...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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...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...
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...racial inequality has powerfully shaped American history from its beginnings. Racial inequality has integrated into American culture and simulates a false presence of true freedom and equal justice for all. From the assassination of early Native Americans, slavery, black codes, Jim Crow laws, segregation, the civil rights movement, mass incarceration, to present day black lives matter movement, racial inequality is a hard barrier for the United States to overcome. The true impact of racial inequality in America is belittled. Racism in America is the unjust treatment of collective individuals based on the color of their skin due to historical contexts and systematic oppression (Baber 1). Racism roots from the belief of one race has qualities that defines it as inferior or superior to other races. Inequality is the...
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...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 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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...generation. The word 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...
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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 Karl...
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...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...
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...The collection of short stories ‘The Thing Around Your Neck’ written by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie demonstrates that in Nigeria, men women, boys and girls are treated differently, and these relationship in which gender inequality exists leads to family conflict. And corruption exists in Nigeria and also the violence. These issues have lasting impacts on the characters. Many of the characters experience violence, some due to civil war and conflict between religious groups, and others due to corruption. In the story ‘Cell One’ Nnamabia both witnesses and experiences violence in the Nigerian jail. When Nnamabia has been caught and put in jail, his family bribed police and guard to see Nnamabia. Also Nnamabia paid police to treat him better. These actions demonstrate that corruption is common thing in Nigeria. In addition, it shows the violence in jail. An old man is arrested because the police couldn’t find his son. ‘if they don’t find the person they are looking for, they will lock up his father or mother or his relative’. This shows how the violence exists in Nigerian society. Also Nnamabia is severely beaten when he tries to protect him. At this point, the writer uses the symbolism to highlight Nnamabia’s decline. ‘…he looked oddly sobre, an expression I had not seen before’. And author also highlights that the violence can change the identity of the person. At the end of story, Namabia has changed that no longer tells stories in a cheerful way and feels great compassion for old...
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...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...
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...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...
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...Nickisher White December 4, 2013 Professor Fischer Gender Inequality in a Global Perspective What is Gender Inequality? Like others, a social problem that is widespread in American society is Gender inequality. It is a problem that has had a negative impact on American society. Gender inequality can be found in many sub-systems of America. It is important to understand what gender inequality is in order to identify and correct the problem. Two sub-systems that gender inequality can be found are in the family and in the workplace. Gender inequality, in my definition, is the unequal and biased treatment between the two sexes. I strongly believe that the unequal treatment of women is something that should have stayed in original times. We are in the present now and we are far more advanced than we ever were and yet we are old school in our thinking of how men and women should be treated. I can strongly identify with gender inequality because many of my closest friends have faced it or still face it. Materialist theories define gender inequality as a result of how men and women are tied to the economic structure of society. They believe that women’s role as a mother and wife are devalued by society and deny access to highly respected public opportunities. Gender stratification refers to the ranking of the sexes in such a way that women are unequal in power, resources, prestige, or worth. Materialist theories indicate that gender stratification is increased where women’s work...
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...threaten values cherished by widespread society.[1] For example, the unemployment rate of 7.8 percent[2] in the U.S. as of October 2012 is a social issue. The line between a personal issue and a public issue may be subjective, however, when a large enough sector of society is affected by an issue, it becomes a social issue. Although one person fired is not a social issue, the repercussions of 13 million people being fired is likely to generate social issues. Caste system[edit] Caste system in India resulted in most oppressed Untouchables on earth for the past 3000 years . UK recently banned caste system[1] and US is also planning to ban [2] caste system. Economy[edit] Main article: Economic problem Unemployment rates vary by region, gender, educational attainment and ethnic group. In most countries, including the developed countries many people are poor and depend on welfare. In Germany in 2007 one in six children depended on welfare. That is up from only one in seventy-five in 1965.[3] economy...
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...threaten values cherished by widespread society.[1] For example, the unemployment rate of 7.8 percent[2] in the U.S. as of October 2012 is a social issue. The line between a personal issue and a public issue may be subjective, however, when a large enough sector of society is affected by an issue, it becomes a social issue. Although one person fired is not a social issue, the repercussions of 13 million people being fired is likely to generate social issues. Caste system[edit] Caste system in India resulted in most oppressed Untouchables on earth for the past 3000 years . UK recently banned caste system[1] and US is also planning to ban [2] caste system. Economy[edit] Main article: Economic problem Unemployment rates vary by region, gender, educational attainment and ethnic group. In most countries, including the developed countries many people are poor and depend on welfare. In Germany in 2007 one in six children depended on welfare. That is up from only one in seventy-five in 1965.[3] economy...
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...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 of the genders. In a...
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...Monroe Sherman Women and Gender in American Society Rough Draft 4/14/16 There’s a proven history of gender affecting differences in pay as well as promotions in America. With no concrete reason, I find myself confused about why for so long this fact has remained to be true; why gender stereotypes affect the business world. This topic sparked my interest really because I’m a student at the McGowan School of Business where both genders are oozing with potential to do great things after college. Despite us graduating from the same school, it’s safe to say that a good portion of my woman counterparts will face gender inequality at some point in their careers. The sources I found were those that I believe will help dig into the reason for gender inequality in the workplace. The article that sparked my research was by Ariel Smilowitz titled, “For U.S. Women, Inequality Takes Many Forms”. She points out how gender stereotypes have not only affected wage gaps but also the percentage of those living in poverty. The article lets us as Americans know that although yes, there have been strides towards a gender equal America, there’s still a long way to go. In a sense, you could say the article removes the blindfolds of us believing that everything is okay, shedding light on how the business world has been unfair for decades. Our generation and maybe the one following still won’t live to see true gender equality. Of my sources the most important one to me is Kerry Spalding’s, “Do Women...
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