...within this medium, exists inconsistencies that have caused a massive population of incarceration. The most obvious inconsistency is that the majority of the prison population is composed of minorities. Furthermore, the main reason for this mass incarceration is due to the inequalities that minorities face in this country. In this literature review, an attempt is made to take a more in depth look into different elements of inequality through the views of various authors. It will include how inequality exists in employment, education, and the justice system, while identifying the link between these elements and incarceration. In addition, it will also...
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...cases known as Brown vs. The Board of Education. This case proved that segregation of children in public schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Supreme Court made one of the biggest decisions that became known in the twentieth century to remove the Separate But Equal law that...
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...SOCIAL PROBLEM Educational Inequality: A Social Problem in the U.S. SOCIAL PROBLEM Educational Inequality: A Social Problem In the U.S. Introduction: The goal of education is to make sure that every student has a chance to excel, both in school and in life. Increasingly, children's success in school determines their success as adults, determining whether and where they go to college, what professions that they enter, and how much they are paid. Why is that getting a good education is dependent upon a person’s socioeconomic status? Education is a right in the U.S, but it seems to be accessible for the privilege. Why do we have inequality in education? Let’s look at different views explaining some possible causes or contributors to this issue. “Social inequality is the expression of lack of access to housing, health care, education, employment opportunities, and status. It is the exclusion of people from full and equal participation in what we, the members of society, perceive as being valuable, important, personally worthwhile, and socially desirable. Economic inequality is expressed through the unequal distribution of wealth in society. This has obvious ramifications in terms of the unequal distribution of what that wealth may purchase; housing, health care, education, career prospects, status - in our society, access to all these things is largely dependent on wealth. Because of the nature of our society - post industrial, competitive, capitalist, commercially driven...
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...Social Issues Position Paper Racial and Ethnic Inequality Amongst Blacks : A Economic Problem of Society Tameekah Myers SOC 1000-Comtemporary Social Issues Thesis Statement In this essay one will come to a better understanding of racial and ethnic inequality and why it exists. It is evident that Inequality amongst certain races is evident however it also linked to a variety of perspectives that account for the continuation of racial, ethnic discrimination and inequality. Inequality amongst Races and Ethnicity ▪ What is race and ethnicity? ▪ Should race exist ▪ Inequality among races Racism against African Americans ▪ Slavery ▪ Racial Profiling ▪ Stereotypes ▪ Causes and Effects of Racism Social status and race inequality ▪ Social/Racial classification ▪ Education inequality ▪ Labor/income Inequality Laws and Policies ▪ Affirmative action policies ▪ Equal Opportunity Policy ▪ Civil Right Act The social stance of American Minorities Now ▪ African Americans Conclusion In this essay one will come to a better understanding of racial and ethnic inequality and why it exists. It is evident that inequality amongst certain races is evident; however, it also linked to a variety of perspectives that account for the continuation of racial, ethnic discrimination and inequality. The story of race is intricate and may challenge how we think about human differences and race as...
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...suffered by minorities for years (Hudson). In response, President Kennedy issued Executive Order 10925 in 1961, creating a Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity and mandating that projects financed by federal funding would “take affirmative action” to ensure that hiring and employment practices were free of racial bias (Hudson). Two more executive orders in 1965 and 1968 prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, and gender, giving the federal government the power to enforce this prohibition (Hudson). However, in current times, affirmative action programs have suffered setbacks. Affirmative action in education has been abolished in Texas by court order, and in California and Washington it has been terminated by public referendum (Bybee). Currently, the main question concerning affirmative action is whether or not it is the best way to combat inequality. Also: What groups should or should not have affirmative action? When will the problem be “solved” and affirmative action no longer necessary? While the United States is divided between 49% of citizens supporting affirmative action programs and 43% opposing them, many Americans have a difficult time even defining what affirmative action is (Gallup 2003). The term ‘affirmative action’ includes laws, policies, and programs designed to reduce or eliminate inequality (Hudson). Inequality is also a difficult term to define, but the fact that significantly fewer women and minorities enjoy high paying...
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...All of these things considered, we have a major social problem on our hands: the inequalities among and within our public schools, and the major disadvantage this places on minority and low-income groups. In order to accurately suggest a policy to repair the cracks in our system, it is important to first understand the issues more in-depth. As Storer et al. poignantly state in “Moving Beyond Dichotomies…”, “…class, race and place are intricately bound to one another and a singular focus on any of these factors is an insufficient explanation for educational outcomes” (18-19). In other words, race, class, and location affect each other, and combined, they all play a crucial part in education. As an initial example, Storer et al. point to the...
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...escape the public school system through a lottery for a chance admission to a charter school. Guggenheim lays the blame for the failing public education system at the feet of the various teachers unions, and makes a plea for the public in general to get involved in reforming the system. By analyzing Waiting for Superman through a sociological perspective, issues of inequality will be explained using the theoretical approach of the conflict perspective. Waiting for Superman begins with the director, David Guggenheim driving past the Los Angeles public schools as he takes his own children to a private school. Guggenheim starts to explain the problems with public education, in regards to how it is failing our society in general, and that the only way for the average family to escape it, is luck. The documentary follows five children, four are minorities from lower income families and one is white from an affluent area of California. All five face the same problem, a public education system that views them as numbers that feed the system. They are not considered for their individual talents or shortcomings. They are all doomed to follow a predestined track, developed by a bureaucracy that favors the welfare of the teachers over the students. Guggenheim presents to the audience charter schools, an alternative to public education. These schools are not controlled by the normal bureaucratic processes and teachers unions. They are free to hire and promote based on performance...
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...teaching takes place from the viewpoint of whites. Moreover, educational materials have traditionally either excluded racial and ethnic minorities or presented them in an unflattering way (Farley, 2012). To remedy this, a true multicultural approach to learning is needed. This means the cultural bias that weaves its way through the entire educational institution needs to be addressed. Thus, the current stance on educational tracks, bilingual education, textbook development, and testing needs to be reevaluated (Farley, 2012). Likewise, the influence of teacher expectations in regards to learning ability and achievement must be dealt with. Addressing Inequities in Education As previously mentioned, America is undoubtedly a culturally diverse nation. People from all different walks of life make this country their home. However, society has been slow to...
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...Social Inequality essay plans for Part b) 30 mark question Evaluate the usefulness of sociological explanations of ethnic inequalities.(30) Evaluate the view that society is institutionally racist (30) Adapt according to question given Introduction Ethnic inequalities are still significant in the UK – give a few examples. Suggest some explanations e.g Racism, Institutional racism, social class of ethnic minorities (Marxism), welfare dependency (New Right). This essay will identify and assess these explanations. AO1 Define types of Racism e.g Barker and new racism, institutional racism – McPhearson report on murder of stephen lawrence – racism in met police. Jenkins suggests recruitment to jobs is more word of mouth and disadvantages ethnic minorities. Modood 1994 28% of african caribbean people surveyed said they felt they had been refused a job on grounds of race. AO2 There are many government acts such as Race relations acts which should prevent discrimination AO2 However because racism is implicit (hidden) now it can be difficult to prove in court. AO1 Marxists such as Westergaard and Resler argue that race is a distraction from the real issue which is social class. It is capitalism which disadvantages certain groups and ethnic minorities are more likely to be in lower classes. AO2 However this ignores the existence of racism in society e.g in education where black boys have the highest exclusion rates in school. AO1 Another marxist explanation by Castles...
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...Social stratification- is systematic inequalities among groups of people 1. Wealth and income (social class) 2. Racial inequality 3. Gender inequality. Equality/inequality -Ontological equality -Equality of opportunity -Equality of condition -Equality of outcome Why inequality exists? Inequality in wealth and access to resources is generated by three processes: 1.) Unequal division of labor and/or low mobility across occupations. 2.) Surplus or abundance of resources 3.) The desire to accumulate wealth and assets Types of social mobility: mobility refers to movement between different position within a system of social stratification 1. Horizontal 2. Vertical 3. Structural 4. Exchange Why the class structure is changing -Massive growth in inequality between the rich and the poor. Called the “Great U-Turn” -Shrinking of the working class, with some growth in middle class and working poor. -Growth of poverty and the “underclass” -Rate of poverty is increasing twice as fast as population growth Why income inequality is increasing -Largely due to the increasing concentration of wealth at the very top of the income distribution. consequences of income inequality -High levels of income inequality reduces social cohesion, overall health, overall wealth, and education -Increases crime, debt, and political polarization Social construction of race -Instead, social scientists argue that “race” is socially constructed. Racial...
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...Some of the lessons and insight provided through school finance, school choice, and disciplinary policies and reform has included: equity in school financing, establishing stability in school financing, and targeting schools who need it and valuing marginalized mentalities and norms. The Promise Neighborhoods Program, with a slight change, would be a great remedy in helping to solve the inequalities and inequities in the public school system. It addresses the multi-faceted nature that contribute to inequalities in the educational system by first identifying that race plays a role in the outcome of children and youth in low-income neighborhoods. The program also addresses establishing stability and a more permanent solution, rather than a bandage solution, in helping the public schools that it serves by helping to develop the local infrastructure of systems and resources for public schools in order for them to sustain and scale up proven, effective solutions across the broader region beyond the initial neighborhood. The program also addresses the problems in zero-tolerance policies because it helps to build a comprehensive continuum of cradle-to-career solutions in both educational programs...
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...Privilege, power, and status are the reigning forces of structuralism and constructivism. The majority group that interprets the behaviors, perceptions, and intersectionality of a minority group through the framing lens of social stratification has achieved dominance. With that dominance comes power and privilege. Minority groups since the beginning of colonialism in the U.S. have been trying to be apart (seen as equal) or separate themselves (pluralism) from the dominant group. However, there comes a time when once must conform to survive, regardless of the obstacles they may encounter. The conception that African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Asian Americans, all minority groups, are created equal in the land of opportunity...
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...Jeanette Cepin Power & Inequality In The Workplace Term: Summer 2015 Professor: Bonnie Johnson Final Reflection Essay Wouldn’t it be great if we lived in a society that with hard work, dedication, and discipline we can accomplish the so called “American Dream”? Some have been able to accomplish this dream, but many still struggle and continue to work non stop in order to reach a dream that is almost impossible to achieve. The United States of America, “the land of the free and opportunities”, hasn’t really been the land of the free, with opportunities for all. During my 7 week summer course, I was able to have a better and deep understanding of how the United States is structured to benefit a certain group while denying others opportunities. How those in power acquired their power, work to maintain it through inequality, how these inequalities can a lot of times be correlated, and how can we work together to make a difference. In order to understand inequality we must first identify what are the factors that contribute in creating it. Social class, which can define one’s position in society, contributes to a form of conflict. Social class divisions have always played a prominent role in America. These class distinctions inflict unfair on all Americans. The idea of social class has been a central concept in determining the opportunities a person is capable of having. People from different socioeconomic backgrounds live different lifestyles as well...
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...DISPARITIES Health disparity is defined as inequality in health or the gaps in the quality of health care across races, ethnic and socioeconomic groups. Health disparities can also be defined as the significant differences between one population and another. The Minority Health and Health Disparities Research and Education Act of 2000 describe these disparities as differences in the overall rate of disease incidence, prevalence, morbidity, mortality or survival rates. Disparity in health is significant among some income, racial, and ethnic groups in America and is still expanding. Many Americans are in poor health and do not receive the best medical care. While these problems affect people of all groups, the challenges are especially acute for racial and ethnic minorities. When there is element of racism, poverty, and problematic community environment converge greater overall threats to health develop. The most powerful causes of health and health disparity are social and economic determinants or the community conditions for health. There are many reasons why disparities in access to of health care exist in our society. A lot of low income people in America cannot afford health insurance and as such they neglect their health. Some people cannot afford money to buy medication. Because these people did not have insurance they lack a regular source of care. African Americans compared to white minority groups are less likely to seek medical care on a regular...
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...The Benefits of Diversity in Higher Education Vanessa David de Campos June 30, 2014 Outline I. Introduction a. Thesis: Diversity in higher education, which is the inclusion and integration of minorities and marginalized groups, is important because it brings a variety of knowledge through the exposure of students to different perspectives, makes students prepared for working environments, and improves the country’s development. II. The Problems with the Lack of Diversity on Higher Education in the United States a. Comparison between the National Population Number of Minorities and the Number of People that Access Higher Education- Is it representative? b. Problems When the Minorities and Marginalized Groups are Misrepresented in Higher Education III. Higher education and Society a. Responsibility of Universities to Influence and Make Changes in the Society b. Affirmative Actions in the U.S Universities i. Historic ii. Controversial Points- a Defense of Affirmative Action as a tool to guarantee Diversity iii. Issues IV. Diversity a. What is Diversity? i. Defining Diversity in this Research Paper ii. Nomenclature b. Benefits to Society i. Collective and Individual Benefits ii. Numerical Representation and Informal Interactional Diversity iii. Interaction and Educational Benefits V. Preparing to Work a. Corporations, Global Trade Market and their necessities i. Amicus brief General Motors VI....
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