Microinequity - in Culture

In Culture

In our culture, many micro inequities can be observed. Examples include the casual use of the term “she” while referring to individuals in occupations that have been predominantly women, such as teachers, nurses and secretaries, and the disrespect sometimes exhibited toward fathers as full-time homemakers.

Elimination of micro inequities is a current focus of universities, businesses and government agencies, as a key diversity strategy. Micro inequities can slowly and methodically erode a person’s motivation and sense of worth according to some experts. This may result in absenteeism, poor employee retention and loss of productivity.

Micro inequities are also readily seen with regard to race and religion, color, disability, sexual identity and national origin. Some are embodied in language that links certain derogatory stereotypes with a particular race. Examples of such micro inequities would be the terms “an Indian giver” and “to gyp” or the phrase “to Jew down” and “sinister” (literally left-handed) or a “sissy” (originally a sister) or referring to “black and white thinking.”

Modern media are also responsible for the perpetuation of micro inequities. People of color have been portrayed negatively; eminent people of color are less well represented in Western media. Examples would include a too-common belief that African Americans are the majority of those on welfare in the US. Many Native Americans are sensitive to the idea that "Columbus discovered" the land they lived in. Feagin and Benokraitis note that the mass media has portrayed women negatively in many respects, for example, women being portrayed as sexual objects in many music videos.