SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE

Society and Social change

ASSESMENT ONE

SURNAME Zuma
NAME Nombuso
STUDENT NUMBER 223006874
DATE 29 August 2023
Inequality and stratification in society have long been problems in South Africa, where a
traumatic past marked by colonialism, apartheid and segregation has been a major factor.
Even after apartheid was abolished in 1994, there are still inequalities in several areas of
society including wealth, income, education, access to basic services and healthcare.
Inequality and social stratification are fundamental aspects of human societies, shaping how
individuals are ranked and grouped based on various attributes like wealth, education,
occupation, and social status. These concepts affect access to resources, opportunities, and
overall quality of life for different groups within a society. In this essay the writer will
explore the meanings of inequality and social stratification and how they are patterned in the
society with specific examples from south African context.

(Seekings and Natrass 2008) Inequality is the state of having an unequal distribution of
resources, opportunities, rights or privileges within a society or a particular setting. It can
take on many different forms including gender inequality, racial or ethnic inequality,
economic inequality, education inequality and healthcare. These differences may give some
people or groups unfair benefits or disadvantages which could result in social and economic
injustices. (Seekings 2003) Social stratification is the organizational division of people or
organizations into social classes or strata according to their social standing, political clout,
and financial means. It divides societies into many levels or layers, with individuals in higher
strata having access to more resources, having higher social prestige, and having more
possibilities than those in lower strata. Cultural attitudes and values that support specific
assumptions and prejudices also contribute to the continuation of social divisions and
inequality. For instance, women are sometimes expected to put their responsibilities to their
families over their careers because they are often considered inferior to men. The possibilities
and experiences open to women are influenced by this societal expectation.

Racial inequality in South Africa has a long history, especially between the white and black
populations. Racist segregation and discrimination were made institutionalized by the
apartheid system, which existed from 1948 to 1994. Although apartheid was officially
abolished with the first democratic elections in 1994, its effects are still seen in modern
society, where racial inequality is still a widespread and deeply established problem. Access
to school, healthcare, work, and housing are some of the most important areas of racial
inequality in South Africa. The majority of South Africans who are Black still experience
huge gaps in access to these necessities. In this regard, the lack of resources in their schools
frequently prevents black pupils from receiving a quality education. As a result, there are
many people living in poverty, with few work opportunities and poor academic performance.
Inequalities based on race also have an impact on employment possibilities with black South
African concentrated in jobs that require little training and pay less. This is seen from the
difference in pay between races, which is particularly evident in the private sector.

South Africa still has unequal access to high-quality education with gaps between urban and
rural areas as well as between people from various socioeconomic backgrounds. It is common
for schools in communities with lower incomes to lack resources, qualified teachers and
sufficient infrastructure which contributes to ongoing educational inequalities. Between
schools in wealthy neighborhoods compared to those in depopulated and rural areas, there is
an obvious difference in the quality of education. In fact, schools in wealthier locations
frequently have better infrastructure, resources, and qualified teachers while schools in areas
with lower incomes struggle with old structures, scarce resources, and high student-teacher
ratios. (Jansen 2019) South Africa is struggling with a teacher shortage especially in rural
areas. Furthermore, the quality of instruction may differ greatly amongst institutions with
some teachers lacking the knowledge and experience required to deliver a quality education.
This increases the gap in educational opportunities.

Inequalities based on gender are present in south Africa. Women still experience
discrimination and have limited access to economic and political possibilities despite
significant improvements in women’s rights. Women were often frequently neglected in
positions of power and decision making, and the gender pay is still an issue. For instance,
women still encounter higher rates of gender-based violence and discrimination as well as
higher rates of unemployment and lower pay for equal work than males. Looking at the
world, gender-based violence occurs at one of the highest rates in Africa. Rape, domestic
abuse, and feminine violence are included. These forms of assault, which frequently go
unpunished or unrecorded primarily target women and girls. While there are now more
opportunities for girls to pursue their studies, there are still several obstacles that prevent
them from doing so. The lack of access to educational resources, poverty and young
marriages are examples of this. According to (Dunkle, Brown 2004) In South Africa, women
are more likely than men to contract HIV/AIDS, and they frequently face obstacles in getting
medical care.
Even though south Africa has improved access to healthcare services. Different income
groups experience hunger. Private healthcare, which is more expensive, is only available to
those who can afford it, leaving most of the population dependent on public healthcare
facilities which may be overworked and neglected.

South Africa still struggles with huge economic inequality after the end of apartheid. While
most of the black population experiences being seen as a minority, the predominately white
sector of the population shows an unfair share of the nation’s wealth. Land ownership is a
sensitive subject because white landowners still control a large portion of the fertile land
which limits minority populations’ access to resources and employment possibilities. The
inequality in wealth caused by apartheid still exists today. most of the wealth distribution in
the nation. a large portion of the nation's wealth is still in private hands. mainly concentrated
among the white minority, which makes up a small percentage of the population. The country
has a high rate of unemployment particularly among young people. (Sen 1997) The lack of
employment options contributes to income disparity and poverty. One of the highest rates of
income inequality in the world is seen in this nation. About 65% of the nation’s income is
earned by the top 10% of earners, while the bottom 40% make less than 7%.

In conclusion, South Africa’s history of apartheid has had a major impact the country’s
continued inequality and socioeconomic stratification. The gaps between wealthy and poor as
well as between various racial and ethnic groups continue to be large despite several attempts
to address these concerns such as affirmative action programs. Furthermore, there is a still a
lot of inequality in the school system with poor neighborhoods having less access to high-
quality education, which feeds the cycle of social stratification. To address these issues more
inclusive measures and efforts that prioritize economic development, education, and
healthcare in areas with limited resources are required. Health inequalities, unemployment
and poverty are further factors that contribute to the ongoing inequality and social
stratification requires a focus on ensuring equal opportunities for all South Africans
regardless of their socioeconomic circumstances.
REFERENCES

Dunkle, K.L., Jewkes, R.K., Brown, H.C., Gray, G.E., McIntyre, J.A. and Harlow, S.D., 2004. Gender-
based violence, relationship power, and risk of HIV infection in women attending antenatal clinics in
South Africa. The lancet, 363(9419), pp.1415-1421.

Jansen, J.D., 2019. Inequality in education: What is to be done? South African Schooling: The
Enigma of Inequality: A Study of the Present Situation and Future Possibilities, pp.355-371.

Seekings, J., 2003. Social stratification and inequality in South Africa at the end of apartheid.
University of Cape Town

Seekings, J. and Nattrass, N., 2008. Class, race, and inequality in South Africa. Yale University Press.

Sen, A.K., 1997. From income inequality to economic inequality. Southern Economic Journal, 64(2),
pp.384-401.