Deck 3: Inequality of Life Chances in the United States

Question 1

The concept of "race" is

A) a reflection of genetic and biological differences inherent in every individual.
B) a combination of biological and social features.
C) a social construct that is biologically arbitrary and holds little to no meaning.
D) none of the above.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

According to the US Census, if 10,000 whites are living in poverty, how many Hispanics or African Americans are living in poverty?

A) 5,000
B) 20,000-30,000
C) 50,000
D) 7,532

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Of a population of 100 black adults, how many have experienced poverty at some time in their lives?

A) 25
B) 54
C) 91
D) 102

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Which of the following is true when you compare the distribution of wealth between white and black families?

A) Families are likely to have similar median incomes, regardless of race.
B) Black families tend to have slightly more wealth because of being accustomed to living in poverty and saving better.
C) White families tend to have slightly more wealth because whites are used to having money and know how to manage it better.
D) White families have far more wealth than black families because white families tend to have other resources than their homes.

Question 5

Which of the following is the better indicator of an individual's life chances?

A) education
B) work ethic
C) income
D) wealth

Question 6

Heiner argues that affirmative action has not yet outlived its usefulness because

A) no other viable solution has been proposed.
B) we don't yet have 50% minority employment.
C) a significant number of employers will still discriminate if left to their own devices.
D) we don't have wealth shared 50-50 between minorities and nonminorities.
E) a and c are true.
F) b and d are true.

Question 7

The National Football League uses a rule that requires football teams to interview at least one minority candidate any time they have an opening for a coaching position. This ensures that people who might not have even been considered get their credentials put in front of the hiring committee. What is this rule called?

A) affirmative action
B) the fairness doctrine
C) the Rooney rule
D) none of the above

Question 8

_______ refers to biological differences in reproductive organs; _______ refers to social expectations for individuals with those reproductive organs.

A) Gender; sex
B) Sex; gender
C) Sex; sex
D) The terms are interchangeable.

Question 9

In 2012, women earned how many cents for each dollar a man earned?

A) 100
B) 97
C) 85
D) 77

Question 10

Women earn less than men, on average, because

A) women's nature steers them toward lower paying "caring" professions like child care and nursing.
B) women get pregnant and don't want to work anymore.
C) social expectations come into play that channel women into lower paying jobs and discourage them from advocating for better pay.
D) none of the above.

Question 11

Approximately how much less do women in management positions earn than their male counterparts?

A) Their salaries are actually equal at the top levels.
B) They earn 5% less; gender inequality is smaller at the upper levels
C) They earn 10% less.
D) They earn nearly one-fourth less.

Question 12

Norway requires at least 7% of the membership of boards of directors of large corporations to be female, and the country is considering raising the quota to 40%. Norway has implemented this policy because

A) Norway is a socialist country.
B) Norway was forced to do so by the World Bank.
C) Norway believes that increasing gender equality is a competitive advantage.
D) None of the above.

Question 13

Which of the following is true about education in the United States?

A) The education system in the United States scores very poorly when ranked with other nations worldwide.
B) If we compare scores only of middle-class and upper-class children to the rest of the world, the United States would rank very highly.
C) The education system is decentralized, which means that school systems are reliant on local resources to fund education, thus reinforcing inequality.
D) All of the above.

Question 14

In 2011, the United States Treasury Department reported that individuals with a bachelor's degree earned more than those with only a high school diploma. How much more did college graduates earn according to 2011 figures?

A) 10%
B) 25%
C) 53%
D) 64%
E) 90%

Question 15

Per person, the United States spends more money on healthcare than any other nation. Where does the US healthcare system fall in comparison to the rest of the world according to the World Health Organization?

A) The United States leads the world in healthcare.
B) The United States is in the top 10%.
C) The United States ranks 37th out of 191 countries.
D) The United States ranks 25th out of 191 countries.

Question 16

Your gender has an effect on your life chances.

Question 17

In modern society, issues like race no longer affect a person's life chances.

Question 18

Racism is always obvious and is thus easy to oppose, legislate against, and punish.

Question 19

Affirmative action has been successful at reducing racial inequality in the United States.

Question 20

Our society expects males and females to behave differently.

Question 21

Describe how the effects of income and wealth inequality affect families throughout generations. Why does it matter that minority families were poor three generations ago if laws and practices are more fair today? How does that differ from the effect of wealth inequality on white families?

Question 22

Heiner asks: "Given that illegal acts of racial discrimination occur thousands of times a day, how, other than hidden surveillance devices or quotas, can antidiscrimination statutes be enforced?" Thinking critically about racism in our society, respond to Heiner's question.

Question 23

List at least three common explanations for the gender wage gap. Using a critical constructionist perspective, explain why these common explanations are problematic.