Question

in 250 words or more, Describe the influence of race, ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status in political participation. How do these differences affect the character and level of political participation?

Answer 1

Though we are in the 21st century and the globe has become a speaker of equality and equity, we are far from it especially in the political field. History has taught us that one's race, ethnicity, gender and socioeconomic status were factors which would determine a person's future. For example, statistics show that a person who is a male, born in America, and belongs to the upper middle class would fare much better than his female counterpart from Africa who comes from a lower socioeconomic background. Such an assumption can be applied in the political field as well.
Race and ethnicity are two terms that have been used interchangeably because their meanings overlap to a certain extent. A person's race/ethnicity is determined by the origins of a person. Therefore, a person who is born in America but has origins from Asia would be considered as an Asian. Race and ethnicity would be factors in political participation simply if the majority of the country they are participating in is from a different ethnic or racial background. For example, if an American and a person from China were contesting in America, perhaps the American would have a racial advantage in the political participation.
   The emergence of Feminists is enough to prove that gender is a factor on which people are discriminated everyday. Many studies have also showed why it is easier for Men than Women to achieve their goals, politics included. If the political scenerio is to be seen, there has never been a Female president in many of the countries worldwide. However, the scene is now changing as women and men are seen as being equal. Though it is a long way to go with a lot of hurdles, equality and equity among the two sexes is underway.
A higher Socioeconomic Status almost guarantees an easier, less struggling life for the individual as he is from a good social background and is in an economically good position. For example, a person who comes from a high income family, the stress would be on education in his life. But for a person who comes from a low income family and a poor social background, stress would be on food and shelter. As a resutl, when both of them grow up their opportunities would differ as their education qualifications would have a lot of differences. Similiarly, it would be easier for a person from a high socioeconomic background to make a mark in the political arena compared to a person who is from a low SE background.