Assignment:Inequality
You can choose to write primarily on the topic of economic, political, status, ethnic, gender or racial inequality in the US, a particular country or globally. Thus far we have discussed economic inequality in American Society and Global inequality. While class based differences between the affluent, middle class and the poor are the primary issue the class has addressed to date, all should be aware that they generally intersect with race, ethnic and gender inequality, which involve stratification according to status and levels of prestige. Isolating one form of inequality without considering attending forms can lead to overly narrow and simplistic conclusions. It may also be difficult to recognize one form without relating it to others. In the interest of ensuring that you become more mindful of the distinction between forms of inequality and stratification, and conscious of the intersections between forms, I require all to choose a primary form of inequality and consider its relationship to a least one other form, which you reflect on as thematically secondary. For example, social class may be your primary focus, while racial inequality as manifest in the Black middle class is a subtheme your address. Similarly, Global inequality could be primary and inequality in the low prestige of women in could be a presented as a cardinal concern.
Your paper should convey a theoretical approach to understanding the form of inequality at primary focus. A market-oriented approach, state-centered or dependency theory would inform the analysis you provide of global inequality, for example. A conflict theoretical approach or more fully developed theory of class structure might be at focus in the analysis of a paper on economic inequality, and a functionalist or a feminist theoretical approach may inform your perspective on gender inequality. Perspectives on social exclusion and occupational mobility are also invited.
Your thesis statement should be clear and concisely formulated in the first or second paragraph of the essay. Support your position about the form of inequality with empirical data and evidence. Offer some cultural and/or socio-historical perspective that contextualizes the issue of inequality. The position developed should reflect reading. You are required to find at least two peer reviewed text in the library-either a book, chapter or professional social scientific journal article. Internet based sources should be used cautiously, and all sources cited should include an author and date of publication. Your informed position must also include perspective on whether the problem of inequality is worsening or diminishing. Offer an interpretation that includes possible causes as well as solutions which are consistent with the theoretical approach you adopt.
The final product should have both footnotes or endnotes and a bibliography. Either the MLA (Modern Language Association) or the Chicago/Turabian styles are acceptable in formatting your notes and bibliography. The body of the paper should be 5 to 6 pages in length with one inch margins all around and a 10 to 12 font. Quotations over 50 words should be single spaced and indented.