Family Socioeconomic Inequalities Between Majorities and Minorities Across the Globe

Family socioeconomic inequalities (FSIs) between majorities and minorities are the historical and crucial social issues across the world societies, including Bangladesh. In Bangladesh and abroad, research over the past decade shows that FSIs between the majority and minorities increased by 30–70%, which have adverse consequences in social life. Despite this, less is known about which factors are responsible to perpetuate and increase FSIs between majorities and minorities across globe, including Bangladesh. Drawing from structural social and cultural theories and relevant research, this chapter analyzes whether differences in community ethnic identity, power structure, lack of acculturation/cultural assimilation, and ownership of wealth/land property perpetuate and increase FSIs (e.g., educational, occupational, and income attainment) between majorities and minorities across the globe, focusing on Bangladesh. In so doing, narrative approach has been used for literature review. Using internationally recognized statistical tools (e.g., Chi-Squire test, multivariate regression model), literature review suggests that differences in sociopolitical status are the strong predictors of FSIs between the majorities and minorities across the developed and developing countries, including Bangladesh. Using structural social and cultural theories, this chapter argues that differences in sociopolitical status and unequal access in resources perpetuate and increase FSIs between the two cultural groups across the countries. Based on evidence in existing literature, further research and comparative policy-practice are discussed.