When first inquired as to what makes the United States a desirable country to live in, a majority of the American people would respond that each hardworking citizen has equal access to educational and employment opportunities. The United States was founded on the basis of equality and has remained so for the most part due to the moral values ingrained in society. However, what most native-born Americans forget is that not all of the supposedly “equal” values translate into reality. The history of this country, while known for consistent advancements in human rights, is riddled with darker memories of slavery and segregation that left lingering stigmas regarding the identity of individuals--especially racial minorities. The stereotypes that
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As mentioned in Gilens’ article, some employers pick workers depending on where they reside. If an applicant is a minority who lives in a low-income, violent area, interviewers would automatically categorize the individual as undesirable since they assume the candidate would be a poor influence. Luckily “[t]he qualities most likely to be proxied by race are not job skills but behavioral and attitudinal attributes--dependability, strong work ethic, and cooperativeness[…]” (Kirschenman & Neckerman 231). Policies encouraging positive work ethic and attitudes in schools, coupled with improvements in education in cities with low-employment rates would better prepare the younger generation for the job market. Programs catered toward careers in different fields would also allow students to explore and gain the necessary skills employers look for when reviewing applications. After individuals refine their education and incorporate qualities supervisors looks for, a further measure that can be taken is providing tax incentives to companies who hire workers from certain districts, bringing jobs back to those residing in slum areas. Of course, the second piece of legislation cannot and should not be brought into effect until the first policy is met, for companies still need higher skilled
As mentioned in Gilens’ article, some employers pick workers depending on where they reside. If an applicant is a minority who lives in a low-income, violent area, interviewers would automatically categorize the individual as undesirable since they assume the candidate would be a poor influence. Luckily “[t]he qualities most likely to be proxied by race are not job skills but behavioral and attitudinal attributes--dependability, strong work ethic, and cooperativeness[…]” (Kirschenman & Neckerman 231). Policies encouraging positive work ethic and attitudes in schools, coupled with improvements in education in cities with low-employment rates would better prepare the younger generation for the job market. Programs catered toward careers in different fields would also allow students to explore and gain the necessary skills employers look for when reviewing applications. After individuals refine their education and incorporate qualities supervisors looks for, a further measure that can be taken is providing tax incentives to companies who hire workers from certain districts, bringing jobs back to those residing in slum areas. Of course, the second piece of legislation cannot and should not be brought into effect until the first policy is met, for companies still need higher skilled