Social Stratification Benchmark

Race

In modern society, racism has been a significant problem in the world today. The people who are discriminated against as a result of race often face fear, doubt, and shame, and at times, these people face the guilt. First, racism is the act of antagonism, discrimination, or prejudice directed towards a person of a different race. Racism is a destructive vice, and at most times, it gives people a negative perspective of life. Racism tends to lead people to have a great conflict that might even lead to mass killings. With time, racism has slowly transformed from a blatant and overt form to a passive style of prejudice and discrimination (Gao, 2019). Recently, racism has been used to express frustration and opinions. Most modern institutions often practice racism, with universities and colleges being no exception. Colleges and universities are among the top institutions that practice racism on minority groups.

Racism has affected minority groups in a negative way. To begin with, admission to various colleges and universities across the minority groups has become a significant challenge. Students from the minority race usually experience difficulty getting admission due to the excessive and irrelevant requirements needed during the admission process. Secondly, the minority groups typically face a hard time in colleges and universities, especially when the other students ridicule them. Such behaviors can lead to feelings of guilt and emotional torture to the minority groups (Wagner et al, 2020). Even in accommodation in the school facilities has become a challenge for the minority groups. Most of these students may be economically disadvantaged and thereby, getting accommodation in the school premises is hard. Similarly, in classes, the minority group of students can be affected by racism. Some lectures and teachers can look down upon these students, which makes the situation even worse since such students cannot perform well in such an environment.

Racism in colleges and universities has affected the quality of education offered to the minority groups of students. A form of racial inequality associated with racism is the graduation rate associated with the disparity in the system of education and the different types of races. According to research, it has been estimated that Hispanic students and African American students have lower graduation rates than White and Asian students. Even the completion rates vary among students of different races. The whites and Asian students have a more completion rate than Hispanic and African Americans. The tests usually done in school have a contribution to teacher performance, school factors, and school dynamics. The white and Asian students have a lesser possibility of not furthering the studies, getting suspended, or receiving accolades compared to students from minority groups like Hispanics and African Americans. They easily get suspended and are less likely to further their studies.

In explaining the above phenomena, a theoretical perspective will explain the above racial disparity is the expectations between the minorities and regenerative abilities. For instance, the minority groups of students tend to be subjected to more work so that these students can be able to meet their financial needs. Similarly, minority groups tend to work more so that such students can pursue their dream careers. This is commonly referred to as a work-study. Therefore, the minority groups engage in more work during the school period than the white students. Most parents and guardians of the whites and the Asian children have studied higher education levels, which has set an example for their children. When this is compared to the minority groups' studies, the parents and guardians tend to have a lower level of education. Such comparison has been the most assessed assumption that continues to address the issues that divide inequality and race.

In response to the racial inequality that leads to lower graduation rates among the minority groups, several measures can be undertaken to alleviate racial inequality. The measures taken are mainly designed to prioritize the student's needs of the minority group, thereby reducing disparity and increasing learning. The first measure to be taken is by assessing the challenges faced by the minority group of students, and as a result, one can look for ways to assist such students. For instance, students who spend more time working can be funded to spend less time working, and rather, they can focus on improving their education. The second measure to be taken is cultivating academic talents throughout students of all ethnic and racial backgrounds. This measure will ensure that there is more innovation. Lastly, teachers and lectures in these colleges and universities should be at the forefront advocating for equality and justice towards all students regardless of their ethnic and racial background (Spriprakash et al, 2019). The organization of colleges and universities is a crucial step that is important for achieving degrees and other academic levels towards students of all racial and ethnic groups. Educational disparities are symbolic markers of low academic performance and the graduation rates, and the underrepresentation of students that originate from the minority groups.

References Gao, J. (2019). Journal of Latin American Studies: Chino: Anti-Chinese Racism in Mexico, 1880–1940. Journal of Latin American Studies, 51(2), 477-479. Sriprakash, A., Tikly, L., & Walker, S. (2019). The erasures of racism in education and international development: re-reading the ‘global learning crisis’. Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education, 1-17. Wagner, D., Bakker, A., Meaney, T., Mesa, V., Prediger, S., & Van Dooren, W. (2020). What can we do against racism in mathematics education research?. Educational Studies in Mathematics, 1-13.