Racial Disparities in Labor, Education, Wealth, and Health

What is the unemployment rate for white populations compared to black populations?

The unemployment rate for white populations is 5.1%, while for black populations, it is always in double digits (11.6%).

What are some factors contributing to economic inequality and racial disparities in employment?

Employer discrimination and skills mismatch.

According to economic theory, what should resolve discrimination in the labor market?

Market competition should resolve discrimination.

What is the impact of a criminal record on employment opportunities?

Individuals with a criminal record suffer in the labor market, facing fewer job opportunities.

What did Devah Pager's 2003 study reveal about callback rates for black and white applicants?

White applicants with no record received a 34% callback rate, while black applicants with a record received 17%.

Black applicants who did not have a criminal record did poorer than white applicants with a criminal record.

subtle racism

minority applicats channeledd to work involving less customer interaction

What is the significance of the racial hierarchy in the labor market?

It ranks whites above Latinos, who are above blacks in terms of employment opportunities.

What structural barriers have historically affected wealth accumulation for African Americans?

Slavery, Jim Crow laws, de jure discrimination, and institutionalized racism.

How does the net wealth of white households compare to that of black and Hispanic households?

White households have a net wealth about 13 times greater than black households and 10 times greater than Hispanic households.

What role did the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) play in housing access?

The FHA created mortgage lending opportunities for middle-class families but confined access to suburban areas.

access confined to suburban areas - neglect central cities

bias toward single-family, detached homes,

bias toward new purchases over repairs of existing

"unbiased professional estimate" - made older homes and communities less likely to be approved for loans

What is redlining?

The practice of marking areas on a map where banks would not invest, often affecting predominantly African American or Latino neighborhoods.

discrimination in low wage job market

level of education completion

economic inequality and racial disparities in employment

economic theory

racialized decision-making in contemporary low-wage labor market (pager et al)

low-wage work concentrated in the service industry

heterogeneity of the job market - competition not just black/white, also black/latino

low-wage labor market - major applicants with a criminal record

educational achievement

test scores, grades

crucial fo success in higher education

educational attainment

degree earned, central in affecting labor market outcomes

gaps between black and white students across both methods

still significant but declined

gpas between rich and poor students

growing

explaining gaps in educational achievement and attainment

- cultural achievement (values, norms, beliefs associated with higher education success)

- structural perpective (parent's SES, school funding, school and teacher quality, segregation of schools)

support for cultural perspective

- different parenting styles

middle/upper class - concerted cultivation

lower class - accomplishment of natural growth (letting kids be kids)

What are the educational achievement gaps between black and white students?

There are significant gaps in test scores and grades, although they have declined over the last four decades.

What cultural factors contribute to educational achievement?

Values, norms, and beliefs associated with higher education success.

What is 'concerted cultivation'?

A parenting style used by middle/upper-class parents to groom children for success.

What are the three forms of capital identified by Pierre Bourdieu?

Economic capital, social capital, and cultural capital.

economic capital

command over economic resources (cash, assests)

social capital

resources based on growup membership, relationships, networks of influence and support

cultural capital

forms of knowledge, skill, education, any advantages a person has given which give them a higher status in society

role of structural components in educational gaps

segregation in school

how schools are funded

access to teachers/curriculum

discipline in schools

How does school segregation affect educational outcomes?

Schools with high levels of segregation often have larger racial achievement gaps.

students were more likely to go to schools that are of their own racial/ethnic background

What was the outcome of Brown v. Board of Education (1954)?

It declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

What impact does residential segregation have on school funding?

Poor districts receive less funding, affecting the quality of education and resources.

segregation within school: tracking

placing white/asian students into honors/AP classes and remedial for black/hispanic students

segregation and achievement gaps

smal racial achievement gaps = little to no segregation

moderately or highly segregated district = high racial achievement gaps

What are health disparities?

Group-specific differences in disease presence, health outcomes, or access to healthcare.

Why are health disparities significant?

They raise issues about equality, fairness, and justice in healthcare access.

they also indicate or cause minority status

What are some reasons for health disparities?

Poverty, language barriers, education and health literacy, cultural differences, and unequal healthcare.

what are health disparities

gaps in quality of health

gaps in quality of healthcare

examples of gaps in quality of health

infant mortality rate

disease incidence

mortality

life expectance

examples of gaps in quality of health care

lack of health insurance

lack of regular physician (+ communication barriers)

lack of access to high-quality, aggressive care

What is the social gradient in health?

Health outcomes are associated with people's position in the social hierarchy.

How does social inequality affect health outcomes?

Greater social inequality leads to larger differences in health outcomes.

What is the role of stress in health outcomes?

Social conditions can affect biological mechanisms, such as stress leading to lower birth weight.

What is the significance of educational attainment?

It is central in affecting labor market outcomes and economic opportunities.

What is the effect of tracking in schools?

It can lead to segregation within schools, placing minority students in lower-level classes.

What are some barriers to home ownership for African Americans?

Lack of financial means and discriminatory lending practices.

What is the impact of incarceration on employment for African American men?

It makes finding employment significantly more difficult compared to white men with a criminal record.

How do cultural attitudes affect health literacy?

Cultural differences can lead to varying levels of understanding and engagement with health information.