Socities today and throughout history are based on some form of inquality
Acess to and the availablitiy of resources (e.g. water, food, metals and rare materials) - ecological reasons
Raise of cash economy - uneven distributions of wealth
Marx's theory of property - upper class owns property, machinery and technology
Division of labour the upper class manage, leads and dictates whilst the lower class provieds and has low pay for their labour
Gender inequality - men onw property like cattle such as the Maasai and they lead the society (partiarchal) so rule over women too
Technological advancements - replacing labour intensive processes with automated manufacture
Employment - various jobs are filled by and created for certain types of people (male only)
Trend shifs - as our tastes change various industries, jobs become obsolete
Globalisation - production moves to cheaper places creating job shortages and price cut
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Caste
Means you live according to your lineage and this govern your future rights and autonomy (self-government)
It dictates your job, who you marry, your earnings and childhood
You can never move out of this position and can never improve or progress in life
If you are born outside the caste system you are a "untouchable" lowest of the low
Today, you will only find these systems in Hindu countries such as India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan
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Hierarchy and power
It is a system in which system societies organise themselves based on ranking
Groups and individuals are seen as "above" or "below" other groups and individuals
Social organisations with vertical social differentiation
The Maasai hunt in different groups according to how high they are in their own society: the highest ones hunt with other high ones
Power is and always has been the force behind social order
Durkheim says that power is necessary for societies to function properly. Therefore, power has an important function/role to play
Foucault says that those who posess knowledge also posses power (like preists, scientists or witchdoctors)
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Altruism and co-operation
Altruism is the selfless concern for the well-being of others
Mauss referred to altruism in his book on reciprocity (The Gift) and how the Melanesians will selflessly help each other out of obligation due to gift (which contains apart of a soul)
During hard times or disasters altrustic behaviour is often increased - we just can't help oursleves to want to help
Buddhism and Sikhism are religious that are altruism
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