Sociology deals with the study of society or social behavior and has concepts which include history and theories that explain human actions, symbols, values, languages, norms, and culture. Other sociological concepts include groups, ethnocentrism, and taboos. The paper incorporates sociological concepts and terms in graphical analysis of U.S distribution of household wealth over historical periods, 1949-1979 and 1979-2009 because various fundamental sociological concepts explain income inequalities among American families.
The two graphs show income inequality among American families between 1949 and 2009.There were similar income gains among all income groups between 1949 and 1979.The lowest income groups had the highest income gains. Between 1979 and 2009, the top 5% of American families had an increase in their real income. The lowest income fifth experienced a decrease in real income. Equal distribution of income brings growth to a
...society and enables satisfaction of human needs. Wealth is highly concentrated among the richest citizens of the United States. Stratification which refers to the unequal distribution of resources among individuals is a common feature in U.S. Social, and economic inequality is aggravated by factors such as prejudice and discrimination against race, ethnicity or religion. Some cultural forms of prejudice and discrimination which exist in U.S such as abuses also contribute highly to inequalities. Ethnocentric bias is a major contributing factor to inequality too.
Inequality in income was relatively unchanged between the periods of 1949-1979, and an increment in income among the low, middle and high-income families was experienced. Income growth among the middle and low-income families in 1979-2009 was relatively flat. High incomes rose greatly in the same period (a positive increase of 49.0% and 72.7%).There were differences between the
two periods (1949-1979, 1979-2009), in that the later had more women in the workforce and demographic changes such as an increase in the number of single families were experienced. A difference in the tightness of the labor market was additionally realized, in that the average unemployment rate was 5.1% in 1949-1979, unlike in 1979-2009 where unemployment rate grew by 6.3%.Policies such as adoption of national economic systems and operation of small-scale charitable organizations are set up with the aim of decreasing inequalities among people.
Income inequality in U.S has significantly grown since 1979 due to the free market system and lesser expenses in social services compared to other developed nations. Various rationales have provided to explain the rapid growth in the level of real income among top earning families. For example, weakening of labor unions, globalization, and technological change in a biased manner, financial constraints, politics, policies and races explain the level of inequality in U.S. Income inequality has various economic effects, such as slow economic growth due to the shift in income to the wealth, decrease in income mobility which creates an impression that children income can be predicted using parents' income. A further economic crisis is experienced because the low and middle-income earners tend to borrow more to maintain consumption rate. Policies that results in slower economic growth are also formed by the wealthy who get more political influence and power.
In conclusion, it is evident that there was equality in the level of income among families in the years (1949-1979).Inequality in real income occurred in the years 1979-2009 and various factors such as prejudice and discrimination against race, ethnicity, and religion are thought to
cause the significant change in the two historical periods. Ethnocentrism which occurs when groups judge each other based on their ethnic group or culture especially in language, customs, religion and behavior significantly contribute to income inequality.
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