Senior High School

Understanding Culture,
Society, and Politics
Quarter 2 – Module 11:
Ways to Address Social Inequalities
UCSP – Senior High School
Quarter 2 – Module 11: Ways to Address Social Inequalities
First Edition, 2020

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 Senior High School

Understanding Culture,
Society, and Politics
Quarter 2 – Module 11:
Ways to Address Social Inequalities
Introductory Message
For the facilitator:
Welcome to the Understanding Society, Culture, and Politics Alternative
Delivery Mode (ADM) Module on Suggesting Ways to Address Social
Inequalities.
This module was carefully designed, developed and reviewed by experts
from Tagum City Division to assist you, the parents, or facilitator in helping
the learners meet the standards set by the K to 12 Curriculum while
overcoming their personal, social and economic constraints in schooling.

This learning resource hopes to engage the learners into guided and
independent learning activities at their own pace and time. Furthermore, this
also aims to help learners acquire the needed 21st century skills while taking
into consideration their needs and circumstances.

As a facilitator, you are expected to orient the learners on how to use

this module. You also need to keep track of the learner’s progress while
allowing them to manage their own learning. Furthermore, you are expected
to encourage and assist the learners as they do the task included in the
module.

For the learner:

Welcome to the Understanding Society, Culture, and Politics Alternative
Delivery Mode (ADM) Module on Suggesting Ways to Address Social
Inequalities.

This module was intended for you as learners. The activities and
discussions herein are for you to develop the stated competency. As you
journey through this module, please take your time and pace to accomplish
the needed tasks. You are encouraged to read instructions and directions
comprehensively for you to follow what to do and what to finish.

This learning resource is methodological (meaning, series of activities

and readings need to be done for you to acquire the competency on this
module). This module is easily organized for you to follow. Likewise, you are
encouraged to focus yourself on an activity intended for the day to manage
your time and learning well. Should there be confusions and difficulties, you
may reach your facilitator to ask for it.

Best of learning ahead!

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 Let Us Learn!

Lesson

1 Ways to Address Social Inequalities

At the end of your journey in this lesson, you are expected to achieve the
following objectives:

1. Suggest ways to address social inequalities.

Specifically,
a. Discuss theories of global inequalities
b. Delineate solutions out from the theories;
c. Classify countries based on systems;
d. Draft a policy/program to address inequalities.
Day 1

Let Us Try!
This is an initial assessment on your knowledge about the topic.
This is not yet graded. You have just to be honest if you know
the answers or not on the questions below.
I. Choose the letter that corresponds your answer in each item below.

1. This refers to the unequal distribution of wealth, power and prestige

with some nations as economically productive than others.
a. Stratification
b. Differentiation
c. Social Inequality
d. Global Inequality

2. Which classification of countries is described as “less industrialized”?

a. First World
b. Second World
c. Third World
d. Fourth World

3. Which classification of countries is described as “rich”?

a. First World
b. Second World
c. Third World
d. Fourth World

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4. Which classification of countries is described as “developing”?
a. First World
b. Second World
c. Third World
d. Fourth World

5. Which classification of countries which has poor standard of living?

a. High income-countries
b. Middle income-countries
c. Low income-countries
d. Extremely low income-countries

6. Which classification of countries which has wealthy standard of living?

a. High income-countries
b. Middle income-countries
c. Low income-countries
d. Extremely low income-countries

7. Which classification of countries which has average standard of living?

a. High income-countries
b. Middle income-countries
c. Low income-countries
d. Extremely low income-countries

8. Which is NOT a stage of development from Rostow’s change towards

higher living standards?
a. Take-off Stage
b. Traditional Stage
c. Psycho-social Stage
d. Drive to Technological Maturity Stage

9. Which is NOT a category of nation according to Immanuel Wallerstein’s

model of the capitalist world economy?
a. Core
b. Periphery
c. Autonomous
d. Semi-periphery

10. Which is a wrong association below?

a. Modernization Theory: Karl Marx
b. Dependency Theory: Andre Gunder
c. Dependency Theory: Historical Exploitation
d. Modernization Theory: Technological Differences

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II. True or False. Read each statement carefully. Write your answers on the
space provided.

____________11. Inequality of outcomes and that of opportunities are highly

interdependent.

____________12. Without equal opportunities, the poor and the disadvantaged

groups are deprived to accessing economic resources.
____________13. Moderating income inequality is critical for leveraging
improvements in gender inequality and other forms of
horizontal inequality.

____________14. Quality education and good health allow individuals to

decrease their productivity and contribute to economic
growth.

____________15. Preventing individuals and socially excluded groups from

pursuing a life of their own choosing is one core of the policy
framework.

Let Us Study
Let us turn our attention to the caricature below. What does it say
about the social inequality experienced around the world? What is
your interpretation of this caricature? Does it reflect the current state of
inequality?

Source:https://portside.org/sites/default/files/styles/facebook
/public/field/image/globalinequality2-11-6-2016.jpg

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 Social stratification involves not just people within a single country; it
is also a worldwide pattern with some nations far more economically
productive than others. We term this as global inequality.

Systems of Classifying Countries

Rich Non-
Industrialized Less industrialized
Capitalist industrialized Poor countries
Countries Socialist “Developing
Example: United Countries countries’
States of America Example: China Example:
Philippines

First World Second World Third World

Figure 1. The Three Worlds Model

•Those with the highest

overall standards of living.
High-income •These nations have a per
Countries capita gross domestic
product (GDP) greater than
$12,000.
•Those with a standard of
living about average for
Middle-income the world as a whole
Countries •Their per capita GDP is
less than $12,000 but
greater than $2,500
•Those with a per capita GDP
Low-income less than $2,500, and a low
standard of living.
Countries • Most people in these nations
are poor.

Figure 2. Revised System of Classification based on Economic

Development of Countries

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Theories of Global Inequality
There are two major explanations for inequality among nations:
Modernization theory and Dependency theory (Macionis 2012: 280-281).

1. MODERNIZATION THEORY

Walt Rostow explains global inequality in terms of technological and

cultural differences be ween nations. Nations become rich by developing
advanced technology, a process that depends on a culture that encourages
innovation and change toward higher living standards. Rostow identifies four
stages of development:
(a) Traditional stage: People’s lives are built around families and local
communities (Example: Bangladesh)
(b) Take-off stage: A market emerges as people produce goods not just for
their own use but also to trade with others for profit. (Example: Thailand)
(c) Drive to technological maturity: The ideas of economic growth and
higher living standards gain widespread support (Example: Mexico)
(d) High mass consumption: Advanced technology fuels mass production
and mass consumption as people now “need” countless goods. (Example: the
United States of America)

How to address global inequalities?

Rostow’s modernization theory highlights the role of technology transfer
and foreign aid. Accordingly, rich nations can help poor nations by providing
technology to control population size, increase food production, and expand
industrial output and by providing foreign aid to support economic
development.

2. DEPENDENCY THEORY

This views global inequality as a result of the historical exploitation of

poor nations by rich ones. It maintains that colonialism created global
inequality beginning 500 years ago, giving rise to rich nations and
underdeveloped poor nations. This process continues today in the form of
neocolonialism, or the economic exploitation of poor nations by multinational
corporations. Immanuel Wallerstein’s model of the capitalist world economy
identified three categories of nations:
(a) Core: the world’s high-income countries, which are home to multinational
corporations
(b) Semiperiphery: the world’s middle-income countries, with ties to core
nations
(c) Periphery: the world’s low-income countries, which provide cheap labor
and raw materials, and a vast market for industrial products

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 Andre Gunder Frank’s dependency theory argues that countries in the
Periphery must cut the “umbilical cord” that connects them to the Center, if
they were to become developed countries themselves.

How to address global inequalities?

The dependency theory claims that three factors, namely export-
orientation, a lack of industrial capacity, and foreign debt, make poor
countries dependent on rich nations and prevent their economic development.

A Policy Framework for Addressing Inequality in Developing Countries

Inequality of outcomes and that of opportunities are highly inter-
dependent. Without equal opportunities, systemic patterns of discrimination
and exclusion prevent the poor and disadvantaged groups from accessing
economic, political and social resources, resulting in inequality traps—and
the persistence of inequality across generations. Equal opportunities can level
the playing field so that the circumstances of birth (such as race, gender, rural
or urban location) do not adversely influence an individual’s chances to get
ahead in life.
A policy framework that systematically and comprehensively addresses
inequalities should focus on moderating income inequality, on closing gaps in
education, health and nutrition, and on tackling prejudice, stereotypes and
other cultural norms that reinforce discrimination.

Figure 7.1 Policy Framework to Address Inequality

Source:http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/Poverty%20Redu
ction/Inclusive%20development/Humanity%20Divided/HumanityDivided_C
h7_low.pdf

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Day 2
Let Us Practice
I. Complete the table below. Classify the following countries according
to the two systems of classifying countries. Write your answer on the
space provided.

Countries Three Worlds Model Revised System

1. Singapore
2. Ethiopia
3. India
4. Australia
5. Japan
6. Afghanistan
7. South Korea
8. Canada
9. China
10. Philippines

Day 3

Let Us Practice More

I. Read the article below. Afterwards, answer some questions.

5 Reasons Why We Need to Reduce Global Inequality

1. Health:
Life expectancy is shorter and mortality rates are higher in more unequal
societies – this applies to both the poor and, perhaps surprisingly, also to
the rich in these societies. Rates of infant mortality, mental illness and
obesity are also two to four times higher. In more unequal developing and
developed countries, HIV infection prevalence rates are higher.

2. Social relationships:
Levels of social cohesion, including trust and social capital, are lower in
more unequal societies. Indicators of women’s status and equality also tend
to be worse. More unequal societies have more property crime and violence,
especially homicides.

3. Human capital development:

Scores on the UNICEF index of child well-being are significantly worse in
unequal countries and decline as inequality rises. Math and literacy scores
are also lower and more young people drop out of education, employment
and training, and more teenage girls become mothers. Social mobility is
restricted by inequality – equality of opportunity is increased by greater
equality of outcomes. More equal countries tend to have higher rates of
innovation, probably because of greater social mobility.

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4. Economic progress and stability
Poverty reduction is compromised by income inequality. The International
Monetary Fund states that reducing inequality and bolstering longer-term
economic growth may be “two sides of the same coin”. In rich and poor
countries, inequality is strongly correlated with shorter spells of economic
expansion and less growth over time. Inequality is associated with more
frequent and more severe boom-and-bust cycles that make economies more
volatile and vulnerable to crisis.

5. Sustainable economies
Inequality drives status competition, which drives personal debt and
consumerism. More equal societies promote the common good – they recycle
more, spend more on foreign aid, score higher on the Global Peace Index.
Business leaders in more equal countries rate international environmental
agreements more highly. Inequities between countries are impairing
cooperation between nations and the development of international
environmental agreements on climate change.

Source: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/09/5-reasons-why-we-
need-to-reduce-global-inequality/

Process Questions:

1. Which one reason mentioned in the article that is very achievable in the
Philippines? Why do you say so?

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

2. Do you think we can achieve these recommendations to balance the social

levels of all people in the Philippines? How?

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

II. Read another article below about the social inequality in the Philippines.
Later, provide your insights by answering questions that follow.

Closing the Social Inequality Gap in the Philippines

Posted on July 22, 2013 by ChildFund International

Poverty doesn't just make it difficult for families to survive, it can also have
much wider economic impact. In the Philippines, where more than a quarter
of the country's population of 92.3 million lives below the poverty line,
economic and social inequality is a major problem. The Philippines has one

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of the highest rates of income inequality in the world, and unless action is
taken, the gap will continue to widen.

According to the ASEAN Trade Union Council, the Philippines has the
highest rate of economic and social inequality in Southeast Asia. This
problem is not limited to personal wealth. Land distribution, educational
and vocational opportunities and basic welfare programs are also affected
by the growing disparity between the Philippines' richest and poorest
citizens.

As economic inequality has become more pronounced in the past decade,

this has resulted in geographical disparity in the Philippines. In Mindanao,
the southernmost and second largest of the Philippines' islands, six of the
10 regions are among the top 10 nationally in terms of poverty rates, with
between 25 and 40 percent of families living in abject poverty. Nationwide,
the 30 most deprived provinces are home to more than one-third of the
Philippines' poorest families, resulting in generational poverty that is
incredibly difficult to emerge from.

As in many other parts of the world, it is often the indigenous population

that suffers the most. In the Philippines, the approximately 1.7 million
people belonging to the nation's 100 ethnic groups remain the most
disadvantaged, with discrimination and a lack of opportunities creating
serious barriers.

Source: https://www.childfund.org/Content/NewsDetail/2147489041/
Process Questions:

1. Given that the article was posted and reported in the year 2013, have you
noticed alleviation or changes in the conditions of the Filipinos as of the
current time? Give your insights.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

2. Why do you think the marginalized groups such as the indigenous peoples
suffer most of these social inequalities in the country?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

3. Will you agree to this recommendation, “The key to reducing inequality is

better education, better healthcare, social safety nets and higher and broader
economic growth, especially in agriculture." Why or why not?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

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Day 4
Let Us Remember
Complete the Pledge of Commitment below by specifying your honest
details and perspectives on the matter stipulated.

PLEDGE OF COMMITMENT

I, __________________________ as a citizen of this country

commit to fervently support the international and
national government initiatives to reduce and eliminate
social inequalities.
I also pledge to support the projects and activities of my
locality as it strives to better provide equal opportunities
to my fellow people.
Along this intent of pouring commitment, the three ways
which I will do to help eliminate social inequalities to the
best of my abilities are:
(1) ____________________________________________________
(2) ____________________________________________________
(3) ____________________________________________________

So, help me God.

Let Us Assess
Do not go back to the lesson anymore. This is to test whether you
have mastered and understood the lesson you had. You need to
be honest to yourself. Focus and try recalling your lesson.

I. Understand each item below and select the choice that corresponds
your answer.

1. When there is unequal distribution of wealth, power and prestige with

some nations as economically productive than others, it is referred as:
a. Stratification
b. Differentiation
c. Social Inequality
d. Global Inequality

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2. Which does NOT describe First World Countries?
a. Rich
b. Industrialized
c. Socialist Country
d. Capitalist Country

3. Which does NOT describe Third World Countries?

a. Poor
b. Developing
c. Agricultural
d. Non-industrialized

4. Which best describes High-income Countries?

a. Their per capita GDP less than $1,500.
b. Their per capita GDP less than $2,500.
c. Their per capita GDP is greater than $12,000.
d. Their per capita GDP is less than $12,000 but greater than $2,500.

5. Which best describes Low-income Countries?

a. Their per capita GDP is less than $2,500.
b. Their per capita GDP is less than $12,000.
c. Their per capita GDP is greater than $12,000.
d. Their per capita GDP is less than $12,000 but greater than $2,500.

6. Which stage of development to changing living standards to high

according to Walt Rostow needs laborious production?
a. Take-off stage
b. Traditional stage
c. High mass consumption
d. Drive to technological maturity

7. Which stage of development to changing living standards to high

according to Walt Rostow where the market emerges for own use and
trade?
a. Take-off stage
b. Traditional stage
c. High mass consumption
d. Drive to technological maturity

8. Which is NOT a recommendation to address inequalities according to

the Modernization Theory?
a. Foreign debt
b. Control population size
c. Increase food production
d. Expand industrial output

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9. Which is a wrong association?
a. Core: High-income countries
b. Periphery: Low-income countries
c. Autonomous: Extremely poor countries
d. Semiperiphery: Middle-income countries

10. The following are the reasons why poor countries depend on rich
countries according to the Dependency Theory except:
a. Colonization
b. Foreign debt
c. Export Orientation
d. Lack of industrial capacity

11. Which is NOT included in the policy framework in addressing

inequality in developing countries?
a. Moderating income inequality
b. Closing gaps in education, health and nutrition
c. Tackling prejudice, discrimination and social exclusion
d. Optimizing the campaign on rapid growth of population

12. Which of the following is/are the means in moderating income

inequality?
a. Adoption of minimum wage policy
b. Expanding opportunities for low-income households
c. Incomes of low-income households shall grow more than the average
d. All of the above

13. Which of the following policy measures does NOT support the closing
the gaps in education, health and nutrition?
a. Increasing the tax collection for these social services
b. Strengthening service delivery programs and modalities
c. Expanding access to opportunities for disadvantaged groups
d. Strengthening institutional capacity to deliver social services

14. Which is NOT a policy in addressing social exclusion?

a. Political space for inequality reduction
b. Expanding access to health opportunities
c. Broadening participation in public and political life
d. Combating discrimination by undoing prejudices and stereotypes

15. Equal opportunities can level the playing field so that the
circumstances of birth do not adversely influence an individual’s chances
to get ahead in life. Which is/are example/s of circumstances of birth?
a. Race
b. Gender
c. Rural/Urban location
d. All of the above
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Day 5
Let Us Enhance
I. In this activity, you will create the framework of your policy to
address social inequalities (income inequality, gender inequality,
racial-ethnic inequality, or global inequality). Study the sample of policy brief
below.

Sample of Policy Paper Framework Draft:

Policy Question: Policy Choice A: Policy Choice B: Policy Choice C:
What should our Pay people to vote Schedule local Increase spending
town do to improve elections on days on public messages
voter participation? when few people encouraging voting
work
Criteria 1: Legality No Yes Yes
Criteria 2: No Cost Neutral Probably
Cost effectiveness
Criteria 3: Yes Probably Yes
Inclusiveness (policy
affects the broadest
range of voters
possible)
Recommend? No Yes Yes
Source: https://politicalscienceguide.com/home/policy-paper/

Instruction: Select one social inequality form you are going to address. Create
your own policy paper framework like the sample given above. Supply the
table below with details.

Policy Question: Policy Choice A: Policy Choice B: Policy Choice C:

Criteria 1: Legality

Criteria 2:
Cost effectiveness

Criteria 3:
Inclusiveness

Recommend?

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II. Given you have finished your output in Activity 1, give your own score using
the rubric below. Tick columns that appropriately described your policy paper
framework.

Criteria Good Fair Poor

5 points 3 points 1point
Construct of The policy The policy The policy
Policy Question question question question did not
addresses one somewhat address one
social inequality
addresses one social inequality
form. social inequality form.
form.
Provisions in the The formulated The formulated The formulated
Policy Choices policy choices policy choices policy choices
are aligned to are quite aligned are not aligned
the policy to the policy to the policy
question and are question and are question and not
very significant. significant. significant.
Criteria The decisions The decisions The decisions
Decisions based on the based on the based on the
criteria are criteria are sort criteria are not
appropriate. of appropriate. appropriate.
Recommendation The The The
Judgment recommendation recommendation recommendation
is carefully is relatively is not carefully
decided based on carefully decided decided based on
the criteria based on the the criteria
decisions. criteria decisions.
decisions.
Overall Score:

What has to be improved in your policy paper framework?

Let Us Reflect
By and how you see the future of the world when analyzed according
to the social inequalities? Will it see the new horizon of equality? Or
the state of social inequalities will balloon and the imbalances cannot be
cured anymore? It is important to check the wealth concentration of the rich
to avoid monopoly of opportunities settlement. If that happens, when the
wealth is strongly attached to the rich, fewer opportunities shall only be
availed by the disadvantaged. The cycle of inequality will continue to
perpetuate across generations building more rifts between the rich and the
poor.

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 15
Let Us Assess
1. d
2. c
3. c
4. c
5. a
6. c
7. a
8. a
9. c
10. a
11. d
12. d
13. a
14. b
15. d
Let Us Practice Let Us Try
I.
1. d
1. First World, High-income country
2. b
2. Third World, Low-income country
3. Second World, Middle-income country 3. a
4. First World, High-income country 4. c
5. First World, High-income country 5. c
6. Third World, Low-income country 6. a
7. First World, High-income country 7. b
8. First World, High-income country 8. c
9. Second World, Middle-income country 9. c
10. Second World, Middle-income country 10. a
11. True
*Based on World Bank Country 12. True
Classification 2018 13. True
14. False
15. False
Answer key to Activities
 References

BOOKS:

Atienza, M., Arugay, A., Franco, J., Quilala, D. & Rico R. Understanding Culture, Society,
and Politics for Senior High School. Philippines: C & E Publishing, Inc., 2016.

Baleña, E., Lucero, D. & Peralta, A. Understanding Culture, Society, and Politics for Senior
High School. Philippines: Educational Resources Corporation, 2016.

Department of Education. Understanding Culture, Society, and Politics Teacher’s

Guide. Philippines: Bureau of Learning Resources (DepEd-BLR), 2016.

E-RESOURCES:

“5 Reasons Why We Need to Reduce Global Inequality.” World Economic Forum.

September 22, 2015. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/09/5-reasons-why-
we-need-to-reduce-global-inequality/
“A Policy Framework for Addressing Inequality in Developing Countries.” United Nations
Development Program. August 16, 2012. http://www.undp.org/content/dam/und
p/library/Poverty%20Reduction/Inclusive%20development/Humanity%20Divided
/HumanityDivided_Ch7_low.pdf
“Closing the Social Inequality Gap in the Philippines.” ChildFund International. July 22,
2013. https://www.childfund.org/Content/NewsDetail/2147489041/
“Measuring Global Inequality.” Portside. November 6, 2016. https://portside.org/sites
/default/files/styles/facebook/public/field/image/globalinequality2-11-6-
2016.jpg
“Policy Paper.” Political Science Guide. July 12, 2017. https:// politicalscienceguide.com
/home/policy-paper/

For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

Department of Education – Region XI

F. Torres St., Davao City

Telefax:

Email Address: lrms.regionxi@deped.gov.ph

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