What Does Inequality Mean To You?

Inequality can simply be defined, in a value neutral way, as difference or gap in capacity, resources, circumstances, degree or any other thing or quality, of what is available to one in relation to another.

Social Inequality: Herein people do not enjoy same social status and some or many undergo discrimination on the basis of class, caste, race religion, sex, place of origin etc. Dr Ambedkar was against any social discrimination and our constitution has provided us safeguard against the same.

Political Inequality: When all the citizens being governed under one rule are provided different rights of political participation. Our constitution provides everybody equal political rights and adult franchise to each above 18 years of age, although in ancient societies like Ancient Greece political rights were restricted to men of wealth and property only.

Natural Inequality: It is the nature, that any human being is bound to be different from another in many ways. No two individuals can be same. These natural differences can be on the basis of gender, race, place of birth etc, but these natural differences should not become hindrances in human development and realization in any way. There should be equality of opportunity, political, social and economical to all irrespective to these natural inequalities.

Inequality of capacity: Although some thinkers believed that everybody is more or less born equal, some are endowed in bodily strength and some in mental but others believe that there is difference in people’s capacity, and everybody should be equally incapacitated.

Inequality of Resources or economic inequality: Some may have more resources that others, but Marx has spoken of making an attempt towards equality of resources, while capitalists advocate equality of opportunity rather than equality of resources.

 

There are some basic differences inherent in nature, yet these differences should not become basis for inequality of opportunities, treatment, distribution and social political and economic status. Hence, natural inequalities are inevitable and not morally wrong as such, but perpetuating social, political and economic inequality by discriminating on the basis of these differences is morally questionable. Even the Constitution of our country stands for equality of opportunity and status for all, The constitution also provide for equality before law and equal protection of law and prohibits discrimination on the grounds of caste, religion, sex etc. Hence inequality created by denying individuals equality of opportunity is morally wrong.