UNDERSTANDING THE INEQUALITY PROBLEMATIC - FROM SCHOLARLY RHETORIC TOTHEORETICAL RECONSTRUCTION

Research in the area of inequality has not been accompanied by the dev elopment of inclusive theory. Despite a growing knowledge base, we are lacking a comparably strong understanding of how gender race, and cla ss operate simultaneously. In part because of specialization within th e discipline, sociologists' call for the analysis of gender, race, and class is largely rhetorical. Any effort to remedy these limitations r equires a return to fundamental assumptions. Especially important in t his regard is that researchers explore mechanisms that (re)produce ine qualities and then integrate these insights into a more comprehensive and dynamic theoretical frame. To this end the author develops and off ers a theory of inequality processes bared on two central claims: embe ddedness and social relations. By reconceptualizing gender race, and c lass inequality as a set of embedded processes that exist only in rela tionship to each other avenues for development in sociological theory, research, and practice become more apparent.