Paper 1, Racial and Ethnic Inequality

Learning Objectives• Accurately describe the social, economic, and

political dimension of major problems and dilemmas facing contemporary American society;

• Use knowledge and analyses of social problems to evaluate public policy, and to suggest policy alternatives, with special reference to questions of social justice, the common good, and public and individual responsibility.

About the paper

The major part of this course is the development of a 12-15 page paper in which you will analyze a current, controversial social problem, review public policy related to this problem, present both sides of the argument, and compare/contrast your own solution. The paper will be completed in three stages. Information about the paper will be given on the first day of class.

Paper One• Background of the Social Problem,• Due 7/21/2011• Submit Papers in two ways– In Class on 7/21– On turnitin.com by 11:59 p.m on 7/21 (5 pt deduction

if you fail to do this

• The paper you turn into class is your graded paper• No late papers

Paper 1 Specifics

• Must be in MLA format– Header– Page numbers– Margins– Internal citations– Works Cited Page

• 5-6 pages in length plus works cited page• 10 citations needed

Paper I Format

The Paper RubricComponents• Introduction• Scope of the problem• Origin Causes• History and Background• Current Policy

Paper I Format (Cont)

• Working Definitions and Terminology section– A separate section for this paper– This will only be used in this paper– This puts the reader up to speed on your topic– Include the Key words and terminology (e.g.

OASDI, ICRA, etc)

• No Conclusion• Works Cited Section

Gender

• It is an ascribed status

• Gender Inequality is called Sexism

The move for Gender Equality

• Early Feminist Movement- Political and Economic

– Property laws– Working Conditions– 18th and 19th Amendment

The Current Status of Gender Equity

• policy must be reasonable and not arbitrary, and must rest on some ground of difference.

• Some Exemptions still exist

Gender Discrimination in Education

• De Jure segregation is illegal

• Title IX

• Where we have seen gains

Gains in Education

Where Gender discrimination in Education still exists

• Going on For Terminal Degrees (J.D, PHD, M.D)

Gender Discrimination in the Work Force

• Occupational selection

• A dual labor market- Pink Collar Jobs

• A Glass Ceiling

The Wage Gap

• Women earn about 77% of what men earn (full-time, for the same Year)

• This is not Unique to the United States

The Wage Gap over Time

Why The Wage Gap: Career Choice

Why the Wage Gap

• Longevity

• Family and Children

• Negotiations

• All things Equal

Women in the Military

• Women are 15% of the Armed Forces

• Some areas Remain Closed off

Gender discrimination against males

• Avoidance of female dominated professions

• Insurance rates based on gender

• The Military Draft

Racial and Ethnic Inequality

Race and Ethnicity

• Not the Same

• Race is biological

• Ethnic groups are cultural

African Americans

• Largest non-white racial group in the U.S.

• First African Americans arrived in 1619

• No other group experienced Slavery in America

Dred Scott vs Sanford

• Involved a slave suing for his freedom

• Court ruled that he had no standing to sue

• Set the groundwork for the Civil War

The Ending of Slavery

• 13th Amendment

• 14th Amendment

• 15th Amendment

Racial Discrimination after Reconstruction

• Very Common throughout the U.S.

• De Facto in the North

• De Jure in the South (Black Codes/Jim Crow Laws)

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

• Court ruled in favor of de jure segregation

• Equal protection of the law did not apply to non-political equality or to the actions of states.

The Development of Civil Rights Policy

• Initial Goals

• The Role of Public Opinion

The Role of the 14th Amendment

• Original Purpose

• State Segregation

Brown Case (1954)

• Class action suit involving 4 states

• Court struck down De Jure segregation

• Resistance to The Decision

The Current Racial Balance of Schools

• De Facto Segregation Rules the Day

• Federalism and Funding are the reasons.

Civil Rights act of 1964

• Adds Teeth to the Brown Decision

• Ends Segregation through Law

• Cross-Cutting legislation regarding federal funding

Voting Rights act of 1965

• Ends State attempts to deny suffrage to African-Americans

• African Americans vote at almost the same rates as Whites today.

Affirmative Action

• Results vs. Opportunities

• Hard Quotas are a violation

• Racial Preferences may be used

Despite these gains, African Americans Still Lag in

Income

Health Care

Education

Public Policy and Hispanic Americans

• Race vs. Ethnicity

• Problems within the Hispanic Community

Hispanics in America

• 13.4% of the Population- the largest racial/ethnic minority group

• One of the fastest growing groups

The Largest Hispanic Groups in America

Largest Groups

• Puerto Rico

• Mexico

• Cuba

Immigration- The Defining Issue for Hispanics

• Sources of Immigration

Current Immigration Policies

• The U.S. accepts more immigrants than all other nations of the world combined– 1,000,000 per Year

• We also have many people here illegally– Visa violations– False Documentation– Surreptitious crossings

Immigration Policy

• Legal Immigration– The end of quotas– Preferences for Family members and skilled persons– The ICRA

• Illegal Immigration– No constitutional right to enter the US– Once you do, you are protected by the Constitution

Immigration in the United States

• 38 million foreign born Americans

• Immigrants are 12% of the population

• Estimated 10-15 million illegal immigrants in the United States.

Immigrants in America Today

Country of Origin- Legal immigration

Country of Origin- Illegal immigration

Why People Come to the USA

• Economic Opportunity

• The American Dream

• This is a reason that immigration of all forms is down!

Who is in charge of Immigration Policy?

• The Federal Government sets the rules

• States Bear the costs

This causes animosity (e.g. Arizona)

Policy Stalemate

• This does not break down on party or ideological lines.– Business

– High Tech

– Ethnic and racial Groups

• This makes reform difficult

What to do?

• Enforcing the Current Laws

• Securing the Border

• Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Political Impact of Reform

• Latino Voters are a political unknown

• They have the potential to be a decisive block of voters

• The Latino electorate currently favors the Democratic Party

Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation

• Not based on a visibly ascribed status

• Not counted in the U.S. Census

Homophobia

• What it is it?

• What are the results

Legal Protections

• Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act

• Lawrence v. Texas (2003)

Legal Restrictions

• Don’t Ask Don’t Tell– http://movieclips.com/watch/stripes-1981/willing-to-learn/

• Defense of Marriage Act

• The laws in Texas

Age Discrimination

• Work and Retirement

• Age discrimination in Employment Act of 1967

• Work Place discrimination