“Wealth Inequality in the United States”

The YouTube video Wealth Inequality in the United States made me realized that what I believed to be the wealth of the United States was far from the truth. The video explains that many Americans have the misconception that the wealth is distributed in a more expansive way throughout the US. For example, I was under the conception that the Top 1% actually had less of the wealth in the United States. What I have learned is that the lower class and the middle class are really not that far away from each other in terms of wealth. The top one percent actually has an estimated 40% of the wealth in the United States. Republicans and Democrats both have agreed that there should be a more healthy and wealthy middle class.

As a 90’s era child I truly didn’t realize many aspects of the economy and wealth in the United States. I do not recall the public schools I attended ever teaching about wealth and economy. The older I became the more that I realized that our education system needs more education on these topics. I do think in some ways that the lower and middle class is kept suppressed as to work for major corporations. It seems like the education system develops good employees that will follow therefore keeping the lower and middle class the same through the generations. To think that the rich are making in one hour what a lower and or middle-class person makes in 1-2 months is really disturbing. It gives the sense that there is a lot more inequality than I was aware of in the United States. Growing up I was lower class with immigrant parents working really hard to get by. During the 90’s there were still many more one income families. This was the case for my home as well. Now it is almost impossible to carry a family of four on one salary. I think that the middle class is disappearing and the country’s wealth is mostly held by the higher class. It is definitely a shock to realize how much more unequal the wealth is my country. I would agree that the middle class should be larger. Less Americans would fall in the poor/ poverty line also helping the entire economy in the United States. 

 

As I read this chapter, I realized that I enjoy my cup of coffee in the morning. I DO enjoy the taste of coffee as it is a bitter and warm taste that I am accustomed to now. I some way I have always tried to be aware of the many gimmicks that are placed on products and brands to sell and up price items in America. The reality is that I never really thought about the source of my coffee or the trade involved to make it to my cup in the morning. This morning I am having Peet’s Coffee. I brew my coffee myself almost every day. The reason why I aim to do this is to save money and because I was not worried about carrying a logo around. On the other hand, reading this chapter does make me think about the people that are drawn to the logo for status. As a coffee drinker I have realized that many of the people that I know consume Starbucks on a regular basis don’t actually just drink coffee at Starbucks. The people I know that drink Starbucks drinks on the regular usually order drinks that are very high in sugar as well. Usually, it will be blended drinks and sweet teas. I have always felt that these people were more addicted to the sugar that was in the cups of coffee than the actual effect of the caffeine. I think by now as a society we know how incredibly addicting sugar is and how it leaves us wanting more. I believe that Starbucks has monopolized on that addiction in a cup. 

The truth is I don’t think the issue of Fair trade is something that is a small-scale issue at all. I think that it is something that requires large scale changes to actually make difference. On the other hand, I do think that consumers ultimately can make a change for the actual company and the products that they sell and carry. Starbucks for example does gain more profit from the “second” and “third” space concepts. On the other hand, us as consumers are willing to pay that extra money to Starbucks for that space of bathroom use. I think that this issue brings up a lot more on the way that Americans choose to spend and consume. For myself, I will continue to drink my home brewed coffee. I will however pay closer attention to the source of my coffee and the trade philosophies of those companies. 

Sports are considered a huge part of any countries culture and sense of nationality. This is very much the case in the United States much of the culture is around sporting events ranging from children’s teams to professional teams. Everyone watches the Super Bowl, right? Our country has placed much value on sports and the benefits that being a team player brings. 

During my upbringing my immigrant parents did not place a value on sports and recreational activities. Therefore, my sibling and did not play sports. The older I become and the more I learned about physical activity there more I knew that I wanted to give my children the opportunity to play sports. On the contrary my husband grew up play sports his entire life. He doesn’t understand what life without sports was like for a child. I am Mexican-American and grew up in a Spanish speaking household. My husband is “White” of Scandinavian decent. I have explained to him some of the differences in resources as a first-generation child and the struggles that we face. The text spoke mostly about White and African Americans and the segregation that African American’s faced before 1968. As a Mexican-American first generation adult I am now more aware of how biases are extremely prevalent. These biases that we all have toward races and ethnic groups can be extremely damaging. Although a majority of players in certain sports may be of one race it is important to take a step back and realize that anyone of any ethnicity can be a great athlete. It is the hard work and dedication and possibly the availability of resources that can make the biggest different in my opinion.

As for myself I was born and raised in California. All of the schools that I attended were so blended that I was raised in a way that I am very inclusive with culture. I feel that racism is something that is taught by people that have a mentality of superiority over other races. It is unfortunate that people in the current U.S. still can be very judgmental and stereotypical. I think that every person should be judged only by their character and their integrity not by the color of their skin. Martin Luther King said it best! I would have hated living in a time where people were segregated by skin tone. It is obvious that people still discriminate by it is much less common and more taboo to do some. I hope as a nation that we can continue learning about our cultures and integrating them to our “melting pot” or should I say melting soup. 

1.     I am Hispanic, Mexican- American.

2.     I know because my parents are from Mexico City and they are a blend of Indigenous and Spanish blood primarily.

3.     I learned what race I was from my parents and country of origin. I received the early messages from my parents and in school. I learned to speak Spanish as my first language and when I got to elementary school, I realized that I was Mexican-American. 

4.     I decided what other race people are primarily but physical features, I would say.

I think that other people decide what race I am also by my stature and features. 

What is race?
Any one of the groups/ categories that human being are often divided into based on physical traits or ancestry. 

What does it mean to say that race is socially constructed?
I think that race is constructed in some part by the government that needed to somehow divide and find way to group people into categories. I still don't find the correct "race" on forms for myself. I doesn't list latin or hispanic most of the time. I am forced to place myself as asian or white.

What I really began to question was how things could be different and that poverty isn’t the only way. The exert talks about income redistribution and how there would have to be a considerable amount of it to benefit the poor and not just the already rich. I think during this economy we are seeing considerable amounts of inflation but the rising costs is not helping the poor. Instead, it is affecting the poor and middle class even more. The once middle class is actually struggling to stay afloat especially in California. 

The most intriguing line that I found in this exert is that poverty would not exist if it didn’t benefit the already affluent and powerful. 

 

I think if It wasn’t for my persistence in attempting to “do better” I would have just quit college. As an adult coming back to finish my nursing degree, I realized that there were many disadvantage students that persevered to the “American Dream”. I recently graduated from the Nursing program at Delta College and my parents attended. I am now a 33-year-old female with a whole family and full- time career. My parents were proud of me and they knew that I had worked hard. However, I don’t think they actually understand the amount of difficulty one must go through to keep pushing and actually graduate college. As I read the childhood recollections of the sociologist in this section, I realized that I too saw myself in these categories of disadvantages. I will continue to persevere and keep learning and educating myself as to pave the way for my children. 

 

We might think that toys don’t really hold a meaning or important place in the lives of our children and kids. The truth is that toys do hold special places in our childhood, up brining, lives. Not only that but they influence social gender roles in society. I clearly remember wanting a Tamagotchi that were extremely popular in the 2000’s. I remember everyone brought them to school and showed them off. I had a little mermaid one. I was basically a virtual caregiver for the little mermaid and had to “keep her alive”. My brother on the other hand had a dog or pet Tamagotchi that was less “girly”. In this Chapter, Toys and gender were explored. The relationships between gender roles in a society seem directly affected by the types of toys that are provided to our children. 

Little girls are always expected to like pink and princesses. While little boys are expected to like cars and building things. There is a major difference in the toys that projected for little girls and the ones for little boys. I grew up with one brother and we are only a few years apart. So, he played dolls with me and I played marbles with him. My brother and I didn’t view it as he was girly or I was boyish It was just that we only had each other to play with. 

I do think that it’s society that presses such hard lines on gender. When our children don’t fit in these categories feel like we aren’t doing the right thing. This chapter spoke about how many parents live out their wishes through their children and the types of toys they provide for them. I think that for me as a parent I try to find a balance as a consumer and purchase less items like toys. Instead, I try to focus on experiences and sports. I feel like my children grow the most from these rather than just buying them all the toys their little heart’s desire. It is very important as a consumer and as a parent to stop and think. Is this really something that is good for my child or am I just adding another plastic toy to later throw out. 

During the Gilded age in American the upper class comprised a list known as the Social Register. It seems like the purpose what too keep name of families and people that were wealthy enough to be placed on this list. It gave the children of these members privileges within the group. For example, entrance to Ivy League schools that would secure and maintain their upper class. Gaining membership to upper-class secret societies and eating clubs. The children of the wealthy were expected to find suitable partners within the group with maintain upper-class elites. Although times have changed a lot from the 1900’s a sense of similarity still exists. There still continues to be secret societies where wealth is a pre-requisite to gain entrance. There is still the separation from the rest of society. I believe that social media in some ways has changed society to be able to blend more despite “social-class”. It is common now to see from extremely wealthy individuals on Instagram or TikTok to poor people with barely enough to eat. In some ways I do like this about social media as a creates a type of common ground and unity between all social classes. 

I feel like times have changed very much in regards to raising boys. Many parents are a lot softer, if I may say, in raising their sons. The truth remains that we continue to live in a society that pays men more for the same job. 

Girls and women are continuously being sexualized in our current society. Many people will treat a pretty woman way different than an a less attractive woman. I have noticed major differences in treatment when I am “dressed up” with make-up and heels vs. everyday gym wear and no make-up. Since society pushes image much more now with social media and images. 
Women go to more extremes and surgeries to achieve a desired image. Many times, body dysmorphia develops and the person never is content with the way they appear. I think currently women are expected to keep up with their image, have a career, be educated, be an excellent mother, etc. The pressure has magnified for women along with image. 

From the interviews Miller concluded that men were reluctant to voice out their opinions about the way the actually felt due to reprimands and being labeled as prejudice. The men interview felt that women should not be allowed in military since they were able to promote faster if they had sexual relations with other soldiers. Also, the men interviewed felt that they would be the group that was discriminated against since women soldier were not held to the same standard as men soldiers. 

Women in combat roles was one of the most controversial topics and continues to be. I asked my husband what he felt about this issue. My husband was a war air force veteran. He replied that unfortunately women are unable to perform special operation forces as well as men. Men typically have an instinct that may come naturally to protect at a different level. Although they there are women that may have excellent combat skills and are physically equipped it may still not equal a male soldier’s ability to kill. Women tend to lack the ability to “turn off” emotions when it comes to killing. Also, my husband brought up issues that may arise such as male soldiers may have to stay at the field for weeks at a time and may sexualize a women soldier and vice versa. Special operations troops support women in any other job such as infantry units but spec ops.

The reality is that there are many women in the military and hold higher ranks then some male soldiers. We must continue to observe the evolution and learn from history. 

Currently women have the option to live as a single mother. In the past women or unwed mothers fled out of the town and placed their children for adoption. Women currently have more rights therefore those rights change the way society lives. Currently there are many marriages that are not typical and also single parent homes. I think that women have more options in the new American family model. Fathers in current society are expected to not just be providers like before. Therefore, women are less likely to feel so overwhelmed in the home. I think the reality is that in the past family issues were hidden but still there. 

I thought to myself what would I do? I know that cannibalism is wrong. I find cannibalism to be some type of evil behavior. I have watched documentaries on people that actually try to practice this is a normal behavior, but it is far from normal. The truth is that I would probably do the same thing that these survivors did. I would try really hard to avoid eating my friends and family. I would avoid it at all costs. I would probably give into eating other humans to survive as they did in that situation. 

This group of people were able to change the meaning of cannibalism to them. By changing the meaning they were able to engaged in that behavior to survive. I think this was all out of pure survival instinct. These people did not want to die. They did everything they could to see another day. They had to change their frame of mind and symbolism associated with cannibalism in order to survive. 

I am currently employed for the State of California, CDCR. The prison system. They have drastically changed from what is explained by Zimbardo. I do not negate the fact that injustices happened for inmates to receive better treatment and rights. 

I do however know that depending on the state the prisons provide different resources. I work for a mental health department where inmates can receive services by psychiatrist, psychologist, social workers, rehabilitation therapy, and group therapy to name a few. Currently, I think the general public has a misconception that inmate in California is treated so badly by the prison system but the reality is far from that. Many times, the politics from other inmates and gangs are the ones that actually regulate.

I actually have worked in mental health for over a decade. I found this section really close to home. I remember in my training and clinicals as a psychiatric technician, I questioned much of what went on in the locked institutions and in the board and care settings. As an outsider I viewed everything with a questioning eye. To the instructors and caretakers, it was all “normal schizophrenic behavior”. I do think that staff that work in mental health begin to normalize the behavior of the labels or diagnosis. Maybe so much that we forget to question things further. The way mental health in the community is completely different from that of the locked state institutions. The reality is that many pedophiles and criminals preferred to be deemed insane in order to serve their sentence in a state hospital versus a prison. 

I believe this section really opens mental health to the outsider perspective. Mental health and mental illness are to be seen as constantly evolving within the individual. The truth is that many mentally ill individuals behave “normal” often. Therefore, this may be some of the reasons the pseudo patient’s behavior was not questioned. To the community “Crazy” people are always crazy. The truth is they are not. They may integrate to society well for a period of time then have a break again. Treating mental illness is something that is very gray. It is not black and white. Mental illness is still very new to research.

Since I have worked for State of California CDCR, I have experienced many situations where inmates manipulate the system and somewhere staff may use more force than needed. The thing about situations is that when they happen, they are happening so fast that at times a type of flight of fight instinct may occur. In some instances where survival is priority for police officers. 

Some of the videos seen become manipulated by the media and therefore the media sends out only a partial view of what happened. Misinformation is sent to the public about police officers. The reality is that many officers in current times are afraid to act due to the reprimands. Not only that but officers are now expected to year body cams that record anytime they arrive to an altercation or a subject is questioned. Police officers are humans and although are expected to behave extremely tactical and almost robotic, they too might fear for their lives. In other situation the police officer may use excessive use of for due to departments under training. I think that police officers require much more training since they have to make contact with individuals regularly. It is difficult to say if a police officer is using excessive use of force and they best way I think would be to actually be out in the field with the officer. They face many dangers in the community but many still aim to serve and protect.

During COVID and after COVID many parents began thinking about homeschooling their children. Many parents continue to be reluctant to vaccinate their young children with these new COVID-19 vaccines. Also, as a country we are seeing many mass shootings in public schools which are pushing parents to rethink public school as a “safe place”. 

As a parent of a new graduate of kindergarten I have noticed a huge difference in behavior from preschool to kindergarten. The expectation for kindergarteners in California public schools is set high. They must learn a long list of curriculums. I am currently in my 30’s and when I was in kindergarten the expectation was way less. I believe that more of my friends and family are attempting to home school due to the bureaucracies of the public schools. It is important to consider all these factors as a parent to be able to provide the education and mentality that you feel is right for your family.