...The American Dream is a national ethos of the United States in which freedom includes the promise of prosperity and success. In the definition of the American Dream by James Truslow Adams in 1931, "life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement" regardless of social class or circumstances of birth. The idea of the American Dream is rooted in the United States Declaration of Independence, which proclaims that "all men are created equal" and that they are "endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights" including "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”. Yet, it is still legal in 29 states to be fired for just being gay. In 33 of the 50 states of the United States of America, one can be fired for being transgendered. These states do not have legal protections for members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Community (Solmonese, 2009). So does the “American Dream” only apply to “first class citizens”? This paper explores if the Employee Non Discrimination Act (ENDA) would protect employment decisions, which should be based upon a person's qualifications and job performance, not sexual orientation or gender identity (Solmonese, 2009). For over 50 years when there has been a case of an American being denied employment or promotions for reasons that were unrelated to their skills in the workplace, Congress responded by passing laws which were aimed at designing a system...
Words: 3185 - Pages: 13
...stigma and discrimination at alarming rates across numerous areas of life (Cruz, 2014; Grant, Mottet, & Tanis, 2011). This population is met with systemic discrimination in women’s shelters that refuse to help male-to-female transsexuals (MTFs), attaining surgery because many states...
Words: 1218 - Pages: 5
...In the 21st century, society has made great strides in recognizing and accepting individuals from diverse backgrounds. However, despite these advancements, members of the LGBTQ+ community still face significant disparities in healthcare. Discrimination, lack of understanding, and stigma have created barriers to quality healthcare for individuals in these groups, leading to negative health outcomes and perpetuating a cycle of inequality. It is imperative that healthcare providers and institutions address these disparities to ensure that all patients receive equitable care regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. It’s not a surprise that LGBTQ+ people face disparities in both physical and mental health compared to their heterosexual...
Words: 1417 - Pages: 6
...One of the largest and fastest growing minority groups in the United States consists of Mexican-Americans. The Mexican American history is riddled with discrimination, injustices, deportation, ethical cleansing, and suffering (Bravo, 2005). Many of the individuals among this group have been identified as being a particular concern among psychologists. Throughout the United States, there is a population of 20.8 million Hispanics in the United States, 13.3 million are that of Mexican American origin, 2.2 million are Puerto Rican, 1.1 million are Cuban, 2.8 million are Central and South American, and 1.4 million among other Hispanic groups (United States Bureau of the Census, 1991) Overall, working with this culture it is important for the psychologist...
Words: 1909 - Pages: 8
...Fight against repression, marginalization, stigmatized identities and quest for equality has been a part of human history. Rapid growth ideology has impacted country in two critical ways. Firstly, it has lead to the exclusion of poor and the vulnerable communities from the development discourses and secondly, violating of human rights against those who question the current form of development emanating from crony capitalism. One of the noteworthy developments to counter the majoritarian hegemony in the current scenario is that of identity formation to safeguard their basic rights. Vulnerable communities on the basis of exclusion and discrimination have started organizing themselves on collective identities. Dehumanizing experiences faced by...
Words: 1053 - Pages: 5
...Homosexuality in the American Prison System For many, one’s sexualtity or gender expression has an outwards, tangible and extremely present effect on a person’s life. This is especially true if they identify under an umbrella of sexuality or gender expression that does not conform to or match the overall consensus on “normal sexuality” or majority sexuality. Those under the LGBT umbrella within the prison system have a unique set of challenges they must face compared to their fellow heterosexual or cisgender prison mates. Even further, trans people and individuals find themselves in a unique situation because they are often assigned to a prison based upon their birth sex, but not their gender identity. While homosexual inmates have been found to statistically be already at a higher risk for sexual violence and sexual abuse while in prison, transgender inmates have even higher risks when assigned by their birth sex; a trans woman who had undergone sexual reassignment surgery being placed in a men’s prison, for example, can face an extreme amount of sexual violence compared to if she was, instead, assigned to an all female prison. There is a need for action to be done for LGBT youth, but also inwards by the prison system to improve its rules, standards and practices when dealing with LGBT prisoners and homosexuality in general. To begin, one must look at the state of how lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans inmates hold up against their heterosexual inmates. Due to homosexuality...
Words: 1382 - Pages: 6
...a serious problem that is the age discrimination between women and men. In 1939 to 1979 white women made less than 60 % as much as white men. The 40% gape difference decreased these days, but there is still a wage gap between men and women. There are many claims behind the reason of wage discrimination. George F. Will (2000)” Lies, Damned lies and …..” claims that the main cause of wage gap is omen’s decision to establish a family, so that force them to make comprise for raising their children and that leads them to work in flexible jobs with flexible ours that permit them to enter the fast track.. Another article by Allen Goodman (1999) “A New Campaign for Pay Equity” argues that the main reason behind low wages for women is sex discrimination. She supports her point of view by saying that the gender gap between male and female accountants is 201$ a week and bartenders is 48$. Finally, Lester C. Thurow “1981” claims that the system of promotion is the main reason behind the wage discrimination. Thurow says if men discriminate against women they are lowering their own income so there is no sex discrimination. Thurow conclude that the decade between 25 and 35 is when the person succeed in his/her life is the same decade when women think of establishing a family and leave the labor force or become a part – time worker. The system of promotion and skill acquisition extaract an enormous life time price during the decade of 25 to 35. The lack of experience of women and the system...
Words: 2385 - Pages: 10
...------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- Assessment 3 ------------------------------------------------- Working Across Difference With Transgender ------------------------------------------------- And Transsexual Individuals ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- Student Name:------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- Clare J Clayton | ------------------------------------------------- Student Number:------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- S2847347 | ------------------------------------------------- Date Submitted: | ------------------------------------------------- ...
Words: 3787 - Pages: 16
...between an individual’s multiple identities and the complimentary and interlocking oppressions that result from the product of these identities working in conjunction. Race, class, gender, and sexuality merge together to create a unique experience for individuals affected by multiple oppressed identities at once. In Harriet Jacobs’ retelling of her experiences, she succinctly explains in a short anecdote the reason that intersectionality emerged: “the fair child scarcely [had] one day of her life...
Words: 1284 - Pages: 6
...Women, Constitutions, and Buddhism Gender inequality exists in most of the world’s religions. In Buddhism, many Buddhists have come to assume that being born a woman represents a lower status and a lesser spiritual potential (French & Nathan, 334). The stereotype of a female rebirth as lower than a male has historically resulted in discriminatory attitudes toward women and has been correlated with obstacles to women’s education and ordination. Id. Buddhist women, including nuns, have faced harsh discrimination by Buddhist institutions in Asia for centuries. However, the Buddha and even the Dali Lama himself have accepted the role of women as Buddhists nuns and acknowledged the possibility “of attaining all four stages of the religious path to liberation.” Id. at 344. This reflection paper will focus on the role of women in Buddhism and its effect on the law and also speak on the influence of Buddhism in the Constitutions of Bhutan. The Buddha taught a path to enlightenment and liberation from suffering for all sentient beings and people in every walk of life, to women as well as men, without discriminating class, race, nationality, or social background. For those individuals who wished to dedicate themselves fully to the practice of his teachings, he established a monastic order that included both a Bhikshu Sangha (an order of monks) and a Bhikshuni Sangha (an order of nuns). The first step in becoming a Buddhists nun (or monk) is the going forth or leaving the household...
Words: 956 - Pages: 4
...of diversity in the United States along with the various proportions of diversity. I researched on my own cultural identity and ways in how it may affect the relationships I have with others. I have a better understanding on the effects of discrimination and prejudice in society throughout history; based on an individual or a group regarding their culture, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation or age as well as the effects still occurring in society today. Learning what diversity is and the many dimensions of diversity such as a person’s gender, religious beliefs, race, ethnicity, and many more groups has made me realize how diversity has shaped society in the United States. I grew up learning that although a person may look or act a little differently to treat them just like anyone else with the respect like I would want to be treated. The information learned on other cultures, and their values, beliefs, morals of other groups has fascinated me as well as the history of prejudice and discrimination these different groups has had to deal with. Learning my family history was very interesting as I never really thought much about how my family came to settle in a small town in Wisconsin. By the history giving by my parents and grandparents I learned that the small town I grew up in is basically where a small group of Germans settled in when they came over to the United States. My grandfather’s great- grandfather came over to the United States from Germany and opened...
Words: 1496 - Pages: 6
...The transgender people are still facing different kinds of discrimination as they try to enter a country through the necessary channels of the immigration department. The paper will explore how members of LGBT movements are marginalized based on their identities as they pursue the means to seek citizenship in a country. The article that written by White explores the challenges that the queer migrants faced as they enter the country based on a campaign titled ‘Let Alvaro Stay’. White explores how queer people are deported since they are undocumented, especially in Canada and the United States. The queer and transgender people are facing a lot of problems, and they are not able to access employment opportunities as well as better health care...
Words: 893 - Pages: 4
...immigrated to the United States. They have had to deal with dual labor markets, environmental justice issues, affirmative action, redlining, double jeopardy, institutional discrimination, reverse discrimination, and glass ceilings and it is sad to say that some of these practices still continue today. Hispanic groups both colonized and immigrated to the United States. Over half of the current United States was explored during the 1500’s by Hispanics. This is how the colonizing began in southwestern region from Alabama to California. The immigration to the United States is still underway as more and more Hispanics cross the United States and Mexican border every day both legally and illegally. They do this in search of a new life however, they are met with racism, prejudice, segregation and discrimination that they didn’t expect once here in the United States. One of the biggest areas of discrimination is in the job market. Hispanics are finding that there is a dual labor market. This is where they work traditional jobs at a lower wage because they are considered uneducated or undertrained. Thus helping employers save money by not having to pay benefits to the Hispanic workers. Because Hispanics are taking the lower paying jobs there is a condition call redlining that also occurs. That is where lenders will discriminate against people trying to purchase home. This is where they will push minorities into purchase homes in racially changing neighborhoods. Lender would state that they...
Words: 724 - Pages: 3
...Discrimination on sexual orientation at the workplace Name Sexual discrimination at the workplace Introduction Discrimination based on sexual orientation is among the leading forms of discrimination in today`s contemporary world. Sexual orientation refers to one`s psychological processes, instincts and sexual activity, as relates to members of the same sex, opposite sex or both. Homo sexual are people with sexual orientation towards people of the same sex; gays for males and lesbians for females. Bisexuals are those that are attracted to both men and women. In these definitions, it is important to underscore the fact that lesbians and gay people often have bisexual dispositions. Transgender persons are also victims of discrimination. These are people who are born with complete physical characteristics and features of one sex, but often feel emotional and psychological belonging to the opposite sex. As such a male feels and acts like a female, and vice versa. Many people, including those with sufficient understanding in psychological and social issues argue that trans sexuality is the root cause of homosexuality and bisexuality Morrow et al 19). Many studies in homosexuality associate the state of trans gender to complex emotions and instincts that cross over to attraction to members of the same sex. There are other claims that it is an effect of socialization, this one is not naturally born into it. Trans sexual have often...
Words: 3832 - Pages: 16
...continue progress in its pursuit of knowledge. Each day brings the human race one step closer to a brighter, more vibrant future. In the past seventy years, the human race has made tremendous strides in a plethora of fields. Within this plethora of flourishing fields lies the field of human rights. Since 1945, the field of human rights has prospered so rapidly that present day human rights differ immensely from the human right laws of 1945. The definitions and institutions of human rights have evolved so greatly that a whole new world has opened up. Through decades of determination as well as struggle, these definitions and institutions of human rights have made vast advances towards the inclusion of basic human rights to all. Between the United Nations, nongovernmental organizations, and citizens of our world, the fight for equality has brought about a successful change. The concept that every person is entitled to certain, inalienable rights simply by the virtue of their humanity is relatively new. The year of 1945 marks not only the historical end of World War II, but it also indicates the propulsion of human rights into the universal scale. The combined extermination by Nazi Germany of over 11 million Jews, Gypsies, communists, Polish, homosexuals, and mentally and physically disabled stunned the world. In her essay Hunt notes, “ As the war ended, revelations about the scale of the horrors deliberately perpetrated by the Germans shocked the public,” (Hunt, p. 201). She continues...
Words: 1782 - Pages: 8