Life Chances

The barriers to achievement

What are these barriers?What are these barriers?Certain sections of society Certain sections of society are faced with barriers are faced with barriers created by stereotypes and created by stereotypes and prejudices made against prejudices made against them.them.These barriers mean that These barriers mean that these members of society these members of society have restricted life chanceshave restricted life chancesMembers of society who Members of society who are usually faced with are usually faced with these barriers are women, these barriers are women, ethnic minorities and the ethnic minorities and the disabled. disabled.

WomenWomenMany feminists state that Many feminists state that women are victims of women are victims of sexism on every level. sexism on every level.

Patriarchy exploits them Patriarchy exploits them in every aspect of their in every aspect of their life,life,

from professional from professional aspects (the glass aspects (the glass ceiling) ceiling)

to personal matters (girls to personal matters (girls and women feeling and women feeling pressured to be attractive pressured to be attractive and “feminine”).and “feminine”).

This sexism negatively This sexism negatively affects the life chances of affects the life chances of women .women .

From a very young age, females are encouraged to place their physical appearance as the key feature of their identity

““Girlification”Girlification”

““Little girls quickly learn where they belong. The pink disease is far Little girls quickly learn where they belong. The pink disease is far worse than 20 years ago. worse than 20 years ago. It’s almost impossible to buy toys now that are not putridly pink branded It’s almost impossible to buy toys now that are not putridly pink branded or aggressively superhero male. or aggressively superhero male. Barbie and Bratz etc. and don’t get me started on thongs for 7 year olds Barbie and Bratz etc. and don’t get me started on thongs for 7 year olds and sexy slogans on 3 year olds t-shirts.and sexy slogans on 3 year olds t-shirts.

One study showed how anxiety about appearance harms brain function.One study showed how anxiety about appearance harms brain function. Girls were asked to try on a swimsuit or a sweater in a private room, Girls were asked to try on a swimsuit or a sweater in a private room,

supposedly to give their opinion. supposedly to give their opinion. While waiting they did a maths test. The girls given swimsuits did much While waiting they did a maths test. The girls given swimsuits did much

worse than the others as thinking about their bodies undermined their worse than the others as thinking about their bodies undermined their intellectual self confidence.intellectual self confidence.

At ever younger ages, girls are judged by their appearance. Girlification At ever younger ages, girls are judged by their appearance. Girlification is worse than it ever was.”is worse than it ever was.”

Polly Toynbee writing in the Guardian 15Polly Toynbee writing in the Guardian 15thth April 2008 April 2008

Ethnic minoritiesEthnic minoritiesDue to racist perceptions Due to racist perceptions and fears towards the level and fears towards the level of immigration ethnic of immigration ethnic minorities face many minorities face many different social barriers. different social barriers. Sociolgical research has Sociolgical research has argued that institutuions argued that institutuions such as schools and the such as schools and the police force are inherently police force are inherently racist, and show favouritism racist, and show favouritism towards white people.towards white people.The media often creates The media often creates moral panics about ethnic moral panics about ethnic minorities, which can lead to minorities, which can lead to hostility towards particular hostility towards particular ethnic groups amongst the ethnic groups amongst the general public.general public.

The death of Stephen Lawrence, a victim of a racist attack, highlighted institutional racism within the police force,

The moral panic of Terrorism has had a severe impact on the Muslim communities in England.

Activity – Ethnicity & Life Activity – Ethnicity & Life ChancesChances

Look at the written activity on page 295Look at the written activity on page 295

Answer the questionsAnswer the questions

Identify two differences in the life chances of Identify two differences in the life chances of some minority ethnic groups compared to those some minority ethnic groups compared to those of their white British peers of their white British peers

The disabled. The disabled.

The main barrier for disabled The main barrier for disabled people would be a physical one. people would be a physical one.

The majority of our buildings and The majority of our buildings and institutions are designed with the institutions are designed with the able bodied in mind, and so the able bodied in mind, and so the disabled find it very hard, or even disabled find it very hard, or even impossible to physically enter and impossible to physically enter and work within these buildings.work within these buildings.

This helps to alienate the This helps to alienate the disabled from society, making it disabled from society, making it hard for them to develop their hard for them to develop their potential through education and potential through education and work, and makes it very difficult work, and makes it very difficult for them to access public for them to access public services.services.

Towards equality of opportunity.Towards equality of opportunity.Government effortsGovernment efforts::-adopted policy of equal opportunities in employment; -adopted policy of equal opportunities in employment;

no decision of recruitment, promotion or pay can be based on an no decision of recruitment, promotion or pay can be based on an employee’s race or gender.employee’s race or gender.

-Education reforms produced to encourage all children to develop -Education reforms produced to encourage all children to develop their talents, irrespecitve of gender, race, or their physical and their talents, irrespecitve of gender, race, or their physical and mental capabilities.mental capabilities.-Programmes introduced to help children from materially or -Programmes introduced to help children from materially or culturally deprived families (Surestart – although this has now been culturally deprived families (Surestart – although this has now been scrapped)scrapped)-Harassment or abuse based on someone's race, gender or -Harassment or abuse based on someone's race, gender or sexuality is outlawed. sexuality is outlawed.

Non-Governmental action:Non-Governmental action:- Marginalised social groups have created pressure groups who - Marginalised social groups have created pressure groups who campaign for change. campaign for change.

One example of this is the Fawcett society, who campaign for One example of this is the Fawcett society, who campaign for gender equality.gender equality.

Have Life Chances Improved?Have Life Chances Improved?

Despite government actions and action by other groups the effect Despite government actions and action by other groups the effect on equality has been limited or not achieved in some areas for the on equality has been limited or not achieved in some areas for the following reasons:following reasons:

Governments, not wishing to offend the business interest, are Governments, not wishing to offend the business interest, are reluctant to impose and enforce strict regulations, which employers reluctant to impose and enforce strict regulations, which employers attack as being “red tape”. Many companies who wish to attack as being “red tape”. Many companies who wish to discriminate still do so.discriminate still do so.

Women who want to have a family and a job are not always treated Women who want to have a family and a job are not always treated fairly by employers. A fairly by employers. A Glass CeilingGlass Ceiling still exists. still exists.

Attitudes and behaviour patterns do not necessarily change very Attitudes and behaviour patterns do not necessarily change very quickly after a new law has been passed. quickly after a new law has been passed.

Making discrimination illegal does not immediately end Making discrimination illegal does not immediately end discrimination. discrimination.