Page 334 - Sociology and You

CHAPTER 9 ASSESSMENT
lates First Amendment rights to freedom of speech. Others say that the right to free speech ends when speech causes psychological or emotional harm, or when society may be en- dangered. What is your opinion on hate speech? How would you handle an individual who was routinely offensive about your race, gender, or nationality?
5. Implementing Solutions Read the following scenario, and then answer the questions that follow based on your best instincts and reason- ing: Two people are in a twenty-mile race. The winner will receive a prize of $100,000. Two of the competitors—Lynn and Tony—are very good runners, and both are in good physical condition. At the beginning of the race Tony is told to put a set of ten-pound ankle weights on each leg, but Lynn is not. In fact, Lynn does not even know about the weights. When Lynn reaches the thirteen-mile marker, Tony is two miles behind. He is not only exhausted but is also experiencing a shortened running stride and is off-rhythm because of the weights. The judges decide to remove the ankle weights from Tony.
a. Is it fair to continue the race with each runner finishing from his or her present position, or should Tony be moved forward in the race?
b. What is fair to both parties?
c. Assume that the race cannot be restarted.
How do we compensate the runner who had to carry extra weights for over half of the race?
d. Are there solutions to the problem?
e. Since the problem is difficult to solve,
would it be fair simply to ignore it and conclude that things will eventually work out?
6. Analyzing Information Suppose there was a third competitor in the race described above. Ayesha is almost as good a runner as Tony and Lynn. Ayesha does not have to wear ankle weights, but both Tony and Lynn have high- quality professional running shoes, and Ayesha has to run in cheap “tennies.” At the time the
race is stopped, Ayesha has run twelve miles. If you compensate Tony by moving him forward, Ayesha is likely to feel that the race is still not fair.
a. Is there a way to make the race fair for all three runners? Remember, you cannot restart the race.
b. How is institutional discrimination similar to the race described in these questions? What are the issues in both?
7. Evaluating Information Explain how the ex- periences of various Native American tribes have been different from other racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States. Discuss whether you think allowing gaming on Indian reservations is a long-term benefit or disadvan- tage for Native Americans.
8. Making Comparisons How has the African American experience in the United States been different from that of other racial and ethnic mi- nority groups?
9. Understanding Cause and Effect Use the dia- gram below to show the cause-and-effect rela- tionship between discrimination and poverty. Incorporate the elements of unequal educa- tional opportunity, unfair hiring practices, and low-level jobs to complete your diagram.
DISCRIMINATION
POVERTY
10. Evaluating Information Have any of the methods of role conflict resolution used by African Americans and Latinos worked?
Sociology Projects
1. Race and Ethnicity Write a brief answer to each of the following questions.
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