In today's society, women are often exploited for their gender. This is called sexism, the ideology that one sex is superior to the other. (Schaefer) Almost all of the major istitutions of our society, the government, the armed forces, large corporations, the media, universities, and medical establishments, are controlled by men. (Schaefer)This makes it difficult for women to rise above sexism and develop a major role in today's society.
In the work place, women can hit a "glass ceiling" in which they can no longer advance in the work place. Often, men receive the promotions, bonuses, and recognition that women should get. Because their boss may be sexist and he or she is acts upon it, they do not give the promotions to their female employees. The women in these situations are usually overlooked because in the company or organization they work for, it is not socially except able to let a women climb higher on the business/work ladder.
Recently it was calculated that women make seventy-seven cents to the one dollar and man makes. Not only are women kept from moving up in their work place, but they also make less money than males do. It is usually difficult for a single mom to raise her children because she has to account for that she makes less money than she should.
Women almost always work in occupations with lower status and pay than men.(Schaefer) Women usually work as teachers of small children, nurses, dental hygienist, and beauticians. And men are usually known for working as physicians, lawyers, dentists, and CEO of major companies. Though some women do work these jobs, they are often exploited into working the less paying jobs.
Today, many women face the challenge of trying to juggle work and family. Once the are done with their job at work, they come home to their second shift; the family. The second shift is defined as the double burden, work outside the home followed by child care and homework that many women face and few men share equitably. (Schaefer) For single mothers, this is even harder. They have to work by themselves to make a living to support themselves and their children, and then once they return from work they have to run errands, pick up the kids, make dinner, and do homework.
Though it is hard for women to overcome the burden of sexism, many women do. More women are becoming physicians, lawyers, and serving in the government. It is more except able today for women to go to college and receive a degree. Women are not just house wives anymore, they are respectable part of society. Women are even getting a break on child care. Many companies are now allowing men to receive a paternity leave so that they can care for their child. Everyday, women grow in society, and one day their will no longer be an issue of sexism.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Ethnocentrism
On a day to day basis, many people in the world are judged because of their racial or ethnic group. They are seen as different because of the way they act, look, or speak. These judgments can come from ethnocentrism, which is the tendency to assume that one's own culture and way of life represent the norm or are superior to others. (Schaefer) Prejudices, a negative attitude toward an entire category of people, can grow from ethnocentrism.(Schaefer)
Ethnocentrism can often lead to racism because people do not understand others culture because it is not like there own. Many people assume that their culture is the only one, and anything that differs from it is out of the ordinary. This leads people to judge cultures other than their own because they see something that is different. Since there is a difference it can lead to negative remarks or actions.
Children are often taught when they are small the culture, values, and teachings of their society. However, they are often not educated on the other cultures that exist in the world. When these children grow up they are faced with a melting pot of different cultures in which they do not understand. Since they encounter so many different values of other races as they get older, they may be quick to judge because it is something that their culture does not do.
When people travel the country, they often encounter ethnocentrism. Usually, cultures in different parts of the world can be widely different from the ones that they are used to in their home country. Often, people will compare their culture to the ones that they are visiting and think that there culture is the way of life. They believe that the other culture is wrong, and the aspects of their culture are the true and right ones to follow. They feel that their culture is the superior one. However, traveling throughout the world can help people build a stronger culture and learn from the ones that they visit so that they can incorporate some of the things they saw into their own.
Ethnocentrism is a hard concept to over come, but actions can be taken to prevent it. If children were taught at a young age about the different cultures in the world, they may not be quick to judge. Racism and prejudices could be overlooked and not even begin to develop. Also, if more people had the opportunity to travel throughout the world, they could become more aware of the different values and teachings of other cultures. Seeing how different societies function could help them to understand that their culture is not the only one that is right or important. It is a hard ideal to achieve, but if effort was taken, then it could become a big step in ridding the world of racism.
Ethnocentrism can often lead to racism because people do not understand others culture because it is not like there own. Many people assume that their culture is the only one, and anything that differs from it is out of the ordinary. This leads people to judge cultures other than their own because they see something that is different. Since there is a difference it can lead to negative remarks or actions.
Children are often taught when they are small the culture, values, and teachings of their society. However, they are often not educated on the other cultures that exist in the world. When these children grow up they are faced with a melting pot of different cultures in which they do not understand. Since they encounter so many different values of other races as they get older, they may be quick to judge because it is something that their culture does not do.
When people travel the country, they often encounter ethnocentrism. Usually, cultures in different parts of the world can be widely different from the ones that they are used to in their home country. Often, people will compare their culture to the ones that they are visiting and think that there culture is the way of life. They believe that the other culture is wrong, and the aspects of their culture are the true and right ones to follow. They feel that their culture is the superior one. However, traveling throughout the world can help people build a stronger culture and learn from the ones that they visit so that they can incorporate some of the things they saw into their own.
Ethnocentrism is a hard concept to over come, but actions can be taken to prevent it. If children were taught at a young age about the different cultures in the world, they may not be quick to judge. Racism and prejudices could be overlooked and not even begin to develop. Also, if more people had the opportunity to travel throughout the world, they could become more aware of the different values and teachings of other cultures. Seeing how different societies function could help them to understand that their culture is not the only one that is right or important. It is a hard ideal to achieve, but if effort was taken, then it could become a big step in ridding the world of racism.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
prejudicies
Many people believe today that there are no longer prejudices in our country. There no longer is slavery, ghettos of immigrated people, or schools for a particular race. However race and ethnicity still do matter in the United States. (Shaefer)
Even though prejudices are not predominate in our society today, we still see them everywhere. People often judge someone for the race without even knowing it. Often, minorities are the ones that get judged the most. It is a simple as brushing your teeth in the morning, when people see someone of another race they automatically think of the prejudices they have heard. They might not agree with these judgments, but they still are in their mind because of where they grew up or who raised them. One might not even think that they way the judge a certain race is wrong.
Many minorities such as, Asians, Hispanics, African Americans, and just about any other minority feel as if they are discriminated from something everyday. Minorities can be discriminated from a job opportunity, a loan, a school, a house, and other countless things. They are often looked at as an outsider, and if they can not really be trusted because they might come from a different part of the world or their skin color is not the same. Many people in the workplace fear minorities that have immigrated to the United States because they feel these new Americans will steal the job opportunities that they should have had. Children can even judge a person based upon their race because of the examples their parents or guardian set for them.
The dominant race, whites, usually take an advantage of being the dominate race. Peggy McIntosh (Shaefer) list several ways that she feels in which her races allows her to get ahead in life. For example, she feels that she could cash checks without suspicion or browse a store without being followed by a security guard. Many people view whites as be able to trust them in contrast to a minority. When approach by a minority on the street, one might not feel comfortable talking to them because of the prejudices that there are about that particular race. However, if they were approached by their own race, they would not feel this uneasiness.
Though many people would like to believe that race is not a factor in the United States and more, that is just simply not reality. Daily, different types of race get judged because of their skin type, the texture of their hair, or their facial structure. Though we have come far in are nation to treat every man equal, we still are not quite at that point.
Even though prejudices are not predominate in our society today, we still see them everywhere. People often judge someone for the race without even knowing it. Often, minorities are the ones that get judged the most. It is a simple as brushing your teeth in the morning, when people see someone of another race they automatically think of the prejudices they have heard. They might not agree with these judgments, but they still are in their mind because of where they grew up or who raised them. One might not even think that they way the judge a certain race is wrong.
Many minorities such as, Asians, Hispanics, African Americans, and just about any other minority feel as if they are discriminated from something everyday. Minorities can be discriminated from a job opportunity, a loan, a school, a house, and other countless things. They are often looked at as an outsider, and if they can not really be trusted because they might come from a different part of the world or their skin color is not the same. Many people in the workplace fear minorities that have immigrated to the United States because they feel these new Americans will steal the job opportunities that they should have had. Children can even judge a person based upon their race because of the examples their parents or guardian set for them.
The dominant race, whites, usually take an advantage of being the dominate race. Peggy McIntosh (Shaefer) list several ways that she feels in which her races allows her to get ahead in life. For example, she feels that she could cash checks without suspicion or browse a store without being followed by a security guard. Many people view whites as be able to trust them in contrast to a minority. When approach by a minority on the street, one might not feel comfortable talking to them because of the prejudices that there are about that particular race. However, if they were approached by their own race, they would not feel this uneasiness.
Though many people would like to believe that race is not a factor in the United States and more, that is just simply not reality. Daily, different types of race get judged because of their skin type, the texture of their hair, or their facial structure. Though we have come far in are nation to treat every man equal, we still are not quite at that point.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
stratification
I have been sitting here for a while thinking of a good example of stratification. I have read and reread the books definition of stratification several times. I decided to write about social class stratification, and the first thing that came to mind about social class stratification was a college student.
I have been thinking about how many men and women never get the chance to challenge their intellectual abilities in college because of their social class. Maybe their families are from the working poor class, the working class, the lower middle class, or even the middle class. And because of their families status in America they cannot afford to go to college.
I know many people argue that they could get into college if they could get a good scholarship from academics. But, what if their middle school and high school did not have the tools to give them a good education because of the neighborhood they lived in, and they live in this neighborhood because that's what their parents can afford because of their social class?
Also, many people argue that they could get financial aid. However, financial aid often cannot pay a student's tuition in full and their parents usually cannot make up the difference. Even if the student has the intellectual ability to go to college they still cannot because of their social class.
I understand many students work their way through college, but sometimes these job opportunities do not arise for students with a low social class because of simply the class they fall under.
After reading about stratification and thinking about students from lower classes that want to go to college but cannot, I have really learned about the impacts that stratification has on our country. Many of these students did not ask to be in the social classes, but were born into them because they are ascribed statues. It is very unlikely and difficult for these students to break away from their ascribed status of lower class and move up the social class ladder. America makes it hard to break through social class stratification because once you are in a social it is basically inevitable that you will stay there.
It will always be a challenge for these students and the people of the lower social class to get by. They constantly struggle to make a better life for themselves when the middle class ad up tend to have it easier and do not even think sometimes about the simple things that come to them because of their social class.
I have been thinking about how many men and women never get the chance to challenge their intellectual abilities in college because of their social class. Maybe their families are from the working poor class, the working class, the lower middle class, or even the middle class. And because of their families status in America they cannot afford to go to college.
I know many people argue that they could get into college if they could get a good scholarship from academics. But, what if their middle school and high school did not have the tools to give them a good education because of the neighborhood they lived in, and they live in this neighborhood because that's what their parents can afford because of their social class?
Also, many people argue that they could get financial aid. However, financial aid often cannot pay a student's tuition in full and their parents usually cannot make up the difference. Even if the student has the intellectual ability to go to college they still cannot because of their social class.
I understand many students work their way through college, but sometimes these job opportunities do not arise for students with a low social class because of simply the class they fall under.
After reading about stratification and thinking about students from lower classes that want to go to college but cannot, I have really learned about the impacts that stratification has on our country. Many of these students did not ask to be in the social classes, but were born into them because they are ascribed statues. It is very unlikely and difficult for these students to break away from their ascribed status of lower class and move up the social class ladder. America makes it hard to break through social class stratification because once you are in a social it is basically inevitable that you will stay there.
It will always be a challenge for these students and the people of the lower social class to get by. They constantly struggle to make a better life for themselves when the middle class ad up tend to have it easier and do not even think sometimes about the simple things that come to them because of their social class.