Economics, SPED Kids and Immigrant Labor Flashcards
Q1: What is institutional inequality?
A1: Institutional inequality refers to systemic patterns of discrimination embedded in social institutions like education, the workplace, healthcare, and the criminal justice system.
Q2: How does institutional inequality differ from individual prejudice?
A2: While individual prejudice involves personal bias, institutional inequality is structural, shaping societal outcomes regardless of individual intentions.
Q3: What is the significance of “cumulative disadvantage”?
A3: Disadvantages in one institution (e.g., poor education) lead to further setbacks in other areas (e.g., job opportunities, income, housing).
Q4: How do race, class, and gender intersect in institutional inequality?
A4: These identities compound disadvantages, leading to unique barriers for marginalized groups (e.g., low-income Black women face greater obstacles than middle-class white women).
Q5: Why is it difficult to dismantle institutional inequality?
A5: It is deeply ingrained in policies, practices, and social norms, making change slow and requiring systemic transformation.
Q6: What is environmental racism?
A6: The disproportionate exposure of marginalized communities—particularly low-income and racial minority groups—to environmental hazards like pollution and toxic waste.
Q7: Why are poor communities more affected by environmental hazards?
A7: Lack of political power, weaker enforcement of environmental regulations, and economic necessity force marginalized groups to live in polluted areas.
Q8: How do corporations contribute to environmental injustice?
A8: Companies often locate hazardous facilities (e.g., factories, landfills) in low-income areas due to weaker resistance and lower costs.
Q9: What role does activism play in addressing environmental injustice?
A9: Community-led movements raise awareness, pressure policymakers, and push for equitable environmental protections.
Q10: What is an example of environmental justice activism?
A10: The Flint, Michigan water crisis, where activists exposed government negligence in providing clean drinking water to a predominantly Black, low-income community.
Q11: How does globalization affect migration patterns?
A11: Economic disparities, political instability, and climate change drive people from poor nations to wealthier countries in search of opportunities.
Q12: Why are immigrants often exploited in host countries?
A12: They face low wages, lack legal protections, and are often scapegoated for economic issues.
Q13: How does gender shape migration experiences?
A13: Women migrants face additional challenges such as gender-based violence, limited job opportunities, and lack of reproductive healthcare.
Q14: What are some structural barriers that migrants face?
A14: Strict immigration laws, detention centers, language barriers, and discrimination in housing and employment.
Q15: What is the “global care chain” and why is it important?
A15: It refers to the pattern where women from poor countries migrate to care for families in wealthier nations, leaving behind their own families, perpetuating global gendered labor inequalities.
