Overlapping And Cross Cutting Differences


 
 
Concept Explanation
 

Overlapping And Cross Cutting Differences

Overlapping ard Cross-Cutting Differences: Social division takes place when some social difference overlaps with other differences. The difference between the Blacks and Whites becomes a social division in the US because the Blacks tend to be poor, homeless and discriminated against.

In India, Dalits tend to be poor and landless. They often face discrimination and injustice. This creates social divisions, when one Kind of social difference becomes more important than the other and people start feeling that they belong to different communities. If social differences cross cut one another, it is that groups that share a common interest on one issue are likely difficult to pit one group of people against the other. It means to be in different sides on a different issue.

Case of Northern Ireland and the Netherlands:  In the case of Northern Ireland and the Netherlands, people are predominantly Christian, but divided between Catholics and Protestants. In Northern Ireland, Catholics and Protestants have conflicts, while they do not have conflicts in the Netherlands. It is because in Northern Ireland, Catholics are poor due to historical discrimination. While in theNetherlands, Catholics and Protestants are aboutequally likely to be poor or rich.

Social Divisions due to Overlapping Social Differences: Overlapping social differences create possibilities of deep social divisions and tensions. Cross-cu ting social differences are easier to accommodate. Social divisions of one kind or another exist in most countries. e.g. they exist in big country like India or small country like Belgium. Even they exist in Homogeneous society. Germany and Sweden were once highly homogeneous societies, but now they are undergoing rapid change with influx of people or Migrants from other parts of the world. Migrants bring with them their own culture and tend to form a different social community. Thus, most countries of the world became multi-cultural.

 
 


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