...communication because this ideal stems from our engagement with others through our bodies that we use as signs to communicate. Race, gender and social status were impacted as well from body politics. The text states, Social constructs or social construction, is an idea or phenomenon that has been constructed by people in a particular society or culture, through communication. Social constructs exist because people act and agree to follow certain conventions and rules. The body is used as signifiers, which represents the body and images of actions mainly when discussing race. All these concepts were covered in chapter 3 and introduced global communications’ role in body politics....
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...United States and Its diverse faces. America is today turning into a country of the world. It did not and never will belong to any particular race, ethnic group or class of people. The nation of America has has been a land of immigrants. The Book begins by saying that the native Americans too were “immigrants” to this country only thousands of years earlier. All the different cultures that have come together to form this country of freedom a vibrant and colorful one. In the chapter on diversity in the united states in the book Race, ethnicity, gender and class, the author talks about how America as a whole is an integration of various groups of people. He also mentions that the diversity of America is ever growing and the acceptance of this change is slowly increasing as well. There are many categories, groups and class, people of America can be divided into based on what a specific group experience, a patter of disadvantages or inequalities, on how they appear physically and of what social minority group they come from (p.16). A minority group can face various disadvantages or inequalities at places or work or social gatherings where equal right or services are not provided to every group. This is known as stratification and has a powerful impact on the distribution of resources in America (p.18).Karl Marx , Max Weber, Gerhard Lenski and Patricia Hill Collins are all sociologists with different opinions and meanings for social inequality. For example, the author talks...
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...Gerardo Contreras Gene Lee Econ203 March 1 2013 Income Inequality in America Dissemination of income in America has been a major topic of study by many institutions as well as scholars. Statistics have been gathered from numerous sources, which show that the problem of income inequality has significantly risen since 1970. Income inequality was stabilized for many years. Although income inequality has increased amongst the elite countries in the world, America suffers from this problem the most. Research shows that cause of the wide gap in income inequality has not been decided by gender, which by the way has decreased in America in last twenty years. The Income inequality gap has also not been because of race, or the gap been amongst middle class and lower class, however it has increased. The main reason exists and lies amongst the middle class and highest wage earners, with the disparity being extra dangerous as an individual’s income increases. It is stated that upward redistribution can be held accountable for forty percent of the forecasted Social Security deficit in the following century. Research states that in 2011 it was established that the highest earning one percent of families multiplied about 275 percent after federal taxes and income transfers over a period of 28, compared to a gain of just fewer than 40 percent of the 60 percent in the middle of America's income distribution. Additional researchers found that the trend has continually been ongoing since...
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...and the way that they define themselves is what make up the values that are shared by society. Diversity simply defined is a variety of differences. A uniqueness of each cultures individual beliefs and behaviors. The United States is a nation of a most diverse culture and race of people in the world. Gaining a better understanding of the diversity in the United States can be accomplished by taking a closer look at how some of the groups of people are identified. According to, (Schaefer, 2012), there four types of minority or subordinate groups in the United States racial, ethnic, religious, and gender. Racial groups are the grouping of people that are set apart socially by their physical differences color being the most obvious. Other differences are at the mercy of what society will deem as different or obvious. Racial groups are designated more by their physical differences rather than their cultural differences. Ethnic groups are groups set apart from others because of their national origin or distinctive cultural patterns (Schaefer, 2012). Ethnic groups depend on where you are from geographically. Religious groups are associated with a religion other than the dominate religion. The Protestants outnumber the other religions as a group while the Roman Catholic makes up the largest minority religious group. Gender is the fourth group. Gender is another attribute that creates dominate and subordinate groups (Schaefer, 2012). Even though the female population exceeds the male population...
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...“restrictive structure of forces and barriers that immobilize and reduce a group or category of people” (Heldke & O’Connor 2004:530). “Class refers to endure and systematic differences in access to and control over production of goods and services, as well as the resources for provisioning and survival” (Acker 2006: 442). “Gender, refers to the socially constructed differences between male and female and the beliefs and identities that support difference and inequality, is also present in all organizations” (Acker 2006:444). “Race, refers to socially defined differences based on physical characteristics, culture, and historical domination and oppression, justified by entrenched beliefs” (Weber 2001 :10).This paper will analyze and discuss the issue of oppressions in relation to class, gender, and race using W.E.B. Du Bois’ thoughts on race, gender, and class. Also, the intersectional theory according to Patricia Hill Collins will be used for analyzing and discussion in regards race, gender and class. The work of W. E. B. Du Bois (1868-1963) has recently become recognized for its significant contributions to sociological theory (Zuckerman 2004:3). Although Du Bois himself was overwhelmingly concerned with the scientific perspective of "value free" sociological research, later social theorists have found his views on race to offer one of...
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...This essay will examine the world view analysis and prospective on race and racism. Race over the last century has evolved as a worldview, the body of prejudgments and of human differences and group behaviors that has distorted our way of thinking about the issues of race and race relations. Racism begins as myths or beliefs about diversity of human species and the abilities and behaviors of placing these people into homogenized categories. Race has always been a pervasive component of thoughts and experiences shared by Americans and the rest of the world. (Fredrickson, 2005). It has been intrinsic of how Americans and the rest of the world see and try to find explanations the overall functioning of the world, while the meaning or reality of racism has not been explained. The issue of race throughout the United States and the world has been used as placing a classification of social identity that has effected how we were influenced by others through interactions. Race can be determined as being a part of the so called “ natural order “ of things that we as humans think as mere variations ( physical ) often used as evidence of the human existence , that is justified in the mistreatment of the human family. Race and racism in the United States and the world is about inequality of worth and status. Racism is the ideas that are based on human inequality due to differences that becomes phenotypic. These differences of racism among society worldwide are structured toward humans...
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...Omi and Winant (1986) argue that race is a social concept. They refer to Max Weber in explaining that “racial conflict” is not a result of biological factors, but social and political reasons (as cited in Rothenberg & Mayhew, 2014, p. 14-15). Indeed, if we look at the world today, there are many conflicts among ethnic ethnic groups that seem physically indistinguishable, for example Jews and Arabs, Indians and Pakistanis, and the like. Omni and Winant further argue that racial categories and their meanings are defined by specific contexts of society and history and that they vary over time and between different societies. They point out that in the United States, there exists a rigid line between “whites” and “nonwhites”; whereas in countries such as Brazil, there exist many “intermediate” racial categories (as cited in Rothenberg & Mayhew, 2014, p. 14-15). In some societies, the categorization itself is different. For example, according to Navarro (2012), whereas the US Census categorizes people by race, Latinos identify themselves more in the context of cultural characteristics, such as language and customs. According to Omni and Winant, one of the first things we notice when we meet someone is their race. From which, we draw preconceived notions of who the person is. They further add that in modern times, film and television have played a vital role in defining and disseminating racial stereotypes of minorities (as cited in Rothenberg & Mayhew, 2014, p. 16-17). In...
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...In the ever modernizing global economy we have today, there are many issues which are applicable now that were not in the past. One of the biggest issues today, which managers of a workplace must take seriously, is diversity. A big reason why this is applicable in our times is because everyone is able to work today. While not until 60 years ago, blacks were not able to hold real jobs. Also, women have become much more involved in the workforce than in years past. In this paper I will show explain what diversity in the workplace is, discuss some examples of diversity in the workplace, and how managers must take action to manage diversity in today’s economy. Diversity refers to human qualities that are different from our own and those of groups to which we belong; but that are manifested in other individuals and groups. Dimensions of diversity include but are not limited to: age, ethnicity, gender, physical abilities / qualities, race, sexual orientation, educational background, geographic location, income, marital status, military experience, parental status, religious beliefs, work experience, and job classification. Diversity as a concept focuses on a broader set of qualities than race and gender. In the context of the workplace, valuing diversity means creating a workplace that respects and includes differences, recognizing the unique contributions that individuals with many types of differences can make, and creating a work environment that maximizes the potential of...
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...Kristy Nguyen JOUR453 Spring 2014 The Meaning of Race in a 21st-Century America As far as America has come in the battle for equality and improving civil rights, the topic of race still looms over our nation and sparks many different debates. The division of the 21st-century isn’t as obvious as it used to be in the past, there are no “Whites Only” sign to direct us and the simplistic black-white concept of race no longer exists. The issue lies much deeper than we could ever imagine and its fast-paced change is making it difficult to comprehend. The increase in the multiracial population further adds to the complexity of this topic and our ideas on race. That is why Center for American Progress located in Washington, D.C. decided to tackle this matter head-on by opening an in-depth panel discussion entitled “The Meaning of Race in a 21st-Century America” to dig into America’s history to find the origins of race, address race and ethnicity today as the nation’s demographics are shifting, and emphasize the importance of the U.S. Census to accurately represent the people of this. Featured panelists included Rinku Sen, President and Executive Director of Race Forward: The Center for Racial Justice Innovation; Julie Dowling, Associate Professor, Department of Latina/Latino Studies, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; Roderick Harrison, Senior Research Fellow, Civic Engagement and Governance Institute, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies; and Hilary O. Shelton,...
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...society. Looking at the way the views of females are it is very one sided. When think of a the prostitute (but not her client), pregnant teenager (but not the baby's father), yet when the you hear of a young lady being rape the first thing that does come up in mind is not what he did but more how she put herself in this situation. A woman’s sexuality has been the topic of much review, where if a woman has multiple partners and she is given a different names that that of a man. Of course, any discussion of this type is complicated by racial factors too, but on average, women earn significantly less than men. (Mitchell 428) What she found was that she was different from Sartre because he was a man and she was something else. A year in America and extensive interviews with African Americans and both American and French women, convinced de Beauvoir that in Western societies white men had defined for themselves a central role, leaving black men and all women the position of alterity (Mitchell 429) African American social philosophy: Racial Justice has always been...
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...internet and non-internet resources on why do we as a society still need Affirmative Action and why isn't Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) sufficient to prevent workplace discrimination? The articles will take a look at affirmative action in admissions to public colleges, and the workforce, as well as why even with federal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws that protect people against sexual harassment and discrimination on the basis of age, disability, race, sex, marital status, pregnancy, breastfeeding, family responsibilities, sexual preference, medical record, criminal record, trade union activity, political opinion, social origin, religion, and nationality or ethnic origin, workplace discrimination still occurs in today's society. This paper will also look into potential pros and cons of diversity management. Keywords: equal employment opportunity, affirmative action, discrimination, diversity In order to see why we still need Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity in our society today, I believe we need to look back at why we needed them in the first place. The term "affirmative action" was first introduced by President Kennedy in 1961 as a means to addressing discrimination that had persisted despite civil rights laws and constitutional guarantees (Brunner & Rowen, 2007). It was designed to be a temporary remedy to level the playing field for blacks and other minorities on education and jobs. The thought was affirmative action would end once...
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...essay Question: is gender equality ever possible? Question analyze: key words are gender equality, ever, possible. Gender equality is defined as men and women have same rights. Ever is an absolute term. First mean point: it is possible as there are obvious improvement in social area today compare to the past. However, there are improvements does not mean that gender inequality can be totally eliminated. (India gender parity index has improved from 0.464 in 1975 to 0.918 in 2010. ) Second mean point: gender equality is possible as there are measures to protect woman’s rights. However, this is only for those developed country, for those third world countries the sexism still exists, and it is hard to solve due to economic and political problems. Third mean point: the low education level of female in some part of the world make a vicious cycle, thus women unable to gain their rights. (87% of Afghan are illiterate, in India 44.5% of girls are married before the age of 18.) Fourth mean point: it is impossible to eliminate the gender discrimination as it against some races’ religion and culture. (in Africa people believe only women undergoes genital mutilation is pure, and those who does not are less value. In Malaysia, due to their religion, women have to respect their husband and cover most of their bodies. ) Fifth mean point: it is impossible as men and women are born different physically. Women have to give birth to child. In conclusion, gender equality can never...
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...what race, gender, or religious background people have, we all must come together to unite our once promised union and move forward. The goal that Barack Obama intends to resolve is the coming together of all people to see the problem as a whole, rather than focus on the small judgmental flaws of the individual. A big factor in Obama’s speech is race. He speaks of the people having much focus on race and diversity within the union, that people are missing the big picture. Obama believes that the people must attack this problem now, instead of setting it aside for a future outbreak of the situation. Racial conflicts are still a big factor in America. The past issue of segregation and slavery has caused people to lose focus of problems that will have an effect on the union as a whole. Barack Obama believes that people of all races can overlook the past racial differences and further the unity of a more perfect union. Caucasian and African Americans will see that discrimination is in the past. Americans will help provide future generations with opportunity, and will come together to benefit all of America as a perfect union. I agree with the vision and message of the Obama speech, “A more Perfect Union.” I agree with the fact that people today in America are still held back with the past issues of racism and segregation. There is still a diverse community within the union of people, only stuck on the racial aspect. There is a diverse vision of every race in America...
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...any other race, you are given a label, regardless, because that’s how the world works by labeling things, places and people. The world feed us things that help us understand who we are and others around us. In “The Fallacy of Race: A Post-Racial America," Otto F von Feigenblatt argues that a complex construction of a new understanding for America is the idea of race from cultural studies, which the study consists of the labels for white and black than with phonotypical traits as skin color and facial features. Von Feigenblatt states that, “Nevertheless the resulting labels were useful in some cases in order to predict behavior and culture....
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...America and Diversity Kathy McGowan ETH/125 February 2, 2014 Shanna Birkholz-Vasquez America and Diversity Over more than two hundred years, the United States has grown from a fledgling nation to one of the most powerful countries in the world. The principles which established this nation attracted many different groups to its shores. Principles of freedom of religion and speech bought refugees from different ethnic groups. While other groups came to seek their fortune in the “land of opportunity”, one group came to the America under duress. Each group found prejudice and discrimination. As the years passed and the country continued to grow, the barriers of prejudice and discrimination were beginning to crumble. The different groups began to accept the differences that accompanied the diversity of the nation. These changes bring up a question. Has the United States finally overcome our fear of diversity? If we examine the cultural background of Americans, we will discover many are of European descent. Many of our ancestors came looking for religious freedom. Others came to settle debts they had in their homeland. Some citizens are descendants of slaves who were sold to affluent citizens and plantation owners. The circumstances around people in these groups arrival resulted in prejudice and ethnocentrism. Prejudice was not just directed toward African Americans during the 19th century. German, Irish, Polish, Chinese and Italian immigrants found themselves...
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