The Advancement of Minorities

Neil deGrasse Tyson, Marie Curie, and Mae C. Jemison. What do all three of these people have in common? They all belong to one or more minority groups and yet, against the odds, managed to reach high, respectable, positions in their career. However, the sad thing is that it is not very common to find people of color, or other minority groups to be included in the world of higher education. For some reason, it seems it is harder for minorities to advance than it is for those that are in the majority. Just in 2015, it was reported that though blacks and latinos made up 36% of the college age population, only 19% of those students attended a public university. Why might this be the case? Is it truly easier for the majority or are minority groups just not doing something to get themselves out of the vicious cycle they are in? Let’s take a deeper look into the disparity among different people groups in America.

Gap Between Blacks, Hispanics, and Whites

Over the years, the number of people that attend college, and the number that graduate, have both increased significantly. It seems that today, more people in general feel the need to get a higher education. Though those numbers are going up, the gap between racial groups that go to and graduate from college seems to be getting wider. According to a study done by the Young Invincibles, a group focused on giving all young Americans a voice, found that the college graduation gap between Whites versus Hispanics and Blacks has widened form 1974 to 2015. In 1974, Whites graduated at a rate 8.5% times more than Blacks and Hispanics. Then in 2015, over 40 years later, the gap has grown to 13.7% for Blacks and 20.7% for Hispanics. Why might this be the case?

First, it’s important to understand that these same types of results can be found all throughout grade school and college. Even younger Blacks and Hispanics seem to be lagging in their education as they grow up. A study done by UC Berkeley showed the gap between Black and Hispanic grade school students versus Whites. Because these types of disparities already persist during childhood, they are bound to continue as these people groups go higher in education.

Another factor that might contribute to the racial divide in achievement is access to funding for college. Blacks and Hispanics continue to hold the highest rates of poverty in comparison to other groups in the United States. A study done by the Economic Policy Institute shows that Blacks have a poverty rate of about 20.7%, and Hispanics follow them with 17.6%. Because the poverty rates are so high, it is only natural that less people from the Black and Hispanic communities would want to pursue higher education.

As a result of Blacks and Hispanics not attending and graduating from college, other Blacks and Hispanics might see it as less necessary to do so. They may be afraid to enter the world of higher education as they feel a fear of failing once they get there. They may not be want to be part of the statistics of their people failing to graduate so less and less continue to attend.

Women in Higher Education

The issue of Women in higher education is a little bit different compared to the disparities between races in America. Women do seem to be getting their college degrees at the same rate as men in America; although, their ability to use the skills learned in college differs. Women seem to have a harder time advancing their careers after college. In various occupations, women are found to often hold lower positions than their male counterparts. Studies done by the American Council of Education show that only 30% of women hold jobs as university presidents and 32% as college professors. Other faculty positions seem to show the same trend except for those that have to do with teaching and hospitality. Women don’t seem to hold as many managerial, or leadership positions.

Why might these things be true? Well, as mentioned in the previous post, women might be stereotyped negatively, not allowing them the opportunity to be picked for certain jobs. Their negative stereotypes can also serve to bring their self-esteem down, forcing them to feel that they are not adequate for certain jobs they may desire. Also, because women as typically seen more as caregivers, they may be expected to take care of people depending on them. The same report done by the American Council of Education also showed that 32% of women changed their occupation to care for someone, while only 16% of men did so. This expectation on women can also factor into their struggles in finding higher positions in the work force.

What can we do?

What might we be able to do about these differences found between minority groups and majority groups? One thing that we can do, and that I do as a minority, is forge the way for future generations in whatever field you are in. Be the difference that manages to go against the odds. When more people in minority groups begin to do this, younger people will see them as examples and follow their lead. For people in the majority group, have conversations with those that struggle with issues when it comes to advancing through higher education. Understand their view point and find out more why they might not feel the desire to keep going forward with the skills they have. And after that, work as a voice that shows other people in the majority groups the struggles that minorities may be going through. Lastly, the people voted into governmental positions can have a big say in people’s ability to get a meaningful and valuable education. Make education one of the things you think about when considering candidates for governmental positions. While things may never be completely equal, I believe we can continue to take steps in the right direction for those that struggle to advance.