Question

How does overlapping of social differences lead to social division? Why is it easier to accommodate cross – cutting differences than overlapping differences?

Answer 1

Overcutting and overlapping of social differences is essentially a concept that has to be seen within its specific context. When social differences are overlapping, two social groups who are pitted against each other on one issue, will oppose each other on other issues as well. On the other hand, when social differences are cross-cutting each other, two social groups might be oppositional in their views on one issue, but they might share interests on another issue. According to the textbook, the Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland have overlapping social differences. That is, their social differences overlap across several issues and they are likely to be in oppositional camps regardless of the time and issue at hand. Since Catholics in Northern Ireland tend to be poor and discriminated against in general, they will be opposed to the Protestants, who are generally well to do, regardless of the matter at hand. However, in the Netherlands, Catholics and Protestants are not necessarily divided into the two groups of 'haves' and 'have nots' ('rich' and 'poor'). As a result, the economic and political interests of one Catholic might not always be in congruence with the economic and political interests of another Catholic - they might belong to different economic classes altogether unlike what is the case among the Catholics of Northern Ireland. This is precisely the difference between overlapping and crosscutting social differences.

Answer 2

Overlapping social difference applies to the situation when one social difference grows more compelling, due to the influence of another. As against, the cross-cutting social difference is the circumstances when a social difference is negotiated with another.

Overlapping of social differences commences to social division because when one class of social disparity becomes more prominent than the other and citizens start believing that they relate to separate communities. Overlapping differences formulate the circumstances of profound social divisions and stresses.

It is accessible to accommodate cross-cutting variations than overlapping disparities because in Cross-cutting distinctions it is hard to put one group upon the other because here these associations may partake public interests as well as diverse viewpoints on different matters.