A Brief Overview of Current Inequalities

There have been continuous changes relating to the social and economic status of race and ethnicity, as well as with gender equality. For example, the time after World War II was a great era of resistance and activism. It consisted of the civil rights movement as well as the women’s movement and the gay rights movement that highlighted years of inequality and outright discrimination.

The military has a history of inequality in the United States but it has also made incredible strides relating to the formalization of racial integration. According to Fitzgerald, “The military is the only arena where equality of opportunity if formalized, and its racial integration is unmatched. While we can look to the military as a leading organization in racial integration, it is not currently a racial paradise not has it historically been so.” (Fitzgerald, 2017, p. 445)

Employment inequality for both minorities and women continues to be a problem to this day. Various studies have suggested that employers are more favorable to white male applicants than to their minority and female counterparts. They also tend to be promoted at higher rates and are more evenly distributed in positions of leadership. The gender wage gap also continues to be a topic of contention, but also a statistical reality.

Sports are another institution that has considerable increase in racial integration, especially considering its past of segregation via gentleman’s agreements. Although it is inarguable that sports teams today have become more diverse since then, discrimination still occurs in sports. In particular, the practice of stacking, which keeps minorities out of positions of leadership, still occurs today. For example, the role of quarterback is still overwhelmingly white and minorities are not well represented in coaching positions. (Fitzgerald, 2017, pp. 442 - 445)

The media continues to perpetuate discrimination and stereotypes, with minority groups continually portrayed as aggressive and dangerous criminals. A good example of this is members of the Black Lives Matter movement being labeled as a hostile terrorist group rather than the more accurate label of social and political activist group.

Bibliography

(2017). Chapter 11: Arenas of Racial Integration: Interracial Relationships, Multiracial Families, Biracial/Multiracial Identities, Sports and the Military. In K. Fitzgerald, Recognizing Race and Ethnicity: Power, Privilege, and Inequality. Boulder: Westview Press.

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