Sociological Theory Essay -- Social Inequality Sociology

It is a theme in sociology to discover where and why there are social inequalities, either as a result of class stratification, gender, race, and/or a combination of these factors. Theorist cannot explore, or even attempt to, discuss all of the issues so they develop explanations that, at times, coincide with one another. In dealing with the relationship between two conceptualized ideas, oppression/inequality and individualist/liberal ideology, theorist seem to focus on the cause and effect association that structures these ideas. Focusing on four theorist and their ideas for the production of these relationships we will discover how they intertwine and build on each person’s understanding of one topic, and show how it can branch to cover others, or expose the deficiencies and provide a new perception of the societal structure. After the examinations and suggestions made on how to make the communities we live in more inclusive of those who feel, and in fact are, oppressed ther e are no remedies that can cure the plague of society’s inequalities/oppressions, and whether they are evidence of individualist/liberal ideology does not matter. In T.H. Marshall’s â€Å"Citizenship and Social Class† he assesses the reasons for social inequality by examining the structure and definition of citizenship. He defends his argument by investigating the origin of citizenship in English history. In the beginning of his theory Marshall defines the individual pieces that produce citizenship; civil rights, political rights, and social rights. Civil rights are â€Å"the rights necessary for individual freedom-liberty of the person; freedom of speech, thought, and faith† (Marshall 1995 [1965]. p.94); political rights give permission to be a member of the politic... ...hley W. Doane and Eduardo Bonilla-Silva (eds.), â€Å"‘New Racism,’ Color-Blind Racism, and the Future of Whiteness in America.† In White Out: The Continuing Significance of Racism (New York: Routledge), pp. 271-312. Fraser, Nancy and Lynda Gordon. 1995. â€Å"Contract versus Charity: Why is There No Social Citizenship in the United States.† In Gershon Shafir (ed.), The Citizenship Debates (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press), pp. [XX]. Marshall, T. H. 1995 [1965]. â€Å"Citizenship and Social Class.† In Gershon Shafir (ed.), The Citizenship Debates (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press), pp. [XX]. Young, Iris Marion. 1996. â€Å"Gender as Seriality: Thinking Theoretically about Women as a Social Collective.† In Barbara Laslett and Ruth Ellen Boetcher (eds), The Second Signs Reader: Feminist Scholarship, 1983-1996 (Chicago: University of Chicago Press), pp. 713-738.