Ethnicity and race have been a topic of immense concern in the United States of America since it has a wide range of ethnic and racial entities in this country, having a broad historical background of origin. The author of this paper discusses the effects of ethnic stratification on the Hispanics/Latinos, and how prejudice and discrimination are relevant to this ethnic group.
Ethnic Stratification
Ethnic stratification has resulted in differences in the distribution of resources according to hierarchical positions. The most powerful/dominant ethnic group enjoys most benefits as long as resource distribution is concerned. In the US, stratification was done based on physical appearance and religion.
The white Protestants are top in the hierarchy followed by the Jews, white Catholics and Asians. The bottom in the hierarchy includes the blacks, Indian Americans, some Asians and Hispanics or Latinos. This has changed since there have been several conversions from one culture to another.
Currently, stratification is done using two main ways i.e. biological characteristics and ethnic background. To the Hispanic, what has mostly influenced their placement in the hierarchy is their ethnic background. Given their unclear origin these citizens are usually treated as non-Americans.
They are currently ranked lower than the blacks especially in employment, housing and education. The Latinos are thus discriminated because of their position in the ethnic hierarchy. In fact, stratification is the main reason for racialism and racism among the American population.
Prejudice and discrimination
The disparity in ethnic class resulting from the social stratification in the American society has resulted to uncontained prejudice and discrimination.
Price (2012) defines prejudice as peoples’ perception towards people of other cultures whose traits they consider negative because of their cultural background, religion or color (Price 802). Discrimination, on the other hand, is one’s act of prejudice on another person or a group (Price 802).
According to different surveys (Gk-survey, Pew Research poll), the Hispanics are ranked second after African Americans among those who face discrimination in the United States of America. The Hispanics are mostly discriminated against finding adequate and good housing (US Census Bureau, para 7).
The pew research poll indicated a shocking statistics that three of ten Latino employees have been discriminated at least once a week at their work place. About 12% of the interviewed Hispanics in the US Census Bureau Survey believe that at one time, they had been fired from work due to prejudice.
Moreover, one in ten Hispanic men report going into prison at least once in their life due to prejudice and discrimination (US census bureau para. 6). This discrimination extends to other extremely valuable services like education, health services and leadership.
The children and youth are the most affected by the discrimination though adults also phase their position of prejudice and discrimination. The discrimination has had lots of influence on the perception of the Hispanics on life and other vital activities (Price 801). The Hispanics are reported to be less motivated in life at work, low education standard and high unemployment rates.
These are all results of prejudice and discrimination that they face. Policy measures to reduce the discrimination bears no evident fruit, campaigns for equality to bears no fruits. It is forecast that with the increase in Hispanic immigrants into the US, perceptions against the Hispanics increases and thus discrimination worsens. The bid to reduce this prejudice has thus to be heightened to save the situation.
Works Cited
Price, Patricia L. “Race and ethnicity: Latino immigrants and emerging geographies of race and place in the USA.” Progress in Human Geography 36.6 ( 2012): 800-809. Print.
US census bureau, 2010, Web. www.census.gov.