Issue of Social Inequality

One of the most pressing social problems that sociology is closely concerned with is social inequality. At the same time, both the category of social inequality itself, which reflects the uneven distribution of valued goods and privileges in society, and the forms of its manifestation remains the subject of acute disputes. Social inequality is a major social problem, burdening the lives of not only members of individual societies on a regional scale but also threatening the entire world community. Social inequality includes states in the vertical hierarchy of individuals, social groups, classes, and strata, which are appropriately ranked within the global community.

Many women and men around the world are denied access to education and employment opportunities. They are forced to engage in certain activities or receive less for their work than it is worth. The reasons may differ, such as disability, ethnic origin, indigenous or tribal affiliation, religion, race or gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and political or other beliefs. Discrimination against specific categories of the population in the labor market, such as women, ethnic or racial minorities, and migrants, seriously increases their risk of exploitation and abuse, including in the form of forced labor.

In an interview with a black woman, I found that it was quite difficult for her to find a decent job, just as it was in her youth, to get a good education. The reason for this was first discrimination at the racial level. That is, when searching for a place to study, she was denied by some universities, precisely because some of them do not accept black students. And then she faced a problem that seriously affected her, which is being a woman.

It all started with the fact that her parents are wealthy black entrepreneurs, and they had the opportunity to help their daughter get a job at an expensive university. She wanted to get a decent education so that in the future, she could earn money and find a job that she would like. After successfully graduating from high school, she applied to various educational institutions, some of which refused her. It was found that it could not be accepted in a personal conversation only because these universities could not afford to teach black students.

In the end, she went to a good university and received an education that would allow her to get almost any respectable job. When submitting a resume, she was again repeatedly denied even an interview. Naturally, she asked some employers why she could not get this job, and the main reason was that many companies do not hire women. The issue of gender inequality affected her quite profoundly because she was a valuable employee, graduated from university with honors, studied additional courses, read a lot, and was a friendly and sympathetic person in general qualities.

Gender inequality is expressed by men concerning women. One of the most common stereotypes is that men are stronger, smarter, and more powerful than women. Some people are convinced that men can achieve much more success at work than women. It is worth noting that in some cases, women are not portrayed in an entirely negative way. It is believed that they are weaker and defenseless, so they often need male strength and character.

The problem of gender inequality could not go unnoticed or ignored, as it made women’s lives quite difficult. England et al. (2020) state that since 1970, there has been significant progress toward gender equality, but recently the rates have slowed significantly. Perhaps this is because, in more modern society, this problem has become less relevant since many employers understand that women can also achieve great success, as men do. Another reason may be various feminist communities that actively fight for women’s rights. Some companies do not want to take part in scandalous events that can lead to discrimination against women.

Another person I interviewed was a Chinese man who is disabled. He has problems with his legs, as he was injured while skiing as a child. After the doctors diagnosed him and informed him that he would not walk, his parents bought him a wheelchair. At school, no one talked to him, and the children laughed at him and his disability. Daley et al. (2018) claim that disability greatly reduces people’s satisfaction with life. Of course, there were enough problems at school, but he did not expect that his acquired disability would become a hindrance in the future.

Many employers did not perceive him as a good employee, as they understood that it would be difficult with him because of his wheelchair. Moreover, he was offended by the fact that companies are very reluctant to hire Asians. He studied English from a young age, but he failed to eliminate the accent or communicate at the level of native speakers. This is natural since both of his parents are Asian, friends and acquaintances are also mainly from Asia, and he did not assume that even despite his knowledge in narrow areas, they would not be a priority at work.

Comparing the situation with discrimination against a black woman and an Asian disabled person, I noticed that a woman was less affected than a man by discrimination in the workplace based on race. In this case, perhaps the expectation of such a situation played a role. The woman could expect that in some companies, there will be restrictions on racial grounds because she faced a similar problem when looking for a university. As for the Asian man, racial discrimination has offended him quite a lot. He supposed that people with his knowledge and skills would be more valuable. In addition, he thought that it would be more difficult for some employers to hire a person with disabilities, but his Asian background played a more decisive role.

Any discrimination is a negative characteristic of enterprises, educational institutions, and organizations. Black woman claims that she expected that there might be difficulties regarding her race, but she was more struck by gender discrimination.

The Asian man said that his disability did not attract the attention of employers, but he was offended by their attitude to his nationality. Discrimination must be combated, as it is not only about discrediting good employees, but it can also directly affect people’s future, their health, and their financial capabilities. To find a solution to the problem of discrimination on various grounds, it is necessary to conduct a thorough study involving professionals to make this study as reliable as possible (Causadias & Korous, 2019). Based on the results of the study, it is necessary to choose the best measures to eliminate discrimination on any basis.

In conclusion, in this case, the intersectionality of these two situations is the racial discrimination against men and women. The fight against discrimination is a critical component of decent work, the success of which is felt far beyond the workplace. Equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation is an important starting point for overcoming discrimination. At the same time, the successful promotion of equality in the labor market depends on the active participation of workers’ organizations, employers, and other stakeholders. Freedom from discrimination is one of the fundamental human rights necessary for workers to freely choose their workplace, fully develop their potential and receive decent pay for their work. Ensuring equality in the workplace also brings significant economic benefits.

References

Causadias, J. & Korous K. (2019). Racial discrimination in the United States: A national health crisis that demands a national health solution. Journal of Adolescent Health, 64, 147-148. Web.

Daley, A., Phipps, S. & Branscombe, N. (2018). The social complexities of disability: Discrimination, belonging and life satisfaction among Canadian youth. Population Health, 5, 55-63. Web.

England, P., Levine, A. & Mishel, E. (2020). Progress toward gender equality in the United States has slowed or stalled. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117 (13), 6990 6997. Web.

Find out your order's cost