Fahmi Quadir (Harvey Mudd College) on Economic Inequality
March 22, 2012
Is Economic Inequality the Single Greatest Problem in America Today?
Economic inequality is not the single greatest problem in America today. The disparities that exist arise from a spectrum of forces that concretize socioeconomic class. The steady transformation of the US from a capitalistic democracy to a class-based system where democratic ideals are spurned threatens the legitimacy of the American dream. Neglect of American foundational values of social mobility and the freedom of opportunity—this is the real problem. Defining economic inequality as the primary culprit is to trivialize inequality to one dimension.
Consider two sources of disparity: income and healthcare. If poor accessibility to resources and the subsequently diminishing rate of social mobility are the progenitors of disparity, then we must understand 1) why poor accessibility exists, 2) how reduced opportunity causes disparity, and 3) how inequality perpetuates.
In the case of income inequality, poor accessibility to higher-income jobs may result from gender bias. In the sciences, there are very few women holding tenure-track professorships. Young girls are discouraged from entering these fields because of inefficient methods of teaching science. Social construction of gendered careers has prevented women from becoming mobile in their professions. As few women science professors exist, there is little pressure for institutions to bridge the gender gap. Consequently, women are not able to pursue their research as diligently as men, perpetuating the restricted female contribution to scientific discovery.
Regarding healthcare inequality, poor accessibility may result from citizenship inequality. An individual that is considered an illegal alien will likely not have access to private insurance. Medicare does not generally cover such individuals. Though hospitals subsidize costs for the uninsured, subsidies do not cover prevention—the primary mode of reducing lifetime healthcare costs. Therefore, unnaturalized immigrants are more likely to require hospital care. Here, inequality in both economy and wellbeing are established.
Though these are pointed examples, they speak to the wider problem of socioeconomic immobility in the US. My parents, as I’m sure many of yours, came to the US with the hope of boundless opportunity for their children. We have fallen short of their expectations, of our responsibility to uphold the American dream. Our negligence of foundational values has created a chasm, spanning across all aspects of our lives, from our careers to our healthcare. As we move forward, we must consider the disparities in American life as a dynamic spectrum so we may find multidisciplinary solutions to restore opportunity and democracy in our America.
In the case of income inequality, poor accessibility to higher-income jobs may result from gender bias. In the sciences, there are very few women holding tenure-track professorships. Young girls are discouraged from entering these fields because of inefficient methods of teaching science. Social construction of gendered careers has prevented women from becoming mobile in their professions. As few women science professors exist, there is little pressure for institutions to bridge the gender gap. Consequently, women are not able to pursue their research as diligently as men, perpetuating the restricted female contribution to scientific discovery.
Regarding healthcare inequality, poor accessibility may result from citizenship inequality. An individual that is considered an illegal alien will likely not have access to private insurance. Medicare does not generally cover such individuals. Though hospitals subsidize costs for the uninsured, subsidies do not cover prevention—the primary mode of reducing lifetime healthcare costs. Therefore, unnaturalized immigrants are more likely to require hospital care. Here, inequality in both economy and wellbeing are established.
Though these are pointed examples, they speak to the wider problem of socioeconomic immobility in the US. My parents, as I’m sure many of yours, came to the US with the hope of boundless opportunity for their children. We have fallen short of their expectations, of our responsibility to uphold the American dream. Our negligence of foundational values has created a chasm, spanning across all aspects of our lives, from our careers to our healthcare. As we move forward, we must consider the disparities in American life as a dynamic spectrum so we may find multidisciplinary solutions to restore opportunity and democracy in our America.
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