Highlight the case of Northern Ireland in reference to overlapping of social difference.

Northern Ireland is a Christian country but divided into Catholics and Protestants. The Catholics have a history of racial and social discrimination, they have been poorer compared to the Protestants. After the partition of the island of Ireland between Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

• Northern Ireland had Catholics in minority, the region was and continues to be an ethnically heterogeneous society.

• Apart from this heterogeneity, inequality with the Catholic community also exists, they suffer disadvantage relative to the Protestants.

• The Catholics were discriminated in the allocation of housing, electoral system and labour market.

1. In Northern Ireland, the Catholics are more likely to be poor compared to the Protestants. The Catholics of Northern Ireland have a history of social discrimination. As a result, both the community conflicts.

2. Hence overlapping of social differences creates social divisions and tensions.

3. This social difference continues if the people see themselves as Catholics and Protestants, it would be difficult to reconcile them.