Example Of Equality And Fairness

Equality and Fairness: Failed Principles The battle to achieve a sense of fairness and equality has been relevant amongst humans since the beginning of time. Advocates who effortlessly argue the need for an equal socioeconomic system recognize that little to no change has been made throughout time. Philosopher John Rawls’s principles of fairness and equality state that everyone has a right to basic liberties and the greatest social and economic privileges are granted only if the greatest social and economic benefits are granted to the most disadvantaged people. The articles, “Still Separate, Still Unequal” by Jonathan Kozol, “Rethinking Affirmative Action” by David Leonhardt, and "Progress Made, but Science Still a Man 's World: News" by David …show more content…
Kozol speaks about letters he received from a young girl named Alliyah and her classmates from the Bronx in which they describe the disadvantages they are exposed to such as: “‘We don 't have no gardens,’ ‘no Music or Art,’ and ‘no fun places to play,’ one child said” (Kozol). Due to the fact that these young students attend a school in an area dominated by minorities, it is clear that these students are the least advantaged in comparison to students who attend a school in an area not dominated by minorities. Other schools who have the benefit of having access to fundamental subjects such as music or art are at the most advantaged since they are given more of an opportunity to expand their knowledge. In Kozol’s case, John Rawls’s principles are not fully recognized since these young students are not benefitting since they lack resources and are exposed to less opportunities to receive a better and higher education compared to students who attend a school in an area not populated with minorities. In correlation with Kozol’s article, “Rethinking Affirmative Action” by David Leonhardt, he speaks about the fact that although everyone is given an equal opportunity the color of your skin has the biggest impact on any final decision. Leonhardt gives insight on how most colleges use …show more content…
Leonhardt expresses equality not being fair as he speaks about a young white woman named Abigail Fisher who had been rejected by the University of Texas and believed she was not given a fair chance due to the fact that she was not a minority. Leonhardt explains: “Without diverse college classes, they argued, students will learn less and society will lack for future leaders” (Leonhardt) to demonstrate the equal chance every student receives while simultaneously suggesting that those equal chances are not necessarily fair since the ones who are of a diverse background have a higher advantage of admission. It appears the goal is to maintain a diverse environment and during the process, giving someone of no diverse background having the same qualifications a less chance of admission. Similar to Leonhardt’s article, "Progress Made, but Science Still a Man 's World: News" by David Matthews also expresses an equal opportunity not necessarily being fair. Matthews explains how although women and men are given an equal chance to work in the same place, it is still not fair since a woman is still overruled by a man. Matthews introduces a professor Nancy Hopkins from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and how she relates to Matthews’s focus on how women