SOC 320 – Gender, Race and Class
The Truth About Growing Up Rich – Sallie Bingham, 1986
What is the responsibility of a rich woman to her family, especially its males?
Women born into rich families grow up knowing that they will be expected to be a pillar of support and a keeper of peace for their husbands, brothers, and fathers. While the men of rich families take on roles of great social significance and power, women are relegated to the sidelines and must be content to be inconspicuous. Historically, while rich men may become business executives or political leaders, women are constrained to roles of lesser eminence, such as that of a caregiver or charitable worker.
The women of wealthy families are often perceived as having done nothing to deserve the material wealth that they enjoy, and as such are always vulnerable to criticism. Many rich women must become accustomed to a life of domesticity, with her job chiefly being to protect the virtue of her family and preserve the status quo. Girls are taught from a young age to be prudent, modest, and refined. This is to make sure that they, as representatives of their family, present an image of grace and purity to the world. In a way, they are the public relations officers for the men of their family.
Rich women are peacemakers for their husbands. When there is conflict or chaos within the family, the effects of it ripple out to the family's dependents, including its domestic servants, poorer relatives, friends, and the managers of charitable foundations and business ventures with which the family is involved. Thus, instead of arguing, they must silence their own opinion to keep peace within their families for the sake of others.
The 2000 Presidential Election in Black and White – Frank Louis Rusciano
What were the serious differences in public perception between black and white voters in the 2000 presidential election?
Although it is a commonly quoted sentiment that race relations in America are better than ever and that racism is no longer the problem it once was, many African Americans believe that the country has, in fact, become more divided along racial lines in the past several years. 80 percent of blacks and 60 percent of whites believed this to be true in a poll taken after the 2000 election. The 2000 election revealed significant differences in the way blacks and whites perceived racial inequality in America.
A majority of black voters supported Al Gore in the election, and as such were disappointed in the election results. More so than white voters, they reported feeling angry, bitter, and cheated by the election. In addition, black voters were more likely than white voters to feel that George Bush would not represent the interests of African Americans.
Immediately after the election, more black voters suspected that George Bush “stole” the election than white voters. Although percentages for both groups may be higher today, as of just after the election fully 50 percent of blacks felt that George Bush reached office illegitimately, while only 14 percent of white voters felt the same. Overall, blacks felt more negatively and less optimistic about the fate of the country than whites.
What are the reasons and the consequences of these differences?
The reasons for the racial differences in public perception about the 2000 presidential election are rooted in the inequality and discrimination that black people have faced historically and continue to face to this day. Historically and even presently, black people are a marginalized group. As a minority, they must work harder to protect their interests and have their voices heard than those who belong to a majority.
Many black people felt that George Bush would not work to protect and preserve their rights. He was and is perceived to be a representative of a wealthy, white elite. More black people supported Al Gore because they thought he would do a better job of sticking up for ethnic minorities.
In addition, there were many irregularities in the way ballots were counted in the 2000 election, leading many people to suspect fraud. For example, dilapidated, disfunctional voting machines were found to be three times more likely to be located in majority black districts. Therefore, there is evidence to suggest that the votes of black people may have been underrepresented as compared to whites. The result is that the rift between black and white people in America has grown deeper, and the mistrust between the two groups has grown greater.
