Race in US History

     Race in US History has been since the beginning of America unfortunately it still is evident today as we still haven’t come to grips about what race really means.  According to Sociology race is defined as; “A socially constructed category of people who share biologically transmitted traits that members of a society consider important.”  (Maconis, 673) However, society has categorized this meaning something all together different.   When certain events arise for i.e. crimes; this situation automatically focuses on the minority race due to discrimination.  This unequal treatment of minority categories is often led by stereotypes which still exist today. In an Oklahoma prison, 76.5% of the prisoners are minority.  This is just a minor sample, but pretty consistent throughout the criminal system.  In the movie Discrimination at the Swim Club it gives another example of social injustice.  Minorities were told to swim somewhere else because it would affect the image of the swim club, when in actuality it may draw more clients if others were able to see that the club was culturally diverse.  Whites and Blacks fought hard in the Civil Rights movements to end segregation; the physical or social separation of people.  Today, for equality for all mankind, we must remember the principals that our country was founded upon and end racial problems and live for “liberty and justice for all.”

Global Gender

Woman today are treated far better than those in Afghanistan because the amenities and luxuries we can enjoy in the United States is not a norm for the Afghan women.   The Afghanistan Relief Organization (ARO) is a nonprofit organization.   In May 2005, ARO established the first of a series of women’s literacy classes, designed to help women who desperately need literacy and vocational training to support their families.  In the United States women don’t have to depend on literacy programs as most have the mean to a public education which teaches them how to read and write.  The female literacy rate for women in the United States is 99% vs. that in Afghanistan which is only 21%.  Employment is another privilege that women in the U.S. are able to benefit from as there are more opportunities for work.   The unemployment rate in Afghanistan is 35% while the unemployment rate in the United States is only 8.8%.  These percentages are drastically different and since women have a lower literacy rate this leads to a lower employment rate also.  Going back to luxuries and amenities for women in the U.S. there are so many areas that can be taken for granted.  Unfortunately, in Afghanistan during the rule of the Taliban from 1996 to 2001 women were treated worse than ever before and by any other society.  Women were not allowed to work, leave their homes without a man, and could not seek medical help from a male doctor.  Despite the help from organizations such as the ARO the repression of women are still extremely noticeable in the public life of Afghanistan women.  The lives for women are slightly improving in Afghanistan although many non-profit organizations are attempting to make a difference Afghan women are still facing horrific issues. However, 33% of women experience physical psychological or sexual violence.  Changes have come from international organizations and nonprofits such as, the Revolutionary Association of the Women in Afghanistan (RAWA), The Afghan Women’s Mission, and Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan.  With these non- profit organizations they have attempted to increase literacy rates, train and employ women, and better the infant mortality rate and simply provide medical care for women to live longer lives.  Although, these are not some women living in America, any changes for betterment of women in other countries is a great asset and privilege for all.

Child Sex Trade in Southeast Asia

Unfortunately, one million children have to encounter child trafficking due to various horrifying living conditions.  Mr. Nicholas Christophe mentioned the collapse of communism, socialism, mobility across countries, and the rise of aids. The fact that many partners desire younger children as sexual partners to prevent the risk of possibly getting aids these children become placed in situations that are unbearable and in their case uncontrollable.   Imagine your child going out to play as he/she normally does enjoying their outside time and playing with his/her favorite toy.  Suddenly, you realize that your child is no longer in your view as you look out the window then proceed outside to find that your child is nowhere in sight.  Human trafficking is what a lot of parents in Southeast countries have had to encounter as girls are kidnapped and lured in by complete strangers using candy, drugs, and other methods to succumb to this horrible injustice.  Mr. Christophe emphasized that coalitions are paying more attention to human trafficking and commends a man by the name of John Miller who is a part of the evangelical and liberal feminist movement to find ways to aid this dramatic issue.  It is a sad situation to read that 12-13 year old girls have to forfeit their bodies to prostitution to just help their family.  The United Nations Children's Funds (UNICEF) "advocates and supports the creation of a protective environment for children in partnership with governments, national and international partners including the private sector and civil society."   When researching information about trafficking I chose France and it was discovered that France is one of the destination countries for women and girls exploited for sex from place such as, Romania, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and other Asian countries.   Social justice changes that could help end trafficking would be to try to participate in a state wide call-in day to fight human trafficking which occurred in Maryland on April 5, 2011.  This call-in consisted of Maryland residents contacting Chairman Vallario who could advance a bill that would ensure that convicted traffickers would receive harsher punishment.   Overall, human trafficking is inhuman and needs to be abolished FOREVER amongst all nations to include the United States of America.