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Objective: the aim of this paper is to test a sociology of welfare; that is, two analytical tools are argued to gain an understanding of the sociological content of welfare: 1) the identification of the forms of social precariousness existing in Mexico; 2) the idea of the continuum of inequality of violence and its visibility. Methodology: in defending their theory, the authors use analytical and qualitative sociology as a methodological perspective, where classical concepts of sociology function as reflexive tools to promote the elaboration of a qualitative, critical and normative thinking around the forms of precariousness and their opposite, welfare. Results: presented in two sections: 1) The emergence of violence as a structure for the precariousness of life, a section that reflects on the increase in the forms of violence and their importance when addressing the issue of well-being; 2) Analysis of the forms of social precariousness, which proposes a matrix of the main forms of precariousness that actually exist in Mexico, where the elements of the continuum of inequality of violence are identified. Conclusions: it is proposed that a qualitative sociological knowledge of social precariousness and violence, of the forms and dynamics of social action is necessary to understand the substantive meaning of welfare; useful knowledge to guide public actions in favor of welfare in democratic societies, especially to test innovation in the design of social policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]