Almost half of Tajiks have experienced the consequences of social inequality, one third of respondents believe that fighting corruption is necessary to overcome social inequality. This is evidenced by the results of a sociological survey conducted by Alisher Gardonshoеv, the graduate of the CABAR.Asia School of Analytics.
Throughout the world, including in Tajikistan, social inequality is increasing, leading to social tension. This phenomenon should be considered by scientific discussion in order to address and reduce the intensity of social inequality. So far, this topic has not been properly studied by domestic scientists. For this reason, it is important to study and analyze the problem of social inequality.
Social inequality in recent times is a form of social stratification in which individuals, social groups, strata, classes are at different levels of vertical social hierarchy and their needs and opportunities are met differently. People have different access to material and spiritual resources, rights and freedoms, and privileges.
Social inequality is an objective and legitimate phenomenon, as long as it does not go beyond its limits and artificial increase. Moderate inequality promotes healthy competition and the efficient use of socio-economic resources. In this case, people can assess their abilities. All social institutions and organizations, society as a whole, strive to protect social inequality, as without it there can be no new relations and connections. State power should not interfere with the economic freedom of citizens and at the same time try to prevent the growth of social inequality, although this is a very difficult task.
To do so, the State must not use its administrative capacity and coercive instruments, but economic methods, such as proper tax policies, social programs, financing and the like. The influence of State authority on the life of society should be exercised only to ensure a decent life for citizens and to protect their rights and freedoms.
There are several types of inequality and discrimination in the modern world, such as racial inequality, economic inequality, age inequality (ageism) and gender inequality.
The author of the article, together with Doctor of Sociological Sciences, Professor, PhD Shonazar Shoismatulloev, Associate Professor Firuz Mirov and PhD student of NASRT (National Academy of the Sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan) Adiba Nurmatova, conducted a sociological study through an online survey, the results of which are presented in this article.
The purpose of this research was to study public opinion regarding the attitude of citizens to the problem of social inequality in the Tajik society.
The research involved 400 respondents over 18 years old from cities and villages in the regions of Tajikistan. The study participants were selected on the basis of information from the Agency on Statistics under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan by random selection.
The research analyzes the following socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents:
age – over 18 years old;
gender – women and men;
sample size: n = 400
Study sample
In accordance with the methodology of the study, a sociological survey was conducted among 400 citizens over 18 years of age in five regions of Tajikistan. Of the total number of respondents, 10.9 per cent are residents of Dushanbe, 3.4% of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO), 20.7% of the Districts of Republican Subordination (RRP), 18.9% of the Sogd and 18.9% of the Khatlon Oblast.
In the sociological survey, 52.2% of men and 47.8% of women were interviewed.
Respondents of different ages over 18 years of age participated in the study. Respondents aged 18-24 years 31.0%, 25-34 years 25.8%, 35-44 years 25.1% and over 45 years 18.1%.
Respondents of different educational levels took part in the sociological study, 42.1% of the total number of respondents had secondary education, 9.0% specialized secondary (college, vocational school), 26.4% incomplete higher education (bachelor), 3.6% higher education (specialist 5 years), 11.9% higher education (master), 3.9% had a degree (PhD, Doctor of science). Also 3.1% of respondents refused to answer.
To understand the public awareness about social inequality, participants were asked what they meant by social inequality. It is noteworthy that more than one third of respondents (39.3%) do not know what social inequality is. One fifth of respondents (21.4%) refer to social inequality as income inequality. 20.7% of respondents interpret social inequality as difference between members of society. Also by social inequality respondents mean:
Lack of access to material and spiritual benefits of society - 12.4%
Injustice in society - 11.6%
Unequal opportunities for human needs - 11.4%
Life of the population in different conditions - 10.1%
When the opinions of all people are unequal - 5.7%
Violation of human rights - 5.7%
Discrimination (by race or ethnicity, sex and gender, persons with disabilities, language, etc.) - 5.4 per cent
Unfair division of labor - 2.1%.
According to 49.6% of respondents, the main cause of social inequality in Tajikistan is low income. Also, one third of respondents (31.3%) consider corruption as one of the causes of social inequality. More than one fifth (28.4%) cited unequal distribution of property as a cause of social inequality. 24.8% - lack of business literacy and 23% - lack of profession.
It is clear from the research that most respondents consider economic factors to be the main cause of social inequality. At the same time, interviewees identified other causes of social inequality, such as parochialism, laziness, external conditions, fate, various reasons, social policy, ineffective social work, inability to properly use income, etc.
Nearly half of the respondents (40.3%) said that they had experienced the consequences of social inequality at least once in their lives. Almost the same percentage of respondents (44.2%) believe that they have never faced social inequality. At the same time, 15.5% of respondents were undecided.
One third (31.0%) of respondents who experienced social inequality, experienced abuse of official position. A quarter of the respondents (23.8%) had economic difficulties. One fifth of the respondents (19.0%) faced the problem of division of labor. 26.2% of the respondents refused to answer.
Social inequalities exist in all societies, but there are ways and means to alleviate the problem and prevent it from escalating into social conflict. For example, there are economic measures that can reduce the intensity of social inequality, such as raising the minimum wage; social measures: free education and health care, pension and unemployment benefits, Tax measures relating to the volume and availability of goods, income and social taxes or inheritance taxes (such a tax existed in India in 1964-1966 at 40%).Almost half of the respondents (43.9%) said that social inequality could be overcome, 32.6% of respondents did not believe it, and 23.5% found it difficult to answer.
To overcome or reduce social inequality, one third of respondents (24.1%) believe that corruption must be reduced. One fifth (20.7%) of respondents opted for economic development as a measure to reduce social inequality.
Also chosen as overcoming or reducing social inequality:
Compliance with the law and human rights - 17.2 per cent
Increase in the literacy rate of citizens - 17.2
Job creation - 15.5 per cent
Increase in citizens' financial literacy - 8.6
Hard to answer - 17.2%
From the results of sociological research and the analysis of scientific materials, it is clear that in order to reduce social inequalities in society, it is necessary first of all to pay attention to the professional self-determination of adolescents and youth. By choosing suitable professions, crafts and achieving a high level of professionalism, citizens will be able to achieve a decent standard of living and social status on their own. The quality of citizens' education and the enhancement of their legal awareness and legal culture contribute to reducing social inequality.
The State must help the needy and vulnerable groups of people to find decent work and adequate income, protect the rights of persons with disabilities and adopt programs and public policies and laws to reduce social inequality.
It is the effective social policy of the State that contributes to reducing social inequalities and their negative consequences.
Often, instead of taking appropriate measures to reduce social inequality, interventions are used that change the form, not the substance, of the problem. However, social inequality is a serious problem affecting all aspects of modern society. There are no universal recommendations and proposals to address social inequalities. It must be recognized that social inequalities are increasing and need to be addressed from within.
In general, the sociological research makes the following recommendations for reducing social inequalities:
Increase the minimum wage;
Strengthen the fight against corruption;
Ensure universal access to quality education;
Improve the progressive scale of taxation;
End local segregation;
Increase public investment in formal and informal economies of care.