Intersectionality Theory
Introduction
Throughout the human history, people are renowned to classify themselves based on their difference in cultural values, religion, race and ethnic diversity. The American society is no difference from the above case, an aspect that has led to the division of people into two important social classes, which include the minorities and majorities. This attribute is often triggered by racial difference. Race, as will be used in the above study, indicates different groups of people who share a common range of traits that are biologically transmitted. Some of the important races in the American society include the Caucasians, African Americans who are often referred to as the blacks, Latinos and finally the growing population of the Asian community. However, skin color is a common stereotype used in different societies to indicate racial diversity and other aspects of the hair color or specific facial features of the individuals (Bécares & Priest, 2015).
However, ethnicity shows the difference in the cultural heritage of people and is often dictated by a religious group that one belongs to, among other important issues. An individual in the American society is expected to belong to either the majority class or the minority based on some aspects put into consideration. The majority group is considered to have most powers, and white or else the Caucasians include the people who are categorized into the above group. Such class of individuals is the most represented in the media houses, different business positions in the country, in politics and population wise. Regarding gender basis, the American societies regard men to have the majority say, yet their population is less compared to that of women, and women as the minority as they have less power and resources in the country.
Main Body
According to Segre (2014), the minority group implies the group of the populace who are singled out in societies because of difference between cultural beliefs, physical conditions or even religion. Such people experience unequal treatment in the community, and this aspect makes them feel discriminated against the majority group. However, the dominant group in the country needs to have power and not primarily by population. For example, in the South African Apartheid, the whites were the minority in the country but oppressed the Africans in the country because of their power.
A further study conducted by Bécares & Priest (2015), affirms that the minority group in any society can be distinguished using five key aspects which include;
Any aspect of unequal treatment in society due to less power
Personal traits such as skin color or language
Subordination
High cases of in-group marriage
Or even by religious grounds
Intersectionality theory is a concept that has gained popularity in the recent past and help express aspects of gender, racial and ethnic discrimination in societies. Some of the issues that led to the evolution of the concept include segregation on grounds of race and gender difference in communities. In the American society, the practice is common among blacks and whites were involved in different sets of jobs, lived in various houses among other issues. As evidenced in the above paper, both Latinos and the African American discriminated women and held an inferior position for them, and most organizations did not consider women as suitable to work in most of their organizations.
As mentioned earlier, race in the country is determined by the difference in the physical appearance of the people while ethnicity is based on a range of factors such as cultural heritage, food, language, origin of the people or religion. Historically, it is worth appreciating that different racial groups in the United States have over the past experienced a high degree of conflicts and exclusion by the dominant group. The various minority groups can be clearly distinguished by observing their socio-economic status, their intermarriage and segregation on where they live. However, due to the different concerns raised by the minority group in the country, it is the government responsibility to recognize the status and protection of this group through enforcing various laws to reduce conflict. The principal minority groups in the country include the blacks, Hispanics, Asians and other Native Americans subjected to different forms of segregation and discrimination (Snipp, 2015).
The American Society classifies the blacks as minorities in the community, and they (blacks) are considered to belong to the middle class, unlike their white counterparts. The social class of the blacks is identified by consideration of various factors such as their income levels, education background and ethnicity. Some of the challenges experienced by the blacks in the U.S include segregation based on many issues, and this occurrence can be evidenced by the kind of occupations that are taken by the blacks and their respective income levels. Most blacks in the country are offered manual jobs or other domestic works unlike the whites and subjected to economic and racial oppressions. Most of the black people in the country are considered poor and segregated to reside in particular places that are often not well kept unlike for their white counterparts.
The Hispanic group, like the black Americans, experience prejudice and discrimination in the country and most people in this group are considered to have come from a poor background. According to research studies conducted as at 1990, it was evidenced that ten percent of the group lived under the poverty line, and most people in the group are illiterate, with women being the majority (Dade et al., 2015). Gender plays an essential role in their social lives due to their cultural values. Another significant difference between males and females in the group is that while women prefer corporative learning surroundings, their male counterparts prefer education. The group adheres to strict gender roles hence women are considered to have a less position in the society as compared to the male counterparts. Religion also plays an essential role in their lifestyles with the majority of the people coming from the Catholic faith, accounting for 40% of Catholics in the country.
Similarities
Both groups (Hispanic and blacks) are considered to experience a high level of poverty, hence, originate from a poor background with very low percentage of educated individuals in the society. The two minority groups in the country experience frustrations of discrimination and prejudice that make them feel segregated in the society. The diverse ethnic ideas direct the group's social lives with a firm devotion to the gender roles and religion to a great extent. Another virtue that is common in both groups is unity, as they have great respect for families and often practice extended family unlike the whites in the country.
Difference
The two groups adhere to different cultural beliefs, which are different in nature as dictated by origin and other aspects. While most blacks in America are believed to have come from Africa, the Hispanics are natives of India hence lead different social lives. The difference in ethnicity is high among the blacks as compared to the Hispanics, who are mainly considered to be Spanish.
Gender
As mentioned earlier, both groups are classified by their strict adherence to gender role, which influences their marriage and family relations. In both groups, men are considered as the head of household and mandated with the duty of protecting and providing for the kinfolk. In both groups, women have the core responsibility of taking care of their homes, especially raising the kids, and often they do not have a say in crucial decisions.
Role of Religion
Religion plays an essential role in both groups in the country as it influences their daily activities to considerable extents as compared to the whites. Although the groups come from different faiths, it is worth appreciating the fact that religion has an influence on their family life as well as other community affairs. Moreover, the concept of religion has a momentous impression on their marriage as well as various cultural views hence guidance on the social life. However, it is imperative to note that Latinos cultural beliefs are related to the Catholic beliefs than any other religion in the world (He, 2014).
Historically, the minority groups in the country have in the past experienced segregation, exploitation and discrimination, as they were blocked from better jobs and living in the urban areas. Such isolation made individuals be deprived of their civil and legal rights, limited access to learning, among other political rights. However, with the current modern society, it is important to appreciate that minorities groups are protected from any form of exploitation whatsoever. The elected leaders of the groups have enacted various laws to enhance equality in the American society, an aspect that has contributed to more assimilation process between the different ethnic groups in the country (Dade et al., 2015).
Moreover, with the election of President Obama, African Americans in the country have gained access to quality education, better employment opportunities and even elected seats in politics. However, it is important to appreciate that despite efforts to fight for equality, aspects of racial disparity are still high. A large percentage of black Americans and Hispanics remains at the edge of the society, as these groups are discriminated regarding job opportunities, access to quality education, types of health care services offered and even housing (Litzler et al., 2015). However, to calm the situation, there is the need to enlighten the American society on the need for equality and pressure to enhance assimilation efforts. Equality implies an equal right for everyone in the society, a situation that is yet to be attained although it has significantly improved as compared to the past.
Assimilation in the American history is a concept that has resulted in hot debate with two essential aspects being considered, for the process to be regarded successful. First, the assimilation process requires that people should accept English as their national language and lead a moral lifestyle in agreement with American laws. The second aspect is that the assimilating immigrants should learn to take pride in the American identity and abide by the country's policy of democracy. Therefore, various researchers have varied opinions on the reasons that make assimilation exist in the American history over time.
As evidenced by the study, it is worth appreciating the fact that democracy in the United States has significantly contributed to increased cases of assimilation among the dominant groups and the minority ones. Therefore, the various laws enacted by the elected leaders and religion have played a significant role in developing an environment that enhances assimilation, and this initiative leads to the development of functional society as explained before. Although traces of racial prejudice and discrimination are still evident in the American society, it is worth appreciating that with time, the menace will be completely wiped out due to assimilation process that is gaining popularity (Block, & Corona, 2014).
Conclusion
America is characterized by a large number of immigrants since the prehistoric periods that form the major minority groups in the modern societies. Due to the ethnic assortment of the immigrants, race and ethnicity are some of the concerns that are used to explain social lives of most Americans. As described by the above study, racial discrimination and prejudice have existed for decades now, an aspect that the assimilation process experienced in the country is wiping out slowly with time. The paper discussed that various attributes are used to explain ethnicity in the American society such as unequal treatment and stereotyping, for example, the use of skin color, subordination, among others. However, a common understanding met in the above study is that discrimination and exclusion in the society is a norm to the minorities although the enacted policies at the moment are playing essential roles of wiping out the menace.
The study further appreciates the fact that there are many similarities between the African Americans as well as the Hispanics as they are classified under a collective group, called the minority. The groups experience a lot of plight in the American societies, especially during the pre-historic period as they were used as slaves in the country and subjected to discrimination. One of the aspects that come out clearly in the two groups is their strict adherence to gender roles in the society, where women are considered powerless and left with the responsibility of taking care of the family. However, religion, as evidenced by the study, played a critical role in directing people on how to conduct themselves in the society, their marriage life and even socialization.
The concept of intersectionality was born to fight any form of discrimination from the American Society, which led to the enacting of anti-criminal laws in the country. The racial and gender discrimination overlapped to the social life of the minority groups in the U.S as mentioned by prominent feminists that fought for the place of minority groups in the modern society. The study finds the intersectionality theory to be the most effective in fighting any form of discrimination and create a suitable setting that will encourage assimilation process to be realized in the country. According to the concept, for a minority group to be functional and contribute positively to a given society, there is a need for assimilation. Therefore, it is asserted that the minority group has to adapt the culture of the dominant group in the new country and abide by its social norms whatsoever. Moreover, the aspect of cultural prejudice as evidenced in the American society implies that people around the globe are subjected to stereotypes based on various cultural aspects.
References
Bécares, L., & Priest, N. (2015). Understanding the influence of race/ethnicity, gender, and class on inequalities in academic and non-academic outcomes among eighth-grade students: Findings from an Intersectionality approach. PLOS ONE, 10(10), 1-17.
Block, D., & Corona, V. (2014). Exploring class-based intersectionality. Language, Culture and Curriculum, 27(1), 27–42.
Dade, K., Tartakov, C., Hargrave, C., & Leigh, P. (2015).Assessing the Impact of Racism on Black Faculty in White Academe: A Collective Case Study of African American Female Faculty. Western Journal of Black Studies, 39(2), 134-146.
He, K. (2014). A strategic functional theory of institutions and rethinking Asian regionalism. Asian Survey, 54(6), 1184–1208.
Litzler, E., Samuelson, C. C., & Lorah, J. A. (2014). Breaking it down: Engineering student STEM confidence at the intersection of race/ethnicity and gender, 55(8), 810-832.
Segre, S. (2014). Contemporary Sociological Thinkers and Theories.Farnham, Surrey: Ashgate.
Snipp, C. M., & Cheung, S. Y. (2015). Changes in racial and gender inequality since 1970. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 663(1), 80–98.
