Week 4-5: Government Programs and Initiatives in

Addressing Social Inequalities

Social inequality is the state of unequal distribution of valued goods and opportunities. All
societies today have social inequality. Examining social stratification requires a macro sociological
perspective in order to view social systems that make inequalities visible, although individuals may
support or fight inequalities, social stratification is created and supported by society as a whole
through values and norms and consistently durable systems of stratification.

The Meaning of Social Inequality

Social inequality is the difference in the distribution of social desirables such as wealth,
power, and prestige.

 It also refers to the unequal opportunities of individuals based on

their social class or status.
 This explanation is mostly inspired by Karl Marx’s analysis the rise of
industrialization.
Social inequality results from a society organized by hierarchies of class, race, and gender
that unequally distributes access to resources and rights. It can manifest in a variety of ways, like
income and wealth inequality, unequal access to education and cultural resources, and differential
treatment by the police and judicial system, among others. Social inequality goes hand in hand with
social stratification.
Social inequality is characterized by the existence of unequal opportunities and rewards for
different social positions or statuses within a group or society. It contains structured and recurrent
patterns of unequal distributions of goods, wealth, opportunities, rewards, and punishments.
The following are some of the social inequalities and the programs that the government is
undertaking to address these inequalities.

1. Inequality in the access to social, political, and symbolic capital

For us to understand well these inequalities, we have to define first these concepts:
Social Capital is the ability of a collective to act together to pursue a common goal. It refers
to the connection of individuals within the society. An example of this is your social status. Rich
people have preferential treatment than that of poor people.
Political Capital refers to the trust, good will, and influence possessed by a political actor,
such as politician, to mobilize support toward a preferred policy outcome. Example is that, governor
will be given a preferential treatment over those with lower have no civic equality. Moreover, political
actors coming from political families had given preferential treatment to enter politics than those
who are not.
Symbolic Capital refers to the resources that one possesses which is a function of honor,
prestige or recognition, or any other traits that one values within a culture. Like also in many other
circumstances, rich people had greater opportunities to enter into politics or in any other aspects
because of their level in the society.
Government Programs Addressing these Inequalities are:

 Conditional Cash Transfer program locally known as Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program,
or 4Ps, is a government program that provides conditional cash grants to the poorest of the
poor in the Philippines. Households receive cash grants if children stay in school and get
regular health check-ups, have their growth monitored, and receive vaccines. Pregnant
women must get prenatal care, with their births attended to by professional health workers.
Parents or guardians are required to participate in monthly community-based Family
Development Sessions to learn about positive child discipline, disaster preparedness, and
women’s rights.
 Agrarian reform in the Philippines seeks to solve the centuriesold problem of landlessness
in rural areas. Through the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) initiated in
1987, the government addressed key national goals: the promotion of equity and social
justice, food security and poverty alleviation in the countryside. After over 14 years of the
CARP, however, the program is yet to be completed and is currently burdened with major
issues – from opposition by landlords and lack of support from legislators, to wide gaps in
fund resources.
  SK Reform Act of 2015 has the provisions that prohibits political dynasty. It prohibits any
person to run in any Sanggunian Kabataan Office either elected or appointed if it has a
relative up to second degree in the barangay level to governorship.
 The Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act is a law that institutionalizes free
tuition and exemption from other fees in state universities and colleges (SUCs), local
universities and colleges (LUCs) in the Philippines. The law also foresees subsidies also for
private higher education institutions. It is intended to give underprivileged Filipino students
a chance to earn a college degree. The law allows financially-able students to avail of the free
higher education provision but also contribute a specific amount to the higher education
institution (HEI). SUCs, LUCs, and TVET providers are required to create a proper system so
students can make voluntary contributions for their education.
2. Minority groups are groups composed of less-dominant classifications in society that experience
disproportionately lower opportunities than their dominant counterparts.

Below are some relevant issues involving minority groups:

1. Gender Inequality
o In some countries women are paid relatively lower than men due to their sexuality and
biological differences.
o The LGBT community has always been treated indifferently and discriminatively because
they do not fall within a biologically defined gender group.
Programs:
 The Philippine Plan for Gender-Responsive Development (PPGD) rests on a vision
of development that is equitable , sustainable, free from violence, respectful of human
rights, supportive of self-determination and the actualization of human potentials, and
participatory and empowering . It places people at the center and aims to make
development work for all groups. However, it recognizes that discrimination exists on
the basis of gender, class and ethnicity. In the light of historical gender inequalities
and
inequities, it puts greater emphasis on women as a disadvantaged group. It is in here
where gender and development was anchored into.
 The Magna Carta of Women (MCW) is a comprehensive women’s human rights law
that seeks to eliminate discrimination through the recognition, protection, fulfilment,
and promotion of the rights of Filipino women, especially those belonging in the
marginalized sectors of the society. It conveys a framework of rights for women based
directly on international law. It salient features are:
 Increasing the number of women in third level positions in government to
achieve a fifty-fifty (50-50) gender balance within the next five years while the
composition of women in all levels of development planning and program
implementation will be at least 40 percent;
 Leave benefits of two (2) months with full pay based on gross monthly
compensation for women employees who undergo surgery caused by
gynaecological disorders, provided that they have rendered continuous
aggregate employment service of at least six (6) months for the last twelve (12)
months;
 Non-discrimination in employment in the field of military, police and other
similar services that include according the same promotional privileges and
opportunities as their men counterpart, including pay increases, additional
benefits, and awards, based on competency and quality of performance.
 Provision for equal access and elimination of discrimination in education,
scholarships, and training. Thus, “expulsion, non-readmission, prohibiting
enrolment, and other related discrimination of women students and faculty due
to pregnancy out of marriage shall be outlawed.
 Non-discriminatory and non-derogatory portrayal of women in media and film
to raise the consciousness of the general public in recognizing the dignity of
women and the role and contribution of women in family, community, and the
society through the strategic use of mass media;
 Equal status given to men and women on the titling of the land and issuance of
stewardship contracts and patents.
2. Ethnic Minorities
o Because some minorities live traditionalistic lives far away from the city and technology, and
some may appear differently than usual, they have been consistently labelled and treated as
people with minimal knowledge and capabilities.
 o Lack of resources easily available for many are not utilized within their group, and thus
receive negative attention from the dominant public.
Programs:
 Republic Act 8371, known as the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA), was enacted in
1997. It has been praised for its support for the cultural integrity of indigenous
peoples, the right to their lands and the right to self-directed development of these
lands. Under the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997 (IPRA), self - delineation shall
be the guiding principle in identifying and delineating ancestral domains. As such,
indigenous cultural communities (ICC) and indigenous people (IP) shall have a decisive
role in all activities pertinent thereto.
3. Other Minorities
o This may include people with disabilities or people with religions that are less prevalent in
society.
o These minorities experience discrimination in work, especially when the disabled have
physical limitations, while the religious have practices and beliefs that are greatly disagreed
upon by the majority.
Programs:
 Republic Act No. 9442, an Act Amending Republic Act No. 7277, Otherwise known as
the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, and For Other Purposes’ Granting Additional
Privileges and Incentives and Prohibitions on Verbal, Non-verbal Ridicule and
Vilification Against Persons with Disability. Its objective is to provide persons with
disability, the opportunity to participate fully into the mainstream of society by
granting them at least twenty percent (20%) discount in all basic services. It is a
declared policy of RA 7277 that persons with disability are part of Philippine society,
and thus the State shall give full support to the improvement of their total well-being
and their integration into the mainstream of society. They have the same rights as
other people to take their proper place in society. They should be able to live freely and
as independently as possible. This must be the concern of everyone the family,
community and all government and nongovernment organizations. Rights of persons
with disability must never be perceived as welfare services. Prohibitions on verbal,
non-verbal ridicule and vilification against persons with disability shall always be
observed at all times.
 Department of Education has adopted the policy to provide special protection to
children who are gravely threatened or endangered by circumstances which affect
their normal development and over which they have no control, and to assist the
concerned agencies in their rehabilitation. Furthermore, the Department aims to
ensure such special protection from all forms of abuse and exploitation and care as is
necessary for the child’s well-being, taking into account the primary rights and duties
of parents, legal guardians, or other individuals who are legally responsible and
exercise custody over the child. DepEd recognizes the participatory rights of the child
in the formulation and implementation of policies, and in all proceedings affecting
them, whether they be victims or aggressors, either directly, or through a
representative.
 Enactment of Anti-Bullying Law which mandates directed all elementary and
secondary schools to adopt policies to address the existence of bullying in their
respective institutions.
Analyzing Social Inequalities
The existence of minority groups in functionalist and conflict societies are also embedded in
each type of society’s principles.
 In a functionalist society, minorities also play social roles that contribute to social balance
and equilibrium. However, these roles are bound by limitations and social norms.
 In conflict societies, minority groups are seen as lower-class individuals that will not be able
to keep up with the consistent competition occurring within the environment.
 In both societies, discrimination against minorities is possible. Inequality among minority
groups is greatly driven by global inequalities significantly coming from the influence of
richer, more influential countries.
Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
This Agenda is a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity. It also seeks to strengthen
universal peace in larger freedom. We recognize that eradicating poverty in all its forms and
dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable
requirement for sustainable development. All countries and all stakeholders, acting in collaborative
partnership, will implement this plan. We are resolved to free the human race from the tyranny of
poverty and want and to heal and secure our planet. We are determined to take the bold and
transformative steps which are urgently needed to shift the world onto a sustainable and resilient
path. As we embark on this collective journey, we pledge that no one will be left behind. The 17
Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets which we are announcing today demonstrate the
scale and ambition of this new universal Agenda. They seek to build on the Millennium
Development Goals and complete what these did not achieve. They seek to realize the human rights
of all and to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. They are
integrated and indivisible and balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: the
economic, social and environmental.
The Goals and targets will stimulate action over the next fifteen years in areas of critical
importance for humanity and the planet:
a) People. We are determined to end poverty and hunger, in all their forms and dimensions,
and to ensure that all human beings can fulfil their potential in dignity and equality and in a
healthy environment.
b) Planet. We are determined to protect the planet from degradation, including through
sustainable consumption and production, sustainably managing its natural resources and taking
urgent action on climate change, so that it can support the needs of the present and future
generations.
c) Prosperity. We are determined to ensure that all human beings can enjoy prosperous and
fulfilling lives and that economic, social and technological progress occurs in harmony with nature.
d) Peace. We are determined to foster peaceful, just and inclusive societies which are free
from fear and violence. There can be no sustainable development without peace and no peace
without sustainable development.
e) Partnership. We are determined to mobilize the means required to implement this Agenda
through a revitalized Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, based on a spirit of
strengthened global solidarity, focused in particular on the needs of the poorest and most
vulnerable and with the participation of all countries, all stakeholders and all people.
The interlinkages and integrated nature of the Sustainable Development Goals are of crucial
importance in ensuring that the purpose of the new Agenda is realized. If we realize our ambitions
across the full extent of the Agenda, the lives of all will be profoundly improved and our world will
be transformed for the better.
Sustainable Development Goals
Goal 1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
Goal 2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable
agriculture
Goal 3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
Goal 4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning
opportunities for all
Goal 5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
Goal 6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
Goal 7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
Goal 8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive
employment and decent work for all.
Goal 9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization
and foster innovation.
Goal 10. Reduce inequality within and among countries.
Goal 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
Goal 12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
Goal 13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts*
Goal 14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for
sustainable development.
Goal 15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably
manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt
biodiversity loss.
Goal 16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide
access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.
Goal 17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for
sustainable development.
Acknowledging that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is the
primary international, intergovernmental forum for negotiating the global response to climate
change.