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Equality
In this timely book William Ryan, author of Blaming the Victim, analyzes how and why the "vulnerable majority" of Americans, though "created equal," lives under the permanent and shaming threat of inequality. While noting that we formally exalt equality in such documents as the Declaration of Independence and even in everyday expressions about fair play, equal opportunity, and the common good, Ryan graphically shows how we nevertheless "play the game" in various spheres of public life by rules that divide people into winners and losers, superior and inferior rules that, in short, institutionalize inequality. A critique of this inhospitable system of beliefs, Equality also suggests that the foundations of true equality are not alien to the American tradition.
239 pages, Paperback
Published August 12, 1982
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About the author
William Ryan
3 books8 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
July 6, 2020
This book was enlightening and highlighted differences in thought related to equality in a clear and focused way for me. It gets at the heart of how ideas are messaged to influence and even manipulate people. I believe, as he puts forth, that those in the weathy and powerful minority believe they deserve to be where they are and want to convince the vulnerable minority of the rightness of that position. The focus on individual opportunity gets in the way of the collective equality of all.
He loses me in the last chapter with his focus on unionization. Growing up with a father in a union, having been in a union and having dealt with unions from an HR perspective, I am perhaps a bit jaded in my faith in unions as an answer to equality.
My thinking is probably a bit entrenched in differences related to merit. We do have differences in skill, intelligence, confidence and drive that should reap some level of reward. Also, some from equivalent backgrounds use what they've been given to better advantage than others. However, I believe we can do more with social programs that level the field related to basic human need and advantage.
I do agree that equality is not impossible. I refuse to believe it cannot be achieved with creative thought and commitment to caring for all.
This is really a 3 1/2 for me, because, by its nature it was tedious to get through. But, I learned a lot and certainly did some thinking I would not have without reading this book.
He loses me in the last chapter with his focus on unionization. Growing up with a father in a union, having been in a union and having dealt with unions from an HR perspective, I am perhaps a bit jaded in my faith in unions as an answer to equality.
My thinking is probably a bit entrenched in differences related to merit. We do have differences in skill, intelligence, confidence and drive that should reap some level of reward. Also, some from equivalent backgrounds use what they've been given to better advantage than others. However, I believe we can do more with social programs that level the field related to basic human need and advantage.
I do agree that equality is not impossible. I refuse to believe it cannot be achieved with creative thought and commitment to caring for all.
This is really a 3 1/2 for me, because, by its nature it was tedious to get through. But, I learned a lot and certainly did some thinking I would not have without reading this book.
Displaying 1 of 1 review