life chances


life chances

the material advantages or disadvantages (e.g. material rewards, and social and cultural opportunities or lack of opportunities) that a typical member of a group or class can expect within a particular society. Originally a Weberian conception, and especially associated with WEBER's analysis of class and status, the concept has also been employed by DAHRENDORF (1979). Its focus is on inequality. Perhaps the most poignant of life chances is unequal distribution of health care, and associated inequality in life expectancy