Social Inequalities
...Social stratification exists because social structure in the society is very important – they reflect the ability of certain people to access the resources in the society. For instance, dominant groups are privileged with great power, and high social status; however, minority groups are singled out for unequal treatment, and are subject to collective discrimination. This pattern of unequal access to resources in the society thus gives rise to social inequality. In the United States, the four major groups of racial minorities are the Native Americans, the African Americans, the Asian Americans, and the Hispanic Americans.
Throughout the world, indigenous peoples in different countries have always been subjected to unequal treatment as powerful nations seek to enhance the strength of their nations. In the United States, the same sequence of events occurred: the lands of the Native Americans were seized by foreign colonists; the indigenous people resisted domination, and were then given rough treatment until they subjugated and assimilated with the people who had taken over their land. The Native Americans in the United States are actually a diverse group consisting of more than 500 tribes, including the Cherokee, Navaho, Sioux and etcetera. These tribes differ substantially with regards to their practices and living conditions. However, the one thing they have in common is that they all experience social inequality no matter in which society they inhabit.
One example that illustrates the social inequality that the Native Americans face is the economic development among them. The Native Americans are impoverished – they are backward with regards to the standards of income and occupational status in comparison to the white people. In 1995, a survey is done by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and results show that the overall unemployment among the Native Americans...
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