Le disuguaglianze sociali

Within the handbook edited by the same Author (see: “Sociologia delle differenze e delle disuguaglianze”), this chapter, after a definition of the concept of social inequalities, concentrates the attention on the process which “transforms” differences into inequalities. Then it approaches the question of the institutionalisation of inequalities, trough strategies such as the exclusion of some individuals from a shared membership; the appeal to the common wellbeing, the interpreting of inequalities as the “natural consequence” of differences between individuals, the using of inequalities to sanction non conformist behaviours. Again, some considerations about the economic, political and ethical consequences of differences are developed, and a repertory about the main “reactions” to social inequalities is provided. Finally, the attention is focused on some phenomena characterizing the contemporary society, with a focus on the concepts of social vulnerability and social exclusion.