics, vaccinations, support during disasters |
| Promoting Business | Microfinance, small business training, local investment |
| Improving Education | Building schools, teacher training, literacy programs |
🔁 NGOs operate outside of governments, often in areas where state support is weak or absent.
3.2.4 Sociological Views on Reducing Inequality
| Perspective | Criticism |
|---|---|
| New Right |
- Welfare state creates a dependency culture
- Encourages underclass with no motivation to work
- Believes in minimal state intervention and individual responsibility |
| Culture of Poverty |
- Suggests the poor develop values that maintain their poverty (e.g. fatalism, laziness)
- Blames the individual rather than the system
- Criticised for victim-blaming |
| Marxism |
- Welfare state helps maintain capitalism by preventing revolt
- Benefits are a way to keep the poor quiet, not solve inequality
- System still favours the ruling class |
| Criticisms of NGOs |
- Can be temporary fixes without systemic change
- May promote Western values over local culture
- Can become dependent on foreign funding |
| Feminism |
- Equality laws may exist on paper, but workplace inequality, gender pay gap, and glass ceiling remain
- Welfare policies may reinforce traditional gender roles (e.g. women as carers)
- Childcare policies often inadequate to support working women |