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Social inequality in contemporary Brazilian society

Samuel Lucio

Westcliff University

COM101

Professor DiBello

December 14, 2024

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Social inequality in contemporary Brazilian society.

According to the third fundamental objective of the Federative Republic of Brazil,

"to eradicate poverty and marginalization and reduce social inequalities," one of the
nation’s main goals is to create an environment that is fair, equal, and balanced for all its
citizens. However, a large portion of the world's population experiences social inequality.
For example, meritocracy is the smoke screen behind which the unequal opportunities in
schools and workplaces are hidden. The same inequality affects interpersonal relations
and continues to perpetuate an unjust world where violence, school dropouts, unhealthy
living conditions, and hunger become everyday experiences for so many people.

Within this context, violence is one of the greatest challenges facing society and
the State. According to the Brazilian Public Security Forum, in 2020 the North and
Northeast regions accounted for 45% of all homicides in Brazil. In those same areas,
levels of extreme poverty is higher; this is clearly a correlation: the more socially unequal
regions, the more violence. This is because those same marginalized groups, often
deprived of quality education and the chance for decent work, more readily turn to crime
as a mode of survival or frustration; some even feel obliged to steal or carry out robberies
because they cannot otherwise afford to meet their basic needs. These behaviors are also
related to the lack of job opportunities and discrimination against socially disadvantaged
groups, which enter a vicious circle of exclusion and poverty.

Social inequalities deeply influence education, a topic of great importance. School

dropout rates in Brazil are alarmingly high and this has a very serious impact on society
as a whole. 41% of the people aged 14 to 29 years old have left school to work and help
financially in their households, according to the news outlet Carta Capital. This highlights
how poverty and inequality force many to choose work over education at a young age. In
the words of historian Sidney Chalhoub, "meritocracy is a myth that feeds inequality." In
a situation where opportunities are not equally distributed, meritocracy does not reduce
the gap between the rich and the poor; rather, it acts in ways that reinforce and further
entrench inequities.

With young people dropping out of their studies, they do undergo many problems
that might create a block in their holistic growth. This means that it may involve getting
deprived of better career opportunities and they are likely to take up low-paid or unskilled
jobs. As a result of this social exclusion, the level of vulnerability towards different
criminal activities or adverse behaviors is way too higher. Furthermore, according to
Ramos and Gonçalves (2024), the lack of family and community support—which often
goes together with dropping out of school—contributes to mental health problems such as
anxiety and depression, according to the paper. To address these issues, Brazil must
prioritize access to high-quality education for all. Countries like Finland have
implemented innovative educational systems that could serve as inspiration. For example,
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Finland emphasizes equal opportunities, teacher training, and student well-being,

ensuring that education is a tool for reducing inequality.

Besides education, it is relevant to conduct policies which directly touch the very
roots of inequality. The federal government, in cooperation with NGOs and private
institutions, may establish professional training programs in disadvantaged communities.

Public schools could serve as centers for these programs, offering free technical
courses in areas such as technology, healthcare, and services. Fields that are in high
demand. Courses for training should be available even at flexible hours, evenings, or
weekends to accommodate the busy schedule of some working students. Additionally, the
institutions should be well-equipped with laboratories, modern equipment, and
partnerships with industry people for on-job practical skills and remunerated industrial
attachments.

Another measure that would be very important is support for poor-living families
through psychological and social services. These could be facilitated through public
schools or community centers where professionals would provide counseling among
other forms of support. Programs should also provide transportation and meals for
participants to ensure such resources reach the target subjects.

Violence, being one of the direct results of social inequality, urgently needs
attention. Combating violence requires not only the use of police but also other means of
social policies that will help in the integration of such groups into society. Community-
based initiatives in education, job creation, and mental health can be pivotal in bringing
down crime rates and a sense of belonging among the vulnerable population.

Besides, intervention is required for hunger and precarious living conditions. This
will greatly be achieved through the expansion of Bolsa Familia and the provision of food
security facilities in the poorest areas. It also demands investment in basic sanitation,
housing, and health. All these will break the vicious circle, together with providing
education and jobs, which have kept poverty and inequality for generations.

Social inequality can be fought in Brazil only if efforts are made from many
perspectives. Better education, training, family support, and combat of violence and
hunger would see the country well on its way toward poverty and marginalization. It
cannot be done in one night, but it is work that, through the joint effort of the
government, civil society, and private organizations, can be done in order to make a more
just and equitable society. Not only is it a constitutional duty, but it is a moral
commitment that will be able to change the lives of millions of Brazilians.

Overcoming, one of the most important moves toward equity, justice, and
development which can be observed today, is part of the battle against social inequality in
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Brazilian society. These challenges require further action from government, the
community, and the private sector-either with regard to the persistence of poverty and
violence or to unequal access to education. Investing in quality education, professional
training, and social support systems would enable Brazil to break the inimical cycles of
inequality which it has become host to. Equal opportunity for all citizens is a
constitutional mandate but also a moral duty of each human being who aspires to live in a
decent society based on dignity, inclusive diversity, and sustainable development.

References

Grossi, M. G. R., Da Costa, J. W., & Santos, A. J. D. (2013). A exclusão digital: o reflexo da
desigualdade social no brasil. Nuances Estudos Sobre Educação, 24(2), 68–85.
https://doi.org/10.14572/nuances.v24i2.2480

Vaz, J. P. (2005). Desigualdade social e produtividade social no Brasil, 1960-2000 (Tese

(Doutorado). Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo.

Ramos, A. C., & Gonçalves, O., Junior. (2024). Abandono e evasão escolar sob a ótica dos
sujeitos envolvidos. Educação E Pesquisa, 50. https://doi.org/10.1590/s1678-
4634202450268037