KISII UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY, GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ECONOMICS AND SOCIOLOGY

SOCI 407: CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND MANGEMENT

SOCIAL INEQUALITY AND CONFLICT

Submitted by:
GROUP 2 MEMBERS
VIOLET AKOTH AS21/00005/20
ANTONY KARANI AS21/00040/20
FRANCIS ZEROVI AS21/00069/20
ISAYA ONYANGO AS21/00091/20
JOSEPH ODHIAMBO AS21/00094/20

Submitted to:
DR DORICE AMBASA

24/10/2023
The term social inequality refers to the unequal distribution of opportunities, resources and
wealth among different social groups based on their caste, religion, gender and economic status.
The term social inequality also refers to the condition of unequal access to benefits and rights of
society. It occurs when resources are distributed unevenly, typically through norms of allocation
that engender specific patterns. It is characterized by the existence of unequal opportunities and
rewards for different social positions or statuses within a group of people or society. It contains
structured and recurrent patterns of unequal distribution of goals, wealth, opportunities, rewards
and punishments.
Examples of inequalities include;
 Income inequality-inequality in earning amongst people.
 Wealth inequality-unequal distributions of wealth access by households
 Opportunity inequality-circumstances over which individuals have no control to equal
grounds of securing chances equally or investment decisions.
 Gender inequality- a special group of people receives favors either males or females.
Types of social inequality
1) Wealth inequality-the differential preference of access to social goods in the society
brought about by income strength and class differentiation.
2) Treatment and responsibility inequality-lack of inequality in forms of services occasioned
through the treating of a specific group with care and neglecting the interests of the other
group.
3) Political inequality-brought about by the ability to access government resources by a
group of people and difficulties set to another group of individuals, bringing about civic
inequality
4) Life inequality- brought about by unequal/ hard forms of survival for a specific group of
people whereas another group enjoys the freedom and public goods at the expense of
others.
5) Membership inequality- occasioned by situations where it becomes extremely hard for a
person or a specific group of people to join or partner with a particular organization/
group due to them being overlooked upon.
Ways to measure social inequality

There are two ways to measure social inequality based on;

a) Existing conditions.
b) Chances of securing opportunities.

Inequality of condition- Inequality of condition refers to unequal distribution of income, wealth

and material goods. Housing for example, is an inequality of conditions with the homeless and
those living in housing projects setting at the bottom of the hierarchy while those living in multi-
million dollar mansions sitting at the top.

Inequality of opportunities- Inequality of opportunities refers to the unequal distribution of

“life chances” across individuals. This is reflected in measures such as level of education, health
status and treatment by criminal justice system. For example, studies have shown that college
and university professors are more likely to ignore emails from women and people of color than
they are to ignore those from white men, which privileges the educational outcomes of white
men by channeling a biased number of mentoring resources to them

Scope of social inequality

There are two main views of social inequality within sociology;

a) Functionalist theory- holds that inequality is inevitable and desirable and plays an
important function in the society. Important position in the society receives more training
and thus should receive more rewards. Social inequality and social stratification,
according to this view, lead to a meritocracy based on ability.
b) Conflict theory- views inequality to have its root from groups. They believe that social
inequality prevents and hinders societal progress as those in power repress the powerless
to maintain the status quo. In today’s world, domination is achieved primarily through the
power of ideology, our thoughts, values, beliefs, worldviews, norms and expectations
through the process known cultural hegemony.

Causes of social inequality

Social inequality is a complex and critical issue with various causes, it can be manifested in
different forms, including economic, educational, racial, gender, and more. Here are some of the
key causes of social inequality;

1) Historical factors; events such as colonization, slavery and discriminatory policies have
contributed significantly to social inequalities. These events often created and perpetuated
disparities in wealth, education and opportunities that continue to affect marginalized
groups today.
 2) Economic disparities-it is highly evident through unequal access to job opportunities,
disparities in wealth accumulation and income disparities can positively impact
inequality.
3) Education- unequal access to quality education can perpetuate social inequalities.
Disparities in educational resources, funding and ease of access can limit people from
accessing it especially those from disadvantaged groups.
4) Racism- systemic racism and biases can result in unequal treatment in areas like
employment, criminal justice, education and housing.
5) Gender- women often face it more than men characterized by unequal pay, unfair chances
of promotion and access to job opportunities.
6) Ethnicity- refers to preferential treatments based on individuals’ root of origin, where
people from a specific tribe receive special treatment as others get despised.

How social inequality in the society leads to conflict

Conflict is defined as the clash between individuals arising out of differences in thought process,
attitude, understanding, interests, requirements and even sometimes perceptions. Anything that
brings in the sense of inequality, is more prone to lead to war or results to constant
conflicts/feuds. Any form of injustice is likely to result to war and conflicts as elaborated below;

1. Education disparities: Unequal access to quality education can lead to disparities in skills,
opportunities, and future prospects. This can create a cycle of poverty and limit social
mobility, potentially resulting in frustration and conflict among those who feel left
behind.
2. Economic disparities: When there is a significant gap between the wealthy and the poor,
economic inequalities can lead to feelings of injustice and resentment among
disadvantaged groups. These feelings may fuel social unrest and protests, potentially
escalating into conflict when not addressed.
3. Social unrest: high levels of social inequality can result in social unrest and civil
disobedience, protests, strikes and demonstrations that arise when marginalized groups
perceive being treated unfairly.
 4. Political instability: lack of representation or neglect of the minority can easily spur
violence and hatred among those in power with the minority, leading to revolutions and
drastic eruption of internal wrangles.
5. Conflicts: societies deep-rooted with racial or ethnic inequalities, social divisions can
lead to eruption of wars and constant wrangles.
6. Resource scarcity: inequality in access to resources (land, water & other factors) can lead
to disputes and conflicts over these valuable assets, for example land disputes.
7. Criminal activities: high levels of inequality can result to vandalism, high rates of crime,
burglary and unrest, as people facing economic hardship may resort to illegal activities as
means of survival.

Ways to tackle the problem of social inequality and conflict

It is necessary to take action in order to restore conditions of normalcy and peaceful co-existence
between members of the society. There is a variety of approaches available to combat the issue of
social inequality and conflict. Some of them are as follows:

 Equal access to various state services without victimization of origin.

 Revise existing policies curbing against all forms of injustices.
 Along with the provision of better jobs, for all.
 Equal chances for training and development of new skills should be made available.
 It is important that equal employment opportunities be made available across all
vulnerable groups.
 Reduced income gaps.
 Enact policies that combat all forms of injustices.

In conclusion, social inequality and conflict are intertwined phenomena that influence and
perpetuate each other. Social inequality can contribute to feelings of injustice and lead to social
unrest and conflict. At the same time conflict can exacerbate social inequality affecting
marginalized groups. Resolving and addressing social inequality and conflict requires a
comprehensive approach that includes promoting equal opportunities, challenging discriminatory
practices and employing strategies for conflict prevention and resolution.
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