Inequality
The idea of unequal treatment may occur deliberately or unintentionally. Systems that are based on the concept of equality find themselves institutionalizing inequality without their knowledge. Generally, the idea is rampant, where the majority of society has accepted the concept of inequality. Individuals may find themselves falling victims of unjust and discriminatory treatment due to policies passed by the system (Elliot, 2018). Some of the situations caused by inequality are unequal selection and bias. A system may, for example, require that institutions should employ a certain number of individuals from a particular race. However, the implementation of such policies may lead to discrimination of members of a certain race after the number of individuals is obtained. The policies developed by various systems fail to accomplish the goal of creating equality. Institutionalized inequality is challenging to address because institutions always have societal support.
The institutionalized unequal treatment has been in existence for several years, with systems coming up with policies that further worsen the situation. An example of institutionalized unequal treatment that had the idea of equality was seen in the case involving Plessy and Fergusson in 1896, where the Supreme Court upheld that African-Americans and non-African Americans should use separate facilities (Carter, 2017). However, the policy ensured that the facilities were equal in quality, and segregation was the main idea behind the policy. Generally, the court claimed that the case would bring equality among the two races, yet it encouraged segregation and further institutionalized inequality. However, institutionalized unequal treatment faces a series of remedies that will see the menace die in the future. Policies have been developed to ensure that all Americans are treated equally, and the remaining hurdle is to have society change their perspective.
References
Carter, D. A. (2017). PLESSY v. FERGUSON (1896). Reforming America: A Thematic Encyclopedia and Document Collection of the Progressive Era [2 volumes], 101.
Elliot, D. (2018). Institutionalizing inequality: The physical criterion of assisted suicide. Christian Bioethics: Non-Ecumenical Studies in Medical Morality, 24(1), 17-37.
