Social Construction of Family - Essay Example

1. The films are best depictions of racism and gender discrimination in the country. The Academy award-winning films tackle these vital issues head-on with plots that evolve around them meticulously. In ‘Crash,’ the several stories which are intertwined with each other is very much focused on racism as seen in the different viewpoints of the characters in the movie. The dynamics between the veteran cop and his younger partner is particularly interesting. The character played by Matt Dillon is outspoken about his bigotry against African Americans. This obtained somewhat to a passive degree the annoyance of his younger counterpart played by Ryan Philippe. The explanation is on the back story of how the father of Dillon’s character actually went out of job because of the race he so ardently abhors as a consequence. While the irony is that the one between them who seemed to be unprejudiced actually killed a young Black man because of his fear unwittingly proving that he himself is prejudiced against the other race. Racism against Hispanics was also portrayed against the Caucasian district attorney due to his wife against some of their household help. ‘The Freedom Writers’ focuses on stereotyping and the inevitability of the conundrum that stereotypes become so for a reason. In the film Hilary Swank plays Erin Gruwell teaching ‘unteachables’ the effects of hate and racism in relation to their own lives. Throughout the film the viewer sees how even in classrooms the students segregate according to race. She struggled to do her job as she is resisted not only by her students but also by those higher in rank concerned with losing or damaging the textbooks. A pivotal moment was when she witnessed a crime which involved her actual students. Her diligence and compassion eventually led to the respect of her students with their rekindled passion for learning regardless of their race and status in life instigated with the story of the Holocaust. A significantly older film, ‘Rosie the Riveter’ revolves around Rosie Warren and Vera Watson who work at a plant. This story, unlike the two previously mentioned, is significantly focused on the issue of gender bias in 1940s United States. It delves on the emergence of feminism and Rosie serves as the best portrayal of this movement at that time. At this era, where many of the men were at the frontlines of war, the women took on jobs which were previously held by men alone. The bigger question was on what happens after the war and the women are expected to return home to do household chores as men return to their place at work. This time was notable because this was when women were accepted as part of the workforce that drives the economy and they are no longer subjected to the linear notion that they must remain as housewives. What these films impart is the virtue of tolerance. This is the driving force that must be inculcated in every individual to be accepting of others. Because there are always going to be differences, they may be in color or they may be in race, but as long as there is tolerance over other people then peace could be achieved. Racial discrimination and gender bias takes its root from hate. This has been wrongfully instilled through different forms. It may be apparent as well as indistinguishable but as long as there is tolerance then this could be cast off. I believe that everyone in class was able to appreciate the need to abandon bigotry in all of its forms. It is not productive nor does it bring anything good in general. As everyone was able to fully appreciate this and apply tolerance in our daily lives then this helps in reducing the problem substantially. 2. Diverse social positions affect the economic and political access of each individual in a community. This should not be happening as the government is implementing policies to reduce discrimination but still it exists. As we all know, our society is composed of what we call as “the upper class” and “the lower class”. The gap between these two classes has already extended its effects up to the economic and political aspect. Members of the upper class have great advantage over the members of the lower class in terms of economic accessibility. They have more and easier access to almost all of the economic resources because they have the main mean of acquisition, which is capital. On the other hand, the members of the lower class will be left with lesser opportunity for economic advancement as they will be contented serving the capitalist as workers. Capital, mostly in the form of money, makes the factors of production more accessible for the capitalists and to increase their wealth. In this sense, capital and wealth, which are abundant among the members of the upper class, are the contributing factors for the inequality. The diversity in social positions has also affected the political access of the individual in a society. This is very evident as the members of the lower class show minimal participation in the political arena. To be involved in politics also require significant amount of funds to be used in political activities such as campaign rallies during elections. And because the members of the upper class are capable of producing these funds, they are more likely to win over their lower class counterpart. In effect, they are likely to entertain individuals who are coming from the same class who can also be their potential contributors of future funds. This again will leave the members of the lower class behind. In addition, the members of the lower class keep themselves busy with their works to earn a living and let politics be a business for the members of the upper class. 3. In some societies or countries, occupations are still classified as to male or female job. This is a clear example of gender based discrimination at workplace. But as we analyze the situation, we can say that this type of discrimination is attributed to several factors like wage rate gap, education, physical factors, family law and religion. Wage rate gap is one factor that causes these differences. The explanation for male employees given higher wage rate than its female counterpart is that in economics, the value of a male’s job is valued more than that of a female. This is because females’ work is considered to be at home rather than at the industry. So, in case they want to join the workforce, they are given lower wage. The employees’ educational background and qualification is another contributing factor to these differences. The opportunity to have a degree which was once given only to the males makes them more qualified and preferred for some jobs but as time passed by their female counterparts are showing the same interest to be qualified for the same job. Each job requires specific type of skill. If the job requires more of physical strength, we say that it is more of a male job. Then jobs that are not that heavy are considered and given to the female workers. This only shows that we are sometimes underestimating the capabilities of a person just because of his/her gender. In this case, the equality at workplace that females are longing is becoming too far. Government’s policies on family law have also something to do with this discrimination. Some countries still implement law that the head of the family should be male and that females should stay home and take care of the households. As head of the family, he should also be the wage earner for the family. So in line with this, industry jobs are given to males and works about homes are for females. The countries’ religion and culture is also considered to explain these differences. Some religions are conservative and do not allow female to work outside their homes while some cultures considered male as the dominant gender in their societies leaving all the works to them. 5. Affirmative Action is losing favor in the United States but not in a negative way. It has slowly lost its way into its integration to the construction of policies as the country has adopted a more color blind policy. In this sense, it has acquired a notion of being insignificant as there is a pre-conceived idea that equality has more or less been established. The need for affirmative action necessitates from the atmosphere of rampant inequality in areas such as race, gender, religion, etc. It is a way to set equilibrium to give equal opportunity to a particular minority to give them advantage over the minority. This is in the hopes of generating a balance in the social order of the country. If and when this balance has been achieved then the need for affirmative action is no longer required. This proves to be a verified argument in the current status of the country. The indispensability of integrating affirmative action in its policies is already misplaced. The view over all of its population integrates upon itself the classifications of gender and race. Therefore, these areas which were formerly regarded as minority no longer subsist. Affirmative action has lost favor because it has arrived at a time when the goals behind its formulation had already been achieved. 7. Despite the widening wage rate gap between the two genders, women in all races are very eager to increase their participation in the labor market for some reasons. This includes gender competition, education, self-worth, single parent and recession. Gender competition in all its aspect is driving more women to join the workforce. Specific industries like the banking and insurance companies benefitted from the increasing number of female employees. Female workers are still working to achieve equality at work place. Because women want to have equal rights and benefits with their male counterparts, they strive to work hard and continue to advance themselves by pursuing their studies and earning a degree. This educational attainment will serve as their passes for a promising career and a brighter future. Women in the society are not given much role before (Center for the Study of Instruction, p.305). They might be hired to do housework or to teach grammar at school but they are not expected to work for pay at most jobs outside their homes. This, however, made them to work more and prove their self-worth. As the typical family set up is changing, we also have changing roles in the society. The women in particular are now capable of raising their own children without the help of their husbands. And at their own risk, they make themselves work and receive pay for their children to live a normal and decent life. During recession, there is a decline in total output, income, employment and trade (McConnell and Brue, p.134) . This economic downturn can last for six months and within this times the women in the family/society can help the males to earn for them to be able to sustain their loss income. This will also make a good substitute in cases when the family’s wage earners usually the male are being laid off. 12. Over the past 30-40 years, there has been a lot of changes in the typical American family. This includes the definition of family, pursuing of individual goal instead of family goal,both parents working, single parents and extended families. Families before are composed of a father, mother and their child/children. Nowadays, it could be a father, mother and their pet. Having a child in the family is not the primary goal of each parent now as they are both busy with their own works. From familistic goal before, each member now are allowed to pursue their individual goal and free to work on their own to achieve it. This is cause by the society trying to exercise more freedom. More freedom is being enjoyed by each member but this freedom of course will come a responsibility. The changing roles given in the society is extended to the family members’roles. Now the father is not the only one to work for the family but also the mother. With both parents working, the standard of living is expected to be better as they will provide more income for the family. A family with single parent is also a scene in the American family. It is either raised by a mother or a father only and is trying to live a normal life. This may be a result of divorce between the parents. However, the society is neither encouraging it nor prohibits. Modern American families now are one of extended families as a result of either the divorced father or the divorced mother having a second family or both. As a sign of going on with life, they begin to build another family. And most of the time, these families are all acquianted with each other. BIBLIOGRAPHY Center for the Study of Instruction. The Social Sciences: Concepts and Values. San Francisco: California State Department of Education, 1973. McConnell, Campbell and Stanley Brue. Macroeconomics: Principles, Problems and Policies. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2005. Read More