...Although Latin America has faced many social, political, and economic issues within the last three centuries, inequality remains one of the most important, historical, and omnipresent aspects of the region’s culture. As Europeans took over Latin America during the time of colonization, they implemented many elitist social structures that have held strong and are evident today (Harris). Income inequality is the most visible and greatest disparity that the region faces; yet inequality between gender, ethnicities, and education remain strong and significant problems with a necessity for improvement. Inequality of wealth and disparity of power and influence are Latin American’s greatest curses and are at the root of many of the developmental, social, criminal, and political problems that continue to plague the region (De Ferranti). Since inequality has pervaded into every feature of Latin American society, it is important to measure inequality accurately in order to obstruct the causes of the discrimination and prevent new ones from beginning. The Gini Coefficient is an effective way that people indicate the inequality of a country by measuring a frequency distribution of income or wealth. Using the "Gini Index" of inequality in the distribution of income and consumption, the researchers found that Latin America and the Caribbean, from the 1970s through the 1990s, measured nearly 10 points more unequal than Asia, 17.5 points more unequal than the 30 countries in the Organization...
Words: 3191 - Pages: 13
...Gender Inequality Gender inequality is a very real thing in the world we know today. It exists all around the world, even in our America. Gender inequality exists between our average American males, and American females. There are plenty examples of inequality in the workforce and even in homes. Is it not often in the media, around your family, and possibly in yourself you see inequality? Usually it is indeed females that receive the most inequality but there are cases where men are treated unequally. Women in society are often seen as the softer, smooth, and not as physical gender. When in truth this is not as it really is, women can be just as hard, rough, and physical as men. But often women are paid less for the same thing as men, and just because they are women! They are not eligible for certain things, for example – the military where women are not allowed in combat situations. And often women are seen as unequal period in the workforce, therefore some people see it that women should stay in the home working there cleaning, cooking, and other things. But in fact more than 50% of homes in America are dual income. But as mentioned gender inequality is not just in America but indeed affects the whole world. One main area that you may see this in the world would definitely be the Middle East. Due to most people’s religion’s there and just their natural beliefs, women are treated very, very poorly. Also in sports around the world, women are treated differently. Did you...
Words: 484 - Pages: 2
...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...
Words: 1530 - Pages: 7
...Women in the workplace: Obstacles they may never overcome For decades, women have been striving for gender equality in the workplace. Since then, there have been several laws that have been passed to project and protect gender equality. One of these laws is the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and this law prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Although these laws are enacted, many places of employment do not implement these laws. Because of this, gender equality in the workforce has been very delayed, and women are still struggling for equality. The feminist movement has been ongoing for several decades, and although the movement has made tremendous strides towards total gender equality in the workplace, there are some barriers that will never be overcome such as salary differences, gender stereotypes, and anatomical differences. What is Discrimination, and how does it affect women in the workplace? The legislation defines discrimination as treating one person in a less favorable way than another person (“overview…”). In the workplace discrimination is evident in all areas of work. Discrimination can range from unequal pay to sexual harassment. More specifically discrimination can be based off of 9 grounds: gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race, and membership of the traveler community (“overview…”). Women in particular often experience this discrimination when trying to obtain a job...
Words: 2204 - Pages: 9
...gender is a society concept of how men and women are expected to act and behave. In American culture males are most likely to be observed as masculine role with strength and females to a way where they are associated with passivity, subordination and nurturing. In today’s modern society is easy to outfit an infant boy with blue and a girl with pink. It is amazing to realize that is not always been this way, but until the beginnings of the 20th century, “boys were more associates with pink and girls with blue illustrating how socially constructed these associations rally are”. Some major agents of gender socialization...
Words: 1593 - Pages: 7
...In many cases, a well-intentioned liberal society can place system wide constraints on groups and limit their freedom. Oppression can be the result of a few people’s choices or policies that cause embedded unquestioned norms, habits, and symbols These societal rules can become a “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...
Words: 2635 - Pages: 11
...America as a Perceived Meritocracy: Structure, Stratification, and Life Chances at a Glance America as a Perceived Meritocracy America, like most other countries in the world, has a system of social stratification in place, which is the division of society into groups arranged in a social hierarchy. The most formal form of stratification is that based on wealth. Because of this and other devices of stratification, there is an unequal distribution of wealth and power among the members of society, known as social inequality (Ferris & Stein, 211). Though this social inequality is very real and Americans have to face it every day, this bitter reality seems less unpleasant as the idea of the American Dream is brought up. The idea of the American Dream is something which the majority of Americans clings to and is able to seek hope within. It is an idea that says as long as one works hard enough and has enough passion, work ethic, and gusto that they, too, can achieve a higher status in society than the current one in which they reside. Americans often bring up a spectacular example of this so-called dream, Oprah Winfrey, highlighting the fact that she went from immense poverty to wealth, and if she can do it, then so can anybody else. However, what these hopeful, blindsided American fail to realize is that Oprah Winfrey is the exception, not the rule. To assume that the American Dream is within the grasp of each American pursuing it would mean that America runs as a meritocracy...
Words: 1175 - Pages: 5
...Wealth inequality was not something that occurred overnight. It established itself over several decades of mistreatment of immigrants by people from the west, and people of power from the west supporting and “okaying” this mistreatment. This is how inequality is produced. Immigrants, however, were not the only ones being mistreated, women of every social class and race were also regarded in this way. People of power in the west have always been men. In this type of atmosphere where masculinity thrives, immigrants are seen as naive and women are inferior and weak compared to men. They made these perceptions of specific groups as acceptable in society, and used these perceptions to manipulate these groups into cheap labor that they can profit...
Words: 1998 - Pages: 8
...Research on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean Read the following articles in GGR: pp.151-230 These readings review the status of research in women's and gender studies in countries in Latin America and the Caribbean After I read the articles, I see women from Latin America and the Caribbean are facing similar issue with women from Asia and Africa. Sure that women’s right has come a long way and women role have change from only working in the houses or farms to working outside of the house support their families’ financial, but still they are suffer from gender inequality, poverty, and violence. Women are often treated as subordination to men in many ways like in economic or social life and when they want to work they are disadvantaged by childcare and housework responsibilities. To me, it seems like Latin America and the Caribbean special in Puerto Rico and Cuba have made more progress in women’s right than in Africa or Asia. Violence against women is still a serious problem in Latin America and the Caribbean. High rate of women have been a victim of sexual, physical, or psychological violence by partners just because they are women and seen as the weaker sex, even though there is law to protect women but usually get overlook especially in cases of domestic violence. I am also agree with Marta Nunez Sarmiento that there are more studies on women than men and in gender studies we should look on men perspective too. Cuban women have gained women equal in economic...
Words: 366 - Pages: 2
...How Women Were Affected by World War 2 World War II marked a big turning point for women and their roles in society. Before World War II begun, most women were seen as housewives and stay at home mothers and only that. Of course they filled other jobs and took on other responsibilities, but in most cases it would be men. The culture was that men fit the jobs better and would do a better job, and that wasn’t really questioned very much originally because that is how it had always been. Women were not going to be seen as equals with men in America unless a drastic change was going to occur. That change would have almost had to force women into the workforce and obliged their involvement with American jobs outside of housework. That drastic...
Words: 1094 - Pages: 5
...used to describe both the legendary castled town where King Arthur held his court, and America by the end of John F. Kennedy's presidency. In the same way, there are a number of similarities to be found between America during John F Kennedy's presidency, and Camelot. However, there was one defining difference between the two. While legends frequently speak of how King Arthur and his people got to enjoy the benefits of equality and wealth, history books tell only of how John F Kennedy had to work tirelessly during his presidency to bring about these things in America. According to legend, the ancient city of Camelot, was the place King Arthur set up his court;...
Words: 791 - Pages: 4
...Gender Inequality in the Workplace Christian Johnstone DeVry University Gender Inequality in the Workplace A woman, who had spent 23 years working her way up the ranks at a Vermont plastics company, sued the company for wage discrimination. The woman began her career as a secretary at the company and eventually made her way to high-level management. The company hired a male to replace her position when she retired, offering him a starting pay of $10,000 more a year to do the same job she had been doing. The male replacement ended up not working out, so the company asked the woman to return to her previous position. However, the company still didn’t offer her the same salary that they had offered her male replacement. (Lister, n.d.) Examples that are similar to, and far worse than the one mentioned, continue to persist in this country. Women continue to be blatantly discriminated against, and held back from deserved promotions while their male counterparts rise through the ranks in corporate America. Women have made great strides in the last few decades toward gaining workplace equality. However, in a continued effort toward moving forward, there needs to be a promotion of empowerment for women and giving them the autonomy needed to manage their own lives. The reality though, is that the phenomenon referred to as the glass ceiling does exist. “The ‘glass ceiling’ can be described as an ‘invisible, but impenetrable barrier which prevents women from reaching senior positions...
Words: 2905 - Pages: 12
...Socially Constructed Gender Inequalities The socially constructed differences between the sexes in American society have severely infringed the rights of women in the workplace. Mary Blair-Loy’s piece “Competing Devotions: Career and Family among Women Executives,” indicates that a socially constructed family devotion schema defines women as having to stay at home in order to care for children, husband, and household, and therefore women are discouraged by society to hold a job. In the piece “An Overview of Sex Inequality at Work,” Padavic and Reskin further explain that women who are in the job market are excluded from certain male dominated jobs and are often paid and promoted less than male coworkers. Padavic and Reskin’s piece as well as Blair-Loy’s agree that the inequalities found in the workplace, including limited prospects for promotion of women and sex differences in earnings, directly limit the social opportunities of women and keep them subordinate and dominated by men. The constructed roles that men and women are expected to play in our society also affect social institutions such as the home, where women are stereotypically expected to be caregivers, and men are expected to be the breadwinners. Women face a very unfair challenge when deciding what role to play in their adult lives. They also face unwelcome pressure by society to choose one of two schemas that are revealed in the piece by Blair-Loy. In her work, she defines a family devotion schema, and...
Words: 1838 - Pages: 8
...Alexis De Tocqueville believes that African Americans and White people should be equal, however when rights were given to the African Americans there was still a divide between the two races. Racial inequality did not only happen in Alexis De Tocqueville’s era, however it occurred from the Civil Rights Movement and current time. Police brutality occurs a lot in recent years because of racial tension occurring between a white police officer and an African American male. These occurrences happen in the low-income neighborhoods because crime rates are higher. African American people are in lower income neighbors because of racial inequality in workplaces and society. In society, African American are hired far less than any other minority individual in this country. Poor conditions forces more African Americans to be pushed out of cities creating gentrification in poor neighborhoods. These actions occurring, such as the system pushing African American down and police brutality creates anger from Black Communities. These tension between the two races created the Black Lives Matter movements. These protest occur all over Americans, which provides insight that racial inequality goes against Aristotle’s view on happiness in democracy. A group of minority protest against the system creates a clear vision that our government and democracy creates a division from the African American community and the White community. A unity needs...
Words: 1064 - Pages: 5
...2014/11/21 Professor Radzikowski Gender Inequalities Our society is plagued with many inequalities, these inequalities range from education to wealth, yet I believe one of the most prominent forms of inequality today is aimed towards gender. Gender inequality refers to unequal treatment or negative perceptions of individuals based on their gender. As of 2012, the World Economic Forum ranks the United States 22nd in terms of gender equality out of 135 countries. America often employs Gender stratification causing the ranking of the sexes in such a way that women are unequal in power, resources, prestige, or presumed worth. For my essay I shall explain the three most prominent forms of gender inequality: Childhood, society and professionalism. Gender inequalities have large-scale consequences for society, as long as we continue to perpetuate gender inequalities men and women will never be considered equal. In the 1800’s during America’s farm economy, women enjoyed and lived equally with men on a family. Farm men and women typically did different jobs men did heavy field labor, woodwork, repairs and worked with large edge tools. In contrast women preformed food preservation and clothing preparation, a farm family could not survive without the skilled labor of both men and women, and in this sense men and women's contribution to the economy of the family farm was equal. Furthermore children were raised and nurtured by both men and women, there were no prescribed roles or expectations...
Words: 3051 - Pages: 13
