BU Equality of Opportunities Essay

• King’s Dream Remains an Elusive Goal; Many Americans See Racial Disparities, PEW Research Center, 2013
• The Narrowing, But Persistent, Gender Gap in Pay, Nikki Graf, Anna Brown, & Eileen Patten, PEW Research Center, 2019
• Why the Debate about equal pay for U.S. Women’s Soccer isn’t that Clear Cut, Megan McArdle, The Washington Post, 2019
• Still the Land of Opportunity?, Isabel V. Sawhill, The Brookings Institution, 1999

A Case Study in Equality of Opportunity

Learning Objective: The theme of equality of opportunity is examined through the specific lens of a case study.

Please note: Additional requirements for the Primary Assignment can be found by clicking on the Course Assignment Comments headline (above).

For your assignment this week, research two groups in American society. Use research to provide support for your persuasive argument. For your research, you can use data from peer-reviewed sources, PEW, Gallup, Brookings, or a Federal Agency such as the U.S. Census Bureau. Devote at least 250 words to each group.

1. Identify a group in American society that has been, at any time since 1633, treated with less than an equal right to opportunity. This group might identify by race, religion, gender, ethnicity, cultural or historical background, handicap, sexual preference, geographic location, education, job, immigration status, and so on. However, over time, this group has overcome many of the obstacles that have restricted their rights. Use research to find an example of this group’s success.
2. Identify a group in American society that has been, at any time since 1633, treated with less than an equal right to equality of opportunity. This group might identify by race, religion, gender, ethnicity, cultural or historical background, handicap, sexual preference, geographic location, education, job, immigration status, and so on. However, over time, this group has failed to overcome obstacles that have restricted their rights. Use research to find an example of this group’s lack of success.
3. Conclude your research with a 100-word discussion of why one group has been successful while the other group continues to struggle. What did you learn by comparing and contrasting these two groups? What is our role as individuals to help obtain equal rights for others?

Each Primary Assignment requires

• an APA style bibliography,
• use of APA style in-line citations, and
• adherence to the 3+1 Rule.

The 3+1 Rule requires students to use a minimum of three assigned readings from the current week and one from a previous week. This rule encourages students to review and connect the assigned readings from week to week.

• Gettysburg Address, A Lincoln, 1863
• Capitalism and Freedom, Chapter 1, pg 7-21 (PDF pg 24-38), Milton Friedman, 40th Anniversary Edition, 2002
• The Case against Equality of Opportunity, Dylan Matthews, Vox, 2015
• People Don’t Actually Want Equality, They Want Fairness, Paul Bloom, Evonomics
• The Good Society, Amitai Etzioni, Seattle Journal for Social Justice
• I, Pencil, Mises Daily Articles, Mises Institute, 2017
• I, Pencil, Audio Essays, Mises Institute, 2009