Critically discuss how sociological theories address the issue of inequality in British society Essay

Critically discuss how sociological theories address the issue of inequality in British society
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Inequalities exist in Britain, in common with other nations, which stem from historically and socially constructed ideological beliefs and the unequal distribution of power, both in the public and private domains. These perpetuate the notion that one section of society is superior or inferior to another. Throughout history women have been denied the political, economic, legal, social and human rights enjoyed by men. There are an increasing number of feminism perspectives but they are all commonly connected with two basic beliefs: that women are disadvantaged because of their sex, and that this disadvantage should be overthrown. Hughes & Sherratt (2004, p64) highlight the relationship   between the sexes and state that patriarchy, the supremacy of men and the subjection of women, is common to all ‘feminist analysis’.  

‘Feminism’ as a modern term only came into everyday language in the 1960’s. However women’s struggles to gain equality with men can be traced back to ancient civilisations but in Britain only emerged as an organised movement in the nineteenth century(Heywood, 2003 p240).   The women involved were chiefly middle class and educated. At this stage the equality of women was not representative of or concerned with the inequality as it applied to working class women.   Paramount to the emergence of feminism in Britain was the author and liberal activist Mary Woolstonecraft, who wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Women in 1792. Her basic theory was that the rights of men and women should be equal. Men’s superior ability to reason was given as the basis for their having political rights and Woolstonecraft argued that:
“... the apparent inferiority of the female intellect was due to women’s inferior education and should be interpreted as the result of women’s social inequality rather than as a justification for it.”...