Verified Document

Societal Issue You Selected, And Based On Essay

¶ … societal issue you selected, and based on your analysis, explain how and why the issue represents a threat to equality. Finally, describe the factors you would consider when determining how to address the threat to equality. The concept of equality: Women in the workforce

Equality as a concept is often linked to justice and freedom. However, its precise definition in a political sense remains controversial. Treating everyone the same does not always constitute equality. For example, treating students with special needs the same -- without modifications -- as non-LD students has been called discriminatory. Affirmative action has been defended as rectifying historical injustices because treating women and minority groups 'the same' as males and non-minorities in hiring and promotions can effectively foster inequality. One definition of equality is that "equality' (or 'equal') signifies correspondence between a group of different objects,...

Parts of this document are hidden

View Full Document
svg-one

In the previous examples, the goals of equality are to create an equally adequate education for all students, or to ensure that on a societal level all persons, regardless of origin, have the same opportunities to realize their professional aspirations. Treating members of the group as the same in all respects does not necessarily foster the goal of equality.
This question of what constitutes equality came to the forefront of the national consciousness when a recent article was published in The Atlantic entitled "Can women have it all?" The answer of the author was 'no.' According to Anne-Marie Slaughter, an international affairs professor at Princeton, she struggled balancing home and work needs when she was the former director of policy planning…

Sources used in this document:
This question of what constitutes equality came to the forefront of the national consciousness when a recent article was published in The Atlantic entitled "Can women have it all?" The answer of the author was 'no.' According to Anne-Marie Slaughter, an international affairs professor at Princeton, she struggled balancing home and work needs when she was the former director of policy planning at the U.S. State Department. Slaughter believes that women have an additional burden when forced to juggle a high-powered career and home life. They must take time out to bear children during their optimal child-bearing years, or postpone childbearing until they have established themselves professionally. However, if they have children late, as Slaughter chose to, then they may get their 'dream position' while their children are still relatively young and need a mother at home, versus their male colleagues. Men have more flexibility, given that they are still not required in most households to bear the brunt of the childrearing and housekeeping duties, in terms of how they prioritize work vs. family life. Offering women inadequate options to work flexible hours, find affordable daycare, and telecommute can be tantamount to discrimination against women, even if women are simply being treated 'the same' as men. "She discusses how the culture of time -- staying late at the office, working weekends -- must be adapted to accommodate working parents (mothers and fathers) so they can work from home when necessary" (Welsh 2012).

The notion of equality of resources underlines the current concept of equality within our society -- while we acknowledge that people will have unequal wealth and privileges, we also insist upon creating a 'level playing field' for all, so everyone can attempt to realize his or her potential. "According to Rawls, human beings should have the same initial expectations of 'basic goods,' i.e., all-purpose goods; this in no way precludes ending up with different quantities of such goods or resources, as a result of personal economic decisions and actions" (Goespath 2012).

Slaughter has been criticized for conflating personal satisfaction with equality -- surely everyone must make some
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Controversial Issue Debate Public Safety Vs. Civil
Words: 705 Length: 2 Document Type: Essay

controversial issue debate Public Safety vs. Civil Rights. Prepare a word paper cultural diversity race relate public safety efforts law enforcement security services The debate over the confrontation between public safety and civil rights is nowadays considered a subject that may take the headlines in most newspapers and news television channels. This is largely due to the fact that more and more cases of abuse or racial discontent are placed

Ways of Looking at America and Controversial Issue
Words: 679 Length: 2 Document Type: Essay

America and controversial issue According to historian Frederick Turner, America is by nature a 'pioneering' nation. It is distinctly different in its worldview from Europe, given that it has been founded upon the ideals of newness, expansiveness, and the drive to move forward. Americans are practical, self-reliant, and tough. Turner also suggested that Americans innately 'crave' the frontier to realize the full scope of their ambitions. Americans are hardy, and

Outsourcing Among the List of Controversial Issues
Words: 2499 Length: 8 Document Type: Essay

Outsourcing Among the list of controversial issues relating to jobs and the economy in the United States, outsourcing is right up there near the top. Politicians frequently attack each other using the phrase, "sending our jobs overseas…" and many a politician has been stung by this accusation. Thesis: While there are clearly benefits to be realized by companies that engage in outsourcing, there are also difficulties, drawbacks, and unanticipated expenses associated

Freedom of the Press and Controversial Issues
Words: 1410 Length: 4 Document Type: Research Paper

Freedom of the Press in Sharing Sensitive Information The United States Constitution guarantees several individual freedoms including freedom of speech and freedom of the press. However, there are scenarios where freedom of the press and freedom of speech generate significant concerns and questions, especially with regards to sharing sensitive information or addressing controversial issues. In the modern society, many new outlets across mass media compete for people's attention to an extent

Drug Legalization Is a Highly Controversial Issue,
Words: 551 Length: 2 Document Type: Term Paper

Drug legalization is a highly controversial issue, which has been given top priority in political agenda. Many oppose legalization of cocaine but there are just as many people favoring legalization on various grounds. It is important to study both sides of the problem to see if legalization is practical or not. Those who oppose legalization of drugs maintain that cocaine is a dangerous drug which if legalized will send the

Controversies Over Women's Access Birth Control This
Words: 1230 Length: 4 Document Type: Thesis

Controversies Over Women's Access Birth Control This study focuses on the article titled "Controversies over Women's Access to Birth Control" as written by Marcia Clemmitt. The author reviews different perspectives to close down the issue of dispensing birth control. It begins with an example of a pharmacist who refused to dispense his professional duty due to moral and religious practices. He viewed birth control as an immoral vice. The author explores

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now