Social Stratification Module - Financial, Economic, and Business Literacy
"Many studies show a link between economic inequality and crime rates. One study conducted in Mexico shows that districts with lower rates of economic inequality and poverty show lower crime rates than those struggling through poverty. For over twenty years, this study took place, observing more than two thousand Mexica neighborhoods in that time. The same study concluded that at least ten drug-related homicides for every one-hundred-thousand inhabitants over the course of four years. Throughout those four years(2006-2010), Mexico was enduring “The Mexican Drug War,” a conflict between the Mexican government and drug-trafficking organizations. (Retrieved on 4/14/2021 from https://www.cnn.com/2013/09/02/world/americas/mexico-drug-war-fast-facts) While this is believed to have some influence over crime rates, the study states, “The fact that the effect was found during Mexico’s Drug War and not before is likely because the cost of crime decreased with the proliferation of gangs (facilitating access to knowledge and logistics, lowering the marginal cost of criminal behavior), which, combined with rising inequality, increased the expected net benefit from criminal acts after 2005.” (Retrieved on 4/14/2021 from http://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/236161468299090847/pdf/WPS6935.pdf) Generally, studies come to the consensus that economically unequal communities have significantly higher crime rates and agree that inequality is a key factor in each situation. (Retrieved on 4/14/2021 from https://sevenpillarsinstitute.org/consequences-economic-inequality/)
Two contributing factors of ongoing economic inequality are ever-changing societal roles and relationships, such as marrying someone with a near close educational and societal background, as well as the rapid decline of traditional jobs since the 1990s. Non-traditional jobs contribute to income inequality because employers may feel that they can easily hire and fire workers as a result of changing business conditions and because of the poor working conditions in comparison to permanent workers. (Retrieved on 4/14/2021 from https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/docserver/9789264246010-5-en.pdf?expires=1618477782&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=2E45E1294F16EFE7E9167F059599308C#:~:text=Many%20factors%20explain%20the%20rise,rising%20incomes%20of%20top%20earners.)
I understand growing poverty as a pattern of pitfalls. Many people in poverty didn’t get there because they weren’t hard workers but because they were disadvantaged from the start. You can’t help your social standing when you are born, and without money to pay for better schooling, it can be hard to find a well-paying job, especially with factors such as the wage gap in play. Issues like these continue into adulthood and eventually are passed onto the next child born into a disadvantaged home.
If I were to suddenly lose everything and become homeless, I would first try to contact a shelter in my community. My main priorities would be to stay fed and stay safe. I would hope to find a job. Picturing myself in this situation, I can only imagine how difficult it is for people actively experiencing it."
Two contributing factors of ongoing economic inequality are ever-changing societal roles and relationships, such as marrying someone with a near close educational and societal background, as well as the rapid decline of traditional jobs since the 1990s. Non-traditional jobs contribute to income inequality because employers may feel that they can easily hire and fire workers as a result of changing business conditions and because of the poor working conditions in comparison to permanent workers. (Retrieved on 4/14/2021 from https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/docserver/9789264246010-5-en.pdf?expires=1618477782&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=2E45E1294F16EFE7E9167F059599308C#:~:text=Many%20factors%20explain%20the%20rise,rising%20incomes%20of%20top%20earners.)
I understand growing poverty as a pattern of pitfalls. Many people in poverty didn’t get there because they weren’t hard workers but because they were disadvantaged from the start. You can’t help your social standing when you are born, and without money to pay for better schooling, it can be hard to find a well-paying job, especially with factors such as the wage gap in play. Issues like these continue into adulthood and eventually are passed onto the next child born into a disadvantaged home.
If I were to suddenly lose everything and become homeless, I would first try to contact a shelter in my community. My main priorities would be to stay fed and stay safe. I would hope to find a job. Picturing myself in this situation, I can only imagine how difficult it is for people actively experiencing it."
Reflection 3
Name of Assignment: Economic Inequality and Crime Rates
Subject: Sociology
Facilitator/Teacher: Jaqueline Perry
Description of Work/Assignment: This forum for my sociology class at the college required me to research economic inequality and its effect on people around the globe. Specifically, I chose to write about crime rates and how those who are economically disadvantaged are more likely to break the law.
Which 21st Century Skill do you feel this assignment addresses, and why?
This forum for my sociology class at the college required me to research the impact of economic inequality worldwide. Specifically, I wrote about crime rates and how those who are disadvantaged are more likely to break the law.
What are you most proud of from this assignment, and why?
I am proud of my writing. I feel this class specifically has helped me improve my writing to, without a doubt, college level.
How did you develop and/or improve upon your 21st Century Skill with this assignment?
This forum helped me develop my financial, economic, and business literacy skills because I had to research economic inequality and what might lead one to poverty. I feel I have a better understanding of certain economic forces and more empathy for those who are struggling financially.
What was most difficult about completing this task?
The most challenging part of completing this task was choosing a topic. There are many ways in which economic inequality affects people globally, but in the end, I am happy with the topic I chose.
How could you improve this work? If you could start over, what would you do different?
I don't think I would change anything about this work. I spend a lot of time on these forums to make sure they are up to standard, and I'm proud of my writing and my professor's compliments.
How does this relate to what you have learned in the past?
This relates to what I have learned in the past because I have done several forums like this throughout high school. The topic itself, though, is entirely new. This was my first time learning about something like the driving forces of the economy.
How can you apply this to future learning?
I can apply this to future learning when meeting new people and considering my own future. From this forum, I learned that many people aren't stuck in poverty because they aren't hard workers but because they were born into an already disadvantaged home, and that cycle is incredibly hard to break.
Name of Assignment: Economic Inequality and Crime Rates
Subject: Sociology
Facilitator/Teacher: Jaqueline Perry
Description of Work/Assignment: This forum for my sociology class at the college required me to research economic inequality and its effect on people around the globe. Specifically, I chose to write about crime rates and how those who are economically disadvantaged are more likely to break the law.
Which 21st Century Skill do you feel this assignment addresses, and why?
This forum for my sociology class at the college required me to research the impact of economic inequality worldwide. Specifically, I wrote about crime rates and how those who are disadvantaged are more likely to break the law.
What are you most proud of from this assignment, and why?
I am proud of my writing. I feel this class specifically has helped me improve my writing to, without a doubt, college level.
How did you develop and/or improve upon your 21st Century Skill with this assignment?
This forum helped me develop my financial, economic, and business literacy skills because I had to research economic inequality and what might lead one to poverty. I feel I have a better understanding of certain economic forces and more empathy for those who are struggling financially.
What was most difficult about completing this task?
The most challenging part of completing this task was choosing a topic. There are many ways in which economic inequality affects people globally, but in the end, I am happy with the topic I chose.
How could you improve this work? If you could start over, what would you do different?
I don't think I would change anything about this work. I spend a lot of time on these forums to make sure they are up to standard, and I'm proud of my writing and my professor's compliments.
How does this relate to what you have learned in the past?
This relates to what I have learned in the past because I have done several forums like this throughout high school. The topic itself, though, is entirely new. This was my first time learning about something like the driving forces of the economy.
How can you apply this to future learning?
I can apply this to future learning when meeting new people and considering my own future. From this forum, I learned that many people aren't stuck in poverty because they aren't hard workers but because they were born into an already disadvantaged home, and that cycle is incredibly hard to break.