The practical exercise provided a clear insight into inequalities and biased perceptions. My initial expectation was to learn about social problems and their impact on life. Indeed, the four chapters reviewed outlined facts on how I negatively view poverty, racial and ethnic inequality, gender inequality, and disability. It was an eye-opener to see cognitive prejudices such as reasons why minority groups represent the most impoverished people in the country challenged through facts. For instance, the first question that came to mind whenever I would encounter a homeless African American was, "they are lazy," or why can't they get a job"? Such myths in our capacity are insensitive to the inequalities that run deep within our economies. As Eitzen et al. (2017) outline, although 10 million people were employed in 2014, three million ended up in poverty. Hence, as much as the problem is about unemployment, how much a person earns hinders livelihood.
Also, it helped shift the learning process from a passive point to an active position. Through the process, I had to seek information and learn about non-governmental organizations assisting persons with disabilities. I also had to inquire from the director of Christian Blind Mission International, an organization in Congo helping the blind. The interaction made me understand the beauty, intelligence of blind persons to rely on four senses. It also enlightened an understanding of the difficulties of working with insufficient funds, systemic corruption, and political pressure. The process challenged held bias of perceiving disability based on the persons' physicality, which leads to prejudice that such persons are deficient. Indeed, Eitzen et al. agree that as practitioners help with the biological causes of disability, the major problem of disability is social. I realized that I was drawn to an NGO in Africa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with a held bias on poverty levels in a third world country. I also chose an institution helping the blind because I view such persons with pity.
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As Christians, we respond to inequality by providing a haven based on religious beliefs. Unlike earlier days when churches engaged in a Christian economic thought that helped in social movements, nowadays, Churches focus on their relationship with social inequalities to solve stressors facing a group of people. For instance, a church can establish an NGO to feed the hungry and cater to the disabled. However, according to Eitzen et al. (2017), the number of charities has declined while volunteering reduces the chances of reaching out to the needy. Indeed, I believe the church's methods do not help outline the real issues facing poverty, discrimination on gender, race, or gender inequality. On the other hand, when we engage Christ, we become active in our deeds and actions towards inequality. As Carter (2020) asserts, engaged Christians see historic commemoration as justice and righteousness. In our time, ideal solutions are about recognizing these injustices and challenging institutions, cultural deficiencies, economic disparities, and holding the political class accountable.
Consequently, since we have to live in a gendered society, inequality has negatively impacted interpersonal relationships. Inequality has created a conflict that in most cases, end up bringing divisive outcome. Thus, it affects any mutual conversation with my friends from minority groups because they believe cultural deficiency could impact judgment. Similarly, it has led to disabled people's alienation since making friends come off as being too overly nice because of their condition. For example, when a white officer is involved in the murder of a black man in Minnesota, and I protested, some friends disagree and taint friendship. Inequality has created a society that thrives on mistrust, sensitivity, and unwillingness to be tolerant. Also, I have to endure lost friendships because some of my underprivileged friends cannot afford college, which means lost track of time and interconnection.
Nonetheless, I have learned that inequality is a vicious cycle that adversely affects every aspect of life. When people are economically disadvantaged, it influences their ability to afford insurance; they are subjected to high retrogressive taxes, poor quality education, and segregation. Contrary, as well -off members of society accrue high incomes, the overall welfare of the minority reduces (Saez & Zucman, 2016). The impact of inequality applies similarly to women, disabled, LGBTQ, and people of color who have to struggle for opportunities regardless of whether they have earned them. Eitzen et al. (2017) argue that as the poor are subjected to local supermarkets' monopoly, people of color are exposed to institutional racism and poor healthcare access. Such struggles affect mental health as people are put in situations to defend their dignity and being. Nonetheless, moving forward, I will be cautious of environmental racism, less judgmental on the poor, the disabled, and respectful of any sex and gender.
Finally, the material and practical exercise enhanced knowledge on inequality essential in minimizing discrimination. The fact is, choosing an NGO for the blind in Congo certifies held prejudices on what attracts us to specific populations, certain countries without a clear understanding of issues underneath. Still, social inequalities result in poverty, lack of opportunities, and bias that leaves people segregated, leaving institutional racism to thrive. As racial discrimination alienates people from the improvised neighborhood, gender inequality positions men in competing positions. Indeed, the reading has positively influenced how I view prejudices and understanding the extent to which they can cause mental, economic, and social inequities. I have also changed behavior on how I act towards the marginalized, challenging any cognitive bias that questioned the sexuality of persons with disabilities or those who do not identify as male or female. I am more tolerant, open-minded to seek an understanding of how I can influence change that encourages society to embrace those who are different.
References
Carter, H. W. (2020). Christianity and Inequality in the Modern United States. In Faith, Finance, and Economy (pp. 173-195). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Eitzen, D. S., Zinn, M. B., & Smith, K. E. (2017). SOCIAL PROBLEMS (14th ed.). Pearson.
Saez, E., & Zucman, G. (2016). Wealth inequality in the United States since 1913: Evidence from capitalized income tax data. The Quarterly Journal of Economics , 131 (2), 519-578.
