Student Scholarship

Document Type

Research Paper

Abstract

This paper provides an extensive examination of the concept of equal opportunity within the framework of American capitalism and social structure. The author defines equal opportunity as the freedom to pursue legitimate goals, share in the rewards of labor, and preserve private property. However, the text acknowledges that while the United States views itself as a land of opportunity, the reality is often complicated by rigid class barriers and systemic inequalities. The author explores various philosophical interpretations of equality, including utilitarian views of equal shares for all and Aristotelian concepts of proportional equality based on relevant differences or moral worth. 

A significant portion of the analysis is dedicated to the economic and social factors that undermine true equality. The document identifies inheritance, private property, and market forces as inherent features of capitalism that inevitably produce income disparities. These economic gaps further translate into unequal access to higher education, quality legal representation, and professional advancement. For instance, the text highlights how the quality of public education is largely determined by the wealth of a state, effectively penalizing children in poorer regions. Additionally, the paper addresses the "underclass" of long-term unemployed individuals who face discrimination based on race, age, and lack of specialized skills. 

The study also focuses on specific challenges faced by minorities and the poor, noting the progress and remaining hurdles in civil rights, voting, and legal justice. While the author recognizes improvements in Negro attitudes toward social status by the mid-1960s, she emphasizes that fatherless homes and poverty cycles continue to impact social mobility. Ultimately, the paper argues that the government must play an expanded role in redistributing income through taxation and investing in public services like health, housing, and education to ensure that the American ideal of social justice aligns with economic progress.

Research Highlights

  • The Problem: Janet Acton examines the multifaceted definition of equal opportunity in the United States, specifically addressing how economic inequality, racial discrimination, and systemic barriers in education and law prevent a truly equitable "start" in society. 

  • The Method: This 1968 common course paper synthesizes economic theories from Adam Smith to Karl Marx and utilizes contemporary case studies on unemployment, taxation principles, and 1960s civil rights surveys to analyze the "traditional factors" of opportunity. 

  • Quantitative Finding: Public school expenditures in 1961-1962 ranged from $229 in Mississippi to $628 in New York; 40% of the long-term unemployed in five studied cities remained without work after one year; a 1966 survey found 58% of Negro respondents felt better off regarding school integration compared to 39% in 1963. 

  • Qualitative Finding: Equal opportunity is defined as the freedom to pursue legitimate goals and retain the fruits of labor; it is often viewed as a "race" where starting inequality constitutes inequity; systemic "underclasses" are created when economic and educational barriers trap families at the bottom of the social structure. 

  • Finding: The author concludes that government intervention through progressive taxation, social services, and legal aid for the indigent is a prerequisite for both social justice and the continued economic progress of the United States.

Publication Date

5-1968

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

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