Sociology Study Guide Unit 9 Intersectionality

Intersectionality In order to accurately address these different aspects of society, it is important to include intersectionality in the conversation. Intersectionality is essentially when race, class, gender, sexuality, etc. are taken into account. Intersectionality with class ● When it comes to homelessness in the United States, people of color are over-represented in the statistics. ○ Native Americans have a high rate of unsheltered homelessness, with 56% of them sleeping in locations not meant for human habitation. ○ 40% of black people experiencing homelessness are part of families with children. If families were less represented in black homelessness, the black homeless rate would decrease from 55 to 42 people per 10,000. ○ Despite Hispanics and Latinos having relatively lower homeless rates, their unsheltered homeless rate has grown by 50% since 2016. This is twice the number of the general 25% increase in unsheltered homelessness. ○ 76% of Asian homelessness is found in California, New York, Hawaii, Washington, Texas, and the Northern Mariana Islands. ○ Pacific Islanders are the only racial group with a higher (57%) rate of unsheltered individual homelessness than Native Americans. They are also the only group with a higher representation of families (45%) than black people. ● Contrary to what most would think, most homeless people are men. Some of the reasons behind this are: men being less likely to use mental health services as a result of toxic masculinity (they’re expected to always be strong and avoid all emotional vulnerability), men being less social and, thus, being less likely to have strong support networks, many homeless people are veterans (most veterans are men), and men are less likely to get immediate housing because women are more likely to become homeless with children (adults with children get faster housing assistance). ● LGBT youth are 120% more likely to be homeless compared to straight and cisgender people. Despite less than 10% of young people identifying as LGBT, over 40% of homeless people do according to a Chapin Hill study. One of the obvious reasons behind these statistics is that queer people who don’t have a supportive family can be kicked out of their houses. In addition, discrimination faced at work can cause queer people to end up in the streets. ● It is a well-known fact that men are paid more than women, even when doing the same job. This is known as the gender pay gap. In 2022, men will make $10,381 more than women around the United States. Except for Washington, DC, every state has at least a 10% lower median salary for women in comparison to men. Since 2010, the wage gap has been between 18% and 19% between men and women who are in similar positions. Wyoming has the largest wage gap, where women earn 35% less than men. Intersectionality with education ● School districts where the majority of the student body is people of color receive $23 billion less in education than majority-white districts. School districts that consist of poor people of color, receive about $2,600 less per student than rich white school districts. This is mainly because wealthier communities have more money to fund their schools while poorer communities have less money to do so. ● Lots of white parents have opposed the teaching of Critical Race Theory (which examines the legal system through a racial lens) out of fear that it will make their children feel guilty. Schools have also been banning books that address racism. ● A similar thing is being done to queer people, with many states passing or proposing variations of the “Don’t Say Gay” law. This law bans schools from discussing gender and sexuality with students. This is especially bad because queer people are already excluded from conversations about sexual health. In addition, schools are banning books that discuss queer identities. ● Earlier we discussed how standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT are inaccurate when it comes to measuring intelligence. One of the reasons this is the case is because of class. Students who come from upper and middle-class families are able to afford tutors and thus increase their scores. This is a privilege that most lower-income students cannot afford. ● In addition, lower-income students are likely to have more responsibilities compared to their upper-class counterparts.For example, if a student's parents each work two jobs, then that person probably has to take care of their siblings if they have any or have to provide for themselves in other aspects. For these reasons, this student would have less time to study for tests and would probably receive lower scores. ● Gender also plays a role in a person’s education or lack thereof. Universally, 129 million girls are not in school. This includes 32 million that are in primary school, 30 million of lower-secondary age, and 67 million of upper-secondary school age. ● In addition, girls are more than twice as likely to not be in school if they live in a country that has been impacted by conflict. The many reasons behind this include, but are not limited to, poverty, child marriage, and gender-based violence. Many people are aware of the doors that education opens, such as access to a high-paying job. At last, girls being out of school contributes to the gender pay gap. Intersectionality in health and medicine ● When it comes to the risk of dying during pregnancy or the year after: ○ White women: about 7 in 100,000 ○ Asian women: about 12 in 100,000 ○ Mixed women: about 15 in 100,000 ○ Black women: about 32 in 100,000. The main reason black women are at the most risk is because of the misconception that black people have a higher pain tolerance. This is a racist notion that was used to justify the enslavement of black people because it was believed that they could withstand physical labor. ● In many religious households, homosexuality has been deemed a disease despite not technically being one. People see it as filth that one must be rid of and this mindset has led to the development of gay conversion camps: camps that aims to cure gay people of their homosexuality. ● Mental health is something that is not often taken seriously by parents of color. When a child says they are depressed, suicidal, or neurodivergent, parents of color are quick to dismiss it. The typical response, especially in black households, is to pray about it. Some parents even go as far as to claim that depression is only for white people, further invalidating the feelings of their children. Intersectionality in the environment ● Environmental racism is about people of color being negatively affected by policies on pollution, housing, and more. ● As a result of harmful environmental policy and exploitation by private companies, Native Americans in particular have been exposed to toxic waste, pollution, and other health risks. Out of all American ethnic groups, Native Americans are the most at risk of toxic exposure. ○ One Navajo woman named Cecilia joe, said, “they never told us uranium was dangerous. We washed our faces in it. We drank it. We ate it. It was sweet”. ● Native American reservations have historically been used for toxic waste disposal, an issue that the U.S. government has a history of not resolving. Companies exploit Native Americans by paying them millions of dollars in order to dispose of their toxic waste in Native American sites. With Native American reservations having some of the highest poverty rates, they may feel the need to accept the money. ● In the United States, communities filled with people of color are disproportionately exposed to pollution. Refineries, factories, landfills, and factory farms are often built in communities of color. Children have been exposed to lead in drinking water and schools have been evacuated because of low water pressure. Intersectionality in religion ● Religion and race go hand in hand. ○ For starters, Christianity was used to justify slavery with quotes such as, “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers; but as the servants of Christ” ● Christianity is also a religion that was introduced to most people of color through slavery and colonization. Missionaries and colonizers demonized the religion of Natives and viewed them as inferior. As part of Christianity, colonizers also introduced homophobia by deeming homosexuality a sin. It was because of this that countries that had formerly accepted queer relationships began to criminalize them.