OBSTACLES OF SOCIAL EQUALITY

Human beings come together naturally to form a society, since they have to live in the midst of others or they are either beasts or Spirits. Their coming together is for the purpose of combining their resources so that they could achieve their various needs. Their coming together to form various associations is an evidence of their being ontologically equal and as such all must recognize each other in the same light. Hence, they go ahead to form some smaller groups within the larger group who are charged with the duty of making sure that this ontological status of equality is maintained always. In other words, these group of people set aside will manage the resources and get them distributed among members of the group equally. Thus, everybody will be treated equal in the human society. This is what social equality is all about.

However, this principle of equality has not been practiced in the human society and in all the facets of the society. That is, there have always been some traces of social inequality which is evident in various situations where others are treated very well at the expense of others. In world today, the common good is not distributed in justice; while some are respected and are taken to be very important, some others are seen on the contrary.

This and many other examples are the traces of social inequality which has not only befallen the human society but has been an obstacle to the better growth and development of the human society. And wherever these acts of inequality are very obvious and nothing is done about it, they cause some turbulence in that society. Unfortunately the practice of social equality has been very difficult due to some strong natural factors. These factors are the obstacles to a reasonable existence of social equality in the world today.

One of the major obstacles of social equality is the preferential treatment people give to others. People of the same tribe, association or group are given special treatment at the expense of others. Again the personalities of people influence the treatment given to them which most often is at the expense of the others whose personalities are not heavy. This falls under the unequal recognition of people which is a clear sign of injustice. Also poor leadership can hinder social equality. The leaders in a particular group or society may be short-sighted and as such will not be able to order things very well so that social equality may exist; as the common good is not distributed equally and adequate attention not given equally to members. Another reason for the non-existence of social equality in the society is the mismanagement of resources especially by people at the helm of affairs. This is mostly seen in the society when public officers amass the public wealth to themselves alone or when they spend the resources on fruitless ventures. These and many others are the obstacles to of social equality.

However given the case that these obstacles though natural in a way hamper social equality, does it mean that nothing can be done about them? This question is very necessary because the effects of social injustice are dangerous to the human society as experience has shown over the years and even at the present.

Arguably, these factors may be natural. But then its naturalness hampers the good of the society. And because all natural things are not good, these factors should be suppressed and then the contrary be held unto, so that social equality will be in existence. For if these obstacles are not annihilated and social inequality exists no matter the area of the society it will definitely destroy the peace existing there. We all are created equal and should be treated as such. Anything on the contrary is a call for conflict, squabble, chaos, uproar and anything we can conceive of. At least the experiences so far is a lesson for us all and all those who are against the existence of social equality.

                                         Nwanyanwu Chris