First, it should be noted that women have outnumbered men when it comes to population. However, sociologists have constantly referred to them as a minority based on the fact that they are treated differently. Sociologists have attempted to assess factors behind the differential treatment of women in society. They agree on the definition of gender inequality as the unfair treatment of people on the basis of their gender without regarding any other aspect or trait. The status of women in society today is far much better than it was a century ago. In the turn of the 19 th century, a small group of women emerged hell-bent on questioning the role of women. Sociologists agree that the first wave of feminism began during the Civil War era. Women not only fought for their rights but also engaged in abolitionist movements in a bid to end slavery.
The women slowly became united and modified their goals from fighting against slavery to questioning their position in society. The movement continued, and by 1920, women experienced landmark progress where they won the right to vote. The second wave of feminism emerged in the second half of the 20 th century. The aim of this movement was primarily to improve the lives of women. Some of the issues they advocated for included reproductive rights, social security for older women, and better working conditions in their areas of work. On the contemporary scene, gender inequality remains a challenge especially in education where teachers tend to give more attention to male learners and constantly use sexist examples. In the professional areas, women continue to grapple with equality as witnessed in the wage gap. The glass ceiling in many organizations has also limited the likelihood that women will experience upward mobility as much as they would have wanted.
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Native American Assimilation
Over the years, the Native American Indians have been absorbed into the broader American culture. As such, this exemplifies the essence of assimilation in a multicultural society. Assimilation happens when members of a minority group blend into the majority culture and the overall way of doing things. It can either happened as a result of coercion (forced) or voluntarily. The forced assimilation of the Indian tribes began in the early half of the 20 th century when the children of the Native Americans were removed from their community and taken to the government boarding schools. In these schools, they were required to drop their native language including all the rituals associated with their culture. The forced assimilation for the Indian tribes was marked with brutality to ensure that no child retained the traces of their original culture. On the other hand, a voluntary assimilation is a form of blending that does not require any use of force.
Many Native Americans decided to blend into the broader American culture as a way of seeking opportunities. They felt that remaining in their original culture would deny them the much-needed progress they desired in life. Both the forced and voluntary assimilation has come with some degree of implications on the Native American culture. The language has been depleted, and the cultural facets are no longer existent. More people are inclined towards the modern American culture which does not have any rituals and English is the main language. It is therefore difficult for a person today to understand what it really means to be a Native Indian. The assimilation can, therefore, be summarized as a positive and a negative aspect in equal measure. On the one hand, it has brought progress and development to the Native Indian tribes. However, it has also depleted their heritage.
Genocide-Mike Jacob’s Story
The merger between the majority and minority sides normally leads to an outcome that falls between the continuum of intolerance and acceptance. Throughout the interaction, intergroup relations can be characterized by aspects such as genocide, expulsion, slavery, segregation, and assimilation. Such patterns can best be described by individuals who have experienced them. The Second World War is regarded as one of the periods when many atrocities occurred. For instance, the Nazis murdered up to six million Jews. In what came to be known as the Holocaust, the Jews were a minority group and a subject of target by the Nazis. Genocide can be defined as the intentional extermination of the minority by the majority group. Mike Jacobs was only 14 years old when the Nazi occupation began in his native land. He was persecuted based on the fact that he was a Jew. He underwent many troubles including forceful detention.
While in detention, the Nazi gave Mike Jacobs and the rest of the people a number which meant that they were dehumanized and turned into commodities. The numbers were tattooed on the bodies of the Jewish people. Today, the Dallas Memorial Center for Holocaust Studies remains one of the most significant institutions that captured the historical roots of the genocide meted against the Jewish people. It has helped in giving the future generations to know and understand what really happened during the Holocaust. Also, this has helped to debunk myths and lies peddled by many Americans and other people across the world that the Holocaust did not happen. With this level of evidence, no one can deny that the genocide did not happen. The Jewish people were wiped away including young children and women by the Nazis who were hell-bent on performing a tribal cleansing.
Social Interaction: The Ropes Course
Teamwork remains one of the most important aspects of any organization. An effective work group requires synergy and corporation. It is in this regard that organizations continuously organize sessions where their employees can improve their social skills that will improve their skills and attitudes of working together. An example of a team building program that has been employed by many groups is known as the ropes course. The process is geared on a tendency of impacting the culture of trust among the team members. It also provides a platform for the emergence of group leaders based on the performance. Sociologists have agreed that the ropes course can act as the foundation of social development and a platform for the development of responsible leaders. Normally, the person who contributes the most in the team building process tends to emerge as the leader.
During the group interaction process, two types of leaders emerge. The first one is referred to as the task leader who focuses on accomplishing the predetermined goals of the group. The second leader is known as the emotional or secondary leader who focuses on the emotional well-being of the group. Other than leadership, the ropes course session also bolsters the communication skills of the group. The ropes course session also comes with the benefit of social interaction. It, therefore, helps in burying any potential animosity by promoting positive vibes among the group members. It also provides a way of learning the interpersonal skills of the people. Individuals who tend to make decisions and give directions emerge as leaders based on the influence they have on the people. The propensity to lead can be explained using two approaches. The first one is known as the rationality principle which asserts that the benefits of leading potentially outweigh the costs. The second one is known as the pleasure principle which looks at the gratification one receives from helping the members of the group.
The Criminal Justice System: Plea Bargaining
Plea bargaining agreements help in determining the length of a criminal’s jail term in prison. A set of laws known as the "three-strikes and you are out" are the basis for mandatory sentencing. They suggest that repeat offender should be subjected to mandatory sentencing. The laws are meant to deter repeat offenders especially the ones engaging in serious crimes. The philosophy behind the laws is that once an individual performs a serious crime for the third time in a row, they are given mandatory sentencing. However, some judges and jurors have refused to buy the tenets of this law terming it draconian due to the length of imprisonment that could span for between 25 and 30 years.
Plea bargaining allows the prisoners to shorten the periods of their sentencing. The convict, in this case, pleads guilty and requests the court to lower their sentencing as a reward. The plea bargaining process also has benefits for the criminal justice system. Once the offender has had their jail term reduced, the costs associated with their accommodation and services are reduced significantly compared to if they would be allowed to serve the jail term to the end. However, plea bargaining has been criticized as an indictment on the very basic tenets of the criminal justice system. Critics have noted that the plea bargaining process places immense pressure on a person to forgo their constitutional right to a jury trial just to get their charges reduced. The problem significantly affects individuals from low socioeconomic conditions because they cannot afford attorneys.
Globalization
After the Second World War, the economy of the United States became global. The culture of consumerism remains one of the most significant factors that contributed to the globalization of the US economy. Companies such as McDonald’s and Coca-Cola spread their influence across the world with the increasing consumer culture that hallmarked the period prior to the Second World War. The US also invested highly on high-end intellectual products that required research all of which were sold on the global platform. However, researchers have opined that the globalization has presented significant challenges to the social institution of economics. With many countries being drawn to the global scale of business operations, some countries that are not necessarily ready to compete for face undue pressure. When such countries enter into regional and international agreements, the developed countries tend to have a head-start especially in the area of manufacturing, processing, and the overall education of the workforce.
The difference tends to be amplified as the trade between the developed and the developing countries grow. The globalization has both positive and negative effects on the US. For consumers, first, they enjoy the availability of commodities from all over the world. On the flipside, it has contributed to the growing environmental degradation and exploitation of workers. Sociologists also believe that globalization has contributed to the lack of equity and injustice especially given that developed nations such as the US tend to assert its paternalistic tendencies on other less developed countries. Coordination of activities across boundaries remains one of the most fundamental problems that affect the process of globalization. The increased in production and industrialization has far-reaching consequences on the health and the environment in general. The consumerist culture, especially in the food industry, has witnessed a dramatic increase in lifestyle diseases such as cancer and obesity. On the other hand, the factories emit greenhouse gases and clear natural resources hence affecting the ecology.
