Reflective Journal: Who Am I?—The Journey Continues

Running head: REFLECTIVE JOURNAL: WHO AM I?

Running head: WHO AM I? THE JOURNEY CONTINUES

Week 5 Reflective Journal: Who Am I? The Journey Continues

Alexis Lowe

Walden University

Professor Wendy McCarty

EDUC 6164: Perspective on Diversity and Equity

July 29, 2020

Institutional Inequalities

Despite efforts to ensure institutional gender equality across the world, certain factors still compromise this progress. Reports from the precious U.S census show that the number of women in politics is still deficient along with the number of women in top positions. There have been doubts that the progress towards gender equality is uneven. The argument that women are taking over the world can only be justified by looking at statistics on employment, political representation, and equal pay. The ILO survey, which was conducted previously on young women graduates, showed that over 30 percent of young women in the U.S are unemployed compared to their male counterparts with less than 20 percent (Deaux, 2001). The report on black women graduates who are unemployed was even worse as it showed that 60 percent of black women graduates are currently unemployed in the U.S. Also, the report indicated that young women graduates below 25 years are two times unlikely to get employment than elderly ones.

Ageism

Furthermore, young black Americans below 25 years old were also found to be twice unlikely to get employed in formal sectors compared to their white counterparts. When I look at these reports, I feel discouraged as a black American student of my fate and my chances to secure formal employment after graduation. These reports have also inspired me to share my experience on institutional inequality, sexism, and ageism (Horowitz, Brown & Cox, 2019). To address these issues, I have focused on diversity issues at workplaces and the challenges of gender diversity in workplaces. According to the previous interview conducted by the CNN with young black American graduates on reasons why there are many young black American women in the job market than any other minority group in the U.S, one of the respondents said that it's because many employers are not willing to absorb black women terming them to be less qualified and challenging to align with the organization culture (Horowitz, Brown & Cox, 2019). Another respondent claimed that many black American women are stereotyped against by customers by claiming that they have a bad attitude and are not competent, thereby making employers shun their applications.

Several working environments have not achieved workplace diversity in the U.S. this is because many leaders are faced with how to manage the diverse population at the workplace in a manner that positively influences the organization (Horowitz, Brown & Cox, 2019). Besides, managers have failed to develop an HR strategy that ensures that every employee's contribution regardless of their ethnic background, sex, or age is valued as a means to ensure the smooth running of organizations.

Sexism

Apart from institutional inequality and age, most of my black friends have complained about sex contributing to a lack of diversity in workplaces. The report by the New York Times revealed that men had recorded much stability in labor participation rates in different income groups across the country (On Views of Race and Inequality, Blacks and Whites Are Worlds Apart, 2020). The report further indicated that men had dominated several large companies across the in the U.S. however, the most interesting part of this report was that there is only 5 percent of American black men who heads the top fifty 500 companies in the U.S. besides, the report indicated that from the 60 percent of men population in formal employment, only 8 percent are black Americans (Horowitz, Brown & Cox, 2019). So my question is when there will ever be equality in the U.S because, as black Americans, we feel that the country has neglected our contribution and role in the country's economic growth. We are not being recognized as people who also deserve a better life and proper protection in the country. Because there are few black American men in employment, many have opted for arts and music to express what we are going through. Through creativity and music, many black Americans have thrived and become famous and rich thanks to social media!

Based on these discussions, it is clear that the government needs to be done at the individual level to ensure equality and diversity in the United States. Employers should consider hiring employees regardless of age, sex, or originality. The government should also put stringent measures and policies that emphasize gender inclusivity at workplaces and other institutions such as schools and churches.

References

Deaux, K. (2001). In J. Worell (Ed.), Encyclopedia of women and gender (Vols. 1-2, pp. 1-9). Maryland Heights, MO: Academic Press.

Horowitz, J. M., Brown, A., & Cox, K. (2019, December 31). Views of racial inequality in America. Retrieved July 04, 2020, from https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2019/04/09/views-of-racial-inequality/

On Views of Race and Inequality, Blacks and Whites Are Worlds Apart. (2020, June 15). Retrieved July 15, 2020, from https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2016/06/27/on-views-of-race-and-inequality-blacks-and-whites-are-worlds-apart/