Introduction
The evolution of society has always been premised on the need to improve, absorb new knowledge, and develop society to be better. Most sociological concepts have evolved and, in contemporary society, are viewed as more effective. Race, gender, and equity are concepts that have long been misunderstood, but in modern society, they continue to evolve. The change is rapid, as men and women are utilizing new knowledge and research to modify policies and laws that enable society to become more accommodating.
People are becoming increasingly aware not only of their own objectives but also of the objectives of others in society. For example, women are becoming more aware of their role as equals in society. In addition to that awareness, they are becoming more aware of the need for gender equity. This paper will examine the interrelationship between race, gender, and equity, as well as their impact on society throughout history.
Historical Context
Before the 21st century, race and gender had a significantly greater impact on society than equity did. This was because people needed to be more educated on equity issues and understand how they impacted their lives. As time progressed, however, more people became aware of the importance of equity and began actively working towards creating more equitable societies (Bertrand, 2020). The philosophies of most societies were based on their existence in terms of tribes or races as a mechanism of self-preservation.
The Darwinian Theory was evident in most societies where gender roles were distinct, and information about people was limited, especially concerning population equity (McCoy, 2020). The belief system in the pre-21st century was more limited by the knowledge available at the time. For instance, gender roles were always defined based on the utilization of gender in society. Therefore, men were allowed to work while women were responsible for caring for the household. The concept of equity was not considered since it was only representative of life before the current information age.
Equity and Its Impact in the 21st Century
In the information age of the 21st century, societal norms shifted as people became exposed to more information and diverse cultures. The consequence of knowing the practices of many cultures often led people to adopt new and efficient ways of doing things. This was also the case with the adoption of technology, which helped societies with information, sociological outcomes, and the overall belief system of society (Perry-Jenkins & Gerstel, 2020). The issue of gender has become more liberalized since there has been more information available to the public.
Women were no longer defined by roles but by their contributions to society. There have been both positive and negative effects of women’s empowerment and feminism, resulting in significant changes in society. In addition, equity also became more profound in society as people leaned towards a more just and accommodating society. It was no longer a priority to preserve the tribe, but to create new systems that would enable everyone to benefit fully through their contributions to society.
The changing roles of women over the past two centuries have had a lasting effect on American society. As women’s roles have changed, so has their status in society. In the early 20th century, women were expected to stay home and care for the children while men worked outside the home. According to Haney (2021), Women were also expected to be submissive to their husbands and not challenge or speak out against them (pp.8). This meant they had little power in society because they were not allowed to vote or hold positions of power in government or business.
However, in the 21st century, as more women began working outside their homes, they gained greater economic independence from men (Bertrand, 2020). This led some people to further push for equity and gender equality since society was opening up and new ideas were converging to create a new world. Eventually, these questions led to changes in laws, such as those governing divorce and child custody rights, that allowed women more freedom within their marriages and households, as well as more significant opportunities outside those settings than any previous generation had seen.
The law advocates for equity in most societies since it is the ultimate goal. The information age has opened up the world to new possibilities; hence, the concentration of wealth, distribution of resources, and the equity share of people within societies are more evenly distributed. This has also led to changes in laws and outcomes that often help with the continuous growth of these societies.
For instance, the United States consistently advocates for liberal philosophies and policies, particularly in areas such as women’s rights, gender debates, and racial issues (Perry-Jenkins & Gerstel, 2020). There are more laws nowadays that favor marginalized groups, giving them more power to exercise their rights in America. Additionally, women are empowered to have their own belief system, allowing them to be independent and live their lives without the confines of societal expectations.
Equity affects today’s society most because it is the difference between equal and unequal people. This can be observed in various aspects of our lives, including education, healthcare, and social services programs. The first way we see equity in action is through our education system. The United States has one of the best public-school systems in the world (McCoy, 2020).
However, it still leaves much to be desired compared with other countries with better access to educational opportunities for their citizens at all levels of society, from kindergarten through high school graduation. Another example is our healthcare system. Although modern hospitals provide top-notch care for patients who can afford it, many areas also lack medical facilities (Perry-Jenkins & Gerstel, 2020). If facilities are available, they often need more doctors or nurses to provide adequate care for everyone who needs it, especially those who cannot afford private insurance plans.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is evident that race, gender, and equity are interrelated and have significantly influenced the development of society throughout history. Racism has been used as a means of justification for discrimination against individuals and communities of color, while sexism has been used to discriminate against women. The concept of race has been used to classify and categorize individuals into groups based on perceived characteristics and traits, with some groups being deemed inferior or superior to others.
Similarly, women have been historically marginalized and devalued based on their gender, rather than their abilities or accomplishments. However, the concept of equity has been utilized as a tool for promoting social change and creating a more just and equal society, where individuals are treated with fairness and respect regardless of their race or gender. It is essential to continue working towards equity and inclusivity in all aspects of society.
References
Bertrand, M. (2020). Gender in the Twenty-First Century. AEA Papers and Proceedings, 110(12), 1–24.
Haney, W. G. (2021). Women And Farming. Routledge.
McCoy, H. (2020). Black Lives Matter, and yes, you are racist: The parallelism of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 37(5), 463–475.
Perry‐Jenkins, M., & Gerstel, N. (2020). Work and family in the second decade of the 21st century. Journal of Marriage and Family, 82(1), 420–453.