Introductions and overview

August 29, 2016 1 b

Welcome!

Hi everyone,

Welcome to Sociology of Work. In this class we will explore the social organization of work, the political economy of work and labor, as well as the relationship of work to everyday life, including the experience of race, class, and gender/sexuality.

Here is a little bit of information about me:  I received my PhD in Sociology from the CUNY Graduate Center in May 2015.  My research addresses the influence of technology on the way the body and social problems are being conceptualized in the field of sociology.  I am interested in how the history of information can be read as part of an altered configuration of the body emerging in discourses that are related to our “human” security.

Our first order of business this week is to get all of you up and running on the WordPress site for this course.  I have sent all of you an invitation to WordPress.   Please check your inbox and junkmail folders for this invite.  The invitation will prompt you to create a WordPress account.  Take note of your login and password.  Each week, you are required to login to WordPress to post a “response” to our readings.  The response is due no later than midnight on Sunday. Your response will refer to a question that I will pose that relates to our readings for the upcoming week.

Your first writing assignment is due this Sunday, September 4th. Write an introductory post that tells the class who you are and about your interest in this class. Then, in no less than 400 words, write your own labor history by reflecting on the following questions: Do you work now? If so, where? How did your grandparents and your parents work? How do you think this history has affected your sense of what work is, the relationship of education to work, and your goal and hopes for the future? Given your understanding of what Weber means by an “ethic” of work, reflect on your sense of what work means to you.

Please review the writing assignment rubric for more details on how these assignments will be graded.  Be advised: these assignments count for a significant component of your final grade. It is impossible to do well in this class if you do not complete the writing assignments or if the majority of your assignments are late and / or incomplete.

I look forward to working with all of you!

Elizabeth

Final Exam – Rubric

December 12, 2016

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3094897/Hunter_War/FinalExamRubric.pdf

Assignment 12: Sassen, “Strategic Instantiations of Gendering”

December 4, 2016

In Sasika Sassen’s “Strategic Instantiations of Gendering”, the author argues about “information outputs” that are missing from today’s dominant global economy. She states that media and policies surrounding the global economy in respect to women suggest that the highly educated professional is the only driving factor of the global workforce. She continues to argue that the contribution and marginalization of immigrant women are key factors to the growth of the global economy but usually go unnoticed in today’s world. In other words, the recognition of hypermobility and capital gain in the world economy is credited to the high wage, highly educated worker, and does not consider the low wage, marginalized immigrant woman worker. The article argues that the overlooked immigrant woman worker is one of the major factors in the gains of the global market and should be recognized as a driving force.

Sassen continues to argue that the global economy’s growth was dependent on producing a labor force of low wage women workers which focused on “first world” women’s domestic roles. Some of these domestic roles included industries such as nannies, maids, nurses and prostitution. The author argues that global cities in the U.S. and across the world contributed to the process of creating these industries and not recognizing the growth in global capital because of them. As these specific roles were being created for capital, the demand for these industries were on high and became highly profitable. These methods are seen across the world but are often not recognized as part of the dominant factor of the global economy.

When we tend to look at how the creation of a labor force happens in our global markets, in my opinion, one thing is clear: the exploitation of specific groups is a constant factor on how to gain capital. I think of how the era of slavery in the U.S. used African Americans as the driving force to its economy and profited heavily on the work of slaves. In this article, we tend to see amazing similarities on how lowly paid women workers and immigrants are exploited in given service areas to help global economies get richer and bigger. The hardest part to understand is that women and immigrants in these industrialized complexes are contained in a system that does not given them an opportunity to grow and build wealth as the ones who exploit them. They are continuously marginalized, discriminated and exploited for the almighty dollar and not recognized as the major element of global economic growth. In order to begin a system to deal with this issue, we must begin to expose the conversation and demand opportunities of equity amongst all. We must look at global cities where these systematic practices and policies exploit women and immigrants, and construct definitive action and conversations to promote change.

Assignment 12 – Sassen

December 5, 2016

In Sassens essay, she explains that the leading professionals are in demand. Also, the more professionals that are outworking are directly linked to the low-wage immigrant and women workers. High paid professionals acquire a lifestyle that directly creates a demand for the low-wage worker such as nannies, repairmen and sex work. These immigrant workers also send money back to their home countries to create opportunities there. Globalization particularly in urban cities create the large gap in income where high paid upper class keep immigrants and women employed. The low wage immigrant/women workers do not have opportunities for advancement or other career opportunities. If they are not able to further their careers, they will stay at the low wage level.

In the dynamics of globalization when it comes to locations in urban areas, Women are taking on more high paying professional roles. Gentrifications in the urban areas are the cause of professionals moving in and not having the time to do household female/wife duties. These duties include cleaning/childcare. This is what keeps the momentum for the demand of the service worker in these areas. Women whether they come to these areas intentionally or not, are taking on the roles of a wife/caretaker/homemaker.

Globalization of economies is related to the system of women in these domestic work roles. Sassen believes we should look and economic globalization differently in order to see this side of it. Low-wage Immigrant and women workers are at the center of these systematic types of work in these cities. Instead of focusing on the hypermobility etc. We need to see why the demand of these immigrant workers continues to increase. The government is depending on these women workers whether they are here on their own or if they have been trafficked. The traffickers make money from the women and the government depends on these women to fulfill the demands for the domestic service industry. The profit making industry continues to fuel this system that keeps low wageworkers in demand but we do not view globalization in this way.

Corporations are big contributors to keeping women in clerical low paying positions. Corporations also contribute to the demand of service workers such as janitors, restaurant staff etc. Even if these workers are part of this cooperation’s, they are hired as help and remain viewed as a service worker or isn’t viewed at all. They are invisible to the cooperate professionals.

Sassen Assignment12

December 4, 2016

In Sassen  essay, “Strategic Instantiations of Gendering,” Saskia Sassen (2003:1)  she argues “today’s dominant account about economic globalization in media and policy, as well as in much economic analysis, emphasizes hypermobility, global communications, and the neutralization of place and distance.”  Sassen states that place does not matter and only people with education matter.  the new transitional worker is over looked and only the privilege is accounted for and stated that the global migration of maids, nannies,nurses,sex workers and contract brides(1). Sassen talks about the immigrant cultures where women take on jobs to make ends meet and take care of their family in other country. Sassan argue that the contribution and marginalization of immigrant women are factors that contribute to the growth of the global economy but goes unnoticed in today’s society.  Low wage workers are overlooked and are not credited but is the driving force behind the country’s capital. She spoke about how these women would be trafficked across country lines for jobs and the trouble they faced.

Sassen argues that global cities in the U.S. and across the world contributed to the process of creating these industries and not recognizing the growth in global capital. She spoke about the sex workers and how much money the government made off these workers. She states that 4 million people were trafficked in 1998 which made a profit of 7 billion dollars. Which is so sad to think that these poor women who have been exploited generated so much money for the government. She argues that the work force is made up mostly of women and most of the country’s revenue is made up of the money that these women work by any means then send home to their families in other country. It’s funny how this article states that women make up the majority of resident workers and they are mostly women of color. Which the last piece we read by Paul England stated that women earned less and work less because of motherhood. Sassen shed light on how women are important to the working class. She said that immigrant women are important actors in the new informal economics of cities of the global north. Women take more important roles in society like active and social roles. Women have been exploited throughout time and it can be seen that they have been playing and doing their part but have not been recognized.

Assignment # 12

December 5, 2016

In Saskia Sassen’s essay, “Strategic instantiations of Gendering,” she argues that the media and policy circles believe that the leading narrative of our current global economy is based on the factors that place and distance are no longer relevant and that the main key players are the highly educated professionals. Sassen argues that with the emphasis on this particular narrative the information outputs are missing other key factors. As the fact that global migration of maids, nannies, nurses, sex workers and contract brides play a major role in globalization. As the information outputs are neglecting to acknowledge that these low wageworkers have been in existence way before our current economic globalization and are now major players.

Globalization does create the demand for high-level professionals; which then require heavy demands on their lives with long work schedules. This in return generates the need to have the household task to be taken care by the “ serving classes,” which are mainly composed of immigrant and migrant women (5). With the demand of service workers, these low wageworker are incorporated into global markets and play a major part to its growth, but unfortunately they go unnoticed. They are not seen as viable members of globalization.

Globalization has created global growth but has placed many countries in great debt that in return has created a great deal of unemployment. As governments find new creative ways to shrink their debt to be able to compete with the global markets they have implemented exporting workers and permitting mail order brides, as ways to coping with their unemployment. Unfortunately the exportation then gets tied in with global sex trade as criminal organizations look for the means to cash in as they start trafficking in migrant workers. As the workers go over to other countries for employment they tend to send remittances to their families back home. Which then becomes a major source for their government.

As the world economy grows so does the demand for the low wageworkers. Consequently we can see how globalization helps to promote the exploitation of the migrant women who tend to suffer the most without any recognition or without the opportunity to grow. Sadly the mass media and policy makers don’t’ believe that they are not considered to be major contributors to globalization, as the serving class workers tend to hold jobs with limited growth opportunities and the ones that face the most exploitation.

Elaine Hall’s essay

November 23, 2016

Part: A

In the Doing Gender by Giving “Good Service” essay Elaine Hall describes the differences between gender -in- organization perspective and the gendered organization approach and how they are both define in the work environment.

The author describes how gender in-organization is different for women and men and it implies that different gender has different approach to the same kind of work. The different genders also are view differently by costumers. (in p.454) This article describes how for example police women are trying to resolve the gender role between being women and a police officers. How the gender expectations and behavior when harassment is involved these behaviors are inappropriate.

In gendered organization approach (in p.454) it describes that the type of job a person chooses will imply the gender at work. This approach is different than gender in organization approach because it tells us that men and women bring different gender behaviors to work. But the gender organization approach implies that the type of job determines how men and women behave differently when it comes to the work environment.

When addressing the way, gender is constructed within and between restaurants. All this because restaurants makeup their own rules when it comes to hiring people to work for them. Some restaurants only hire young beautiful women in order to attract more customers into their establishment. This discriminates on other people trying for the same job. Some places discriminate depending on what type of restaurants they tend to hire older women, not young ladies because they tend be mothers and house wife and are able to take care of families. But if it’s a restaurant they tend to want young women with nice bodies in order to attract and flirt with male costumers. For example, I have a close friend that used to work in a fancy restaurant in Washington highs where I live, my friend felt so much pressure from her place of work and from other co-worker and waitress that she made the decision to go have plastic surgery in Dominican Republic. She felt other waitress were making more money because they had better bodies specifically bigger behinds than she did.

In this case, both the gender -in-organization and the gendered organization played a role in how my friend was able to get this job. Because in this job she walked in with gender neutral believes but quickly realized that wasn’t how she was supposed to act at work but Instead gendered organization determined how she was supposed to look and act around costumers at work, in order to make more money.

Part: B

In the article “The wage Penalty for motherhood” The authors Michelle Budig and Paula England write about how women in their childbearing years are being paid less than women that are not in their childbearing years. All this because when women have children they tend to spend more time at home and away from their jobs. They may get discriminated against because of having children and be seen as less reliable than women without children.

The first explanation (in p.205) is that when women are in childbearing years they spend more time away from work because they are taking care of children causing them to interrupt they carriers and therefore their job experience. For example, when my children where young I had to work and spend more time away from home than I wanted to. But that made me feel guilty about not being with them I was missing out on my children growth. At the same time, I had to work because of fear of losing my place at work, it was a lot of pressure from both sides.

The second explanation (in p.205) is that some mothers may want to change jobs to more mother friendly jobs even if those jobs offer less pay because to them it is more beneficial to be in a mother friendly job, like for example working in a school were later on mothers could bring their children to work with them which makes it essayer for them instead of having to pay for childcare and it saves time.

The third explanation (in p. 207) is that some mothers may earn less pay because having to take care of a young child and working is an exhausting job that can leave them feeling sleepy and can lead them to be unfocused on the job at hand. For some women, it takes about a year to get used to the routine of juggling a job will taking care of their children.

The fourth explanation (in p.208) is that some employers can discriminate against mothers because they feel mothers are less productive than women how don’t have children for the reasons I mention above. In this society, women that have career ambition are viewed as being less ambitious if they also have children. Because bosses tend to prefer women that are not attached to children in order to have their focus on the job at hand.

The last explanation is where the authors sort of retract what they said because they mention (in p.210) that maybe women of childbearing years are at a young age. They may have a lower academic status and that is way they tend to make less money than those women who don’t have any children.

Good Service & motherhood penalty

December 1, 2016

Part A

What I got from the essay doing gender “Giving Good Service” is that the another was trying to make a connection between gender and how it affects people’s definition and of what good service is. She discusses how gender affects ones behavior in their job. I like her example of the waitress, because female waitresses arose from the stereotype that women provide a motherly and caring vibe. Because of this women’s behavior changes to adapt to the stereotype. Another example used was the police officer in which is female officers are not seen at the same superiority as male officers and therefore are not given the same respect or seriousness. Hall also discusses how gender is used to determine whether male or female would be more beneficial for the business to earn. She brings up women’s jobs such as housekeeping, nanny, waitress, or bartender because women are seen as caregivers or sex symbols. The gender is used as a tool to benefit the business or customers. Business really add to this idea in that they make provocative uniforms for their female employees to wear rather then the males. This can be seen today in food industries such as hooters. I am pretty certain that the men do not walk around in bras or belly shirts. In the NY Times employees from hooters discussed how degrading the uniform was and that refusing to wear it is not an option and will lead to be fired from the job. I believe the excuses business use to defend themselves is that they are trying to appeal to the customer however they are not realizing the message they are sending out to their employees and young men and women. A big problem that arises is harassment that comes with particular job such as waitress or bartending. Superiors will inform employees that flirting and sex appeal is a requirement of their job. I find this completely outrageous and don’t understand why this is being accepted in today society. We must step away from money being more important than our self-respect and dignity.

Part B:

Budig and England explore how motherhood affects employed women’s wages. They come to the realization that there is in fact a wage penalty for motherhood. Through their research they give five explanations as to why mothers wages are affected. The first reason as to why women are not offered more money or earn less is because employers believe that mother hood causes women to lose job experience. Women move from full time positions to part time or take time off to care for children or take maternity leave. Budig and England’s research (pg205) showed that men suffer no such penalty even after having children. Although most business owners see time off for mothers as a negative, Budig and England see the positives of mothers taking time off to care for their children. The idea presented here is that “caring labor” equals “productive adults” who later contribute to economic productivity. Higher pay goes to women who are deemed qualified because of their seniority which is a result of their work attendance. The research shows that the wages of women who take time off or “lose work experience” are in fact affected and lowers chances of better pay or more hours. The second reason for wage penalty is due to mothers moving into “mother friendly” jobs. Most times women will exchange a higher paying job for a lower paying job due to the fact that the work is less demanding or allows them more time off. It is believed that motherhood results to lower productivity, the third reason ties into the stigma is that mothers are exhausted from their home duties or they are less pro-active at work because they are in fact storing energy so they are able to do what’s know as second shift work. Childbearing Women are seen as unreliable due to their need to check in with their children, go to appointments and take sick leave for both themselves and their children. This is the reason why women try to find mother friendly jobs; they acquire flexible hours or jobs that have onsite day care. The fourth reason behind the reason for un fair wages is due to discrimination from employers. Along with all of the previous reasons the authors state that employers find it distasteful to employ mothers. Examples of employers discriminating against mothers is by placing them in jobs with less benefits minimal promotion as well as giving them minimal hours or minimal pay. Lastly the last reason for the wage penalty for motherhood is the idea that it is the characteristics of the women and not so much the discrimination from the employer. Budig and England state that women are more likely to have children because they feel motherhood will bring more satisfaction to their lives then their careers.

Crystal Pinho

November 27, 2016

In the report, “The Roots of the Widening Racial Wealth Gap,” Thomas Shapiro, Tatjana Meschede, and Sam Osoro (2013) provide information on the following five factors that fueled the racial wealth gap in the U.S. as well as the policy approaches that will “set our country in a more equitable and prosperous direction”.

The first factor is home ownership. The study on home ownership is Americas largest form of investment. Home ownership is determined on the length of the investment return, offering the best pay out of wealth. Prior to the real estate crisis loans were pretty much handed out to African American families. However, once the crisis hit, tons of African Americans were forced to foreclose. Which furthered the rascal margin between African Americans and whites, and of the difference in wealth.

The next factor is between income and unemployment. During this study the income increase reflects a major role the accumulation of wealth. African Americans suffer from a history of filled with discrimination in their employment sectors. The implications revolving around their history dampers in the work place for African Americans today. They are faced with inequality in work benefits and stability unlike the Whites, who are not affected by these elements within the work place.

The following factor is of college education. Originally education acted as a neutralizer among the difference, but this is no longer the same notion it once was. With the increase of college tuition, African Americans have a greater chance to re-frame from attending and will eventually drop out in hope of steering free from debt. Whereas the Whites will experience the option to afford the completion of their education and benefits.

The forth factor is of inheritance. Statistically whites are five times more likely to inherit money and invest, more so than African Americans.  Whereas African Americans are more likely to save it for a rainy day, just in case of emergencies.

Lastly, there is Social and Cultural factors. Marriage benefits the higher earning white families. The contribution of income acts as a platform of their current wealth. Whereas African Americans who are married does not reflect the same wealth as a white family does. Both African American spouses have low incomes that could never equate to a white household’s wealth.

This entire study is of a systematic cycle of unattainable wealth for the African Americans. The discriminatory history affiliated with this race creates huge setbacks. In many forms of wealth distribution.

The Roots of the Widening Racial Wealth Gap

November 29, 2016

In the report, “The Roots of the Widening Racial Wealth Gap,” by Thomas Shapiro Tajana Meschede, and Sam Osoro, The research shows that their are cultural and structural differences racial differences in and they identify the variables in different ways, such as inheritance, home ownership, educational attainment and lastly income. To help us understand the racial wealth gap and how it reflects towards Whites and African Americans, The economic divide.

Homes are usually the largest asset in any persons life. You need shelter in order to survive. Research shows a 25 years period and the difference to home ownership is the 27% of income/growth between blacks and whites. The research shows that owning a home benefits most white-families because they have more access to financial assistance and credit more than African American families, and it provides them with more wealth and security. In contrast to African Americans where they tend to have high-risk mortgages and are more likely to foreclosure their homes. Another factor is that because African-American are more likely to be without a job than white, they are forced to be on unemployment and survive and low or no funds. When it comes to Education, Although many students attend college, not many of them finish. When it comes to college completion there are more whites than African-Americans that finish with a degree and are weight less by student debt than African Americans. This is one of the biggest obstacles for any family household to be in a significant debt because they want to send their child for a college education.

Overall the studies show that there is always going to be a slight inequality og both races and that poverty is always going to run more around african americans than whites.

Assignment #11

November 27, 2016

In a report on a longitudinal study of approximately 1,700 families, Tatjana Meschede, Sam Osoro, and Thomas Shapiro reported four primary spheres of life that account for the majority of the wealth gap between white and black U.S. citizens, as well as offered policy changes that may help to close this gap. I found their report to be interesting and I agree with their findings and solutions.

First, the authors reported that homeownership was the largest predictor of the wealth gap since owning a home is the largest investment families make and the biggest piece of a wealth portfolio (Meschede, Osoro, & Shapiro, p.3). White people have a much higher rate of homeownership than do black people, as black people must deal with a history of systemic racism that caused them to have less access to credit, lower incomes, residential segregation, foreclosures, high risk loans and mortgages, and being demanded to pay extremely high prices for homes (Meschede et al., pps.3-4).  To remedy this, Meschede et al. insist upon enforcing fair policies in lending, mortgage, and housing to ensure black people have equal opportunities to own homes (Meschede et al., p.6).

Next, Meschede et al. link together the effects of unequal income opportunities for black people with higher rates of unemployment. Again, due to a history of systemic racism, black people deal with being discriminated against in the hiring process, being trained and promoted at work, as well as being offered benefits through their employers (Mescheded et al., p.4).  Due to these same factors, being unemployed affects members of black communities even more (Meschede et al., p.5).  Finding a good-paying job is challenging enough and when one loses it and must rely on emergency savings, those savings are no longer able to go towards a wealth portfolio, increasing the gap between black and white people.  Meschede et al. suggest policies enforced at local, state, and federal levels that increase minimum wage, equal pay, and benefits offered by employers (Meschede et al., p.6).

Meschede et al. then point to the wealth gap in terms of inheritance. White folks are much more likely to receive inheritances from their families so most start out with a larger wealth portfolio than their black counterparts (Meschede et al., p.5).  To offset this, Meschede suggest taxing the very wealthy more and those that have lower incomes, less (Meschede et al., p.6).

Finally, Meschede et al. highlight systemic racism once again as the catalyst for unequal college education opportunities. Many black people are segregated into lower-income areas that are given less tax money for schools, resulting in lower-quality education and preparation for college (Meschede et al., p.5).  This factor, along with increasing tuition, are causing many black students to drop out of school or graduate with extremely high debt, if they go to college at all (Meschede et al., p.5).  Meschede et al. posit that investing in higher-quality education for all and enforcing policies that assist low-income students attend school as well as not leave them debt ridden upon graduation (Meschede et al., p.6).

I agree with the authors that a long history of systemic racism is to blame for the income disparities and wealth gap for black citizens, not personal choices or character flaws. It will take a lot more time to convince policy makers to adjust the current agenda but it can be done, if not by one topic at a time.  The attitudes and ideologies of racism instilled within many American citizens have recently been shown throughout the recent presidential campaign.  But I would like to think that there are more citizens who recognize systemic racism for what it is and does, and who are willing to fight even harder to eliminate it.

Assignment #7

October 30, 2016

In the reading “Working “By Studs Terkel I believe what he is trying to state that work is being generated by technology, or better seems as computers, but nothing bring more satisfaction then to have performed physical labor and completed a tangle task. He gives examples of different professions and the satisfaction each feel in the physical job. Not be though that these physical job were short on technology, like factory machines or devices to ease in their labor, but they required a larger physical aspect of performance than those from digital world and computer like jobs. He explains a man work ethic is not based on their age but on its determination and discipline in the capitalistic society. Ralph Helstein explains that work is anything that has value, you should not pursue what is going to make you money but what your passion is, the work that will create that discipline and determination in you to succeed in a capitalist society. Due to the factory like lines of management there is always someone above someone in business today. This keeps everyone accountable for and productive. Society adapts different methods to fulfill this passion and drive, just to be happy and feel satisfaction of hard work.

The story of Bud Freeman relates too what Terkel is communicating about since he discusses what it is like to be a Full-time musician. The discipline, dedication and determination he has only comes from having a passion for the profession. You complete the task and dedicate the appropriate time and research needed to succeed in the career choice. Work is anything value to a citizen’s life. The person places the value on the work by the morals and environment they are living in.

In my opinion, this is how I personally pursue my career and educational life. I am determined, disciplined and dedicated to my goal of achieving success. I view success by the value I have placed on my job. It’s my passion and I perform in a capitalistic manner. I network with clients and contacts so have them view me useful, I administrate worker with some factory line management and pay them according to the time provided and wake up every day with my goal to achieve monetary and valued in my career choice.

Profit Colleges Shame or Sham

October 25, 2016

It would be naïve to think that the developments in the Persian Gulf are not connected to the growth of for-profit colleges. In the U.S. Corporations and other business have no responsibility when considering the human rights of people who differ from their social economic class or outside their business sphere. This analysis begins with the laborers of Saadiyat Island, who are exploited by the kafala sponsorship system and the Tourism Development and Investment Corporation. This sector traps the migrant workers of South-Asia by taking their passports, giving them inadequate wages and living facilities in sub par detention camps (“High Culture Hard Labor,” Andrew Ross). This system has resulted in over thousands of death and Human Rights watch group has been isolated from these continuous occurrences. Funding these projects are global museum institutions such as the Guggenheim Museum, the Louvre and others are being endorsed with capital revenue by private universities such as New York University (NYU). This is a prime example of how for profit colleges and universities are ran more like corporations by outsourcing cheap labor power for profits. The interest is their shareholders rather than the innovating educational growth for their pupils by preparing them as the next generation’s working class. Note that private higher education costs at least $100,000.00. The once American now global ideology is to attend university as a stepping stone to achieve a formidable career with benefits to support yourself and your family. However, this certificate in society is merely a ranking with no fulfilled promises whatsoever. The student indebted is similar to the migrant labor who is barely able to send wages back home to support their family. Tom Harkin and the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions reported on the profitable business of profit colleges. The statics revealed are shocking, the revenue and profit sharing for this before mentioned sector is 3.6 billion dollars/ 19.4 percent for profit distributions, 4.1 billion dollars/22.4 percent for marketing campaigns and a mere 3.2 billion dollars/17.7 percent for instruction that is 59.5 percent of profit for non- educational affairs which is more than half of the revenue and profit sharing (“Congressional Report Slams For-Profit Colleges,” Paul Fain). It’s fair to say that numbers do not lie, after seeing such an assessment it is an understatement to say that these profit educational institutions have mishandled their revenue for capital gains in lieu of not prioritizing the advancement of student’s education and future. Graduates are an insurmountable amount of debt and it’s a rat race to find a satisfactory job let alone a career to support one’s self, forget paying back a lifelong debt. So yes the connection in the Persian Gulf can be attributed to the growth of profit colleges but more so for the mistreatment of international laborers and students with below average means. Universities have the resources and the power to assure that all parties involved be uncompromised social and monetarily.

Gender and Organizations/ Motherhood Penalty

November 24, 2016

In the reading “Doing Gender by Giving ‘Good Service’” the author Elaine Hall discusses about two identifiable approaches to the relationship between gender and organizations. These two approaches are connected to one another and I feel that are based on the perception of the people and their expectations. Both the customer and the organization play a big role into these gender roles and expectations. One of those approaches is the defining of gender in organization distinguished as incongruity. To further explain what gendered in organization looks like Elaine Hall explains and gives the example of the waitress and waiter example. Elaine Hall explains that it is more stressful for waiters than waitresses because the data showed that waiters get insulted more. Later on the author explained that waiters who were interviewed explained that waitresses get insulted more often because they are viewed as servant and sex appeal. Also another way is having the mindset that female customers are more stressful than males, because there is a perception that female customers are more demanding. Those are the examples of how organizations are gendered. The next approach to the relationship between gender and organizations is gendered work roles. In the waitering service waitresses are usually seen as sex objects and often the waitresses are instructed to approach customers in a friendly, flirty approach. At restaurants that are female servers it is seen as an obligatory job flirt. But it is also seen as a less of a male’s job, so males tend to be more reserved. I saw that both the approaches of icongruity and gendered work roles go hand by hand because since waitresses are seen as sex objects and servants because they are requested to flirt with the costumers then customers have the chance to offend them, harass them and make them feel less than them like their servant. The actions that most restaurants request from these waitresses are the outcome of the violations some customers have against waitresses. These women are seen with less respect than any job, it is unfair after all.
In the reading “The Wage Penalty for Motherhood” by Michelle Budig and Paula England they discuss about the difference wage between mothers and fathers due to motherhood. In this essay they spoke about motherhood penalty that exist in the United States and also in the United Kingdom. I had no idea there was a “motherhood penalty”, which honestly makes no sense. But Budig and England explained the reasons to why these countries have such penalty for mothers. This penalty also depends if the female is a first time mother or has two or more children. Fathers in the other hand, has no penalty against them to affect their wage or at times they have an increase of wage after their child is born. The motherhood penalty ranges from four percent to six percent of wage decrease for mothers of one child. The more children the higher the percentage gets. It ranges from twelve percent to fifteen percent of wage decrease for mothers that have two or more children. Now that is mind blowing, because that is quiet a high percentage and it affects their income a lot. The reasons stated for this motherhood penalty are the following, companies feel that mothers have less experience than non mothers, are less productive and may work less. The companies believe that mothers have less experience than those who do not have children or are not mothers (fathers) because of the maternity leave, to need to stay with the child, doctor’s appointments all that makes it hard for a mother to always be at work to obtain all that constant job experience. Also the believe that mothers are less productive because they might be tired of the duties they do at home or also might be storing energy for when they arrive home, to have energy for the work at home that awaits them. Also, companies believe that mothers will spend their work time worrying about their child instead of concentrating on work related issues. Lastly, that mothers work less, they mentioned on their essay that mothers might work less because they might have to call out sick to deal with their child’s sickness or appointments. These reasons that were stated to why there is a motherhood penalty do occur but fathers do not pay the same price mothers have to pay. But also there is a reason why we receive “paid sick days”, among other benefits. Women already get paid less than men in general and now are getting paid even less just for producing children. This mostly sounds like a discrimination against women. Lastly they also stated that mothers tend to ask for less demanding occupations to have fewer duties since they consider motherhood to be an “extra shift”.

Assigment # 11

November 27, 2016

In the report,” The Roots of the Widening Racial Wealth Gap,” by Thomas Shapiro, Tatjana Meschede, nd Sam Osoro, they indicate the four main factors that have fueled the racial wealth gap in the U.S..They break down and explain in detail each of the four main factors, home ownership, Income and Employment, Inheritance, and College Education.

The first factor they discuss is Homeownership; the study shows that homeownership is the largest form of investment for most American, similar the American Dream which everyone who moved to America dreams of owning a house and have it full pay at once. To own a home is the biggest investment and eventually becomes one of your the most important aspects to your life. At first, African American families were giving loans very quickly and with low-interest rates, once the economy hit a recession they were forced to go into foreclosure, creating a bigger gap for between the equality of Whites and African Americans.

The second-factor Income nd Unemployment, due to African Americans suffering and having to be set back because of the discrimination they have suffered for many years in the employment situation.Due to the discrimination, they have low wages which do not allow them to become wealthy. Many face unemployment because they have been discriminated thru the hiring process. It creates instability for them and their families.

The third factor is inheritance, most White American families have been around for many years, which has given them the opportunity to be able to gain wealth to pass down to their future generations. However, that is not the case with African Americans who have suffered discrimination in labor and wages which have not allow them to create wealth for them and have an inheritance to pass down to their future generations.

The fourth factor is College Education, at first education was a way to better-living condition and way to create wealth for you. The college has become more and more expensive making very hard to be able to attend college and not be in massive debt. Not only having a debt but many have to drop out of college before actually finishing their degrees due to a high cost of college degree and having to support their families. Many White have their parents who pay for their full college tuition or have an inheritance to be able to ay for some of their college years.
Lastly, the article discusses the Social and Cultural factor many believe that marriage is easier for bills when having two incomes, yet when both spouses are paid low wages it does not make it easier having too low incomes to be able to support a family. I strongly agree with the research and numbers show how the discrimination has set back African Americans in a way that it becomes extremely hard to be bale to catch up to the success of the White Americans.