Being American is viewed differently by every person. I view it as being accepting and giving everyone an equal chance. Equality is an important value to have in the United States, but we know that equality has been something America has struggled with since the beginning of the nation. Many laws have and are being passed to make chance equal for everyone. People are not receiving equal chances and treatment because of reasons like religion, color, views, sexuality, etc.
People’s chances have always been limited due to one reason or the other. Back in the 1900s African Americans chances were not equal to those of white people, they got worse education, low paying jobs and often times the poorest housing in the area. Flash forward to 2019 and that is no longer a problem. We all receive the same education, and jobs are chosen on who is most qualified and not skin color. People make new laws to try and make things equal for everyone.
Recently there was an Equality Act passed on the seventeenth of May this year. It states that it will “provide consistent and explicit non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people across all key areas of life,”(HRC). The key areas include employment, education, public services and spaces, as well as federally funded programs. I think that this is important because people are losing opportunities at jobs and housing because they are different. It is a big problem for someone to have a harder time getting a job because of their sexuality.
The Act protects them against discrimination. If someone prefers a certain pronoun you need to call them that, If it is at work or you job and you refuse to call them by their preferred pronouns such as he/she/they you can get fired. While at school you can get in trouble. Peter Vlaming, a french teacher was dismissed for refusing to use a female students preferred masculine pronouns(Heritage). This act also forces hospitals and insurers to pay for therapy against any moral or medical obligations. A few hospitals have been sued for not performing surgeries which tie to gender change. The Act also expects parents to comply, an Ohio family lost custody of their daughter since they wouldn’t put her on testosterone supplements(Heritage).
Equality is important because it makes everyone have equal chances and feel equal. Equal opportunities in the workplace and education are the most important I feel. This Equality Act won’t be the last one to be passed, there will be more. I think this because it is very hard to achieve Equality because there will always be a group that isn’t receiving the same treatment from the rest. These laws try and make America the best place for people of all groups.
Human Rights Campaign. “The Equality Act.” Human Rights Campaign, 1 Oct. 2019, www.hrc.org/resources/the-equality-act.“The Equality Act.” The Heritage Foundation, www.heritage.org/gender/heritage-explains/the-equality-act.
Image: “Equal rights for all, special privileges for none”Thomas Jefferson by katerha on 2010-12-07 12:04:02
Jonah,
I really like your essay and the conversation it opens up. I think it is important to note however that although strides are being taken in the right direction, society is still skewed in a negative way. Earlier in your essay you said that people are not getting jobs because of their skin color but because of their ability to work. In several works including an article I liked below we can see that prejudice is very big problem and its not really going away. therefore job opportunity is still deeply rooted in a racism in our country that can’t be solved by a law but by renewing the way we look at people and making a change. I think it’s an important conversation to help our society advance.
Best, Lola
https://www.citylab.com/life/2015/08/the-surprising-link-between-skin-color-gender-and-immigrant-employment/402250/
Jonah, your essay was very interesting. I do agree that the Equality Act is a great step towards equality for everyone and it “won’t be the last one to be passed, there will be more.” It is important to make sure everyone feels equal and accepted in society. I do feel that although America has taken a greater strive to equality, that people are still not all treated the same. Although it is not as bad as the 1900s, there is still inequality facing the nation. Women are still not paid for the same job as a man would be, which is disappointing. Hopefully, as you stated that there will probably be more acts, there will be acts requiring same pay for the same job no matter your gender. What inspired you to write about the equality in America? Similar to Brendon’s comment, I enjoy your apple image displaying how everyone can mix together. It creates a hope that eventually there will be equality for all where everyone will mix with no inequality. I like your essay because it starts with your opinion and ties into the act of equality and ends with a hope towards the future of how the nation can improve and relate to your image of the apples.
Jonah, I really like your essay. You did a good job of supporting your claims with evidence from different sources. I also like your cover picture and how it has a hidden meaning. The apples are all different kinds and their mixed together, similar to how America is a melting pot.