Paste youThis essay asks to discuss some of the ways in which differences and inequalities persist over time, signifying that they are not static, continuing to be made and remade by the actions of people and society. Taking into account the three module question ‘How is society made and remade?’ ‘How are differences and inequalities produced?’ and ‘How do scientists know?’. With Inequality being defined as ‘‘The unequal distribution of valued social resources within society or between societies including money, housing, power, health and education”. Whilst Differences is defined as “contrasts between groupings of people such as those based on gender, class, age, sexuality and race, including things people value and the variations between them including their physical, behavioural, attitudes and preferences”. (Blakeley and Staples, 2014 p 25). However, it is noted not all differences will lead to inequalities, nonetheless many will. Moreover, due to the abundance of materials, this essay will discuss some of the differences and inequalities seen persisting over time, taken from two strands, ‘Making Lives’ and ‘Ordering Lives’. Examining Consumerism, Wealth, Homelessness and Class. Observing the inequalities and differences between people, their choices and the constraints placed upon them. Indicating how some people benefit whilst others do not and how this can persist over time.
First, with declining manufacturing and production within this country we have seen the rise of the ‘Consumer Society’ with ‘Market Freedoms’ as opposed to ‘Political Freedoms’ becoming the dominant factor of people’s value in society with individualism and lifestyle determining people’s status. As Hetherington and Revill claim within the ‘Making Lives Strand’ Consumerism “Is based on services rather than manufacturing with the buying and consuming of goods and services being important in defining how people live their lives” (The Open University,2016). With consumption showing differences and patterns of inequalities between rich and poor which sometimes leads to social exclusion. As Bauman claims in ‘The Making Lives Strand’ “Increased affluence means there are greater numbers who have access to the trappings of a consumer lifestyle” but “There are some groups who are excluded from
consuming based on income, those being the poor, homeless, migrants and other groups” Bauman conceptualises these people in two ways, the ‘Seduced’ those participating in our consumer society and the ‘Repressed’ those people in no position to participate, those who Bauman suggests are ‘collateral casualties’. Bauman, Z, (1988) cited in Hetherington K, and Havard C.(eds) (2014, pg.126,142). Therefore, consumerism encourages people to consume to create their identities, replacing those centred around production and work. Furthermore, Hayek in the ‘Ordering Lives Strand’ claims “The market should be free of political intervention allowing individuals to be free to pursue their own interests” Hayek, F.A. (1976). cited in Clarke, J. (2014 pg.380). Thus, constraints placed on people’s choices through lack of income to consume is just one way that differences turn into inequalities. As Bauman claims, “This is the characteristic pattern of inequality in our contemporary consumer society one that contrasts with the lines of class and occupational status that characterised the major cleavages in Industrial society”. Bauman, Z, (1988) cited in Allen, J. (2014 pg. 275). Furthermore, it can be said that ‘People’s values, beliefs and status are now shaped by ‘Consuming’ rather than as in Industrial times by ‘work, politics and religion’, (The Open University, 2016). Consequently, differences in money, housing, power, health and education which turn into inequalities are as predominant in today’s consumer society as they were in our industrial society.
Secondly, it is said within the ‘Making Lives Strand’ “That life is what you make of it” (Allen, J.2014 pg.265). Yet society is continually being made and remade with people and groups helping to shape society and where society makes us. Consequently, differences and inequalities will appear in society, one example being wealth. This is evidenced within the ‘Ordering Lives Strand’, from Quantative evidence in Davies, et al. (2011). Global 'Wealth Data Book' cited in Blakeley, G. and Clarke, J. (eds) Understanding Social Lives, (2014, pg. 344), showing wealth is concentrated, with the top 0.5 percent holding 38.5 percent of all wealth, whilst the bottom 67.6 percent holds
only 3.3 percent of all global wealth. This being what Stiglitz in the ‘Ordering Lives Strand’ calls 'Trickle-down' economics referring to the idea that “The more wealth that is created in society, the more everybody benefits however, more wealth has meant more wealthy people at the top of society, while people in the middle and at the bottom are poorer” (The Open University 2016). This can brand the poor as non-productive consumers, those who are poor and worthless. For example, within the ‘Ordering Lives Strand’ Video Case-Studies are shown within the series ‘Breadline Britain’ (The Open University 2016) showing Qualitative evidence of individuals and families who live in poverty illustrating how poverty affects people’s lives in a way that Quantative evidence with its statistics and graphs just cannot do. Thereby, demonstrating how poverty and wealth in this country is growing and interconnected being a difference and inequality made and remade and one seen persisting over time.
Thirdly, With the poor impacted most within this widening wealth gap, they are the ones most susceptible to becoming disconnected from society sometimes resulting in homelessness, for example, Qualitative evidence in the ‘Making Lives Strand’ contains the story of John Arthur (The Open University, 2016.) showing his life as a homeless person and the constraints society places on him and others like him. Whilst Quantitative evidence from the Homeless Link provides the numerical evidence showing ‘3,569 people were counted or estimated by local authorities to be sleeping rough on any one night in autumn 2015. Up 30% from 2,744 in 2014’. (homeless link, 2016). Moreover, this is not a new phenomenon as Kennedy explains, “People will be sleeping rough tonight, on the same benches along the Embankment in London where William Booth, interviewed homeless men in the1890s”. (Kennedy, M. 2015). Homelessness therefore is a negatively valued identity one seen as a difference that disconnects people and groups from society. With migrants, refugees and asylum seekers being particularly vulnerable, providing evidence that this inequality persists over time and is closely linked to income, wealth and class.
Fourthly, class is a complex issue, when looking at the history of the U.K. This concept being used since the nineteenth century describing differences between social groupings and how society in Britain operates. Conversely, within the ‘Making Lives Strand’ Bauman argues “People are preoccupied now not with Class, but with personal taste and individuality” Bauman, Z, (1988) cited in Hetherington K, and Havard C. (2014 pg. 139). Yet systematic patterns of class can still be seen today, being used to judge and label people as in our industrial past. As Arnold, M. (1869) cited in ‘Institute for policy studies’ (2016) is quoted, “Our inequality materializes our upper class, vulgarizes our middle class, brutalizes our lower class” with class seen as a process of social stratification, based upon differences in occupations, income, wealth and power and one seen passing from generation to generation. Furthermore, class difference is Illustrated within the ‘Ordering Lives strand’ were a sketch shown in The Frost Report, (BBC,1966), shows a 6 foot 5-inch John Cleese standing next to 5 foot 8 inch Ronnie Barker who in turn stood next to 5 foot 1 inch Ronnie Corbett, using height to illustrate their standing in society. Middle-class Barker explains: “I look up to him [Cleese] because he is upper class but look down on him [Corbett] because he is lower class.” Corbett: “I know my place”. Blakeley and Clarke state “That although a few minutes long, this sketch remains in the public memory because it accurately portrays, albeit in a simplified way, class inequalities in the U.K”. (Blakeley G. and Clarke J. 2014, p. 348). Moreover, labels continue, to separate different classes, for example, within the ‘Ordering Lives Strand’ Owen Jones, argues that phrases like ‘The underclass’, ‘Neds’, and ‘Chav’ an acronym meaning "Council Housed Associated Vermin” are used to “Characterise large underprivileged sections of society”. Owen Jones (Open Learn, 2011). Note how the language has changed from words used in William Booths day of ‘Vicious and Semi-Criminal’ whilst still having the same negative meanings. It is generally known that class can connect and disconnect people to friends, places and position in society, allowing people to
consume more or less, as the case may be. Furthermore, Clarke indicates, “Class inequalities in income and wealth have not only persisted over time, but have deepened, both in the U.K. and Globally”. (Clarke J. 2014, p. 384).
In conclusion, this essay considered the three module questions and the two chosen strands, discussing how differences and inequalities are linked and seen persisting over time and how they are interrelated when looking at examples from Consumerism, Wealth, Homelessness and Class. Concluding that differences and inequalities in Britain are at an all-time high continuing to be made and remade in unequal ways not only within the U.K. but Globally. Consequently, with poverty levels rising it can be inferred that increasing numbers of people will be left poor some with their most basic needs unmet whilst the top percent of society will continue to see their share of global resources increase. Therefore, inequality is now a global issue because the distribution of equal valued resources does not exist and thus differences and inequalities will continue to persist over time to the detriment of us all.