The Distribution of Economic and Social Resources - Essay Example

A Reaction Paper Race and are two most important factors which determine the distribution of economic and social resources. In the article Families on the Fault Line: Americas Working Class Speaks about the Family, the Economy, Race, and Ethnicity, Lillian B. Rubin identify four different working class families: white, black, Latino and Asian. They have much in common fighting with harsh realities of life and social problems. The three main themes cover social, cultural, and economic changes which affect these families.

A major concern of social thinking is to identify the nature of these relations and to trace their social and political effects. Cultural factors have a great impact on working class families, their opportunities and promotion. Rubin gives an example that for a white worker it is easy to obtain a god job in contrast to Latino or Asian minority employees. She underlines that failing economy deepens cultural diversity and limits opportunities to earn for living. The main factor which prevents equal distribution of wealth and social resources is racial prejudices.

Many political leaders and economists reject the fact that racial prejudices and even racism become one of the factors which prevents many people from educational and professional opportunities. Rubin illustrates that many Latino and black families face with the problems caused by educational segregation of their children, differences between men and women, rights violation and neighbors’ hostility, racial inequity regarding pay for work. Taking into account social factors, Rubin unveils social realities form the backdrop for future generations.

For instance, Rubin explains that white ethnicity has deep roots and is closely connected with psychological and political factors. The author underlines that new immigrants including Latino, Asians and blacks force white working class to ‘establish a public identity’ that helps them to rise above new comers. It includes job opportunities and equal pay, training and childcare, etc. Poor education and absence of equal opportunities with “white” working class majority (men) is he main factors limited the equal distribution of economic and social resources.

To analyze the issue of racism, it should be mentioned that racisms is depicted as regimes of state power organized via institutional frameworks as part of the disciplinary power of state agencies, but which is subject to ongoing contestations. Latinos and Asians are deprived their chance to compete on the labor market limited by established social norms and prejudices. The third, an economic factor, is connected with race, ethnicity and social context. Taking into account correlation between social factors and economic position of most Americans, it is possible to say that race is a salient factor which prevents many Latino and Asians from opportunities available for the majority of population.

For instance, if a black family feels in America at home, Latinos and Asians are immigrants who experience politics of victimization (Rubin, p. 250). Also, Rubin underlines that an economic factor and poverty is the main problem experienced by four different families belonging to working class. Low class location prevents people to obtain social respect and opportunities available for middle and high class citizens. There is threat for some middle-class Latinos and blacks move into working-class because if economic problems and racial prejudices.

In sum, the article gives a careful analysis of modern families from both sociological and psychological perspectives. Taking into account arguments mentioned above it is possible to say that race is the salient factor which negatively influences socio-economic standing of people. This negative factor is supported and intensified by low class location of the Asians who from the early age are “excluded” from society. Also, entire populace of racial minorities is moved to poor dwellings and social conditions so they would vastly bid up the price of land and the price of existing housing.

In contrast, white majority lives in better social conditions, receives better education and has an opportunity to buy property. In Chicago and other cities Latinos and blacks are segregated and isolated from white working class populace living in very poor regions. References 1. Rubin, Lillian B. Families on the Fault Line: Americas Working Class Speaks about the Family, the Economy, Race, and Ethnicity. Journal of Marriage and the Family, Vol. 57, No. 1 (Feb., 1995), p. 250.