Social Issues, Inequality May Limit Opportunities for Minority, Gender Nonconforming Communities

By Jonae Rambus
Staff Writer

A recent survey of young adults conducted by a Bowie State University student identified 10 causes of all-inclusive inequalities: uneven access to education, lack of employment equality, job segregation, lack of legal protections, lack of bodily autonomy, poor medical care, lack of religious freedom, lack of political representation, racism and societal mindset.

 “Over the years, the world has gotten closer to achieving gender equality,” said Bianca Epson, an outreach and event coordinator for minorities and queer youth at Greenville public schools in Greenville, Mississippi. “There is better representation of women in politics, more economic opportunities, and better healthcare in many places of the world.”

 Alyssa Johnson, chapter president of Sigma Alpha Pi, a national leadership society at Bowie State University, said “it would be impossible to talk about gender inequality without talking about racism. It affects what jobs women of color can get and how much they’re paid, as well as how they are viewed by legal and healthcare systems.”

 Professor Teisha Wilson, who teaches Afro-American History at Bowie State University, said she believes that gender inequality and racism have been closely-linked for a long time. The pay gaps between White women and women of color continues that legacy of discrimination and contributes to gender inequality.

 Despite progress in this area over the years, experts said, women are still grossly underrepresented in government and the political process. This means that certain issues that female politicians tend to bring up, such as parental leave and childcare, pensions, gender equality laws and gender-based violence are often neglected.

 Trans and non-binary people face overt, subtle and microaggression discrimination simply due to their preference. These bullying tactics threaten their employment stability that can often result in a dearth of inadequate needs and basic human rights.

 Lilah Walken, a barista at a Starbucks coffee shop who identifies as bisexual, believes that although microaggressions may seem small, many people intentionally inflict harm or abuse or fail to acknowledge pronouns.

 “I think they view see us as weak, scared and voiceless,” Walken said, adding that these types of mindsets prop up gender inequality and delay significant change.