Sociological Theories on Racism's Impact on Socioeconomic Status

This essay examines the connection between racism and socioeconomic inequality through the lens of sociological theories. It discusses white supremacy, highlighting its historical dominance and impact on social, economic, and political environments, particularly concerning the treatment of non-white individuals and their access to opportunities and fair wages. The essay also explores institutional racism, defining it as systemic failures within organizations to provide equitable services based on race, origin, or culture, leading to disparities in areas like housing, healthcare, and education. Furthermore, the concept of Orientalism is analyzed, focusing on how it perpetuates exaggerated and negative stereotypes about Arab cultures, resulting in discriminatory treatment. The essay concludes that these theories collectively demonstrate how racism contributes to socioeconomic inequality, with non-white individuals facing financial instability and limited access to resources compared to their white counterparts.

Running head: SOCIOLOGY THEORY ESSAY
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Sociological Theories
Institution
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Sociological Theories
A contemporary issue that is associated with racism is socio economic inequality. (yancy &
sheth, 2015) Socio economic inequality is the difference between groups of people mainly in
their financial situation. Racism is the discrimination, prejudice against someone of a
different race in the belief that one’s own race is superior. Racism has been in the United
States of America for as long as before the reconstruction era it extends to after the
reconstruction era. Racism has contributed to socio economic inequality in the United
States of America. There are a few theories of racism that support the above thesis as
explained below.
White supremacy
White supremacy is the racist belief that the white people are better or rather superior to other
races and therefore portray dominance over them. In the United States of America, white
supremacy was dominant before the American civil war and extending to be dominant after
the war. It was persistent for decades even after the reconstruction era. (DiAngelo,
2018)People considered non- white could not hold the most government jobs in the United
States of America. White supremacy has been used by whites to create a difference in social,
economic and political environments. The naturalization act of 1970 for instance, gave
citizenship to the whites. In the United States of America, most leaders are whites; this is a
clear illustration that whites feel superior.
This theory is applicable to the African slavery in that, the whites feel superior to the black
Americans [Africans] hence they are forced to work for minimum wages since they are
inferior to the whites in the United States of America. (Weed, 2017)The non-white people get

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to do the heavy jobs that require labour and less skills for a little amount of money. In the
United States of America, most labourers are non-white. They get to do the hard work and
they are poor because they are not paid properly.
Institutional racism
Institutional racism is also known as a systematic racism. It is the type of racism that affects
social and political institutions. This type of racism regards housing, income, criminal justice,
political power, education, wealth among other factors. In situations where over four hundred
black babies die due to lack of power, food, shelter, medical attention while the same country
with white[ who do not suffer from all these], then it is a clear act of institutional racism.
(Brookfield, 2019) In other words, institutional racism is referred to as the failure of an
organisation to provide services to people because of the difference in skin colour, origin and
culture.
This theory is applicable to the socio economic status of the residents in the United States of
America in that; they don’t get the required services that they need. When children are not
given enough food, shelter and medical attention, they might end up malnutrition and even
die of hunger or illness. This also leads to socio economic inequality in the community.
Orientalism
Orientalism is a way of seeing that imagines, emphasizes and exaggerates the differences that
Arab peoples and culture have as compared to that of United States of America. They
describe the Arab’s culture as very dangerous, backward, exotic and uncivilised. Exotic and
exaggerated perception of Middle East is distinct. (Said, 2014)Arabs in the United States of
America are regarded as non -whites. They are also neglected are the United States’
government see them as dangerous. This is probably being racist. An Arab lady or lad

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walking around the city is seen as a terrorist and even the security procedures are intense as
compared to when they are conducting the same security measures to whites.
The theory of white supremacy best suits this issue. (Williams, 2013)Whites feel superior to
non- whites and when this happens, they give the non-whites a minimum wage and give
themselves more than enough money. The non-whites are earning less than the whites
because they are being perceived as being inferior.
In conclusion; the above theories explain how racism affects the community in terms of socio
economic status. The non -whites are not financially stable as compared to the whites. They
earn a very low income so they do not live in luxurious houses and that leads to socio
economic inequality. With the non-whites specifically the Arabs, people tend to see them as
terrorists.

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References
Brookfield, S. (2019). Teaching race : how to help students unmask and challenge racism.
san francisco, ca: San Francisco, CA : Jossey-Bass, a Wiley Brand [2019].
DiAngelo, R. J. (2018). White fragility : why it's so hard for White people to talk about
racism. boston: Boston : Beacon Press, [2018].
Said, E. W. (2014). Orientalism. new york: New York : Vintage Books, a division of
Random House, [2014].
Weed, E. A. (2017). The religion of white supremacy in the United States. lanham: Lanham
Lexington 2017.
Williams, W. E. (2013). Race & economics: how much can be blamed on discrimination?
united states: [United States] : Hoover Institution Press : Made available through
hoopla, 2013.
yancy, g., & sheth, A. f. (2015). how liberalism and racism are wed. united states of
america : new york times.