Inequality: Class, Gender, and Race - Essay Sample

Introduction

Different inequalities exist in a society such as class, gender, and race. All three ration of inequality does not affect people equally, as some are more intensified than others. Class inequality is the difference between members of a social class, which is mainly determined by the essence of wealth they possess. Gender inequality occurs due to the extent to which an individual identifies as being feminine or masculine. On the other hand, race inequality occurs due to the essence of personal background. Pierre Orelus situates race inequality as having a more significant impact than either gender or class in the United States.

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In his discussion, Orelus recognize race, gender, and class as a different form of inequality that exist in a society. However, he situates race as having a more significant ratio of inequality than others. He adequately explains this perspective by using what he terms as "pyramid of power" (Orelus 91). He uses this term to help the students to think about the ratios of inequality as a pyramid. According to him, different people in the society are located in various position of a pyramid with an intersecting axis of oppression. For example, female of color will be put in a situation where she will be oppressed due to the essence of race, gender, and also class. It will be different from a white female who although she is feminine, she will be enjoying the privilege of being white. In other words, a color woman will be exposed to oppression compared to the white woman.

Orelus also noted that different identities that one possess determine the kind of inequality he/she is going to face in society. Generally, the aspect of race, gender, and class are all sources of identity. The essence of power relation determines power relation, which creates different people identities in all three areas. The thing is that individuals only focus on the oppression they get ignoring others from a diverse background. For example, although white women perceive gender oppression as evil, they do not equate this to other abuse such as race. However, Orelus believe that studying these issues can help individuals understand other's oppression about their background. "For example, white women who undergo gender oppression can be made to make a connection between it and racial oppression"(Orelus 91).

The aspect of racial identity has resulted in poverty among the people of color despite their other identities. Though people in society are affected by their identities such as gender and class, racial discrimination has had a more significant impact on the poverty level among the people of color. When talking about the identity of oppression, the white never address the issue of racial oppression. "For example, we don't see the depth of poverty of African American when we claim of all these identities" (Orelus 99). This is because, putting all the other identities constant, racial identity plays a more prominent role in all source of life. For an instant, in the workplace, blacks will be more discriminated than white females.

White supremacy put racial oppression at a higher notch in all areas of life. According to Sleeter, the continued lack of tolerance between the white and people who share multiple identities is as a result of the benefit they get just by being whites. "Essentially, whites don't want to give up the benefit they and the privileges that go along by being white" (Orelus 88). This makes the white reluctant to talk about racial discrimination the way they speak about other inequalities. This makes racial oppression more intense than other forms of abuse.

Race, gender, and class are all forms of social inequalities. Though all of them are evil, people address the essence of racial discrimination. This put the minority groups such as the whites in a disadvantage due to the discrimination they experience in all areas of life. The oppression is more intensified when one holds multiple of these inequalities, such as being female of color. It is, however, essential for people to acquire multicultural education as it can help them understand the oppression that people from different background encounter.

Works Cited

Orelus, Pierre Wilbert. Rethinking race, class, language, and gender: A dialogue with Noam Chomsky and other leading scholars. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2011.