Social Issue Essays
Here are the sample social issues essays from our Alfies from cohort 8 (2023)
Heremela Gebrehiwot
February 1, 2024
The social issue I plan to impact is the discrimination in health care against black women. Black women should be able to trust that their race will not determine the outcome of their health concerns. However, the truth is black women have to fear that their stereotypes will evaluate the effort put into their health. They must understand that medical professionals will treat them differently because of their race or ethnicity. They fear for their life rather than feeling safe in a healthcare setting. Black women are discriminated against in healthcare. They are not receiving equal treatment, and it's unjustifiable. A black woman should be able to have the confidence to enter a healthcare setting feeling safe.
The discrimination and mistreatment from providers against black women is uncivil. When healthcare providers incorporate civility, they value inclusion and equality. The solution to this issue starts with civility becoming a standard for healthcare providers. The more civility a provider has, the more likely they are to treat black women as patients rather than a color. A civil provider would demonstrate respect, kindness, compassion, and understanding.
As a future nurse practitioner, it's important to me that patients are treated equally. My priority is to provide comfort and assistance to diverse and underserved communities. I want them to come into the healthcare setting feeling safe. As a young black woman, I think of the impact it may have on me and other black women. It’s important to me that black women are informed about the discrimination they may face and how to move forward so they are capable of protecting themselves.
While this is an issue I plan to impact, it should be one the greater community cares about. Today black women have to be wary of their medical providers. They have to be aware of what's happening behind the scenes of their health. When their pain tolerance is overestimated, they have to document the issue. These precautions prevent health disparities from taking a black woman's life.
We are allowing an entire group of people to be at risk in a space we should all feel safe. Many people know a black woman in their life. It should be concerning that a family member, friend, coworker, acquaintance, or neighbor is at risk from a check-up. Having the greater community aware and educated is key to discovering solutions.
Sahar Sadat
February 9th, 2024
The social issue I plan to impact is the oppression and lack of rights faced by Afghan women, particularly under the rule of the Taliban. This issue relates to civility as it concerns the basic human rights and dignity of women, which should be respected and upheld in any civil society. The treatment of Afghan women under the Taliban's regime lacks civility as it involves denying them fundamental rights, freedoms, and autonomy, and subjecting them to oppressive restrictions and violence. Promoting civility in how women are treated involves fostering respect, empathy, and equality, which are essential components of a just and inclusive society.
The issue is important to me because having spent the first ten years of my life in Afghanistan, I had the chance to directly observe the discrimination and unfair treatment that women faced. Despite the Taliban's removal from power in 2001, women in Afghanistan continued to fight against injustice because they were determined to change their predetermined fate. I have vivid memories of my mother's concern for my safety, which led her to restrict my outdoor activities out of fear for my well-being. Each day, as I went to school, I felt a sense of fear, imagining the consequences if a Taliban member were to notice me in my school uniform. The thought of what might follow terrified me. There were reports that Taliban members would be going around and forcing girls to leave their homes and marry them since they had no male relatives to safeguard them. Young girls and women were required to put on a Burka, a garment that covered their entire head and body, revealing only their eyes, before entering public areas. Every woman felt a combination of vulnerability and isolation, as if their life mirrored that of someone imprisoned, lacking the freedom and opportunities they longed for.
The greater community should care about this issue because it reflects broader issues of gender inequality, human rights violations, and the need for global solidarity and action. The treatment of Afghan women under the Taliban's rule is a stark reminder of the ongoing struggles for gender equality and the importance of standing up against oppression and injustice wherever it occurs. By supporting Afghan women's rights, we are not only advocating for their well-being but also upholding the principles of equality, justice, and human dignity for all members of society.