ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces three theories that will provide the conceptual frameworks for the book. These theories were selected because they address social inequality and speak specifically to those groups that have been perennially disadvantaged in access to society’s resources because of socially constructed categorizations. All three theories indicate that social inequality and its effect is multidimensional and cuts across people’s multiple identities and group affiliations. Also introduced as a theoretical framework for understanding the essence of social inequality is the capability approach.
