Sociological perspectives on race discrimination and gender wage inequality in America

Race and Gender

Sociological Principles/Perspectives of Race

Race is the physical difference that various cultures and groups think are socially different. Principles of sociology seek to establish how ethnicity and race are constructed socially; including how each individual identifies with them. Sociology principles explain that interaction at the social level forms the cornerstone for societal interaction. The way of interaction with others demonstrates people's beliefs and what they hold as valuable as members of a group. Behavior patterns show social relationships that are unequal. These are the elements that trigger ethnicity and racial issues. The issues overlap with elements of yet another principle. For instance, social relationships that are unequal are connected to what people see as true about each other as both individuals and as members of social groups. People frequently generate beliefs about others around them; which often comprise of discrimination and prejudice.

USA constitutes people from various backgrounds. There are various races, religions, cultures, experiences, traditions and faiths. These differences are both assets and liabilities to the existence of the nation. As the head of the Civil Service Commission in the USA, I will develop such policies as stopping discrimination in places such as employment and housing sectors. I will also seek to identify the groups that are commonly discriminated and seek to protect them. I will set up policies of equal opportunity in civic, political, social and economic aspects of life in the community. I will analyze and recommend programs that promote such social understanding and integration to the local government programs. All the programs are grounded in the Functional Perspective. There is need to educate the ethnic minorities in order to empower them for work opportunities and improve their social skills. The policies will also include the conflict perspective and the Symbolic Integrationist perspective (U.S. Department of Justice, 2003).

Gender Gap

The gender gap worldwide arises as a result of many factors that interact. Apart from sexist perspectives, the gap results from social, economic and education factors. It is clear that jobs that were previously a preserve of women are still poorly paid. It is noted that women have made great strides in the last decade, taking up job positions that were previously dominated by men. However, in the same last decade, there has been little effort to integrate work gender-wise. In fact, there has been hardly any progress in some sectors such as construction in forty years. It is also notable that workers in middle skill jobs traditionally performed by women earn a mere 66% of what workers involved in jobs that were traditionally done by men in the same cadre earn. These practices hinder progress on closing the gender gap. It is observed that men still earn more in sectors that were dominated by women. There are still perceptions on some jobs being best suited for either gender. In the field of science, an area predominated by men, there has been significant progress in closing the gender gap in recent times (Hegewisch, & Dumonthier 2016).

Importance of Race

There have been studies that tied the issue of race to a construct of social, political, legal and ideological functions. Indeed, race only has meaning because the society has decided to ascribe some meaning to it. Consequently, the meaning has impact and outcomes. Racism affects all aspects of society and life. Generally, if a race views itself as superior to another, it provides fodder for segregatory treatment. Racially discriminated groups do not get fair access to social amenities and other services. Therefore, such groups exhibit poor quality of social and mental wellbeing (Randall, 2010)

Culture's Influence on Our Ideas about the Elderly

Culture is determined by how we live and the norms that we adhere to. Different cultures handle their elderly people in different ways. Elders are seen as the heads of the extended family in Asian, African and Latino cultures. These groups highly respect and take care of their elderly. In other cultures, that tend to be individualistic, there is still respect for the elderly but this group is often viewed as largely spent physically and mentally. The result of the perception is keeping most of them in nursing homes for the aged. Generally, the majority of seniors are not exactly alienated. Unemployed members of the family assist some of these people to cope and live normally (Brague, 2011).