The Misbegotten Society: How Inequality Breeds Social Dysfunction

In the tapestry of human existence, there are threads that bind us together and others that tear us apart. One such divisive strand is the concept of the “misbegotten” — those deemed unlawfully conceived, ill-conceived, or contemptible by the standards of society. But what if we were to turn this notion on its head and examine our society itself through this lens? What if our entire social structure, with its gaping inequalities and systemic injustices, is the true misbegotten entity?

The Roots of Societal Dysfunction

Our society, much like Grendel in Beowulf, seems to be a descendant of Cain — cursed from birth, an outcast from the very system it inhabits. The misbegotten nature of our social order is evident in the stark inequalities that persist across class, gender, and racial lines. These disparities are not mere happenstance but the result of deeply entrenched systems that perpetuate disadvantage and privilege in equal measure.

Consider the realm of education, often touted as the great equaliser. The reality paints a far grimmer picture. Students from disadvantaged backgrounds find themselves falling further behind with each passing year, the gap between them and their wealthier peers widening like a chasm. By age 19, this disparity in academic achievement stands at a staggering 22.5%. It’s a damning indictment of a system that claims to offer equal opportunities but instead reinforces existing social hierarchies.

The Cycle of Disadvantage

This educational inequality is not merely an academic concern; it has far-reaching consequences that ripple through every aspect of life. Those who were eligible for free school meals — a marker of socioeconomic disadvantage — earn 11.5% less than their peers five years after graduation. It’s a stark reminder that the effects of childhood poverty extend far beyond the classroom, casting long shadows over future earnings and life chances.

The vocational education trap further exacerbates this divide. A whopping 75% of 16 to 19-year-olds from disadvantaged backgrounds opt for vocational education. While practical skills are valuable, this trend creates and perpetuates a class-based gap in education. It’s a subtle form of social engineering, channelling working-class youth into trades while their middle and upper-class counterparts pursue academic paths that often lead to more lucrative and prestigious careers.

The Workplace: A Reflection of Societal Bias

The inequalities that begin in the classroom find their echo in the workplace. Those from working-class backgrounds are 80% less likely to secure professional jobs compared to their middle or upper-class counterparts. Even when they do break through this barrier, they face an uphill battle, earning on average 17% less than colleagues from more privileged backgrounds.

This disparity isn’t just about numbers on a payslip. It’s about the crushing weight of expectations, the subtle biases that permeate workplace cultures, and the lack of social and cultural capital that can make or break a career. It’s about the working-class graduate who doesn’t know the unwritten rules of office etiquette, or the first-generation professional who lacks the network connections that their peers take for granted.

The Health Divide: A Matter of Life and Death

Perhaps the most damning indictment of our misbegotten society is the stark health divide between social classes. Those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to live in poor-quality housing, breathe polluted air, and lack access to adequate healthcare and nutrition. This toxic combination doesn’t just impact quality of life; it can be a matter of life and death.

The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare these health inequalities in the starkest terms possible. Death rates in deprived areas were significantly higher than in affluent ones, a grim reminder that poverty can be a death sentence in our so-called advanced society. It’s a modern-day plague that discriminates based on postcode and bank balance.

The Illusion of Meritocracy

At the heart of this misbegotten system lies the comforting myth of meritocracy — the idea that success is purely a result of individual talent and hard work. It’s a seductive narrative, one that allows those at the top to justify their position and those at the bottom to blame themselves for their struggles.

But the reality is far more complex. As Pierre Bourdieu argued, success in our society is as much about cultural capital as it is about raw ability. It’s about knowing the right people, speaking the right way, and understanding the unwritten rules of the game. It’s about having parents who can help with homework, afford extra tutoring, and provide a quiet space to study. In short, it’s about advantages that are inherited rather than earned.

The Misbegotten Politics of Austerity

The past decade has seen these inequalities exacerbated by misguided policies of austerity. In the name of fiscal responsibility, vital public services have been gutted, social safety nets shredded, and communities left to fend for themselves. It’s a misbegotten approach that has widened the gap between rich and poor, leaving millions struggling to make ends meet.

The consequences of these policies are far-reaching. From the rise in food bank usage to the crisis in mental health services, from the shortage of affordable housing to the underfunding of schools in deprived areas — the impacts of austerity have fallen disproportionately on those least able to bear them. It’s a cruel irony that those who had no part in causing the financial crisis have borne the brunt of the response to it.

The Way Forward: Reimagining Our Social Contract

So, what are we to do with this misbegotten society of ours? How do we begin to address these deep-rooted inequalities and create a fairer, more just social order?

The first step is acknowledging the problem. We must confront the uncomfortable truth that our society is not a meritocracy, that success is not solely determined by individual effort, and that the playing field is far from level. Only by recognising the systemic nature of these inequalities can we begin to address them.

Secondly, we need a radical rethink of our education system. Instead of reinforcing existing inequalities, schools should be engines of social mobility. This means investing heavily in early years education, providing additional support for disadvantaged students, and ensuring that all young people have access to a broad and balanced curriculum that doesn’t prematurely channel them into narrow vocational paths.

In the workplace, we need robust legislation to tackle discrimination and promote diversity. This isn’t just about quotas or tokenism; it’s about creating truly inclusive cultures where talent can thrive regardless of background. It means addressing the gender pay gap, promoting flexible working practices, and ensuring that internships and entry-level positions are accessible to all, not just those who can afford to work for free.

We also need a comprehensive approach to tackling health inequalities. This means investing in public health, improving housing standards, and addressing the social determinants of health such as poverty and unemployment. It means recognising that health is not just a matter of individual choice but is profoundly shaped by social and economic factors.

Finally, we need a new social contract that recognises our collective responsibility to one another. This means rejecting the politics of austerity and investing in our public services and social infrastructure. It means creating a welfare system that provides genuine security and dignity, not just bare subsistence. And it means building an economy that works for everyone, not just the privileged few.

Conclusion: From Misbegotten to Reborn

Our society, with its stark inequalities and systemic injustices, may indeed be misbegotten. But unlike Grendel, we are not doomed to remain outcasts forever. We have the power to reshape our social order, to create a fairer and more just society for all.

This task will not be easy. It requires confronting deeply entrenched power structures, challenging ingrained prejudices, and reimagining the very foundations of our social and economic system. But the alternative — allowing these inequalities to fester and grow — is far more dangerous.

The poet Seamus Heaney, in his translation of Beowulf, speaks of how Grendel was “spurned and joyless”. Let us not allow our society to become the same. Instead, let us work towards a rebirth, a transformation from a misbegotten system of inequality to one of genuine opportunity and justice for all. Only then can we truly claim to have a society worthy of our highest ideals.

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 & 11

Bob Lynn / 08-Dec-2024