Equality Essay
It is often said that we learn from our past, but is that really true? Inequalities have existed in our society for thousands of years; from the kings verses the surfs in medieval times, to the treatment of slaves, to the inequalities of women. Today we still have people who face prejudice and inequality every day. If we really learn from our past, why does inequality still exist? Why can't we live to the belief that "all men are created equal?" Our society today is, however, a lot better than it was when the United States first became a nation. The examples of past inequalities have shaped today's society because we now have an increased minority participation in the government, equal education is promised to everybody, and most people have the chance at any job they want. In today's government, there are 61 women in congress, and 13 in the senate. 36 blacks and 24 other minorities were also elected into congress. (congressional, 2001) When the first members of the United States congress were elected into office, there were no minorities or women included. Back then, it would be unheard of for a woman or a freed slave to help run the country. Blacks first started to be elected into congress after the civil war. Thi
Our society is obviously not perfect yet, and women and minorities are still subjects of many inequalities, but because of things like their fight for the right to vote, or the Brown v. Board of Education lawsuit, or the realization of the unfairness in cooperate America, they now have equality in government, education, and employment. When it comes to jobs, women have their pick of almost any one they want. However it wasn't always that way. In colonial America, women who earned their own living usually became seamstresses or kept boarding houses. There were a few women in professions and jobs normally held by men, but by the early 19th century all women were excluded from the professions, except for writing and teaching. Acceptable jobs for women were limited to factory labor or domestic work. Today women constitute about half of the employed persons in the United States. However, most women are still employed as teachers, clerical positions, factory work, retail sales, and service jobs. Comparatively few women work in the fields of engineering, agriculture, construction, or highly physical jobs. (WIC, 1995) When blacks were freed from slavery, very few jobs were available to them. Thus, they had to take the jobs nobody wanted, including coal mining and building railroads. However, as discrimination against blacks and other minorities lessened, the job opportunities became greater. Affirmative action assures that minorities get an equal opportunity at
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Approximate Word count = 997
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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