Economic Struggles: My Views and Solutions
Eric Pan
Mrs. Heywood
English 2
26 September 2024
Social Justice
As a 10th grader, my definition of social justice would be that it is the idea which describes human societies where everyone deserves and shares equal economic, social, and political power and rights. Social justice can be taken further to express a state where all members are exposed to the equal access of opportunities and receive fair treatment regardless of their background, status, or role in society. However, achieving social justice has been a great goal for humanity to work towards from the beginning, our world is nowhere close to being perfect and since then humanity has been dealing with social injustice issues. From my point of view, one of the most salient aspects of social injustices are economic injustices, which are results of economic inequalities such as poverty and enlarging wealth gap within a society. According to Wealthy Distribution in the United States in the First Quarter of 2024, published by Statista Research Department, “in the United States, the lower 50% of earners only hold around 2.5% of the nation’s total wealth, on the other hand, the top 10% of earners own around 67% of the whole nation’s wealth.” From this statistic alone we could see the extreme imbalance of wealth. Social injustice and inequality is the main root cause of some of the most urgent problems such as high frequent rate of criminal activities, inadequate health care system, and poor education system. Social justice issues have also impacted me and my perceptions on the world around us. Although I do not have much experience with these specific issues, nevertheless, I still acknowledge that these are very urgent issues impacting my community that I learned from the internet and from people around me.
Economic injustices around me had made me realize that problems that came with it are such issues that are extremely harmful to members of society yet it's so encompassed in their daily lives. Issues of social injustice pose a great social injustice problem that can be seen in its impact in our education system. The unequal distribution of resources in our education system leads to students of different areas exposing themselves to different opportunities to carry on their education journey. This situation can be alleviated significantly by donation of teaching resources such as books and smartboards, while hiring well-trained teachers and staff. From my personal experience as a volunteer math tutor for elementary students, the school I helped at doesn’t have sufficient and equal teaching resources compared to other schools. According to my experience, most of the children there possess very little interest in mathematics and it was very frustrating in the process of trying to help them. This can be proposed as the main factor of a student's deficiency in their understanding of mathematics. This social injustice issue of the unequal distribution of resources is impacting children's education in a negative light across the nation and across the world.
The unequal distribution of wealth within the different classes of people sparks a high crime rate when those who possess less wealth are exposed to fewer opportunities for employment. Facing survival issues, or an increase in desperation to become rich is one of the main causes of crimes. From my experience living in Philadelphia and my hearings from other parts of the world, regions with a larger wealth gap between the rich and poor have the tendency to come with more frequent criminal activities. Philadelphia had been well-known across the world as a city filled with poverty and crime. For instance, whenever I pass by certain regions of Philadelphia, I would see people who I can clearly tell that they are not living comfortably in the filthy streets. Achieving the access of steady employment opportunities can significantly reduce the need for members within a community to commit criminal activities. Overall, it is due to the unequal distribution of wealth between different people that forms lower classes had to commit crimes for survival matter.
Another aspect of achieving social justice is having an universal , quality, economically friendly healthcare system for all in need. However, economic inequality and deficiency puts a financial burden on millions of families who are unable to afford the expensive healthcare system in the U.S. The failure to provide equal opportunities for those who could and couldn’t afford medical insurance remains a major social injustice issue today, especially in the U.S. Hearing that millions of people are in need but lacking access to medical services made me realize that a healthcare system is an extremely important and urgent aspect for our human rights. We could improve our healthcare system by advocating for reform policies that restructure the system to make health insurance more affordable.
In a literary work I read in the past, A Raisin in the Sun, the Walter family had to deal with problems and challenges of economic inequality and injustice. One common theme that revolved around the Walter family in the story was their struggle for money and their economic status. Money was the drive for the dreams of many characters and started conflicts between each other. The family lived in poverty in the Chicago South Side. They were always in need of money and were “chained” from chasing their dreams and not being able to live their envisioned life due to their financial situation. For one particular example, a character named Beneatha had a dream of pursuing further education, however, she’d overcome and struggle much for money. From this we could see that people can reach for opportunities easier than others and for some, those opportunities are as hard to reach as ever, depending on their economic status. Examples like Beneatha shaped my perception of the world that our world is a harsh place and different people struggle to achieve what is important to them. As you can see, A Raisin in the Sun demonstrated how economic status can influence people’s life course.
In conclusion, our current world is far from perfect in achieving social justice. Although other superficial and underlying social injustices exist and are just as important, economic injustice is a great issue we are currently and have been dealing with. Economic injustice and inequality poses a great threat to the daily lives of people in our community and across the world, it is the main cause of several serious issues, including high crime rate, inefficient and expensive health care, and imbalance among education systems. In order to reduce crime rate, we must work towards increasing the access of employment for everyone. To ensure an equal opportunity of receiving education with quality, we should donate to areas with less access to teaching resources and hire well-trained faculty. As for making our healthcare system more accessible to all, we should advocate for policy reforms that make the access of medical insurance even easier. There are many actions we could take to truly solve or at least undermine issues that our society is suffering through and make an impact in our world to make it a better place.
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1. Highlight Economic Injustice’s Impact First
Analyze how economic injustices are a key driver of social inequality. Think about starting with a strong, emotive word or phrase that captures this relationship. You might consider words like “crippling” or “devastating.” Then, connect this to the broader theme of social justice. For example, start with a phrase like “Crippling Wealth Gaps” and then tie it to the quest for fairness and equality.
2. Use a Personal Experience Hook
Reflect on your personal experiences or observations that illustrate economic injustice. Start with something vivid that you’ve witnessed or experienced. This could be a scene from your volunteer work or a moment in Philadelphia that struck you. Use this personal angle to draw readers in and connect it to the wider issue of social justice.
3. Pose a Provocative Question
Create a headline that poses a question, challenging readers to think about economic injustice. Make it something that addresses an assumption or a common perception about wealth and justice. For example, “Can True Justice Exist Amidst Such Wealth Disparity?” This encourages readers to ponder the relationship between wealth and justice.
4. Emphasize Urgency and Solutions
Use urgent language to highlight the pressing need for change and potential solutions. Words like “urgent,” “immediate,” or “now” can create a sense of necessity. Pair this urgency with a call to action or a glimpse of hope. Consider something like “Immediate Action Needed: Bridging the Economic Divide for Justice.”
5. Draw Inspiration from Literature
Use a reference from “A Raisin in the Sun” as a metaphor or symbol for economic struggles today. Think about how the struggles of the Walter family mirror modern issues and use this as a powerful image in your headline. For instance, “Dreams Deferred: The Modern Tale of Economic Injustice.”
Choose one of these strategies to create a compelling headline for your essay. Write your headline in a Reply and then ask in a Reply with AI and select me to give you feedback on your headline. Also, ask your teacher or other students what they think of your headline.
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1. Highlight a Key Theme with Power Words: Think about the central theme of your essay. Is it about economic inequality, social justice, or another core issue? Use power words that evoke emotion or curiosity. For example, if your essay focuses on economic inequality, consider words like “urgent,” “transformative,” or “shocking.” You might craft a headline like, “Unequal Wealth: A Shocking Barrier to Social Justice.” For your essay, think about the most compelling aspect and how to evoke strong emotions.
2. Incorporate Numbers to Add Specificity: Numbers in headlines can attract readers, suggesting a structured and informative read. Reflect on quantifiable elements in your essay, like statistics or a list of solutions. A headline could be, “5 Critical Steps to Achieve Social Justice Now!” Consider what numbers or lists you can incorporate to draw readers into your essay.
3. Create Urgency by Emphasizing Immediate Action: Use phrases that suggest immediate action or importance to compel readers. For example, a headline like “Act Now to Bridge the Economic Divide!” suggests a pressing need for action. Think about what you want readers to feel is urgent in your essay and how you can convey that urgency in your headline.
4. Ask a Provocative Question to Engage Curiosity: Questions can intrigue and invite readers to seek answers. Reflect on a question that captures the essence of your essay’s exploration. For instance, “Can We Overcome Economic Injustice in Our Lifetime?” Consider the questions your essay raises and how you can use them to engage readers.
5. Use a Clever Twist or Pun to Capture Interest: Humor and wordplay can make your headline memorable. Think about any potential puns or clever twists related to your essay’s topic. A playful headline might be, “Injustice Costs: Paying the Price of Inequality.” Explore creative ways to convey your essay’s message with wit and charm.
Remember, these strategies are meant to inspire you to create your own unique headline. Choose one of these ideas that resonates most with your essay, and write your own headline in a Reply. Then, ask for feedback on your headline by replying with Reply with AI and selecting me. Also, consider discussing your headline with your teacher or other students to gain additional perspectives.
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Prompts and Strategies for Writing Your Own
1. Use Power Words
– Think of words that evoke strong emotions or provoke curiosity about the topic of social justice. Consider using words like “transformative,” “revolutionary,” or “united” to capture attention. For example, you might say, “How Transformative Actions Can Bridge the Economic Divide!” Take inspiration from this approach and brainstorm a list of powerful words that resonate with your essay’s message, then build a headline around them.
2. Incorporate Numbers
– Incorporate a number to make your headline more captivating and structured. You could use a phrase like “3 Ways to…” or “5 Steps Towards…” For instance, “5 Steps Towards Achieving Social Justice in Modern Society!” This approach is engaging because it promises specific insights or solutions. Reflect on the key points in your essay and consider how you can present them as a numbered list in your headline.
3. Create Urgency
– Create a sense of urgency by using phrases that suggest time sensitivity or importance. Phrases like “Act Now” or “Urgent Call” can drive readers to engage immediately. For example, “Act Now: Addressing Economic Injustice Before It’s Too Late!” Think about the immediate actions or concerns highlighted in your essay and how you can convey their urgency in your headline.
4. Ask Provocative Questions
– Pose a question that intrigues readers and invites them to explore your essay for answers. Consider questions that challenge common perceptions or highlight critical issues, such as “What’s Stopping Us from Achieving True Social Justice?” Use this method to provoke thought and encourage readers to delve deeper into the issues you discuss.
5. Use Humor or Puns
– A clever play on words or a humorous twist can make your headline memorable and engaging. For example, “Economics: The Root of All Social Justice Troubles!” This approach adds a lighthearted touch while still addressing serious issues. Think creatively about how you can incorporate humor or wordplay related to the themes of your essay.
Choose one of the ideas from these five strategies to write your own headline. Write your headline in a Reply and then ask in a Reply with AI and select me to give you feedback on your headline. Also, remember to ask your teacher or other students what they think of your headline.
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