WHOLE BRAIN LEARNING SYSTEM

OUTCOME-BASED EDUCATION

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADE

Understanding Culture, Society
And Politics 11/12

2
LEARNING QUARTER

MODULE WEEK 5

WBLS-OBE MELC-Aligned Self-Learning Module UCSP 11/12 0

 MODULE IN
UNDERSTANDING CULTURE,
SOCIETY, AND POLITICS
QUARTER 2
WEEK 5

Social Inequality (Part II)

Development Team
Writers: Clarisse C. Raval Mac Alwin Z. Tacang
Editors/ Reviewers: Rhonel S. Bandiola Flavel Felix T. Lorenzo
Richard A. Hapa
Illustrators:
Layout Artist: Bryll B. Atienza
Management Team: Vilma D. Eda Arnel S. Bandiola
Lourdes B. Arucan Juanito V. Labao
Imelda Fatima G. Hernaez

WBLS-OBE MELC-Aligned Self-Learning Module UCSP 11/12 1

 What I Need to Know

What this module is about?

This module is a SELF-PACED learning material for you to continue your studies
in the comfort and safety of your home.

This module presents knowledge about the factors causing social inequalities and how
they are being addressed. It contains interesting discussions that will guide you in
understanding these concepts. Activities are found in every lesson to test your understanding
and to help you retain better what you have learned.

Most Essential Learning Competency:

Explain government programs and initiatives in addressing social inequalities (e.g. local,
national and global)

What you are expected to learn?

After going through the module, you are expected to:

✓ identify beneficial ways to reduce the social inequality in a society;
✓ discuss the different government programs addressing the social inequalities ; and
✓ initiate actions in addressing the social inequalities.

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 DAY 1

What I Know

Activity 1.1 List Them Down

Directions. List down five (5) situations manifesting the stigma related to social
inequalities in your community. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.
1. __________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________
4. __________________________________________________________
5. __________________________________________________________

What is It

Introduction

Inequality is usually
associated to an unequal
distribution of resources and,
therefore, it is related to the gap
between the rich and the poor.
It also relates to an unequal
access to opportunities or
benefits from economic activity.

Source:https://socialconcerns.nd.edu/file/social-inequality-and-imbalance-between-
social-classes-picture-id942690094jpg-0

In the best case scenario, this unequal distribution is associated to talent or

effort; but, in most cases, it is the result of institutional structures that create social
barriers based on: sex, age, ethnicity, social status, among other variables that define
individuals’ initial conditions.

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 Among its documented effects, inequality can lead to social tensions,
discrimination, poverty traps, erosion of social capital, regional imbalances, and an
unfair access to justice. It also prevents people from obtaining fair benefits from
economic activities. Therefore, fighting inequality will open doors to opportunities that
are taken from groups traditionally excluded from development. Preventing inequality
can help promote social capital and stimulate the economy.

In this order of ideas, governmental and non-governmental efforts have taken

place in order to improve welfare by reducing inequality.

What’s In

Activity 1.2: What Do You Think?

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. During this time of pandemic, how does social
inequality affect the educational access? Explain your answers on a separate sheet of
paper.

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

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 DAY 2

What is It

Reducing Social Inequality

It is important to address the root causes of social inequality that calls for
promoting equal access to opportunities. Also, creating a policy and institutional
environment conducive to the reduction of inequality requires macroeconomic policies
and institutions oriented towards this goal. Lastly, in order to reduce inequality,
countries must address prejudice and discrimination and promote the participation of
disadvantaged groups in social, economic and political life.

1) Expanding people’s access to opportunity

- Ensuring equal opportunity is an aspirational and distant goal. It calls for giving all
children the same chances to advance their capabilities and to reap returns to their
education through decent jobs, regardless of where they live and the conditions in
which they were raised. There is broad agreement on the importance of ensuring
universal access to quality education, in particular, to expand access to
opportunity.
2) Strengthening social protection

- The value of social protection to shield individuals and families from shocks and
alleviate poverty has been broadly recognized. A system combining contributory
social insurance and tax-funded social assistance programs to cover
unemployment and disability benefits, child benefits, old-age pensions and access
to health care offers basic income security at all stages of the life cycle. The right
to social security is set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

3) Tackling prejudice and discrimination

- Discrimination remains a pervasive driver of inequality. Societies continue to make

distinctions based on ethnicity, race, sex and other characteristics that should
have no bearing on people’s achievements or on their well-being.

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 What’s More

Activity 2: Essay
“Inequality damages the whole social fabric of a society – increasing social
divisions, status insecurity and status competition. Do you agree with the statement?
Why or why not? Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________

DAY 3

What’s New

The Philippine government has been working for decades on poverty reduction
in local, national, and global settings. As in many other parts of the world, it is often
the underprivileged population that suffers the most. In the Philippines, many people
remain most disadvantaged, with discrimination and a lack of opportunities creating
serious barriers

Poverty and Inequality Reducing Programs (Philippines):

1) 4Ps Conditional Cash Tranfer

- The Pantawid Pamilyang

Pilipino Program (4Ps) is a
human development measure of
the national government that
provides conditional cash grants
to the poorest of the poor, to
improve the health, nutrition,
and the education of children
Source:https://pia.gov.ph/features/articles/1032222
aged 0-18.

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 - It was implemented to reduce
inequalities in opportunities in
education and reduce
intergenerational poverty.

Source:https://pia.gov.ph/features/articles/1032222

2) Community Based Monitoring System (CBMS)

- It is a tool to reduce
poverty and inequality at
the local level.

- Community-Based
Monitoring System
(CBMS) refers to an
organized technology-
based system of
collecting, processing
and validating necessary
disaggregated data that
may be used for planning,
program implementation
and impact monitoring at
Source:https://www.pep-net.org/cbms-philippines
the local level while
empowering communities to participate in the process. It involves the generation
of data at the local level which serves as basis in targeting households in the
planning, budgeting and implementation of government programs geared towards
poverty alleviation and economic. development. This system merges the
methodologies used in data collection activities of all national agencies, geo-
tagging, and the CBMS implemented by local government units (LGUs). It entails
a census of households undertaken by the LGU with the participation of the
community using accelerated poverty profiling system in the data collection,
processing, mapping-and analysis of data.

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 DAY 4

What is It

WINNING THE WAR ON INEQUALITY

By: Liam C. Lu

Social inequality is the burning issue of our time. There can be no equivocation about this.
The disparities in living conditions between the richest of the rich and the poorest of the
poor are now so extreme that no person can look upon this reality and not see it as injustice
of the worst kind.

In a series of articles published in Slate, economist Robert Frank attributed income

inequality observed across a wide array of occupations to two factors:
1) developments in technology that steepen increments in performance, and
2) a more competitive market for the services of top performers.

Frank calls this situation a winner-takes-all market, where the first-grade practitioners in
any given profession have large incomes relative to those of the second grade and lower.
An example Frank cites is the classical music market, where technology gives musicians
exposure to a larger audience. Since the costs to produce CDs of the best singer and other
less able singers are more or less the same, most consumers would opt to buy the material
of the best singer, increasing the income of the best singer relative to her other peers.

The factors themselves are not harmful, and might even be considered desirable traits in a
growing economy, but they lead to unintended consequences by amplifying income
inequality. The question now becomes: How can we mitigate inequalities without harming
opportunities for further prosperity?

The Philippines currently operates one of the most extensive cash transfer programs in the
world, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). This conditional cash transfer
program targets the poorest by providing families cash for accomplishing tasks related to
the health and education of their children. The program gives a leg up to destitute Filipinos
by providing them with supplemental income, and making sure that these families make
the necessary investments in order to break away from poverty.

The 4Ps is a successful way of leveling the playing field by making sure everyone gets the
same resources for social mobility. The program has so far helped reduce the poverty rate
among beneficiaries by 6.5 percent. The 4Ps also boost productivity by ensuring a healthy
and well-educated labor force. One study in 2016 even suggests that the 4Ps may play a
part in weakening clientelism by political bosses.

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 We must do well to protect such gains from the 4Ps. There has yet to be a law
institutionalizing the landmark social protection program, although there have been several
bills filed in Congress. By institutionalizing the program, the country can continue to
provide equality of opportunity to all without fear of disruption. If we are to see the
Philippines free of hunger and poverty, and an end to the exorbitant divergence in living
standards among Filipinos, we must start at this critical juncture.

Read more: https://opinion.inquirer.net/114371/winning-war-inequality#ixzz6fGDl1og0

WHAT I HAVE LEARNED

Activity 3: What Can You Do?

Given all that you now know about the effects of social inequality, it seems clear
that we should both monitor social inequality and commit to realistic but courageous
targets to reduce it. In your own little ways, how do you think can you reduce social
inequalities? Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.
1. __________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________

Assessment

Throughout human history, stigma and discrimination have marked the lives of
people who are considered different because of their ethnicity, sexual orientation,
behavior, opinion or cultural background. Create a slogan depicting the current
situation of our kababayans who were affected during the outbreak and how social
inequalities have affected them. Use a medium size bond paper for the activity.

Now that you are through with the module, CONGRATULATIONS!!! You are ready for
the posttest. Answer the posttest and find out how well you have gone through the module.
Compare your score with that of the pretest. If you got higher, that means that you have
learned something. GOOD LUCK!

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References
Baleṅa, Ederlina et. al. 2016 Understanding Culture, Society, and Politics (pp. 127-132).
Quezon City: Educational Resources Corporation

OTHER SOURCES:

https://www.a-id.org/2016/11/08/nine-strategies-to-reduce-inequality/

https://www.childfund.org/Content/NewsDetail/2147489041/

https://www.un.org/development/desa/dspd/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2020/01/World-
Social-Report-2020-FullReport.pdf

https://www.unescap.org/sites/default/files/04.Celia_Reyes.pdf

Answer Key

Assessment

Answers may vary

(Activity 3)
What I Have Learned

Answers may vary

(Activity 2)
What’s More

Answers may vary

(Activity 1.2)
What’s In

Answers may vary

(Activity 1.1)
What I Know

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 For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

Department of Education – Schools Division of Laoag City

Curriculum Implementation Division
Brgy. 23 San Matias, Laoag City, 2900
Contact Number: (077)-771-3678
Email Address: laoag.city@deped.gov.ph

WBLS-OBE MELC-Aligned Self-Learning Module UCSP 11/12