Sociology and Economics: Understanding Inequalities in Homes
Sociology is a science which endeavors to elucidate, give details and understand the actions of human beings in a social setup (Miraftab, 2015, p.34). It takes into account all the aspects of life and how it affects human beings ranging from family issues, relationships to gender and housework. Economy refers to the standards of living of people which include the health status, leisure time utility and the environmental amenities. The income levels of a population determine the productivity and economic growth which is influenced by the businesses that are being done, the households possession and the government (Meier, 2016, p.18). Sociologists and economics provide differences and as well draw some similarities in understanding the inequalities of life. The inequalities for this case include the class of a household, the gender distribution of the household and the ability and disability. An economist looks at this aspect in a house setup while a sociologist considers this as a home composition. A house is a property or structure while a home is a social unit that is formed when a family or group of people who share a characteristic live together (Klinkenborg). Therefore, this paper will compare and contrasts the understandings of inequalities from the sociologist and economists perspectives.<\/p>
Sociologist and Economist View on Class
Both the sociologist view and an economist view on class provide a similarity. Class can be classified into five different categorizations; the location in terms of geography,distribution and access to resources, the relational explanation of the economic life chances, the dimensions of the historical variations in systems of inequality and finally the dimension of foundation of economic oppression and exploitation; which as a result evoke the problem of understanding the systems of economic inequality. The class is a social aspect which is not only looked into by a set of objectives for an individual but also the shared subjective understanding of people which involves the economic dimensions of the given household.<\/p>
Differences in Sociologist and Economist Understanding of Class
On the contrary side, a sociologist\u2019s understanding of class draws a variation from a study and anchor arguments on historical life changes while an economist provides that class is the current state and lifestyle of the individual under study, the current living standards, net worth and the assets that are in a home (Murphy). In the case of residing sociologists tend to focus more on the home and economists focus more on housing outside. A home is defined by being a domicile; a person has full ownership of where he or she resides while a house provides the aspect of having a shelter under which one of the primary basic need is satisfied. This provides a contradiction of what sociology and economics explain the inequality (Tsouroufli 19).<\/p>
Gender in Sociology and Economics
Gender is a major factor in social composition. Males and females contribute to homes, and their implications are different to the society. The current family trends and patterns concerning economic provision within a household, performing of roles and the decision making process has been linked to the gender composition and distribution within a home. Gender go hand in hand with economics, and this is focused on the setting of a home. The distribution of resources and the decision-making mechanisms within a household is an aspect of the economy within a home (Murphy). This provides the relationship and similarity of sociology and economic concepts.<\/p>
Contradiction on Gender in Sociology and Economics
In a contradiction of the same factor of gender, sociology brings in a different aspect of gender as compared to that brought by the economy of a home. Some roles within a home are assigned to a specific gender hence limiting the aspect of equality of gender. In every given society, there are defined roles that have only been attached to only either the male gender or the female gender. The demographic changes like the mortality rates have caused an imbalance of the gender composition of every home. Economics critiques, the kind of Al Marx, provide concepts that try to explain that any given role can be performed by any given gender as long as the required skills and prowess are possessed by the performer (Murji, 2015, p.56). This differs from what the sociologists observe.<\/p>
Abilities in Sociology and Economics
Sociology and economics provide a similarity in considering the abilities of the members of a household. The abilities of every individual within a home differ from one person to the next. This in return influences the roles an individual can do, the changes that can be brought to the home, the income that can be generated, the utilization of resources within the home and if there is any disability that hinders the household from doing specific tasks that contribute to the benefit of the home. A home becomes a home when there is access to enough water that is required, reliable lighting systems, security of the properties and the individuals and the accessibility to different amenities like the health centres, market, and food resources. This is only achieved through the abilities that are possessed within the house or home depending on the point of view.<\/p>
Difference in Sociological and Economic Understanding of Abilities
Economists consider the ability of a household by looking at the productivity level of every individual in the home. Sociologists observe the ability in a home by looking into the involvement of the people within a home. A society is productive when everyone utilizes the ability they got to ensure that they get something in return. The economy comprises the income levels, wages, and earnings that are received from the use of the skills and abilities within the members of the home. This draws the main difference between the sociological understanding of the different abilities within a home and the economic understanding of the same inequality. Economy focuses on the ownership aspect while sociology focuses on the aspect of involvement.<\/p>
Differences in Home and House
The sociologists having the focus on inequalities within the home, some economists having the focus on inequalities in access to housing is as a result of the difference in capabilities of the individuals within a household (Shipman, 2015, p.45). A home is comprised of all the members within a family, the assets that are owned, the dependants of the household and all the day to day activities that are being engaged by the members of the household. The members here may include human beings and animals as well. A house is comprised of majorly the assets and the building aspect of a home per se.\u00a0 A house limits itself to only the structure and what is in the structure under which people reside on.<\/p>
Conclusion
In conclusion, sociology draws a lot of similarities with the economy when a home is being investigated \u2014 the understanding of the different inequalities that have drawn as a result of the understanding of sociologists on homes and economists on the housing patterns. An economist will look into having a house as an investment hence will tend to attach a monetary value to it, unlike a sociologist who will look into having a house and consider it a home to which a basic need is satisfied and will not consider the value at any given point. Sociologists have examined and understood these inequalities by looking at the use of space and time, at who does what within the home, and the role of domestic technologies. Economists try to focus inequalities in access to housing, between buyers and renters for example, and also on some categories of inequality more than others.<\/p>
Works Cited
Miraftab, Faranak. Cities and Inequalities in a Global and Neoliberal World. London: Routledge, 2015. Print.
Meier, Lars. Migrant Professionals in the City: Local Encounters, Identities, and Inequalities, 2016. Print.
Murphy, Colleen, Paolo Gardoni, and Robert McKim. Climate Change and Its Impacts: Risks and Inequalities, 2018. Print.
Tsouroufli, Maria. Gender, Careers, and Inequalities in Medicine and Medical Education: International Perspectives. , 2015. Print.
Murji, K. and Silva, E. Exploring home: sociology, social divisions, and social change', in Murji, K. (ed.) Investigating the Social World 1, Milton Keynes, The Open University, 2015. Print
Shipman, A. Home-ownership: investment, wealth and inequality’, in Murji, K. (ed.) Investigating the Social World 1, Milton Keynes, The Open University, 2015. Print
