Chapter 4 - Why is There Inequality in the World?

Culture influences our acceptance of inequality. "Inequality prevails in society, then, because it is supported by culture; and culture, in turn, most reflects the ideas, values, and norms of the most powerful people in society (Charon 87)."Charon's words are all too true. It is an accepted truth, an inevitable truth, and unavoidable truth. Our society is built upon the idea that someone is always superior and thus the other must be inferior. These ideas are brought to light through experiences, school, television and history. We just learn to live with it and survive through it. Charon says inequality is accepted "because it is what they are born into and have become influenced to believe it is the way the world must be (Charon 79)." So how are we supposed to know any different? I have been the inferior in an unequal dynamic with my parents. They were the dictators and I was the subservient being who did not have a say in any matter. Though this was a prominent period of my life, I fought my way past biased and preconceived notions and learned to accept not only myself, but everyone around me. It is inevitable that we are going to meet people different from us, but no one is above anyone else. During my time spent away from my parents, I lived in Miami. For the first time I was exposed to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. It was different and I had heard of their inequality growing up. The town that I lived wasn't very diverse and those who had a different sexual preference were looked down upon. Despite these ideas, already implanted in my head, I choose not to treat them any differently than I would treat myself. After learning more about this community, I knew they weren't any different from anyone else. Charon says "some inequality is probably inevitable," which is true in every sense of the concept (90). However, it is individuals that spread new ideas of acceptance than can make a difference; to resist what society has told us to believe. "People must work hard to prevent its emergence; once it emerges, they must work even harder to control it (90)" Now, with the idea becoming very much a reality, gay rights has been on the forefront of social and political groups to make a difference, to equal the playing field, to make things right and equal between different groups. Inequality does not have to continue to be a reality, we can fight for what we believe in to make a difference.