ABSTRACT
This chapter begins with an introduction to the topic of inequality and is followed by the terms. It presents some key questions involving how we perceive inequality, the level of inequality in the United States compared to other countries, and whether inequality is inevitable. The chapter discusses social inequality with individuals and groups, personal positions as well as structural arrangements. The statistics and stories demonstrate the persistence of inequalities, but they also show their complexity. Social stratification is related to inequality, but it refers to a “rare form of disparity that clusters social units by layers, or strata, which are homogenous with respect to a wide range of goods and which occupy a single, well-defined rank order”. In simpler terms, social stratification refers to a situation where people have unequal access to various resources based on the group they belong to, including social status. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
