The social gap represents a breakdown in society due to the existing differences in the standard of living according to different sectors.
Before entering fully into the definition of social gap, we are going to proceed to explain the etymological origin of the two words that give it shape:
-Brecha, on the one hand, is a term that comes from the French “brèche” and this in turn derives from the Germanic “breham”, which can be translated as “break”.
-Social, on the other hand, derives from the Latin word "socialis" which means "belonging to the community of people." It is the result of the sum of two clearly delimited components: the noun "socius", which is synonymous with "companion", and the suffix "-al", which is used to indicate "relating to" or "belonging to".
Social gap concept
The idea of a gap refers to a separation or an opening. Social , for its part, is that related to society: the community of individuals who interact with each other and who share the same culture.
A social gap , therefore, represents the fracture of a society . The group that is crossed by a gap is not homogeneous, but rather there is a certain distance between its members in certain aspects.
The concept of social gap is linked to social inequality . Among the group of people who have their own home, university studies and access to health services, and the group of individuals who live in precarious housing, have no academic training and do not have the possibility of being treated in hospitals or clinics, there is a crack This gap that separates both groups can be understood as a social gap: the government must try to eliminate this gap, improving the living conditions of the less fortunate and promoting equity.
The social gap appears when there is marked inequality.
Causes of inequality
There are numerous causes behind the social gap. However, among the most significant are some like these:
-Corruption, which translates, above all, into tax evasion and tax havens by those in high places. A situation that affects the country's economy.
-The existence of unfair tax systems that mean that those who have less continue to have to pay more than those who have a more buoyant economy.
-The privatization of public services is also responsible for the aforementioned gap, since it makes it difficult for people who do not have a solid economy to access them.
-The unfair distribution of land as well as investment in a country is another cause of the existence and growth of the social gap.
Measuring the social gap
It is possible to measure the social gap from different angles: it can be calculated according to income level , education , quality of employment or housing characteristics , to name a few possibilities. When social gaps are very marked, it is common for acts of violence to occur frequently, since society is disintegrated.
The reduction of social gaps, in this framework, contributes to the pacification of society and favors the development of an inclusive project, where all members of the community feel part of the group and work towards a common goal.