This month we are highlighting the learning module, “Multiple Forms of Oppression and Privilege” by Lisa Miller, Assistant Professor of Sociology, at Eckerd College. This module teaches undergraduate students to analyze American Community Survey data, focusing on understanding the gender wage gap in America. Through hands-on activities, students will formulate testable hypotheses, interpret univariate and bivariate tables, and explore national, regional, and state income inequality. Students will also learn to apply the concept of intersectionality, namely the intersection of different forms of oppression and privilege in shaping earnings.
Author(s) – Lisa Miller, Eckerd College
Students begin by examining whether a gender wage gap exists in America. Afterward, they control for race to see if these findings still hold. In doing so, they investigate whether the gender wage gap is eliminated or reduced among certain racial minority groups. The students also answer the following questions: what do racial differences in earnings look like among women? And what do racial differences look like among men?
Context for Use
This exercise was developed for a 200-level course on the sociology of gender, although it can also be used in introductory sociology, race/class/gender, and stratification courses. Ideally, this module would be assigned after the instructor has introduced the concept of intersectionality and/or to help students understand the intersection of gender and race.
Skill
Using software to access and analyze census data
Identifying independent and dependent variables.
Forming testable hypotheses using quantitative data
Quantitative Writing
Learning how to construct, read, and interpret bivariate tables displaying frequencies and percentages
Access all modules here
Past Modules of the Month
“Investigating the Effects of Race and Gender on Earnings in the United States” – Jill Bouma, Barea College
This module teaches undergraduate students to analyze American Community Survey data, focusing on the impact of race and gender on earnings in the U.S. Through hands-on activities, students will formulate testable hypotheses, interpret bivariate tables, and explore income inequality at national, regional, and state levels, including comparisons with Kentucky.