This report explores the essence of ethnographic approach methods in social and the lived experiences of the people living in the US. It will demystify this term in practical sense. Similarly, this report will comprehensively unravel the factors that influence the equality between the social classes and how they affect the living standards of people living in US. Specific factors of exploration include race and the class difference affecting these people and their impact on politics, work and the schooling.
Class/Race inequality in the US
Racial inequality is a common societal problem affecting U.S citizens and people across the world. This inequality affects various fields such as schooling, work, health and politics. White privilege is common in the U.S and has created a us versus them narrative. This social construction perceive whites as superior than people of color. As such, Native Americans are favoured in most work settings than their immigrant counterparts. Therefore, achieving American dream as a land of opportunities for all remains a pipe dream. Secondly, the white privilege also affects the U.S healthcare system. Racial inequality exists in the Medicare, Medicaid and other healthcare services. People in the lower class, precisely immigrants face challenges of getting adequate healthcare services.[1] U.S require social policies to address both inequity and inequality in healthcare services.
Lastly, racial inequality has also penetrated into America’s schooling system. Native Americans enjoy the privilege of taking their children to crème de la crème schools since they have both financial muscles and friendly environment. Conversely, children of people of color, precisely Black Americans study in specific race-friendly schools. These individuals have limited choices, limiting resources they can enjoy throughout their academic life.
Methodology
This research focused on experiences of U.S citizens. Furthermore, I interviewed a Tajikistan friend to compare the gravity of racial inequality at home and beyond our borders. My interviewee was my friend Shohzod Sobirov from Tajikistan, studying in Technical University of Munchen and lives in Germany. I chose him because he stayed in Germany when COVID-19 pandemic started then travelled to Tajikistan three months later. For these reasons, Shohzod Sobirov is versed about the situation of racial inequality in a Central Asia and Europe countries. Furthermore, travel experience during this pandemic helped him gather latest information on changing dynamics on racial inequality.
Ethnographic narrative
This discussion has been enriching. The people of color and other marginalized minorities in the U.S can self-advocate for equality. I leverage this conclusion from the interview where my interviewee stated that acute awareness of the social class and its impact on various issues is the first move to overcome racial inequality. Social class significantly affect life experiences and outcomes.[2] The poor and working-class citizens know their social class and are open to say they have more issues to grapple with courtesy of their social class and income levels. The impact of family background extents into the employment field where it affects income margins.[3] Individuals from poor background earn less compared to their counterparts from wealthy families since they land into different jobs in most cases.
Conclusion
In conclusion, racial inequality is a disease that continually plague the U.S due to social construction that places Native Americans at a superior level than immigrants. What remains unanswered is how social policies to end class/ racial inequality has not achieved its goals. These failures calls for concerted efforts to end inequality to ensure American become a land of opportunities for all. We should not let social workers struggle single-handedly with policy advocacy to end this challenge. America need a changed mindset where citizens perceive each other as brothers and sisters.
Bibliography
Bjornsdottir, R. Thora, and Nicholas O. Rule. “The visibility of social class from facial cues.” Journal of personality and social psychology 113, no. 4 (2017): 530.
Causadias, José M., and Kevin M. Korous. “Racial discrimination in the United States: a national health crisis that demands a national health solution.” Journal of Adolescent Health 2 (2019): 147-148.
Witteveen, Dirk, and Paul Attewell. “Family background and earnings inequality among college graduates.” Social Forces 95, no. 4 (2017): 1539-1576.
[1] Causadias, José M., and Kevin M. Korous. “Racial discrimination in the United States: a national health crisis that demands a national health solution.” Journal of Adolescent Health 2 (2019): 147-148.
[2] Bjornsdottir, R. Thora, and Nicholas O. Rule. “The visibility of social class from facial cues.” Journal of personality and social psychology 113, no. 4 (2017): 530.
[3] Witteveen, Dirk, and Paul Attewell. “Family background and earnings inequality among college graduates.” Social Forces 95, no. 4 (2017): 1539-1576.
