Angel M 1) Civilization as a whole has had inequalities to handle. It’s been seen in past advanced societies, for example ancient Greek benefiting from their slave labor. Mankind will continue to have the restrictions that inequality brings. In the article written by Adrian Florido on income inequality, he shows the reader how white families are able to make more money as compared to families of color. If this persists than we are not likely to reach racial equality but rather stray far from it like we have been in past societies. We should learn from our mistakes and change the capitalistic system that has severally handicapped the “American Dream”. The “American Dream” is just that, a dream that most people work towards. With hopes that by accumulating wealth and paying dues anyone can make it. This is a great distraction from the underlining problem; white families hold more privileges over families of color. 2) The conflict theory conceptualizes the bourgeoisie vs. proletariat. Embodying the constant struggle between the haves and have nots demonstrates how the wealthy have power over the poor. Marx, widely known for his conflict theoretical approach, would say income inequality would only benefit a selective few and will only bring social division. In order to overcome income inequality we must change the capitalistic structure that was created after WWII benefiting only white families. Failure to do so will showcase the flaws in our capitalistic society. 3) Finally income inequality is something we see every day and are well aware of its existence. The existence of apathy within society and capitalistic setup only aids the continuation of the top 1%. Reason why I chose this topic is simple, coming from a Latino background I can relate with the income inequality. Lastly this is relevant because as long as inequality exist, sociologist have a problem to deal with.
1. American sociologist, C. Wright Millis believes there are two major roles of social forces: Private Troubles and Public Issues. Private troubles are defined as problems individuals face solely due to themselves and not as a result of a social position. On the other hand, Public Issues are problems that individuals face due to their social positions. Almost immediately into this article, it was clear that this social issue of wealth inequality amongst Black, Latino, and White families would be considered a Public Issue from Millis’ perspective. The statistics provided in this article are staggering. Whites are making 13 times more than the average Black family, and 10 times more than the Latino family. This is social issue because the minority population is rapidly growing but they are struggling due to lack of resources and opportunities being offered to them. 2. From a Conflict Theorist perspective, it is obvious that income inequality is occurring nationwide. The poor are getting poorer while the 1% continue to become more wealthy and this rises an issue in our society. In this case, Blacks and Latinos are not offered the same opportunities as Whites. Due to lack of resources, minorities struggle to make it out of poverty which can in turn affect their lives in the future. It becomes a cycle, and the proletariats (the workers) remain in that status which is something that is usually passed down generations. The Bourgeoisie (the owners), on the other hand, remain in control of the societies in poverty by not providing adequate resources or opportunities to the proletariats. From Marx’ perspective, society is split up into two social groups, the haves and the have nots. This division can then lead to an increase in crime rates, unemployment, incarcerations, and homelessness, just to name a few. The division in social class is a direct impact on individuals and will affect the rest of their lives. 3. This blog post instantly stood out to me because I AM a first generation Latina working in this country. My parents immigrated here from Mexico at an early age and have personally been victimized by inequalities like this. This article especially hit home for me because I live in a society where the majority of the population I interact with are Latinos and Blacks. Income inequality is a social issue because it plays a role in the success or demise of individuals. For example, a young Black or Latino male can have dreams of earning a college degree and working in a well-established career, but that dream or goal can be cut short when he is forced to work to help his family make ends meet. Due to lack of resources, and education, young Latino and Black males become confined to the only life they have ever known, and the cycle continues.
1. As we’ve known for ages, Inequality amongst races has existed whether its concerns jobs, the justice system, or basic human rights. This is a social problems because it involves every race; The ones suffering through it or the ones benefiting from it, whether they know it or not. This inequality may result from being raised by parents new to the country or parents that didn’t make it past elementary school. It could also stem from prejudice. The social forces involved are many. From an incomplete education to the color of ones skin, the forces keeping colored people from success pile up and can impede a person from making the most they can. This article says that no matter what, education, social support, etc. a black/ latino family has less than a white, single parent. To me, this basically says that white people have the upper hand no matter how qualified people of color may be. 2. The best theory to apply to this issue is the Conflict theory. Whereas the functionalist perspective would say that society is well-integrated, the conflict theory sees the struggle between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. The bourgeoisie, in this case would be white people (or the 1 percent), and the proletariats would be the blacks/ latinos. The bourgeoisie are powerful. Marx believed that social order was established and maintained by the control over resources. In this case, the lack of opportunity and support for people of color would explain why they cannot achieve what a single, white parent can. While latinos and blacks “lose control over their creative human capacity to produce,” because they must work for the ruling class that controls the means of production, they only "own their capacity to transform raw materials into products.” To me, this means that latinos and blacks are at the mercy of the ruling class because their tools are limited. Many blacks/ latinos have minimal schooling and only have certain skills. But as long as they have a job that at least feeds the family, they are content. It’s a vicious circle. 3. Although I’m not sure my answers were correct, this blog confirmed what people of color have lived through and will continue living through until the nation becomes more open to accepting people of all colors. Just as equality for women, equality for people of color will take a fight. I believe the times we are in now, with a president that sees illegal immigrants the way he does, impact all people of that race. Whether they are born here or have become citizens, all people of that color are lumped into a group which is frowned upon (by his supporters). This is a social issue because it changes the lives of the people in question (blacks/latinos). In many cases, a young child will grow in the same circumstances as their parents, into similar jobs. Also, it proves that coming from money or simply being white, helps no matter how educated you may be.
1. The racial wealth gap is very big problem in America and it has always been a big deal. Latino and Black families make significantly less than White families on average. The gap has unfortunately been growing over the past decade and racial segregation is the main reason why. The average single parent white family has almost twice the wealth of the average two-parent latino family according to Adrian Florido. 2. The conflict theory explains this situation the best. Struggle is based on the inequality of power; whites have never been discriminated in America so they in a way have more power than minorities. This is the reason the dominant ideology is not always the case. A conflict theorist would explain this by saying that society is imbalanced. 3. The reason why I chose this topic is because I think its very unfair that some people have more opportunities and are are treated differently than others for superficial reasons like racial background and skin color. I think its good to talk about it in school and learn about the gap so that it is not overlooked and ignored. This issue relates to sociology because its a major part of society today and it effects everyone no matter how rich or poor.
The racial wealth gap studied in this article occurs for two main reasons: intergenerational wealth is far more prevalent in white families, and cultural norms continue to deliberately push black and latino families away from economic growth. This means that statistically, even two-parent black and latino households still earn less than white single-parents because the benefits of pre-determined financial success(“white privilege”) generally provide white families with more income. An opposing argument stated in the article would be that a simple solution to racial and economic iniquity is “personal responsibility and social respectability”. I think that in saying so, we are allowing the racial stereotypes that have been rooted in our country’s foundation continue to take it’s course in the wrong direction. It’s unjust to allow the issue of systematic oppression lie exclusively in the hands of the oppressed to be fixed.
What I was able to gather from this article is that behind all the numbers and statistics, one fact remains the same - the racial pay gap in America boils down to engrained racism in our society. This observation comes from my own conflict theorist approach, which emphasizes the benefits of “haves” vs the struggles of the “have-nots”. While we realize that every social group struggles to reach maximum benefits, it’s important to identify the imbalance particularly regarding race. A conflict theorist would want people to not only acknowledge this, but to take action as well.
I thought this article was well-written and made a good use of sociological research to prove that wage gaps are an issue in today’s society. As a person of color coming from a hardworking, two-parent latino family I have seen this occur firsthand (as i’m sure many of us have) and will most likely continue to see unless we, as a society, work together to help control these inequalities.
1. The article "Black, Latino Two-Parent Families Have Half the Wealth of White Single Parents" exposes the unbelievable reality that minority families have made much less money than the average white family. The author claims that the problems are rooted back to slavery and the discrimination that took place in this country in the mid-1900s. The article also points out that the pay gap has increased from seven to one to thirteen to one in 2013. The most shocking statistic is that the median income for two parent minority households is less than the median income for the average white single parent household. With this new data, it is evident that the pay gap cannot be attributed to the structure of minority families. Previously people believed that the pay gap was a result of most minority families having only one parent in the household. However, the data contradicts this theory for the simple fact that minority families with two parents still are making less money when compared to white single parent families. Income equality is a social issue because it is a failure on the part of society when minority families have an astronomically lower family income compared to white families. Society needs to determine the cause of the imbalance of wealth among the different social groups to root out the problem. The most prevalent theory that comes to mind with the topic of income inequality is that of Karl Marx. He theorized that the minorities or the proletariat were to be constantly oppressed by the ruling class. Marx’s theory is the most obvious example of the cause of the massive inequality that is present among minority families.
2. From the conflict perspective, the topic of income inequality is a directly connected to the majority oppressing and taking advantage of the minority. A conflict theorist would look at the connection between the minority families and their opportunities in society when compared to the opportunities of white families. As Karl Marx, would say the ruling class which is the people that own the means of production have oppressed the minority communities because it is more difficult for them to voice their misgivings about their lack in pay. Society needs to pay more attention to the minority position instead of mainly focusing on the majority. A conflict sociologist would say that it is up to the black and Latino communities to stand up and fight their income inequality.
3. I chose this particular blog post because I feel it has the most complex problem and the most complex solution. Society fails when it cannot guarantee everyone the same opportunities to excel in the workforce. It is ignorant to think that minority families are either unwilling or unable to do the same jobs and make the same amount of money as white families. It is up to society to fix the problem. Over the last ten years the wage gap has increased and that is an indication that the country is in need of a change in course to try and combat the problem. If the wage gap is not addressed it will not only affect minority communities but the effects will be pushed onto the white communities as well. Sociologists would be hard pressed to find a real solution to the wage gap without installing artificial wage regulations. There is not one solution and there is no solution that can guarantee a real change in the pay gap between white and black and Latino families.
1. Social inequality is the existence of unequal opportunities and rewards for different social positions or statuses within a group or society. In the United States income rates are a huge factor in social inequality. In the article Black, Latino Two-Parent Families Have Half The Wealth Of White Single Parents , the author Adrian Florido stated the racial income gap between white households, and households of color. He shows how white households have greater incomes because of past opportunities. Society does not accept this but rather have a “blame the poor” approach rationalize the problems of social inequality. According to this view, society has plenty of opportunities for people to realize the American dream, and people are poor because they lack the motivation, skills, or schooling to find good paying work. 2. The most efficient way to study and unequal economy system is through the conflict theory. Karl Marx's theory shows the relationship between the economy and the workers and divides it by to distinct social workers. The proletariat, the black and latino households, the workers and the lower class. The proletariat perform the labor, but the upper class called the bourgeoisie, white households, are managers, bosses, and rulers get the profits. The government protect the wealthy and not the common people because the conflict theory conceptualizes that social order is maintained by domination. In the American economy most of the power is maintained by the white population therefore there income will be relatively higher than the rest of the population. The bourgeoisie group usually sets up their children for their future with education because they can afford it which leads their children with higher paying jobs. This is continued for generations and power is not lost in the bourgeoisie. 3. This article caught my attention because I used to work for a large corporate company and I quit because how unequally employes were treated. The article is very accurate to the pay based on race. A white manager that had the same exact position as a black or latino manager would get about $24 an hour whereas a black or latino manager would get $16 even though they had been with the company longer and had more knowledge in their work. If they did want a raise they would either be offered a raise that was under a dollar or they were told that they would be replaced. I think this is a large social power that a lot of people don’t realize and is also a raising problem because job opportunities are more slim.
Kimberly Cortes 1. In America there is a big wealth gap between minorities such as Latinos and blacks compared to white people. It is correct to say that in most cases white people way more money than these minorities. This is a serious social issue because white people make a significantly more amount of money compared to these minorities and it is clearly shown in the statistics in the article. 2. If you look at this from the conflict perspective this would be compared to "the Haves vs, the Have nots", the white people being the "haves and the black people and latinos being the "have nots". This is probably because white people have always been seen to have more opportunities compared to racial minorities. Due to lack of resources and legal documents to work with for example with latinos it seems unfair for these minorities to continue earning a significantly less amount of money. 3. I decided to comment on this topic because i am latino, and i have seen this issue a lot in my Latino community,through my parents, family and friends. I think this blog post shows a very important issue seen in our community, especially living around the Los Angeles area where we see a lot of these minorities. It is relevant in the field of sociology because it i something we see every day in society at all different types of jobs everywhere.
Arpineh S. For responding to writer, first I want to agree to the word "minorities" that was written in first sentence. It is true that Latino and Black families are called minorities like many other groups of people from other cultures and countries. Since the individual is citizen of the United States why should called the group the minorities? The low of the country is same for all people in this land and all society should work in same condition, thus they shouldn't call with a nick name of minorities. From functionalism perspective all of the individuals in the community should function in same direction to succeed the main goal as one whole and shouldn't be different between individual's nicknames like colored people. And for Conflict perspective as writer's word "the Haves vs, the Have nots", if this issue goes farther the problem will stay same or probably will become worse. Because the white family will become wealthier and the black and Latinos will stay in same condition so the wealthier will get the power and control the society. So that, the condition will not change and the Latino and black family have to work in minimum salary and benefit for survive. This ordinary life prevents them to have time and energy for fight for and change it. For example a single parent of white family works for a company for $ 30 per an hour she is getting experience and will have more successes and opportunities in her life while she has another single mom from Latino or black family in her home to do her house keeping and ordinary job for $9 per an hour. Even the housekeeper lady work full time with her less than minimum salary she cannot make a big changes in her and kids life. Writer chooses this topic because he experiences this issue from his parents' life and his observation from his community. The best way to study and solve an issue is when we get involve with that and study it unbiased. We need to know the problem before have the solutions and such a good way that a person from the same community rice a voice and come up with solution. We have to get our right nobody will give us without hard work.
1. Racial inequality has always been, and still is, a huge problem in America. Whites have always been superior and they get help from the government to become wealthy. With the government's help, they are able to start their own businesses which they will later pass on to their children. In comparison, colored people struggle to have a business, let alone start one. This causes the racial wealth gap that Adrian Florido describes. At this rate, the wealth gap between Whites, Hispanics, and African Americans will not come to an end. Whites will continue to earn more than colored people. 2. The conflict theory applies to this issue the best. A conflict theorist would say that the minorities, such as Hispanics and African Americans, are struggling to obtain equality. As Adrian Florido explains, a White single parent makes twice the amount of money that a Black or Latino two-parent family does. This shows how most whites are the ones who are wealthy, powerful, and prestigious in society. Minorities do not have the resources,such as money, needed to get out of poverty and if some do, they are not sure what to invest their money on in order to become successful. On the other hand, Whites invest their money wisely because they do have resources available to them. 3. I thought this blog post was relevant to me because I am Hispanic and I am currently living in a Hispanic two-parent household. I see my parents struggle to make money, not because they want to struggle, but because they do not have resources. They struggle in order for my family and I to live comfortable. This social issue is relevant in the field of sociology because it shows the conflict between races in today's society.
I agree that there is a huge problem in America with racial inequality, but I disagree on your reasons. As you stated "Whites have always been superior and they get help from the government to become wealthy. With the government's help, they are able to start their own businesses which they will later pass on to their children." which is a very ignorant thing to say. You can't generalize white people to business, although there is, but not all. I'm half Hispanic/white, growing up in a family with split customs. My uncle is Mexican, he started selling Food on the street with a food cart, to a food truck, and now owns his restaurant. Hard work and self-determination plays a role in a person's success as well. There was no major government involvement with starting his own business. Government actually helps out the less income families including whites, Hispanic, blacks with food stamps and EBT (Free Food/Money). A interactionist would say the major differences between whites, blacks, and hispanic is being educated. Education is one the most important asset in life. Being face to face and learning the proper skills/degree to get a higher paying job. Being able to make more money. My mom and dad are one of the most loving, and encouraging parents, they work their tale off but they didn't go to college and learn individual traits and skills to be successful in life long term. They didn’t instill certain traits that educated parents know and have learn. Proper money management, importance of education, how to do taxes, how to fill out college applications, how to save money, how to spend money, and the list can go on and on. If you have uneducated people marrying uneducated people, having babies without being financially stable, growing up to break the pattern will be difficult. They did teach me my core values on how to be a good person and taught me self determination to be a go getter. I've learn this through personal experience and from school. It’s a great topic to be discussed and gives a cause for concern on why these latinos and blacks are not producing income compared to whites.What programs can we teach young kids and young adults to break the pattern. It raises issues on how can we fix it, what can we do, these questions need to be addressed and put fourth. I chose to comment because it's something my parents are apart of currently. I believe it's how you use your money effectively, know how to spend, save, and invest. Otherwise you'll lose it all.
Jessica R.
ReplyDeleteAngel M
ReplyDelete1) Civilization as a whole has had inequalities to handle. It’s been seen in past advanced societies, for example ancient Greek benefiting from their slave labor. Mankind will continue to have the restrictions that inequality brings. In the article written by Adrian Florido on income inequality, he shows the reader how white families are able to make more money as compared to families of color. If this persists than we are not likely to reach racial equality but rather stray far from it like we have been in past societies. We should learn from our mistakes and change the capitalistic system that has severally handicapped the “American Dream”. The “American Dream” is just that, a dream that most people work towards. With hopes that by accumulating wealth and paying dues anyone can make it. This is a great distraction from the underlining problem; white families hold more privileges over families of color.
2) The conflict theory conceptualizes the bourgeoisie vs. proletariat. Embodying the constant struggle between the haves and have nots demonstrates how the wealthy have power over the poor. Marx, widely known for his conflict theoretical approach, would say income inequality would only benefit a selective few and will only bring social division. In order to overcome income inequality we must change the capitalistic structure that was created after WWII benefiting only white families. Failure to do so will showcase the flaws in our capitalistic society.
3) Finally income inequality is something we see every day and are well aware of its existence. The existence of apathy within society and capitalistic setup only aids the continuation of the top 1%. Reason why I chose this topic is simple, coming from a Latino background I can relate with the income inequality. Lastly this is relevant because as long as inequality exist, sociologist have a problem to deal with.
Jessica R.
ReplyDelete1. American sociologist, C. Wright Millis believes there are two major roles of social forces: Private Troubles and Public Issues. Private troubles are defined as problems individuals face solely due to themselves and not as a result of a social position. On the other hand, Public Issues are problems that individuals face due to their social positions. Almost immediately into this article, it was clear that this social issue of wealth inequality amongst Black, Latino, and White families would be considered a Public Issue from Millis’ perspective. The statistics provided in this article are staggering. Whites are making 13 times more than the average Black family, and 10 times more than the Latino family. This is social issue because the minority population is rapidly growing but they are struggling due to lack of resources and opportunities being offered to them.
2. From a Conflict Theorist perspective, it is obvious that income inequality is occurring nationwide. The poor are getting poorer while the 1% continue to become more wealthy and this rises an issue in our society. In this case, Blacks and Latinos are not offered the same opportunities as Whites. Due to lack of resources, minorities struggle to make it out of poverty which can in turn affect their lives in the future. It becomes a cycle, and the proletariats (the workers) remain in that status which is something that is usually passed down generations. The Bourgeoisie (the owners), on the other hand, remain in control of the societies in poverty by not providing adequate resources or opportunities to the proletariats. From Marx’ perspective, society is split up into two social groups, the haves and the have nots. This division can then lead to an increase in crime rates, unemployment, incarcerations, and homelessness, just to name a few. The division in social class is a direct impact on individuals and will affect the rest of their lives.
3. This blog post instantly stood out to me because I AM a first generation Latina working in this country. My parents immigrated here from Mexico at an early age and have personally been victimized by inequalities like this. This article especially hit home for me because I live in a society where the majority of the population I interact with are Latinos and Blacks. Income inequality is a social issue because it plays a role in the success or demise of individuals. For example, a young Black or Latino male can have dreams of earning a college degree and working in a well-established career, but that dream or goal can be cut short when he is forced to work to help his family make ends meet. Due to lack of resources, and education, young Latino and Black males become confined to the only life they have ever known, and the cycle continues.
Angelina D.
ReplyDelete1. As we’ve known for ages, Inequality amongst races has existed whether its concerns jobs, the justice system, or basic human rights. This is a social problems because it involves every race; The ones suffering through it or the ones benefiting from it, whether they know it or not. This inequality may result from being raised by parents new to the country or parents that didn’t make it past elementary school. It could also stem from prejudice. The social forces involved are many. From an incomplete education to the color of ones skin, the forces keeping colored people from success pile up and can impede a person from making the most they can. This article says that no matter what, education, social support, etc. a black/ latino family has less than a white, single parent. To me, this basically says that white people have the upper hand no matter how qualified people of color may be.
2. The best theory to apply to this issue is the Conflict theory. Whereas the functionalist perspective would say that society is well-integrated, the conflict theory sees the struggle between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. The bourgeoisie, in this case would be white people (or the 1 percent), and the proletariats would be the blacks/ latinos. The bourgeoisie are powerful. Marx believed that social order was established and maintained by the control over resources. In this case, the lack of opportunity and support for people of color would explain why they cannot achieve what a single, white parent can. While latinos and blacks “lose control over their creative human capacity to produce,” because they must work for the ruling class that controls the means of production, they only "own their capacity to transform raw materials into products.” To me, this means that latinos and blacks are at the mercy of the ruling class because their tools are limited. Many blacks/ latinos have minimal schooling and only have certain skills. But as long as they have a job that at least feeds the family, they are content. It’s a vicious circle.
3. Although I’m not sure my answers were correct, this blog confirmed what people of color have lived through and will continue living through until the nation becomes more open to accepting people of all colors. Just as equality for women, equality for people of color will take a fight. I believe the times we are in now, with a president that sees illegal immigrants the way he does, impact all people of that race. Whether they are born here or have become citizens, all people of that color are lumped into a group which is frowned upon (by his supporters). This is a social issue because it changes the lives of the people in question (blacks/latinos). In many cases, a young child will grow in the same circumstances as their parents, into similar jobs. Also, it proves that coming from money or simply being white, helps no matter how educated you may be.
Eleni P.
ReplyDelete1. The racial wealth gap is very big problem in America and it has always been a big deal. Latino and Black families make significantly less than White families on average. The gap has unfortunately been growing over the past decade and racial segregation is the main reason why. The average single parent white family has almost twice the wealth of the average two-parent latino family according to Adrian Florido.
2. The conflict theory explains this situation the best. Struggle is based on the inequality of power; whites have never been discriminated in America so they in a way have more power than minorities. This is the reason the dominant ideology is not always the case. A conflict theorist would explain this by saying that society is imbalanced.
3. The reason why I chose this topic is because I think its very unfair that some people have more opportunities and are are treated differently than others for superficial reasons like racial background and skin color. I think its good to talk about it in school and learn about the gap so that it is not overlooked and ignored. This issue relates to sociology because its a major part of society today and it effects everyone no matter how rich or poor.
Rita B.
ReplyDeleteGregory N
ReplyDeleteSamantha P.
ReplyDeleteThe racial wealth gap studied in this article occurs for two main reasons: intergenerational wealth is far more prevalent in white families, and cultural norms continue to deliberately push black and latino families away from economic growth. This means that statistically, even two-parent black and latino households still earn less than white single-parents because the benefits of pre-determined financial success(“white privilege”) generally provide white families with more income. An opposing argument stated in the article would be that a simple solution to racial and economic iniquity is “personal responsibility and social respectability”. I think that in saying so, we are allowing the racial stereotypes that have been rooted in our country’s foundation continue to take it’s course in the wrong direction. It’s unjust to allow the issue of systematic oppression lie exclusively in the hands of the oppressed to be fixed.
What I was able to gather from this article is that behind all the numbers and statistics, one fact remains the same - the racial pay gap in America boils down to engrained racism in our society. This observation comes from my own conflict theorist approach, which emphasizes the benefits of “haves” vs the struggles of the “have-nots”. While we realize that every social group struggles to reach maximum benefits, it’s important to identify the imbalance particularly regarding race. A conflict theorist would want people to not only acknowledge this, but to take action as well.
I thought this article was well-written and made a good use of sociological research to prove that wage gaps are an issue in today’s society. As a person of color coming from a hardworking, two-parent latino family I have seen this occur firsthand (as i’m sure many of us have) and will most likely continue to see unless we, as a society, work together to help control these inequalities.
Gregory N.
ReplyDelete1. The article "Black, Latino Two-Parent Families Have Half the Wealth of White Single Parents" exposes the unbelievable reality that minority families have made much less money than the average white family. The author claims that the problems are rooted back to slavery and the discrimination that took place in this country in the mid-1900s. The article also points out that the pay gap has increased from seven to one to thirteen to one in 2013. The most shocking statistic is that the median income for two parent minority households is less than the median income for the average white single parent household. With this new data, it is evident that the pay gap cannot be attributed to the structure of minority families. Previously people believed that the pay gap was a result of most minority families having only one parent in the household. However, the data contradicts this theory for the simple fact that minority families with two parents still are making less money when compared to white single parent families. Income equality is a social issue because it is a failure on the part of society when minority families have an astronomically lower family income compared to white families. Society needs to determine the cause of the imbalance of wealth among the different social groups to root out the problem. The most prevalent theory that comes to mind with the topic of income inequality is that of Karl Marx. He theorized that the minorities or the proletariat were to be constantly oppressed by the ruling class. Marx’s theory is the most obvious example of the cause of the massive inequality that is present among minority families.
2. From the conflict perspective, the topic of income inequality is a directly connected to the majority oppressing and taking advantage of the minority. A conflict theorist would look at the connection between the minority families and their opportunities in society when compared to the opportunities of white families. As Karl Marx, would say the ruling class which is the people that own the means of production have oppressed the minority communities because it is more difficult for them to voice their misgivings about their lack in pay. Society needs to pay more attention to the minority position instead of mainly focusing on the majority. A conflict sociologist would say that it is up to the black and Latino communities to stand up and fight their income inequality.
3. I chose this particular blog post because I feel it has the most complex problem and the most complex solution. Society fails when it cannot guarantee everyone the same opportunities to excel in the workforce. It is ignorant to think that minority families are either unwilling or unable to do the same jobs and make the same amount of money as white families. It is up to society to fix the problem. Over the last ten years the wage gap has increased and that is an indication that the country is in need of a change in course to try and combat the problem. If the wage gap is not addressed it will not only affect minority communities but the effects will be pushed onto the white communities as well. Sociologists would be hard pressed to find a real solution to the wage gap without installing artificial wage regulations. There is not one solution and there is no solution that can guarantee a real change in the pay gap between white and black and Latino families.
Rita B.
ReplyDelete1. Social inequality is the existence of unequal opportunities and rewards for different social positions or statuses within a group or society. In the United States income rates are a huge factor in social inequality. In the article Black, Latino Two-Parent Families Have Half The Wealth Of White Single Parents , the author Adrian Florido stated the racial income gap between white households, and households of color. He shows how white households have greater incomes because of past opportunities. Society does not accept this but rather have a “blame the poor” approach rationalize the problems of social inequality. According to this view, society has plenty of opportunities for people to realize the American dream, and people are poor because they lack the motivation, skills, or schooling to find good paying work.
2. The most efficient way to study and unequal economy system is through the conflict theory. Karl Marx's theory shows the relationship between the economy and the workers and divides it by to distinct social workers. The proletariat, the black and latino households, the workers and the lower class. The proletariat perform the labor, but the upper class called the bourgeoisie, white households, are managers, bosses, and rulers get the profits. The government protect the wealthy and not the common people because the conflict theory conceptualizes that social order is maintained by domination. In the American economy most of the power is maintained by the white population therefore there income will be relatively higher than the rest of the population. The bourgeoisie group usually sets up their children for their future with education because they can afford it which leads their children with higher paying jobs. This is continued for generations and power is not lost in the bourgeoisie.
3. This article caught my attention because I used to work for a large corporate company and I quit because how unequally employes were treated. The article is very accurate to the pay based on race. A white manager that had the same exact position as a black or latino manager would get about $24 an hour whereas a black or latino manager would get $16 even though they had been with the company longer and had more knowledge in their work. If they did want a raise they would either be offered a raise that was under a dollar or they were told that they would be replaced. I think this is a large social power that a lot of people don’t realize and is also a raising problem because job opportunities are more slim.
Kimberly Cortes
ReplyDelete1. In America there is a big wealth gap between minorities such as Latinos and blacks compared to white people. It is correct to say that in most cases white people way more money than these minorities. This is a serious social issue because white people make a significantly more amount of money compared to these minorities and it is clearly shown in the statistics in the article.
2. If you look at this from the conflict perspective this would be compared to "the Haves vs, the Have nots", the white people being the "haves and the black people and latinos being the "have nots". This is probably because white people have always been seen to have more opportunities compared to racial minorities. Due to lack of resources and legal documents to work with for example with latinos it seems unfair for these minorities to continue earning a significantly less amount of money.
3. I decided to comment on this topic because i am latino, and i have seen this issue a lot in my Latino community,through my parents, family and friends. I think this blog post shows a very important issue seen in our community, especially living around the Los Angeles area where we see a lot of these minorities. It is relevant in the field of sociology because it i something we see every day in society at all different types of jobs everywhere.
Arpineh S.
DeleteFor responding to writer, first I want to agree to the word "minorities" that was written in first sentence. It is true that Latino and Black families are called minorities like many other groups of people from other cultures and countries. Since the individual is citizen of the United States why should called the group the minorities? The low of the country is same for all people in this land and all society should work in same condition, thus they shouldn't call with a nick name of minorities. From functionalism perspective all of the individuals in the community should function in same direction to succeed the main goal as one whole and shouldn't be different between individual's nicknames like colored people.
And for Conflict perspective as writer's word "the Haves vs, the Have nots", if this issue goes farther the problem will stay same or probably will become worse. Because the white family will become wealthier and the black and Latinos will stay in same condition so the wealthier will get the power and control the society. So that, the condition will not change and the Latino and black family have to work in minimum salary and benefit for survive. This ordinary life prevents them to have time and energy for fight for and change it. For example a single parent of white family works for a company for $ 30 per an hour she is getting experience and will have more successes and opportunities in her life while she has another single mom from Latino or black family in her home to do her house keeping and ordinary job for $9 per an hour. Even the housekeeper lady work full time with her less than minimum salary she cannot make a big changes in her and kids life.
Writer chooses this topic because he experiences this issue from his parents' life and his observation from his community. The best way to study and solve an issue is when we get involve with that and study it unbiased. We need to know the problem before have the solutions and such a good way that a person from the same community rice a voice and come up with solution. We have to get our right nobody will give us without hard work.
Jose C.
ReplyDelete1. Racial inequality has always been, and still is, a huge problem in America. Whites have always been superior and they get help from the government to become wealthy. With the government's help, they are able to start their own businesses which they will later pass on to their children. In comparison, colored people struggle to have a business, let alone start one. This causes the racial wealth gap that Adrian Florido describes. At this rate, the wealth gap between Whites, Hispanics, and African Americans will not come to an end. Whites will continue to earn more than colored people.
2. The conflict theory applies to this issue the best. A conflict theorist would say that the minorities, such as Hispanics and African Americans, are struggling to obtain equality. As Adrian Florido explains, a White single parent makes twice the amount of money that a Black or Latino two-parent family does. This shows how most whites are the ones who are wealthy, powerful, and prestigious in society. Minorities do not have the resources,such as money, needed to get out of poverty and if some do, they are not sure what to invest their money on in order to become successful. On the other hand, Whites invest their money wisely because they do have resources available to them.
3. I thought this blog post was relevant to me because I am Hispanic and I am currently living in a Hispanic two-parent household. I see my parents struggle to make money, not because they want to struggle, but because they do not have resources. They struggle in order for my family and I to live comfortable. This social issue is relevant in the field of sociology because it shows the conflict between races in today's society.
Mark P. Assignment #2
DeleteI agree that there is a huge problem in America with racial inequality, but I disagree on your reasons. As you stated "Whites have always been superior and they get help from the government to become wealthy. With the government's help, they are able to start their own businesses which they will later pass on to their children." which is a very ignorant thing to say. You can't generalize white people to business, although there is, but not all. I'm half Hispanic/white, growing up in a family with split customs. My uncle is Mexican, he started selling Food on the street with a food cart, to a food truck, and now owns his restaurant. Hard work and self-determination plays a role in a person's success as well. There was no major government involvement with starting his own business. Government actually helps out the less income families including whites, Hispanic, blacks with food stamps and EBT (Free Food/Money). A interactionist would say the major differences between whites, blacks, and hispanic is being educated. Education is one the most important asset in life. Being face to face and learning the proper skills/degree to get a higher paying job. Being able to make more money. My mom and dad are one of the most loving, and encouraging parents, they work their tale off but they didn't go to college and learn individual traits and skills to be successful in life long term. They didn’t instill certain traits that educated parents know and have learn. Proper money management, importance of education, how to do taxes, how to fill out college applications, how to save money, how to spend money, and the list can go on and on. If you have uneducated people marrying uneducated people, having babies without being financially stable, growing up to break the pattern will be difficult. They did teach me my core values on how to be a good person and taught me self determination to be a go getter. I've learn this through personal experience and from school. It’s a great topic to be discussed and gives a cause for concern on why these latinos and blacks are not producing income compared to whites.What programs can we teach young kids and young adults to break the pattern. It raises issues on how can we fix it, what can we do, these questions need to be addressed and put fourth. I chose to comment because it's something my parents are apart of currently. I believe it's how you use your money effectively, know how to spend, save, and invest. Otherwise you'll lose it all.