podcast week 5

Structural inequality, specifically in education and economic opportunities, is a major issue depicted in the movie Boys in the Hood. Underfunded schools in disadvantaged communities contribute to unequal education. Restricted economic prospects and discriminatory hiring practices further perpetuate the cycle of poverty. Different sociological theories, such as functionalism, conflict theory, and intersectionality, explain the root causes of structural inequality. The movie demonstrates how various social norms and problems affect the characters' lives. Understanding that this is a systemic issue is crucial for societal progress. Structural inequality is a social problem that Boys in the Hood has me concentrating on. Numerous societal issues, including unequal educational possibilities and restricted economic options, have an impact on the existence of this issue. Starting with education, a crucial component of the foundation required for success is education. For children to survive in life, having the necessities is crucial, but it also provides countless opportunities for individuals. Scholarships that can help young people attend college for free or at a reduced cost and build better futures for themselves can be attained with a solid education. Additionally, it can aid people in becoming better armed to confront a system that is opposing them. We observe in Boys in the Hood how underfunded schools in underprivileged communities are, which has a significant impact on the learning that is being received and the resources available. The people who require it most are hurt by the flawed funding system, claims a statement by Michelle Chen in 2018 from The Nation. Children are divided by socioeconomic class and property tax, according to research from the Education Law Center and the Rutgers Graduate School of Education, which found that funding levels drastically differ along district lines. The cycle of poverty is compelled to continue as generations attempt to evade the constraints of restricted economic possibilities and upward social standing. This is because children in impoverished areas continue to obtain an unequal level of education. In the book Contemporary Sociological Theory, Jonathan Turner noted, quote, Marx argued that the degree of inequality in the distribution of resources generates inherent conflicts of interest between those who have and those who do not have value resources, end quote. One of the resources where this is obvious inequality in the way it is distributed is education. The lack of adequate economic prospects in marginalized groups comes second to having an unequal level of education. It is challenging to break free of the continuous cycle due to several issues, including high unemployment rates, a lack of steady career opportunities, and discriminatory hiring practices. According to a study by the Economic Innovation Group, the majority of communities with persistent poverty are by definition resource constrained, have numerous demands, and have a relatively small tax base considering their economic distress. It is challenging to do basic economic development tasks, such as applying for federal funding and making new businesses due to limited capacity. This leads to little job availability for residents that live in this area, causing the need to find other ways, sometimes illegal, to put food on the table. According to the functionalist viewpoint, society is divided into various components that each play a specific role while cooperating to form a working whole. Schools are institutions that exist to pass on knowledge and to get you ready for what lies ahead as an adult. However, when there are educational disparities, certain people may not have access to the same high-quality education as others, causing them to have a more difficult start and unlevel playing field, therefore causing structural inequalities. Understanding the significance of education as an institution enables us to comprehend how educational discrepancies can lead to inequalities in society. The conflict theory is a sociological framework for illuminating the connection in the movie between the social phenomenon of educational gaps and the social problem of structural inequity. In the textbook, Contemporary Sociological Theory, it says, quote, for Marx, conflict inevitably arises out of inequalities generated by the means of production within a given historical epoch. Those who own and control the means of production are driven to exploit those who have free resources, with the result that the latter feel deprived and alienated, unquote. According to the conflict theory, social conflict and power conflicts are the root causes of structural inequalities. When it comes to structural inequity in society, the educational differences that were depicted in the movie are only a small portion of the problem. We observe that some groups are able to take use of privileges and benefits, while others must struggle more against the system to obtain them. This can be seen in the various forms of education that are provided, which continue to favor those who are already at the top and help them stay there by giving some more groups better access to possibilities. The intersectionality theory is a significant contemporary sociological theory that explains how social phenomena and social issues in Boyds in the Hood are related. According to this theory, a person's disadvantages are not solely shaped by one aspect of their identity, but rather by the interactions of the other categories like race, class, gender, and sexual orientation. The neighborhood's people in the movie receive lower quality education, not just because they are a minority, but also because of their class, gender, and location. Each of these has an effect on how oppressed individuals experience in their daily lives. For instance, despite the fact that Trey and Dobo were both African American men, they each had access to various resources, such as a father figure, which led them to take distinct routes. One person that holds an opposing perspective on structural inequity is Oscar Lewis. In his book, Lewis developed a culture of poverty theory. Despite his small sample populations, he discovered characteristics common to underprivileged communities, such as frequent violence, a lack of historical awareness, and a disregard for future planning, and he presented his argument. According to his theory, living in conditions of a pervasive poverty will lead to the development of a culture or subculture adapted to these conditions, meaning it is more of an individualistic issue rather than my belief of it being structural. Lewis's method of thinking may be supported by the functionalist theory. According to a component of that theory, socialization within families and communities is how cultural values and norms are carried down through generations. As a result, some of the traits he stated may theoretically be passed down through generations. The interactionist theory is an alternative theory that could agree with his claim. The interactionist theory addresses how people construct and interpret relationships based on symbols and meanings in their daily lives. Lewis made the argument that those who are poor may absorb the negative connotations connected to their social standing, resulting in a sense of helplessness. Symbolic interactionism acknowledges the significance of labels in influencing identity and behavior. Herbert Spencer, a sociologist, supported the social Darwinism theory, a social theory derived from Charles Darwin's idea of survival of the fittest. He attributed the causes of poverty to the poor. He stated that the underprivileged were lazy and people who refused to work should not be permitted to eat. He felt that there should be no resources provided to the poor and related poverty to having a poor moral character. This idea can have connections with functionalism as well. Functionalism considers the possible benefits of society's negative elements. These drawbacks can be used for good, such as inspiring people to keep striving for success or filling the roles for which they are the most qualified. Boys in the Hood offers an in-depth account of inequality in society by showing how numerous social norms, cultural elements, and structural problems combine to influence the lives and experience of each character. They are forced into a maze that is meant to make them fail as a result of poverty, restricted access to high-quality education, and a lack of career possibilities. As each character starts to make decisions and learns how they are influenced, each theory, explaining the culture of poverty to an extent, is demonstrated in some way. The conflict perspective distinctly identified the power struggles and discrepancies that are currently taking place for various groups, while the functionalist perspective illustrated the significance of having high-quality institutions for all class statuses. All of those taken together allow me to conclude that this is not a standalone issue, but rather a component of something far bigger. We will ultimately only be able to advance as a society by being able to see that this is a systemic issue rather than an individual one.