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How Race and Gender Determine Individual Success
Gender equality and racial discrimination dominate a greater part of the society throughout the years. It is evident that the society is yet to come with an ideal way to deal with the challenges it faces in gender equality and race. When President Barack Obama was elected, a majority of the people felt that the world had moved into a post-racial state. However, the society admits that cases of racism and gender discrimination are still rife. Racism and discrimination have been detrimental to the lives of the people because they deny individuals the chance to lead a normal life. Reliable evidence indicates that minorities in the society have to put in extra effort for the world to realize their contributions. A typical case is such as the one faced by Hillary Clinton today in her campaigns. It is evident that a majority of those that detest her politics are more concerned that she is a woman and not necessarily the policies that she presents. It is obvious that an individual’s race and gender play a vital role in determining their success. When racial and gender differences are recognized within a society, it is likely that the efforts of more deserving people will go unrecognized.
Racial discrimination has a detrimental effect on the lives of its people. During the civil wars, those that fought for equality emphasized that the world ought to give people the same chance to try their abilities. Racial minorities were denied the opportunity to vote, hold similar work positions in government and even attain education in the institutions that the majority could attend.

Minority students were forced to work extra hard to achieve recognition at school. In fact, even the government’s efforts to ensure funding for their schools were thwarted thereby forcing the minorities to work extra hard to attain similar levels of success as their white counterparts. Gladwell tries to explain that irrespective of the degree of intelligence that a black person tried to portray, the society was unlikely to support because it associated them as minorities (6201). In fact, even employers believed that blacks were not suitable for particular technical positions and instead opted to hire Russian, Irish or Mexican immigrants. Fey also explains how they were punished together with her teammates by being given the worst gigs. “The producers tried to punish BlueCo by giving us the worst gigs” (Fey 96). A society that fails to acknowledge the efforts of its people because of racial backgrounds has a long way to go. The reason may also explain why such societies tend to stereotype their populations based on skin color. Similarly, psychologists emphasize that even the resentment depicted by individuals from the various racial groups is attributed to the injustices that some of them have faced. After all, blacks in the country have proved that they can also deliver when given the chance and similar resources.
Gender roles have also been associated with the limitation to the success of women. The society ideally associates women with house roles such as taking care of children and their homes. The effect of such attitudes has significantly diminished the participation of women in other lucrative positions and careers throughout the world. In fact, stereotypical assumptions about gender roles have had a significant influence on the way the society views women. Chemaly decries that even the voice of women in the society has been degraded and is only associated with sexism (6195). The trust on women even in public offices has been an all-time low. Those that entrust women in influential positions tend to use sympathy rather than their qualifications to consider them for ideal positions in the society. Chemaly even goes ahead to show how the society disregards opinions given by women regarding influential issues that affect the society Male speeches are given more significance compared to that of their female counterparts (Chemaly 6197). Conversely, it is expected that women who want to be considered relevant in important matters in the society portray themselves as sexist objects rather than the positions that they hold in the society. Dalton’s article mentions, “the media portrays female figure as little dancers and fairy princess”. The phrase implies that women have to represent a particular impression for them to be considered attractive (6231). Nelson explains how the society disregards even learned female politicians, lawyers and those that hold influential positions in the world of business. The society expects women to portray their femininity first rather than the content or potential that they have.The effects of gender discrimination are arguably detrimental to the progress of women in the society. In fact, the only way to nurture powerful women in the society is by ensuring that they are accorded the same place as their male counterparts in the society.
Racial and gender discriminations deny the society a chance to expedite its responsibilities as is required. Evidence presented has revealed that minorities have to put in extra effort for them to be recognized. Women have particularly suffered in the society because the roles that the society associates them with even makes it difficult for them to prove their prowess and efficiency in other sectors. The society is more likely to support a woman because of her femininity and beauty rather than her brains. Thus, those that are less attractive would have to put extra effort to be recognized. Consequently, minorities must also go beyond their comfort zones to prove to the world that they too have the potential. The effects of negative perceptions towards particular groups of people are devastating and have an adverse impact on the development of the society.

Works Cited
Dalton, Harlon L. “Horatio Alger.” Rereading America. Cultural Contexts for Critical Thinking and Writing. Ed. Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen and Bonnie Lisle. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s P (2004).
Fey, Tina. “Windy City Full of Meat.” Bossypants. Reagan Arthur Books, 2011.
Gladwell, Malcolm. “Black like them.” The New Yorker 72.10. 1996. 74.
Nelson, Maria, Burton. I Won, I’m Sorry.
Chemaly, Soraya. 10 Words Every Girl Should Learn. Role Reboot. 2014.