FIND OUT MORE. Decolonization 434 • Human Rights 317 • Societies 294–295
Society and Beliefs^305
HOW DOES WEALTH DIVIDE PEOPLE?
Wealth gives people power in a society, because
wealthy people can buy and use other people’s time.
This can be seen as a reward for individual success.
However, if only the rich can enjoy such success,
there can be no social equality. The numbers on the
chart below illustrate the huge – and growing – gap
between the world’s rich and poor.
DO WOMEN HAVE EQUAL RIGHTS?
Although women have won important rights over the
last 100 years, gender inequality is still commonplace
in most parts of the world. While countries with equal
rights laws have improved women’s access to politics,
jobs, and property, women are still not equally
represented in government and business, and are often
paid less for doing the same jobs as men.A few people in each society earn large amounts of money, or
inherit fortunes handed down through their families. Their wealth
gives them access to more economic and social opportunities than
others, and can give them more influence over society as a whole.
WHAT IS A MULTI-ETHNIC SOCIETY?
Societies made up of several ethnic groups, each with
their own cultural traditions, are called multi-ethnic
societies. During the 20th and 21st centuries, many
multi-ethnic societies have searched for ways to
promote respect for these different groups, often
passing laws to promote equal opportunities for all.Gender division is the social recognition
and reinforcement of sexual differences
between men and women. This might take
the form of an unequal division of labour,
reduced social opportunities, or social
discrimination.Ethnicity refers to a group’s distinctive culture as well as its racial
background. The term “race” is now considered to be an outdated
concept for distinguishing groups of people who share common
physical characteristics, such as black skin or blonde hair.1 WOMAN IN A MAN’S WORLD
Traditionally, men have monopolized jobs which required greater physical strength. However, improved
technology means that there are fewer jobs which rely on muscle power alone. Women like Space Shuttle
astronaut Mary Ellen Weber have broken barriers by choosing careers once held exclusively by men.
WEALTH
ETHNICITY
1 WHAT IT MEANS TO BE RICH
Wealth allows people to choose their own lifestyles, free of the limits
most people face. The wealthy may also make choices which affect
other people’s lives, such as where to spend, donate, or invest money.4 ETHNIC DIVIDE
In South Africa, the white
minority imposed years of
enforced separation on black
people, denying them basic
rights. This policy, known as
apartheid, ended in 1993.GENDER
$US (excluding homes) Number of people
Above $1bn 480
$5m–$1bn 483,000
$1m–$5m 6,500,000
$100,000–$1m 25,000,000
$10,000–$100,000 180,000,000
$0–$10,000 5,700,000,000TABLE OF GLOBAL WEALTHsocial
equality