Unequal & Under-Educated

Keyla Eusebio's Final Tumblr project for SOC 336 Social Inequality

[camalmike-blog]

Bertrand and Mullainathan discovered that most resumes with “white sounding” names got more calls back on average opposed to resumes containing “minority sounding” names. African Americans disproportionately received fewer calls back and this form of racial injustice is consistent with what other sociologists have done research on. Kimberle Crenshaw’s “The New Jim Crow” and Ta-Nehisi Coates, “Between the World and Me” both express severe inequalities that African Americans face. Books and studies like these have proven that being Black in America puts one at a significant disadvantage, even when compared to discrimination towards other minorities.

This study solidifies and provides evidence that African Americans face more obstacles when applying for jobs; this is nothing new in our society and in the following posts I plan to show other forms of hiring discrimination that are not so well known. Other resume audit studies can show signs of discrimination that are not solely based on race.

[keylae]

Mike,

Great use of a study to support your thesis! We read this experiment in Professor Zozula’s class and it was great to delve deeper into the world of discrimination in the work place. The experiment did a great job of being logically sound by researching exactly what “black sounding” names were by utilizing a census of the most common African-American names. I also found that I could relate the study to my personal life. Often times not many people can say my name so I wonder if that ever leaves me at a disadvantage when I’m applying to jobs. I also wonder how many times has my resume been thrown in the trash because they cannot pronounce my name or assume my race because of it. 

This experiment also reminds me of an Asian friend that I have. Since starting her job search she has white washed her name in order to seem more appealing to employers. This is just one of many examples of how discrimination is still alive and thriving in the hiring process.

[davidtuetken]

In achieving a better understanding of artistically expressed social inequality, and potentially qualifying the implications, one must recognize the kinds of “spaces” that the artists exist in.  As sociologist Michel Laguerre mapped out the abstract and geographical “spaces” that racial minorities may find themselves existing within, as a social group in their own right, artists exist within their own kinds of “spaces.”  The characteristics of Laguerre’s minoritized spacing was always shaped respective of majority and mainstream social norms, and the spacing of socially conscious artists should be considered in the same manner.  In railing against their perceptions of structurally created social inequality, as well as their own marginalization by the mainstream as a social group, an artist is essentially railing against the very system that is responsible for fostering said inequality.  Where the artists identify themselves as existing outside of social norms, they are effectively creating a “space” all of their own, secluded from the mainstream.  Within these spaces is an enclave in which artistic expression can more easily flourish, and considered collectively, the existence of multiple spaces across social and political boundaries create a social institution all in itself (Peters, 2015).

[keylae]

David,

I love how you refer to artists as having their own enclave. While I was reading this post I could definitely envision how artists have carved out their own minoritized space in society where they can flourish outside of the discrimination and oppression they experience. That’s why I believe ethnic enclaves are so popular today. Different cultures can form small communities and essentially maintain their ethnic identity while integrating parts of the American culture into their lives.  Certain artists in this case, get to utilize art as their medium to express their unique oppression in addition to uniting with other artists to maintain their own community of support. No other minoritized space will be identical to that of these different and talented artists which I find intriguing.

-Keyla

[keylae]

Educational Inequality and Its Implications

People often say that knowledge is power and with it, you can unlock a door of opportunities. Many believe that any prospect is within your grasp, so long as you have the experience to earn it. Today, the best way to gain knowledge is by getting a quality education in school and becoming a dedicated student. However, while the sentiment of this quote is promising, it fails to recognize that not everyone has the privilege of receiving an education worthy of procuring such power. As one of the most powerful countries in the world, we currently have the widest education gap between the rich and poor. As a result, majority of job opportunities and chances of upwards social mobility are granted to more affluent white students who can attain a higher education. With a great amount of minority students living in underfunded school districts and performing poorly in school, the struggle for students to progress into higher education has been steadily increasing. Yet, the key to decreasing this gap lies in creating a multicultural education by considering the intersecting identities of minority students and dispersing resources more evenly across America. Without access to better teachers and a teaching resources students fall behind and struggle to catch up to their white counterparts which makes it harder for them to advance. By remedying these issues, we could potentially see an overall improvement in educational inequalities. The lack of a diverse curriculum and school funding in low performing, poverty stricken schools is the cause of minority students poor academic performance and inability to achieve upwards social mobility.

[keylae]

Intersectionality and Why Schools Need It

Once of the most important aspects when it comes to providing a quality education to any student is intersectionality. The theory, which was firm coined by Kimberle Crenshaw, suggests that there is a simultaneous experience of categorical and hierarchical classifications including but not limited to race, class, gender, sexuality, nationality, and other identities. Each individual person has varying intersecting identities that come together to create their own unique social location within society. No one person has the completely same identity as another person which is why it is imperative we respect each other’s differences especially from a young age.

The reason why intersectionality is important is because it allows us to recognize certain privileges that each individual person has or does not have. It also enables us to appreciate the diverse backgrounds students come from which establishes a sense of pride and confidence for students to apply themselves in a classroom setting. Without knowing about their advantages and disadvantages they have in the real world, students are “submissive and vulnerable, and a target to those who may wish to exploit for labor and pay them criminally low wages” (Thought.co). A lack of knowledge makes them a victim to unequal access to opportunities which is why having a diverse teaching and learning experience will greatly benefit to close the gap in academic performance between lower class black, Hispanics and upper-class whites.

[keylae]

The Importance of a Multicultural Education

One of the most important aspects of a child’s education is the relationship they have with their teacher. Within that relationship, students must trust and feel supported by their teacher. Most importantly, there must be a mutual understanding and respect between teachers and students to establish a strong bond. In terms of a more diverse classroom, it is very important that a teacher accepts and appreciates the different cultural background of their students. This sets the tone of how a teacher will behave and treat their students. Sadly, not every teacher is racially conscious in their teaching and learning habits which short changes students.

In his research, Halah Ahmed Alismail found that “teachers, who negatively perceive ethnic minorities, have also shown differential and biased treatment of students based on stereotypes of gender differences and students’ last names” (Alismail, 2016: 142). By ignoring the unique cultural traditions and background of a student, the child will already feel a sense of discrimination from their teacher. When forced to adhere to the social norms of the white American culture, students then participate less in the classroom because they do not feel accepted.

Research also shows that “students’ perceptions of differential treatment, exclusion, and discrimination by teachers and other adults in school appear to play a role in poor outcomes among youth of color in school. For example, perceived discrimination has been linked with mental health problems, including anti- social behavior, depression, and low self-esteem” (Bottiani, Bradshaw, & Mendelson, 2016: 1177). In addition to being discriminated against, students also run the risk of developing health and mental issues which is yet another barrier that will keep them from succeeding in school.

To combat this, teachers should learn how to incorporate lessons that recognize different cultures and learning styles to create a more inclusive learning environment for students. Not only would they learn to appreciate other culture, but they gain a greater multicultural understand and respectful of their peer’s differences. 

[keylae]

Why Teachers Matter

In an article entitled The Cost of Inequality: Education is the Key to It All, we are introduced to a man named Deval Patrick who was a successful two-time governor of Massachusetts after persevering through a tough childhood in the housing projects of Chicago. Patrick owed a part of his success to the teachers who encouraged him to do great things despite the odds being racked against him. Patrick explained that “what great teachers gave me was not just the skills to take advantage of new opportunities, but the ability to imagine what those opportunities could be. For a kid from the South Side of Chicago, that's huge” (Ireland, 2016). While most people believe that Patrick did it all on his own, there is no denying that support and encouragement from his teachers are what instilled the confidence in him to maintain his motivation to continue his education and seek opportunities outside of Chicago.

The relationship that students have with teachers inside of the classroom are a conduit for success because students feel cared for. Patrick felt that sense of support so he engaged in class and applied himself because he knew his teachers would most likely notice if he fell behind. Teachers who are fairly paid, invested in their students, and are dedicated to providing a quality learning experience is what can help improve the academic performance of minority students.

[keylae]

No Child Left Behind

Unfortunately, not all teachers across America are like Deval Patrick’s. Most of this has changed since the birth of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLBA) which created a strict curriculum that hindered the progress of decreasing the education gap. First introduced as a law in 2002, America was promised a plan that would help disadvantaged students develop their basic math and reading skills. The program basically set out to hold teachers and students accountable for their academic performance and create reformed curriculum which would increase the qualifications for teachers to ensure a quality of education. However, as points out in his article Exacerbating Inequality: The Failed Promise of the No Child Left Behind Act, he explains how the purpose of the NCLBA is not conducive to helping students and teachers achieve academic greatness because it measures their yearly progress through standardized testing as opposed to individually tracking both groups academic achievements. Instead the NCLBA exacerbates inequality by punishing the underperforming schools.

Moreover, Hursh found that “schools are not evaluated on whether their test scores are improving but on whether the aggregated and disaggregated test scores exceed the threshold, even if their scores fall. Similarly, schools that begin with initially low scores may be considered failing even if they significantly improve their test scores, as long as those scores remain below the threshold” (Hursh, 2007: 299). Essentially, standardized test scores are not truly tracking the progress of students even if they do improve which perpetuates the belief that even if low performing schools improve, it is still not enough to garner them a positive review. By putting less focus on trying to force the NCLBA program that obviously does not fit every school across America, we should be finding new ways to personalize an education for people who come from a disadvantaged background and close the educational gap as best we can.

[keylae]

Separate and Unequal

Sixty years after the Supreme Court declared separate schools for black and white children unconstitutional, school segregation is making a comeback.

Real Life Inequality

In this short film, you can see the real-life effects of the Brown v. Board of Education in 1954 which deemed that racial segregation in schools was unconstitutional. Since then, the ruling has changed the face of education. The video follows two areas in Baton Rouge, LA that is fighting to break away into two school districts that will inevitably excluded black students from going to school with white students in a better school system. We also see the great extreme parents go to put their children in a better school system towns away. Today we now have a separate and unequal schooling system where the white students are reaping all of the benefits and Black and Hispanic students are once again left at a disadvantage.

Nikki Dangerfield, a black mother, whose children attend three different schools across Baton Rouge says “the benefit of going to schools with different cultures and children that have different economic backgrounds, they see a better life. And they can say ‘okay, what can I do to have a better life?’” (Koughan & Robertson, 2014; 2:00). Nikki knows the benefits of getting a proper education which is why she is so adamant in doing whatever it takes to send her children to reputable schools no matter how far away they are.

[keylae]

How a Lack of Resources Can Hurt

NY Times article Education Gap Between Rich and Poor Is Growing Wider showcases the staggering issues of educational inequality and where the gap exists. Eduardo Port points out that “real estate taxes that are more plentiful in neighborhoods with expensive homes, public education is becoming increasingly compartmentalized” (NY Times). Essentially, well-funded schools are almost always located in affluent neighborhoods where they can hoard opportunities from the underclass which creates an educational stratification. Most of the time these neighborhoods are also predominantly white as they make up most of the upper class. In those well-funded school, students can gain a better education with more qualified teachers who wish to teach at reputable schools with children who have have better performance scores. The money that goes into schools is translated into better teaching supplies for classrooms, hiring better qualified teachers, and hiring teachers for kids with behavior or learning disabilities. In addition to this, the money also goes into sports and activities for kids to join and increase their extracurricular experiences for college.

Unfortunately, urban neighborhoods who have black and or Hispanic students have a greater chance of being underfunded because of the low property taxes and reputation of having low-performing schools because of the NCLBA. Statistically speaking, Stanford University education professor Sean Reardon reported test results from every school district saying“of the 1,000 poorest districts in the U.S., only 68 (6.8%) have mean test scores at or above the national average”( The Atlantic). Once again, the poorest districts in the U.S. are compromised of mostly minority students who are failing to perform at the academic level of schools that are predominantly white. Without the proper tools, young students do not learn basic math and reading schools that will help them progress into the next stages of their education and where they fail to gain enough experience for a higher education.

[keylae]

Richest & Poorest School Districts

According to USA Today these two graphs showcase the top 5 poorest and richest schools across America in 2013. They identified these schools by reviewing the districts with the highest and lowest median household incomes by utilizing the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. These numbers do not include private education (USA Today).

[keylae]

Graduation Rates Across Races

As you can see in this graph provided by Kfir Mordechay, there is a visible gap between White and Black student’s graduation rates and an even more unsettling gap between White and Latino students. Upon closer inspection, Mordechay found that “Latinos experiencing the steepest decline between 2007 and 2008, a reduction from 90.6 to 86.8%. During the same period, Black students’ graduation rate decreased from 93.6 to 91%” (Mordechay, 2017: 58). Once again, a great educational inequality lies in household income which was greatly affected by the 2008 recession. This set of data perfectly showcases how having a greater amount of money being poured into school districts can increase the resources used to aid students in performing better in school.

[keylae]

Why Equality May Never Happen

In Uses of the Underclass in America, Herbert Gans claims that the role of lower class, under educated citizens benefit the upper-class in many ways. Gans explains “perhaps the most important economic function of the undeserving poor today is that their mere presence creates jobs for the better-off population, including professional ones” (Gans, 1994: 317). Basically, under educated people, who happen to mostly be minorities, are needed to fulfill jobs that require less educational experience. Without them the elite cannot profit and get jobs that have a higher yearly salary.

Another reason why educational equality may never happen is because of interest convergence. The theory suggests “because racism advances the intersects of both white elites (materially) and working-class Caucasians (physically), large segments of society have little incentive to eradicate it” (Delgado and Stefancic, 2017: 8). Not much is done in terms of attempting to eradicate discrimination because the use of it benefits white upper-class citizens. Keeping low-class minority students in impoverished areas with bad school systems will make it harder for them to for them to go to a four-year college. Inevitably, the students will fall behind and fill the roles of lower end career such as jobs in the service industry. Sadly, this will disable them to advance economically and socially. Overall, educational inequality will be hard to abolish completely when it is deeply rooted in the advancement of one specific race. Since America is ruled by the white upper class, they would not genuinely attempt to close the educational gap since it benefits them so much.

[keylae]

Conclusion

Overall, there is no denying that there is a large gap between the academic success of white and minority students. One of the largest problems we have is a disproportionate amount of minority students not graduating high school as a result of the education gap. A way to remedy this issue is by creating a more diverse curriculum that allows students to gain a better understanding of different cultures and learning how to appreciate their own heritage. Teachers who also place an importance on creating an inclusive environment and curriculum will also serve as a great way to make minority students feel more welcomed and respected by their teachers.

By dispersing funds and resources equally across school districts, we would better equip all students with the equal chance and tools necessary for creating a better-quality education. As a result, students will be more prepared for attaining a higher education. Unfortunately, there are larger societal factors that will make educational equality hard to accomplish. Interest convergence will keep the powerful upper-class from helping to eradicate the achievement gap as it serves as a stepping stone for them to maintain their power. And finally, without an underclass there would be no space left in society for everyone to be in the upper-class which is why they will continue to hoard opportunities from the lower class. Altogether, the lack of a diverse curriculum and school funding in low performing, poverty stricken schools is the cause of minority students poor academic performance and inability to achieve upwards social mobility.