Equality and Diversity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Equality and Diversity - Essay Example They were attacking more the fact that I was Muslim who looked and dressed differently from them. I shall refer to this incident now and then as I advance in analyzing the concept of racism, more particularly social exclusion. I will mention some two theories of power that could possibly explain my case, where the first one is basically the model against which this paper hinges on, and the other one to explain the ruler-subject set-up and its requirements. The latter one is more political than sociological, however, but it will give insights into social division and how oppression is committed. Basically, this paper will look into racism and limit it to my experience, particularly on same-race racism. I will deal with social exclusion, particularly on the issue of migrant ethnic minorities and the feeling of being looked upon as specimens including matters of dressing. Religion will necessarily be touched especially where Muslims are concerned, and the freedom to study and live where one is allowed to do so. I will then lead to what can be done, mentioning about the general finding of a youth dialogue in a Detroit experiment. Finally I will arrive at proper self-criticism as a resolution to all of these a s a syndrome. Theory of social dominance. Sidanus (in Powell, 2006) forwarded a most logical explanation of power in what obtains in society. Looking at society as a group-based hierarchy, Sidanus mentioned three major divisions that determine power in some ways: age, sex, and grouping. Accordingly, older individuals dominate younger ones; males dominate females; and the more dominant group (in-group) prevails over the subordinate group. Sidanus' theory explained that the third form of division is chiefly expressed by in-group males against out-group males, defined as xenophobia and racism. It is said that for this third division, religion, nationality, ethnicity, and other differences can also serve to mark divisions in society. Accordingly, the reason egalitarianism will never win is because "Whenever the old structures are overthrown, the natural human tendency to draw lines between groups and to establish a societal pecking order kicks into action." (Sidanus. In Powell, 2006). Between xenophobia and racism, according to Stoler (1997), xenophobia is fear of foreigners, while racism, which is more encompassing in meaning, is the belief that built-in biological differences among human races determine whether one's own race is superior over the others and has the right to rule over them. (Dictionary.com, 2006). Racism takes the form of prejudice, discrimination, or subordination, and can be both open and concealed. Individual racism sometimes consists of open acts of individuals resulting in violence or destruction of property. There is also so-called same-race racism where members of one race associate behaviours or appearance of other members of their race as being in relation to another race which is regarded negatively (Stoler, 1997). A form of cultural racism can also be related to this, where members of a racial group are chastised by their members for adopting a culture perceived to be of another race. The incident I had encountered, while I and the two girls could be said to be of same-race [coming from Africa], took a different path. They apparently had expected that since we were in UK, and not Africa, we had to act differently. But

The Jungle (by Upton Sinclair) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Jungle (by Upton Sinclair) - Essay Example Big businesses were enjoying an unprecedented reign of opportunism and the welfare of members of the public had begun to seriously deteriorate. Sinclair’s focus in this book was to expose the corrupt practices and the unsanitary conditions that were rampant in the meatpacking industry. This book was published in 1906 and it was successful in snaring the attention of President Theodore Roosevelt, who set up a commission to enquire into the meatpacking industry which finally resulted in the passage of the Beef Inspection Act. The story focuses upon the ordeals of one Lithunian family that is forced to reconsider its idealistic view that hard work and morality will lead to material success and happiness. The reality they encounter is that America is a place of greed and exploitation, where it is only immorality, corruption, crime and graft which are the means that will ensure material success. Sinclair’s book demonstrates how immigrants who came to America with the will to work hard in their pursuit of the American dream, were victimized, harassed and exploited. Throughout the book â€Å"The Jungle,† Sinclair focuses upon the meatpacking industry in Chicago but uses it as a means to demonstrate the evils of capitalism. According to Sinclair, capitalism breeds social inequality and an obsession with the accumulation of wealth that leads individuals to engage in unscrupulous practices for the express purpose of garnering wealth. Through the events in the book, Sinclair suggests that capitalism is a system that benefits only a few individuals and big businesses, hence it needs to be replaced with an alternative system such as capitalism which works for the benefit of everyone and ensures that the common man is not exploited by greedy capitalistic elements. Throughout the early part of the book, Sinclair therefore focuses on demonstrating the evils of capitalism, which in effect, destroys the many for the benefit of the few.