In a society that constantly changes and adapts to evolving circumstances, it is important to be aware of recent events and conscious of how to handle different matters pertaining to urgent topics.  Immigration is an increasingly popular topic for debate, and people find themselves being on either the pro-immigration stance or the anti-immigration side.  This is a problem: people should not be pinned against other human beings.  People should care about immigration because it is the foundation that formed many nations, especially the United States.  The U.S. is able to thrive on its diversity and offer so many options in so many different sectors of society as a direct result of immigration’s influences (i.e. job opportunities, education possibilities, language variation, cuisine, etc.).  People should care and want to know more about their surroundings, where they live/come from, and current events.  Many immigrant families encounter barriers that prevent them from completely immersing themselves in American culture.  Most of all, people should care about this matter because most people encounter immigrants (and know them personally) if they are not immigrants themselves.  To effect change in the way people perceive immigration and act towards it, alterations need to be made on three levels of society: the individual level, the local level (for our purpose, the RCNJ level), and the national level.

Individual Level

The first step in becoming an advocate of any social issue is becoming educated on the topic and being open-minded about all factors it involves.  Because people often base their opinions on what is depicted across the media, there are common misconceptions spread about immigrants and their backgrounds.  People can combat this by using trustworthy sources as well as becoming advocates for immigrants and the immigration process.  People can attend rallies/protests, attend marches, and sign petitions to raise awareness of the topic and to recruit others to start thinking in the same open-minded ways.  Although most movements are most effective at the national level, movements such as #MeToo begin on the individual level; once an individual speaks their truth and takes a stand, others feel empowered to do the same.  It takes on a domino effect: once a single individual takes action, others will feel empowered enough to follow in their footsteps.  Media can be a significant contributor in this, as those who feel passionately and strongly about the matter will likely reach out and try to make a difference in the way others see immigration.

Local/RCNJ Level

Above the individual level is the local level; Ramapo holds a significant amount of power in spreading awareness and acceptance throughout campus.  The school can offer courses and bring attention to immigration as well as its history in America.  While Ramapo does provide and advocate for diversity and activities celebrating different cultures, international students add a large portion of the diversity and new perspectives that are seen on campus, even though they may not necessarily be immigrants.  Colleges and universities have their own policies about accepting undocumented immigrants, so to make a difference, Ramapo can accept a wide range of immigrants no matter what their backgrounds may be (^1).  The students involved in the DREAM Act, referred to as Dreamers, are eligible to receive in-state tuition, and New Jersey and New York are both among two of the nineteen states to offer this opportunity, which is beneficial since Ramapo is in New Jersey and is close in proximity to New York (^2).  Despite the DREAM Act being a national bill, it allows colleges and universities to be an active part in undocumented students’ journeys.

National Level

Because of the complexity of immigration, the most action can be taken at the national level.  First, the US Immigrant Rights Movement is a nonviolent social movement that aims to protect immigrants from discrimination while also paving the way for undocumented immigrants to become citizens (^3).  This movement tries to grant immigrants opportunities with matters such as jobs and education and is integral in trying to give them a more fair chance in life (^4).  This social movement holds marches across different cities and states, which allows for them to raise more awareness.  All of its missions and goals can be found on their website.  While it is typical for volunteers of this movement to be of Latino descent, anyone who advocates for freedom can take action and be an ally in the movement.  Additionally, in recent years, immigration has become a hot topic for debate with lawmakers often disputing between being more strict or more lenient on immigrants, particularly those who are undocumented.  To effect change, the government can begin to become more consistent in how they manage and approach immigration matters.  These varying perspectives cause inconsistencies when passing legislation, which only makes it more difficult since regulations are changed and modified each time a new president and political party assumes office (the most recent modification being that President Trump has suspended immigration into the United States due to the coronavirus pandemic).  It would make it easier on citizens and government if media and legislation was spreading the same information, not conflicting or contradicting news.  We may be able to accomplish a trickle-down effect also, however, only if the national government is able to come to a mutual understanding in how to treat such matters.

Acceptance and advocacy of immigrants and the immigration process can be fostered at the individual level, through the local level, and all the way up to the national level.  If individuals are more tolerant and accepting, then more people will be granted opportunities.  The more people work together, the more efficient and advanced society will continue to become, so it is important to take a stand for what one believes in and see that through all the way to the national level by participating in rallies, voicing opinions, and always being civil.

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Bibliography

(Image 1 and Image 2) Semotiuk, Andy J. “What Do Immigrants Want And How Do They Get It?” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, January 30, 2020.

(^1 and ^2) “The Dream Act, DACA, and Other Policies Designed to Protect Dreamers.” American Immigration Council, September 3, 2019.

(^3 and ^4) “The US Immigrant Rights Movement (2004-Ongoing).” ICNC: International Center on Nonviolence Conflict, 2020.

The most prominent current event going on is the Coronavirus disease pandemic, or COVID-19.  Although people find it redundant to talk about at this point since it continues to over-saturate the media causing mass hysteria and paranoia, it is important to recognize how significantly it continues to impact every individual’s life, no matter his or her geographical location, race, culture, religion, or political affiliation. The COVID-19 virus is an infectious disease in which a majority of those infected experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment.  Those with compromised immune systems (i.e. older people, diabetics, cancer patients) are more likely to develop a far more serious case of the illness and will most likely require special treatment in order to recover from the virus (^1).  The effects of this virus continue to reach different sectors of society.  As a class, we continue to spent a majority of time throughout the semester discussing issues within society as well as their prevalence in people’s lives, so it is important to acknowledge the severity and impact that this pandemic has shown on recent discussion topics.

Urbanization and Population Growth

There are conspiracy theories circulating that claim this pandemic to be a result of governments trying to depopulate their countries and regain control; however, in times of crisis, it is important to look at facts and not get carried away by emotions.  We read and discussed the different types of living areas: urban areas, suburban areas, and rural areas.  Of course, urban areas are more densely populated and more congested, so those residing in cities are most likely to see a more rapid spread of the virus, which offers one explanation as to why New York is so badly infected.  A common misconception is that suburbs are safer that cities; however, it proves not to be the case.  If people refuse to remain at home, the virus will continue to spread at a fast rate.  The benefit of quarantining in a suburb is that it is not as congested, and people’s homes tend to be more spacious, as opposed to city apartments (^2).  When surveying rural areas, people typically believe that they are not as high risk.  It is important to remember, though, “Rural populations have less means to contract it, but rural populations have less means to treat it,” (^2).  Rural residents do not have certain commodities as readily available to them.  In the unfortunate event that someone in a rural area were to contract the virus, their surrounding medical centers may lack the means and necessities to treat them.

The Environment

As many of us discussed, climate change is a real, serious issue, but not everyone shares these beliefs.  People do not take it seriously, and the same is happening with this pandemic.  Government officials and health experts urge and advise civilians to stay home, self-quarantine, and social distance themselves from others.  People do the exact opposite because they think that others following guidelines is enough to contain and stop the spread.  Although they may not be infected or may be asymptomatic, they are putting others who are compromised at risk.  Those exposed to pollution in their environments are at higher risk, “Greater exposure to air pollution has been linked to respiratory conditions such as asthma, which can increase risks of serious illness or death from the virus,” (^3).  In this case, the environment is playing a direct role in worsening the virus for many.  Despite the mass media coverage, some people are taking the subject lightly.  This virus is highly infectious and can be spread through human touch, yet there are still individuals who believe themselves to be invincible.  Minority populations are seeing the worst of COVID-19, as environmental racism is the “disproportionate impact of environmental hazards on people of color” (^4).  Being that more minority populations live in polluted areas, they are experiencing the brunt of the virus.  It is upsetting and disappointing to see government resources and essential workers exhausting all measures to keep us safe while some are worsening the conditions with reckless and selfish behavior by going out when it is not necessary, exposing themselves and others.  The connection between this and the environment is that human beings see the effects of the pandemic, yet many are hesitant and negligent enough to ignore the signs, as people do with harming the environment.  Media shows videos of how the planet is affected by pollution, waste, and toxins, but people choose to turn their cheek on these critical social issues.

Unfortunately, the issue will continue to worsen if individuals continue to not take precautions against the virus.  Life in quarantine is uneventful to say the least, but the more we comply, the quicker we can resume to our daily lives.

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Bibliography

(^2) Bliss, Laura, and Kriston Capps. “Are Suburbs Safer From Coronavirus? Probably Not.” CityLab, April 9, 2020.

(Image 1) “CDC Tests for COVID-19.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, March 9, 2020.

(^1) “Coronavirus.” World Health Organization. World Health Organization, 2020.

(Image 2 and ^4) Ettachfini, Leila. “Coronavirus Death Rates Are a Direct Result of Environmental Racism.” Vice, April 14, 2020.

(^3) Frazin, Rachel. “Experts See Worrisome Link between Coronavirus, Pollution.” TheHill. The Hill, April 13, 2020.

Considering the massive change we all endured recently as a result of world events, this semester is beginning to feel overwhelming in many senses.  It is difficult to get myself to begin on any assignment or project, which never happened to me before.  Once I actually do begin, however, I become productive.  Personally, the writing for my website has been an enjoyable experience.  The research and writing has been successful for the most part, but I definitely enjoy writing my pages more than I enjoy compiling all of my research. Whenever I thought I reached a dead-end in my research, I reconfigured the questions I was asking, and I was able to redirect them to find the desired information I was searching for.

I found multiple sources for the history section of my website, my favorite being a pdf about the immigration and ethnicity history in New Jersey (^1).  The text really portrays the history of immigration in New Jersey as being a story, which is one of the main goals of my website.  Within my website, I want readers to feel as though they are also reading a narrative while traveling, whether it be to a new place, a new time, or a new experience.  This source has been significant in describing the “trends” of immigration that I wanted to discuss throughout my website as well as discussing the different types of immigrants who moved to New Jersey, and it has been one of my more useful qualitative sources.  Overall, my research and writing have been going well, as my problems reflect more technological challenges.

For the most part, I am holding to my schedule.  I find it easier to write as I go, although I initially wanted to compile all of my research before writing.  I quickly found that this made my process more difficult.  I restructured my schedule so that I research for certain pages and then do the writing for those pages: I work more efficiently and am able to focus on one issue instead of having my mind going in circles because it is focused on too many matters.

The most useful source for my quantitative data so far has been from Data USA, as stated in my previous blog post for wrangling data (^2).  It has been helpful in providing data having to do with New Jersey’s diversity in both the form of statistics as well as in graphs and charts.

Despite living in an age where technology basically runs everything, I do not consider myself to be tech-savvy whatsoever.  My main challenges are WordPress and Tableau.  For me, WordPress is so complex and so much can be done within it, so it makes the process somewhat daunting because while I want to have informative substance throughout my website, I also want it to be visually appealing (though I do understand that content is arguably more significant than visuals).  Aside from the technicalities of it, it is very simple and straight-forward when it comes to copying my text into it.  On the other hand, every time I use Tableau, I have to relearn the process because I seem to forget one minor step, so that wastes some time.  Considering the obstacles we encountered with the timelines, I will use Sutori instead of Tiki Toki to create my timeline, which I will create as soon as the writing for my history page is finished.  Moving forward as classes begin to mount and come to an end, my biggest advantage will be time management, and my plan is to continue writing in my Google doc and then pasting my text into WordPress as I complete more pages.  I want to add visuals at the end of my writing process so that I maintain focus on all of the information for now.  Despite my minor setbacks along the way, I am learning more about WordPress, and I also learned how to redirect my research to obtain more applicable results. This process is long, but I know it will be rewarding in the end.

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Bibliography

(Image 2) Bodony, Rachel, and Meghan Horvath. “How To Combine Quantitative and Qualitative Data for Better Optimization – The Latest Voice of Customer and CX Trends: Usabilla Blog.” The latest Voice of Customer and CX trends | Usabilla Blog, December 16, 2016.

(^2) “New Jersey.” Data USA. Accessed April 6, 2020.

(Image 1 and ^1) Shaw, Douglas V. Immigration and Ethnicity in New Jersey History. 1994.

Initially, I wanted to focus my website project on immigration and its influence on economic disparities within the state of New Jersey.  I quickly found that finding sources that showed both the relation and correlation between immigration and economic disparities were not common and often separated the two categories from one another instead of in a more comparative manner.  I looked on sites such as JSTOR and ProQuest for my qualitative data, while I turned to sources such as the Bureau of Economic Analysis for my quantitative data.  Since I could not find data supporting the linking of my social issue, I reconfigured my topic to focus on immigration within New Jersey.

The whole process of finding a data source that is useful for my website project involved first looking at sources found on JSTOR and ProQuest.  Here, I was able to locate plenty of argumentative pieces that either advocated or rejected the ideas of immigration benefitting society as a whole.  These engines gave me choices from several sets of data and offered a wide range of perspectives, which is useful in the overarching goal of my website: to allow individuals to formulate their opinions based on unbiased data presented to them.  For more statistical and quantitative data, I plan to continue to use https://datausa.io.  This site provides New Jersey data having to do with the economy, diversity, education, and housing and living.  My selection of sources is indicative of my main goal of wanting to provide a range of perspectives so that individuals can think freely and draw their own conclusions using the data provided throughout my website.  I did not want to focus so much on immigration benefits or drawbacks, but I wanted to focus more so of the role immigration plays in New Jersey as well as its effects within the economy, demographics, education, and diversity.  Creating a well-rounded website with a balanced focus on aspects of immigration will provide readers with backgrounds of more knowledge.  Some questions I want to ask my data include:

1. How does immigration impact the economy?
2. What is the history of immigration, and where do we see immigrant groups moving?
3. Which populations of New Jersey face the most poverty?
4. What populations/demographics are largest within New Jersey?
5. Where do populations of immigrants usually move/congregate?
6. What roles has immigration and diversity played on culture and lifestyle?

Immigration is a vast topic that can be dealt with using social sciences or more pragmatic methods such as economic factors, so a majority of fields would be able to answer these questions, including economics, business, education, humanities, and other social sciences.  Immigration affects more people than we realize. As of 2017, 22% of New Jersey residents were born outside of the United States (^1).  Compared to my last topic, the data used for immigration in New Jersey is much easier to handle and break down seeing that I can extrapolate information having to do with different fields instead of focusing solely on the economics and disparities associated with immigrants.  However, sources indicated that economic concerns dominate the worries of Americans due to the labor market and revenue (^2).  Data supports the notion that economics plays a large role in the perception of immigration.

Most data usually requires cleaning or massaging to some degree in order to obtain the desired information, oftentimes because sources provide more data than is actually necessary.  I find that surveys are skewed at times because they depend on the honesty of respondents, and they may not answer every question completely truthfully, so data sources such as polls and surveys should be used with caution, as discussed in previous lectures.  Considering this, I will have to adjust it so that it provides readers insight to the topic from the general public’s perspective.  I do not foresee any problems with obtaining the necessary data, but one concerning issue is that recent data may be skewed as a reflection of the ongoing immigration debate throughout recent years.  Overall, the process of analyzing and visualizing data go together: after analyzing data, it is helpful to see its meaning and significance in the form of charts or graphs. It is easier for many to see effects versus reading about them.  It assists individuals in trying to comprehend data’s meaning and apply it to any given issue, and the process proves effective when wanting to draw conclusions of issues.

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Bibliography

(Image 2) Damicis, Jim, and Bethany Meys. “Immigrants Are Critical to the Economy.” Immigrants are Critical to the Economy | Camoin Associates, June 11, 2018. https://www.camoinassociates.com/immigrants-are-critical-economy.

(^2) Espenshade, Thomas J., and Vanessa E. King. “State and Local Fiscal Impacts of US Immigrants: Evidence from New Jersey.” Population Research and Policy Review 13, no. 3 (1994): 225-56. Accessed March 30, 2020. www.jstor.org/stable/40229734.

(Image 1 and ^1) “New Jersey.” Data USA. Accessed March 30, 2020. https://datausa.io/profile/geo/new-jersey#demographics.

Jane Addams, an advocate for immigration, gave a speech on October 28, 1907 at Carnegie Music Hall in which she expressed the many talents that immigrants offer to America despite the constraints they face.  Jane Addams’ concerns for immigrants were depicted in her autobiography, 20 Years at Hull-House, where she asserts that immigrants and their traditions should be respected, and immigrants should be assisted in assimilating into American culture.^1  In her inclusive speech, which can be found here, she expresses that societal advancements are often gained from those who immigrate to the United States from other countries.  She also asserts that by accepting and understanding the differences between native-born Americans and new immigrants to America that there “will be a material advancement in culture and appreciation of the finer crafts.”^2  Jane Addams’ messages of inclusivity also express that immigrants have the utmost potential, especially in material achievement of the crafts.  She expresses despair that immigrants are forced into types of work that are below their capabilities being that they were skilled tradesmen in their native lands.  Jane Addams describes the diverse trades immigrants are skilled in, ranging from metal workers to furniture makers and other creative forms. She advocates for them entering fields and types of work where they will best thrive so they reach their utmost potential as Americans.^3  Despite my topic being centered around economic disparities between classes across periods of American history, immigration relates to the economy. Immigrants increase the supply of labor in the nation.  There are misconceptions that immigration is a disservice to the American economy, but as Jane Addams supports, immigrants add value to America and its workforce.  Additionally, the Hull House in Chicago was the prototype for fixing the causes and symptoms of poverty, which only helped the economy.^4  Assisting those new to the country (immigrants) and central to the country (women and children) were root purposes of the Progressive Era.

Jane Addams gave this speech in 1907.  The date is significant to the context because during this time, immigration restrictions were placed on Japanese individuals who were trying to migrate to the United States.^5  The U.S. was regulating immigration and approving migrants at their discretion while it was looked down upon to accept more immigrants into the country.  This was a catalyst for the sentiments set against immigrants in general, which eventually resulted in forced assimilation in some cases since America wanted immigrants for forego their own cultures and become purely and distinctly American.  Jane Addams argues that immigrants add value to the nation and should be valued for their skills, not ostracized within American society.  The speech also places special focus on Chicago and the hardworking immigrants residing within the city. It does reflect Jane Addams living in a hull-house in Chicago; she asserts that Chicago is full of immigrants with amazing potential in material achievements, and she supports her assertion with their work done at Hull House.^6  In 1906, Chicago’s population grew with 64,000 immigrants.^7  The Hull House being in Chicago created a “haven of refuge” for immigrants as they sought better futures and better conditions than the ones they left.^8

This speech took place at Carnegie Music Hall in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; it was the opening lecture of the University Extension Society.^9  This setting impacts its content because it was a venue for musical excellence, and Jane Addams giving a speech in a venue such as the music hall would only add to her purpose and audience of wealthy intellects who were in the positions of offering aid to the nation.  Many strides were taken during the Progressive Era to help immigrants, women, and children, and Jane Addams’ persistence furthered the initiatives for better conditions and more promising futures for all inhabitants of the United States.

Bibliography

(^2, ^6, and ^9) Addams, Jane. “The Possibilities of the American Immigrant, October 28, 1907 (Excerpt).” Pittsburgh Daily Post, Jane Addams Digital Edition, October 28, 1907.

(^4 and Image 2) Friedman, Yael. “Carnegie’s Gift: The Progressive Era Roots of Today’s Branch Library.” Urban Omnibus, October 1, 2014.

(^3) “Give Aliens Chance.” The Pittsburgh Press (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), October 29, 1907. Page 8.

(^1) History.com Editors. “Jane Addams.” History.com. A&E Television Networks, April 16, 2010.

(Image 1) Michals, Debra. “Jane Addams.” National Women’s History Museum, 2017.

(^7 and ^8) “Ten Nights in a Bar-Room.” Newspapers.com. Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois), January 20, 1907. Page 55.

(^5) “The New Immigration Law.” The Hawaiian Gazette (Honolulu, Hawaii),  March 1, 1907. Page 6.

Economic disparity is the unequal distribution of income and opportunities among different groups of society.  It has changed throughout different time periods of America’s history and is indicative of a prevalent inequality within a given society.  Although it has narrowed and widened, the issue always prevails.

Functionalist Perspective

When it comes to economic disparity, the Functionalist Theory poses that all aspects of society – the wealthy, the working class, and the individuals stricken with poverty – are imperative in maintaining stability within a large working system.  This theory argues that it is beneficial to have extremely wealthy individuals as well as extremely impoverished individuals within the same society because they both maintain those worthy at the top and those unworthy at the bottom. This theory sees the economic disparity issue to be an incentive to work harder for those who wish to be at the very top and encourages those already at the top to keep working hard to remain there.  This theory sees every part to be integral within a functioning society, whether the reasonings are positive or negative. Those located at the top of the economic ladder are necessary to keep society thriving, so they have the most prestigious and best-paying careers. Contrarily, the lower classes are significant in society because they occupy the jobs that the wealthy and educated are overqualified for, such as janitors and garbage collectors. In this theory, social inequality leads to a meritocracy.^1  Although not everyone wishes to have those jobs, they are necessary in a functioning society because someone has to do them. Overall, the functionalist theory sees that within the larger picture, each small detail is necessary to have an efficient-working society.

Conflict Theory

Conflict theory poses that economic inequality is detrimental to society because it creates a system of winners and losers.  This theory sees the disparity as being a powerful group dominating over a weaker group of society. In order to maintain the status quo, “those in power repress the powerless.”^2  domination is most usually achieved as a result of cultural hegemony, such as thoughts, values, beliefs, worldviews, norms, and expectations.^3  For example, today’s billionaires such as Jeff Bezos exercise power at the expense of the poor people. The poor individuals do not get fair opportunities to compete alongside Bezos.  The competitive nature of this social issue creates social stratification. Additionally, the elite of society are often advantaged and given breaks (i.e. tax breaks) with hopes that they will invest that money so it will go back into the economy.  Ultimately, however, it is at their own discretion.  The wealthy possess power and use it as leverage so that they maintain control over sectors of society.  This creates conflict and hostility between the groups of society.  The lower group of society is unable to rise above because they are kept below by those exercising power and wealth.  Conflict theorists would argue that economic disparity is a system in which people are meant to be kept down by the elite of society who dominate over everyone else.

Bibliography

(^1, ^2, and ^3) Crossman, Ashley. “The Sociology of Social Inequality.” ThoughtCo. ThoughtCo, January 28, 2020.

(Image 2) Crossman, Ashley. “What Is Conflict Theory?” ThoughtCo. ThoughtCo, July 3, 2019.

(Image 1) Deluce, Alex. “The U.S. Income Inequality Crisis: The American Dream Vanishing?” Gold Telegraph, March 8, 2018.

After leaving the Tenement Museum, my knowledge of sweatshops and its workers expanded beyond my imagination.  As our tour guide, Joshua, transported us back into the 1800s traveling through the single home of hundreds of immigrants, we learned that the individuals residing in the tenement house also ran their businesses within the small confinement of their four walls.  A distinct difference between the sweatshops in the past and those operated today are the locations. While past sweatshops were operated within the homespace, given a designated spot in the living room, the sweatshops operating today are more so located in factories or confined workplaces.  A significant difference between the sweatshops of the past and those in present-day is the advancement in technology and efficiency.  In the past, individuals working in sweatshops were forced to breath in fabric dust, which was fatal.  The Levine family we learned about had their own family business designated in their living room space (pictured below).  Nowadays, the sweatshops are more modern and depict a more factory-like environment, compared to the home environment that was used in the late 1800s.

Compared to today, wages in both eras are low, and workers are underpaid for their labor.  The Levine family’s rent was fifteen dollars a month while they sold dresses for ten dollars each piece.^1  Today, there are existing sweatshops for large companies, such as Forever 21.  One of the workers was earning six dollars an hour for pinning tags on shirts and cutting their loose threads.^2  Most of these workers, unlike history’s, were women.

Upon entering a new nation, there are more opportunities, but that does not mean that those opportunities have been granted.  Immigration and sweatshops are typically interconnected because immigrants are more willing to conduct this type of work than those who are native to the nation and dominate the language.  Immigrants’ options are limited, so they are more accepting of any opportunities coming their ways.  The Levine family immigrated, and like others’ situations, “They had few skills and little money. They couldn’t really read or write and they didn’t speak English. Needing to support themselves and their five children, the Levines, like many other immigrants in the area, literally set up shop in their home.”^3  Immigrants did not have many options, so they were willing to make do with whatever came their way in order to support their families.

Considering their harsh conditions, sweatshops can be beneficial for immigrants and other workers only in the sense of getting acclimated to surroundings and the language.  There are no monetary upsides as workers are extremely underpaid for the amount of work and hours they put into production, but as discussed on the tour, sweatshops were often the places where individuals met their spouses and worked with their families.  For immigrants, sweatshops allowed families to stay together while navigating their way into their new residing nation.  On the contrary, sweatshops are not all that beneficial to natives or citizens of a nation. Being a native-born citizen already elicits an advantage in which he/she is exposed to more opportunities in education, work opportunities, and financial stability.  There is more aid that is able to be provided to the citizens given the circumstances of their situations.  Sweatshops benefit large companies/corporations, as seen in retailers such as Forever 21.^4  They save money since they pay people less for their labor while they earn more profit from their products, benefitting in both areas of production and labor.  Sweatshops benefit the large companies, but they take more from their workers than they give them. 

Bibliography

(^2, ^4) Kitroeff, Natalie, and Victoria Kim. “Behind a $13 Shirt, a $6-an-Hour Worker.” Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, August 31, 2017.

(Image 1, ^1, ^3)Wanderer, The World, and Monica Suma. “The Tenement Museum, Immigration and My Grandmother.” Monica Suma, August 13, 2013.

Although society is a place for individuals to come together, it often poses as a foundation for many social issues to progress.  Despite having come a long way in certain regards, many still suffer negative experiences on a daily basis. There are complex issues that affect individuals; however, three of the most overarching social issues experienced today are economic inequality, gender inequality, and racial inequality.  Without solving these three issues, society may never be able to rise above its own constraints.

Economic inequality is indicative of a failing financial and economic system.  Beginning at a young age, most individuals dream of acquiring wealth and a secure financial status.  Despite the high frequency of the dream, it is accomplished by very few. The economic disparity between individuals is seen on a routinely basis, and it is especially magnified in today’s climate.  I want to choose this issue because it affects every part of the community, and it is so easily seen within the community. I also want to choose this because it is a crucial matter that prevents individuals from moving upward in society.  In fact, “People in the lower rungs of the economic ladder may experience diminished economic opportunity and mobility in the face of rising inequality.”^1   There are billionaires such as Jeff Bezos while there are children in impoverished cities who are unable to attend school or know where their next meals are coming from.  With the increasing use of social media, one is able to see the widening gap between social classes: influencers typically impact younger generations and allow for the gap to deepen.  For example, using companies such as Amazon only adds to the inequality experienced by millions. In order to conduct deeper research, the two aspects I would like to focus on is education to see how financially disadvantaged individuals are even more disadvantaged because of society’s opportunities being set against them.  I would also like to focus on the rapid wealth that the rich are emassing, “The wealth gap between America’s richest and poorer families more than doubled from 1989 to 2016.”^2   I can include some historical context to compare whether the gap has widened or narrowed over time as well as analyzing the factors in that contributed to the issue.  Statistics are readily available that can help me research this issue.

While progress has been made towards gender equality, society is a long way from attaining equality.  Women are inherently disadvantaged compared to men in society. Still, however, genders apart from women experience discrimination in more oppressive forms.  This issue widely affects the community because as more people gain the confidence to live life as authentic as possible, more oppressions seep into their lives, especially for those who do not identify as being male or female, i.e. those a part of the LGBTQ+ community.  There has been increasing violence in the transgender community. I want to choose this topic because of the different sectors that succumb to this issue. Gender inequality can be seen in workplaces, cultures, and daily norms. Because of its presence in different sectors, a specific aspect, such as I the gender inequality faced on a daily basis, would have to be focused on so that the research conducted can be deeper.  For example, “Women are 47% more likely to suffer severe injuries in car crashes because safety features are designed for men.”^3   Statistics such as these can help with researching the topic because it is interesting to see the different parts of society that favor and cater to men compared to the other genders.  Because gender inequality has been an issue throughout history, a historical element could be incorporated where the project could explore the areas in which equality has increased as well as areas that still lack equality.  For example, women gained voting rights in 1920; however, it is 2020 and transgender individuals cannot serve in the military. Inequality should decrease, not remain stagnant or regress.

Perhaps one of the most complex, overarching social issues is the racial inequality of minority groups within the nation.  Personally, I grew up in a diverse neighborhood with classmates who came from backgrounds from all over the world. Although I am part of the majority race in this country, I want to choose this social issue because of its presence in so many other societal issues and parts of society, such as school/education, law enforcement, and job opportunities.  To avoid superficial research, I want to focus on racial inequality in the law and the legal system, police brutality being the focal point. In 2015, “Racial minorities made up about 37.4 percent of the general population in the US and 46.6 percent of armed and unarmed victims, but they made up 62.7 percent of unarmed people killed by police.”^4   Police brutality largely affects racial minorities, Black individuals in particular.  In addition, Black people are more likely to be arrested for drugs despite them not being more likely to sell or actually use them.^5   These prejudices are not newly-established as they have been existing for centuries.  The same practices have been done and will continue to be done unless there is change.  The historical background in which I would like to include in the framework for my research, in particular, is the Civil Rights Movement in the 1940s-1960s and compare those events with the events happening today.  Despite times changing, many of the same mentalities and injustices are exhibited present-day. In this case, statistics will show an overwhelming similarity in racial inequality.

Though these three social issues are significant in today’s society, there are many others that possess equal importance and just as much urgency to rectify.

Bibliography

(Image 1)   George-Parkin, Hilary. “Why Companies Need to Get Comfortable With Taking a Stand on Social Issues.” Footwear News. Footwear News, February 6, 2019.

(Image 3)   Glynn, Sarah Jane. “Explaining the Gender Wage Gap.” Center for American Progress, May 19, 2014.

(Image 2) ^1 and ^2   Horowitz, Juliana Menasce, Ruth Igielnik, and Rakesh Kochhar. “Trends in U.S. Income and Wealth Inequality.” Pew Research Center’s Social & Demographic Trends Project, January 19, 2020.

(Image 4) ^4 and ^5   Lopez. “There Are Huge Racial Disparities in How US Police Use Force.” Vox. Vox, November 14, 2018.

^3   Whiting, Kate. “7 Surprising and Outrageous Stats about Gender Inequality.” World Economic Forum, March 8, 2019.

Dixon, Matt. “Is It Time to Ditch the Post-Call Survey?” ICMI, August 7, 2019. https://www.icmi.com/resources/2019/is-it-time-to-ditch-the-post-call-survey.

No matter the topic, surveys allow for people to express their opinions so that they impact results of a survey and/or questionnaire.

Despite their expected brevity, surveys are an easy way to get access to so many individuals’ thoughts and opinions, especially if they do not wish to vocalize them publicly.  They are tools used to gauge public opinion regarding certain topics. The process of using surveys is easy and accessible to many due to the different forms they take.  Digital?  Written?  Over the phone? There are so many types of surveys with numerous ways to conduct them in order to receive the most accurate and useful data as possible in the most efficient ways.

Nowadays, surveys are all around us whether we realize it or not, whether they be disguised in an email asking us about a recent visit to a store or through the credit card machines while we are paying for our merchandise on the lines of department stores.  Engines such as Survey Monkey and Google Forms provide easy access to partaking in a survey about any given topic.  Traditional research methods tend to be longer and more tedious while surveys typically produce immediate results that are later used for further analysis to determine a general consensus. To construct a successful and effective survey, one should be aware of the power of psychology.  The diction is a key factor in expressing the meaning and intent of the question so that the same question is understood by all participants to have the same meaning.^1  If people are asked questions in a biased manner, their answers will most likely be reflective of that.  For this reason, it is important to avoid prejudice as well as ask a variety of questions while also being mindful of being simple.  Asking complex questions with longer phrases may mislead participants while answering.

“3 Essential Ingredients of Survey and Feedback Campaigns.” Iterable, November 26, 2019. https://iterable.com/blog/3-

essential-ingredients-survey-feedback-campaigns/.

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This is a picture of my best friend and me. We have been friends since we were both four years old.

Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie tells the narrative of the dangers evoked by telling one version of a multiversion story.  She acknowledges that people often have notions of stereotypes which unintentionally pass judgement, and she enlightens her audience that one story is not definitive for all.  Introspectively, Adichie elicits the realization that not a day passes by where I do not think of the blessings I have been granted along with the life I have been given. Considering the hardships many generations of families face in the United States alone, my parents endured sacrifices to prevent my sister and I from having to, although that is not the end result for many.  Despite common associations and misconceptions, single stories are more than economic status, education level, and physical appearance. One of my best friends appears to be just like me: we are both nineteen-year-old college students who love to relax and spend time with friends and our large Italian families. Her single story, however, sets her apart from the large majority of individuals our age.  The beginning of her single story began when she was fifteen years old. One day in 2015, I went to the mall with my best friend, and that night she went to sleep without knowing her life would be forever altered the following day. An emergency surgery revealed a tumor to be in one of her intestines. The severity of her condition was unknown, but she was diagnosed with Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome (PJS), a rare genetic disease that drastically increases her risk of getting cancer while causing her to get tumors throughout her body. Her family worked diligently to find the best doctors and treatments, only to discover that her disease is incurable.  Not many people are affected by this disease and even less are aware of its existence. At that point, despite the unclear future she faced, her family and friends believed the hardest days to be behind them. The sickness from within did not match the person from outside: she does not match the stereotypical descriptions of being sickly, frail, and weak. She defies the odds and is a strong, courageous young woman who does not allow for her setbacks to be her downfalls.

This image is from my friend’s sixteenth birthday; it was just a year after her diagnosis of PJS.

Although her progress has been consistent, events took a turn for the worse in December 2019.  She told me that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer, and I was left heartbroken once again. This “single story” affects me on a personal level because no one ever expects for a loved one to experience it.  By looking at her, she seems to be completely normal and healthy; one would never guess that my friend standing at five feet tall is one of the strongest people I have ever known.  The relationships she has with people are genuine, and she touches the hearts of everyone she comes across. She witholds the information of her sickness and disease, never divulging to a soul of the battles she is attempting to overcome.  Her rare disease and now cancer battle have allowed her to build strong relationships between herself and her supporters. She has built a strong foundation by herself.  It takes a strong individual to overcome what she is experiencing, but it takes an even stronger soul to not allow her weaknesses to define her character.  Adichie points out that, “the consequence of the single story is this: it robs people of dignity. It makes our recognition of our equal humanity difficult. It emphasizes how we are different rather than how we are similar.”1   The single story of an ill person is written so that they look weak, they have no hair, and they are disabled physically, mentally, and emotionally.  The single story portrays their differences and identifies them in society to be dependent on others. Considering this, Adichie also states, “So that is how to create a single story. Show a people as one thing, as only one thing, over and over again, and that is what they become.”2   When surveying the power relationships between herself and those surrounding her, one can only blame society for spreading this misconception.  By depicting sick individuals to be visually different, people begin to perceive them as different beings who do not possess similar qualities. Going against this, the relationships my friend has built between herself and her friends, however, disprove the single story of sickness: she is strong, physically and mentally able, and so unbelievably genuine, courageous, and independent.

There is power in numbers, and with that comes strength. In honor of my friend, her family founded a foundation for people with rare genetic diseases a number of years ago.  Through this foundation, they have come in contact with people from all over the world, some even having the same rare disease as my best friend. Her family has helped so many other families deal with their hardships.  I first realized their impact just a few years ago; every year, they host a benefit dinner to raise awareness for those with life-threatening diseases. It is an occasion to give back to those in need, but it is an emotionally heavy event.  While her family speaks, time halts for everyone in the room. My best friend’s family has granted a voice to those who feel alone and hopeless that their quality of life has drastically declined. The more that this foundation expands and the more that their message flourishes, the more people and victims are reaching out to share their stories.  Her family has connected people from all over the globe. People are navigating their voices to be heard and to be related to, and it is a beautiful community to be a part of. The power relationships formed as a result of my best friend are solid and irreplaceable as no one could possibly fathom or relate to what they are enduring. I learned from my best friend that disease does not have a face, and it does not know a single story. As stated in Adichie’s talk, “The single story creates stereotypes, and the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story.”3   Looking at my friend, no one would know that her body is fighting her.  Our bond and friendship have only grown in the last several years, and it is still due to what we share in common, but it is now the result of being there for someone who still puts everyone above herself. The powerful friendship dynamic we share is a direct result of the amazingly strong individual she has become, and I admire her for it. I admire her for keeping her head held high in the midst of what is undoubtedly the darkest time of her and her family’s lives. I observed the power of multiple narratives, and I have witnessed how they brought unity among people who may have lost hope and faith along the way. Just like Chimamanda Adichie faced assumptions about her culture and origins, people could assume that my friend is handicapped because of her condition. Judging an entire population based on a small fragment of knowledge denies people of their own narratives.  Culture and sickness do not have definitive looks. There is diversity in every person, and power thrives within that diversity. “Power is the ability not just to tell the story of another person, but to make it the definitive story of that person.”4 One narrative portrays one voice, but when multiple people express their stories, the power that is evoked is one-of-a-kind, and I have faith that one day, these voices will be able to transform society to look at people with broader minds and bigger hearts.

__________________________

1 Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, “The Danger of a Single Story,” October 7, 2009. TED video, 13:54, https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=630&v=D9Ihs241zeg&feature=emb_logo.

2 Ibid, 9:26.

3 Ibid, 13:11.

 4 Ibid, 10:01.

Bibliography

Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi, “The Danger of a Single Story,” October 7, 2009. TED video,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=630&v=D9Ihs241zeg&feature=emb_logo.