Deficit Model of Ethnicity and Feminization of Poverty - Essay Example

Module Module ID: Several Topics Deficit model of ethni refers to the negative assumptions established by the mainstream ethno-racial and religious group about the social traits, characteristics, abilities and behavior adopted by the minority groups as well as systematically marginalized people. These disabilities expected by the mainstream population to be existing in the characters and performances of the individuals belonging to the minority or downtrodden groups and communities are partly the outcome of the financial position, appearance and social statuses maintained by the minority and deprived groups. For instance, poor single unwed mothers are considered to be the members of one of the most irresponsible stratum of society, who did not perform their role as daughter and member of society as well before deciding to enter into extra-marital relationship on the one side, and for getting pregnant and giving birth to an illegitimate child on the other. Similarly, the students belonging to poor family backgrounds are expected to be demonstrating poor performance in their academics. Ethnic background particularly plays role in deficit model of ethnicity; it is therefore, the Muslims and Arabs are considered to be aggressive ethnic groups in comparison with the others. Moreover, the blacks are also expected to be law breakers, which would always try to evade the statutes of law. 2. Muslim Americans simply mean the Muslim community of America, members of which have settled in the country as permanent residents, and subsequently have got assimilated with the mainstream culture. Though the Muslims of America have adopted almost all the cultural values prevailing in the mainstream society, yet like the Jewish community, the American Muslims have sustained their unique identity by living amongst the majority Christian faith, without making much compromise on their belief system and religious obligations at large. Total population of the American Muslims has been estimated to be 2.6 million in 2010, which makes almost 0.8% of the aggregate US population. An overwhelming majority of the Muslim population of America is leading a peaceful life, and looks busy in rendering services in labor, jobs and businesses of various kinds. The Muslims have migrated to USA from all corners of the globe, particularly from the Gulf region, South Asia, Africa and Europe. The Muslims migrated from the Gulf region or Middle East are called the Arab Muslims. Though the Arabs are famous for their ethno-racial prejudice against others, yet they lead a peaceful and law-abiding life in the country. Distinguished early twentieth century Lebanese-American Christian philosopher Khalil Gibran also represented the Arab American community, whose remarkable philosophy has laid indelible imprints on the minds of the Americans, Arabs, Christians and Muslims alike. 3. Ideal minority group or community refers to the ethnic, racial or religious group that enjoys the status of a minority in a society, but strictly abides by the statutes of law and the prevailing social norms and values existing in the mainstream culture. Almost all societies of the world contain minority groups within their boundaries; though it is particularly the case with the developed and multicultural nations including the USA, Canada, Europe and Australia. Being the economic and strategic leader of the world, USA observes several minority groups in the country; among which the Germans, Chinese and Koreans are regarded to be the most peace-loving citizens of America, which have rendered tremendous services for the individual and collective uplift of the US society. Moreover, the educational and professional achievements of the German-Americans and Chinese-Americans are also highest ones in comparison with other minorities living in the country. One of the most positive traits of these minorities includes their valuable contributions in the fields of science and technology, economy and education, and others. However, the majority and majority native white Americans have fears and perils regarding their achievements that could deprive the indigenous population of their leading role in politics, social status, financial position, corporate sectors and others. 4. Though Europeans and Australians have also migrated to the USA on permanent basis, yet the Asians make up the most dominant immigrant group of the country. By dint of their hard efforts and commitment to their goals, the Asian Americans have made a sure headway on the way to progress while residing in America. It is therefore Asian Americans have been estimated to be the community that has made highest achievements in the field of education not only among the minority groups, but also to all the US communities including the whites. According to the available statistics, over half of the US born Asians had completed their bachelor education in various disciplines and subjects including engineering, medicine, social sciences, law and others. In addition, the Asians are also leading the other races in respect of obtaining doctoral, professional and masters degrees in various fields at large. It is therefore, the American institutions and organizations are seeking the services of the experienced and qualified Asian Americans in the fields of teaching, medical, nursing, corporate sector and community development programs etc. Consequently, the Asian Americans have obtained a respectable and prestigious place in the most developed and advanced society of the world. 5. The Chinese Americans and Japanese Americans serve as two important Far Eastern communities of the present day USA. Since both these communities belong to the neighboring origins, which had been at war against each other, both of these group several similarities and dissimilarities in their activities and behavior. One of the most significant similarities both these groups maintain includes their dedication and commitment to their work. Being two of the most laborious and hardworking communities of the world, they strictly believe in work in order to earn money and respect in society. Since both these races have trust in efforts, honesty and integrity, the members of these groups seldom evade their responsibilities. However, they also observe dissimilarities too in their behavior. It has aptly been observed that a significant proportion of the Chinese Americans belongs to the middle class of the Chinese society. On the contrary, the large majority of the Japanese immigrants belong to the less educated, poor and working classes of Japan. Another great difference between the two is this that the Chinese are somewhat humble and compromising people, where as the Japanese are more aggressive and even turn violent against their rivals and opponents. 6. Fringe-of-values theory lays stress upon the behavior that appears to be on the verge of the border from where the violation or deviation starts appearing. In other words, it elaborates the edge of the values from where the border or limit of the violation of these values start beginning. For instance, hijab or veil is compulsory for adult women in Islamic cultures and civilizations that extend from the hair of head to the foot with the exception of face, hands and feet. However, uncovering and revealing the arms and neck could be stated the fringe-of-values, though demonstrating the legs and breast cleavage etc as well as leading the life of debauchery and immorality serves as an explicit revolt from the real Islamic values. The same is equally applied to the Jewish community, where refuting to submit to the Jewish traditions serve as the fringe-of-values. The theory also discusses the practices that are thought to be praise-worthy and admirable ones for in-group, though the same are targeted provided these are adopted by the out-groups. However, while defining the same in the banking sector with reference to Jews, fringe-of-values theory applies is a sense that the banks offer loans to the clients, and keep their assets as deposits. However, being the huge traders and largest investors, the Jews play most dominant role in the US banking sector. Since the Jews are, by virtue of their enormous wealth and resources, are in a position to regulate the banking affairs, they also influence on social policies and political schemes of the country. 7. The Jews serve as one of the most influential communities of the world at large, which have kept their separate and unique independence and identity for the last four thousand years while living in several divergent cultures and civilizations of Asia, Africa and Europe in general. Though their population is far lesser than its successor Abrahamic faiths i.e. Christianity and Islam as well as other religions including Hinduism, Buddhism and several others, yet because of the exceptional intelligence, outstanding wisdom, corporate intellect, business ventures and cunningness, they have obtained an imperative status and place in the USA in political and economic fields. The huge investments made by the Jews in almost all financial sectors including industries, stock exchanges, banking and business etc, they are in a position of challenging and crash the US as well as global economy. Though the community has successfully adopted many social traits and cultural values prevailing in American society, yet it has never made any compromise on its religious and spiritual values. It is therefore the community has established its synagogues and religious centers, where they observe their religious practices and celebrate their festivals including Yom-e-Kippur, Sukkoth, kabala, Hanukah, Passover and others with great enthusiasm and religious fervor. Thus, contrary to other minority groups of America, the Jews have turned out to be successful in sustaining their unique identity from the mainstream culture of America. 8. The term feminization of poverty stands for the high proportion of the women undergoing poverty and scarcity of food and other resources because of their no or least participation in the activities related to finance generation and earning. It is particularly the case with the third world populations belonging to Latin America, Africa and many areas of Asia, where a large proportion of women get involved into household work, and hence add no share in money generating activities altogether. It has often been observed that the women belonging to the conservative societies of UAE and others are strictly discouraged by the male stratum because of some religious restrictions on them in respect of working outside four walls of their residences. However, females in other regions of third world are mostly uneducated, less-educated or least skilled; as a result, they are unable to support the male stratum in order to escaping them from their financial worries and pecuniary embarrassments. Since females are neither allowed to seek professional education, nor do they have permission for obtaining skills and technical abilities, they remain completely dependent of the male stratum. Somehow, in case of the death of their male supporters, or after getting divorced from the husbands, women appear to be unable to feed themselves and their dependents. Consequently, they have to lead a life of misery and poverty in the absence of any financial support from any side. 9. The relics and records of historical developments provide sufficient evidence in support of the struggle women had to make in order to earn a respectable place in society equivalent to male stratum in general. The need for such a campaign for winning their rights appeared in the wake of constant refusal of the rights had been made by men against women for the last several centuries. Nineteenth century is rightly regarded to be the age of enlightenment; it was the era that produced the exceptional works of female literary giants like Jane Austen, George Eliot, Bronte sisters, Kate Chopin and others on the one side, and the feminist leaders including Cady Stanton, Susan Anthony and others, struggles of whom paved the way towards obtaining several rights for women on the principles of equality. The Seneca Falls Convention of July 1848 was the first step taken in this direction in order to unite the women against the oppression and injustices being exercised on them by male stratum. The convention demanded complete security from their sexual exploitation, physical tortures and abuses of all kinds being practiced against them by males. The convention encouraged further demonstrations during second half of twentieth century. As a result, women also obtained the right to cast votes in America in 1928. Female participation in politics and corporate sector, as well as winning several other privileges including maternity leaves with pay, discouragement of discriminatory laws and behavior at organizational level, and having right to marry the members of their own gender are also the outcome of the same struggle started by feminists during the initial years of nineteenth century. 10. South Africa is one of the most diversified countries of the world, where the people belonging to various ethnic and racial groups reside in one and the same social environment. Though the blacks are the largest community of the country, which make up nearly four fifth of the total population followed by the whites that are less than 9% of the population of South Africa. There was a time when nearly one fourth of the population consisted of the European whites during the early years of twentieth century. Consequently, the whites had been at the helm of government for many decades in South Africa. The country underwent serious criticism because of apartheid and racial hatred against the blacks, who had to make a long struggle in order to win rights equivalent to the whites. Thus, though blacks are in majority in South Africa, yet whites are there in key posts in almost all state departments and institutions. Thus, color or complexion maintains imperative significance in the country, where the whites serve as the most prestigious racial group followed by blacks and colored ones. The same is also the situation in USA and UK, as in both these countries the white Anglo Saxon Protestants are considered to be more respectable and prestige in social hierarchy in comparison with the members of black community. 11. The theorists have defined few basic traits and characteristics attributed to the minority groups of a society. The first one is their status as oppressed and deprived group that does not enjoy the status equivalent to the mainstream population. Second important characteristic of the minority group is denial of the appropriate respect in social hierarchy, where they are not welcomed by the social fabrics in such a way as the majority group is treated and recognized. Thirdly, the members of minority group have least job and employment perspectives, and hence their services are not required by a large number of the institutions. Fourthly, in most cases, the proportion of the members of minority groups is smaller than the majority population. Finally, the ethno-racial background, culture, language and other traits followed by them are different in nature from the mainstream culture. By closely analyzing these basic traits, it becomes evident that the elderly also have the status similar to the minority groups due to the very reality that the elderly do not enjoy the status equivalent to the other age-groups because of their being unable to earn money and play dynamic role in financial activities (Macionis 2008). Secondly, the senior citizens do not have friends, lovers and companions because of the change in physical and facial features, as growing old loses attraction in people. In addition, since the organizations always look for young and dynamic members of society, the elders are not hired as their health and physical condition does not allow them to demonstrate the performance attributed to the younger generation. Moreover, they are smaller in proportion than both the young and middle aged stratum. Lastly, since the activities and interests of the elderly are quite different from the young people, they remain confined o their personal interests and cub-cultural traits. Consequently, the elderly have the social position similar to the minority groups of society at large. 12. I belong to Asian American population, and male gender. I was born in USA, and got my education in the same country. Being the member of a minority group, I had to face some ethno-racial prejudice from majority population. Consequently, I often had the dreams of becoming the member of WASP; and my desire came true when one day I got up, and found my hands looking white and delicate similar to the white people. I ran to the mirror where I found my hair had turned golden and skin pure white instead of yellowish-brown. It was a great thing for me to notice. I got ready for my office, and got out of my house and stopped at the bus stop. As I entered there, I found the behavior of the conductor and driver a bit more pleasant than usual. Majority of the passengers also welcomed me, while the Asians and blacks looked at me with envy. Since my office also consisted of white majority, I found myself in a better position while making communication with my white superiors, who also appeared to be more cordial towards me. However, I had to face an unspeakable and silent distance from my Asian and black colleagues. I kept on performing my everyday responsibilities at office, and surprisingly entered into challenging contracts with the white customers of my office. On my return, I decided to visit some park; it was also a pleasant experience as the management gave me special protocol because of my being the member of somewhat superior and mainstream racial group. The same was also the situation during my visit to the local community hospital where I had gone for regular medical check-up. On my way to home, I found a black arguing a white on racial issue. On seeing me, the white man calls me for help, and I unconsciously supported his cause without knowing the cause of contention. I returned home, felt extremely delighted and slept again only to get up as an Asian American once again…! However, my dream wide opened new horizons of reality that one is safe and secure only in his indigenous land, and leads a life of secondary citizen in all other regions of the globe. Work Cited Macionis, John J. Sociology eleventh edition Prentice-Hall Inc. 2008 Print Read More