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Can discrimination in higher education lead to a persistent wealth gap?

Anson Thurber

Oh boy, do I have an answer for you! Can discrimination in higher education lead to a persistent wealth gap? Absolutely! It's like the old saying, 'you can't have your cake and eat it too', except in this case it's 'you can't discriminate in higher education and have a fair distribution of wealth'. Discrimination in higher education can have a lasting impact on a person's ability to accumulate wealth, and I'm going to break down how that happens.

Let's start with the obvious - discrimination in higher education limits access to education and that is a huge barrier to wealth accumulation. When someone is denied access to higher education based on their race, gender, or any other discriminatory factor, they are immediately at a disadvantage. Higher education is often seen as the gateway to better-paying job opportunities, which leads to higher lifetime earnings. Being denied access to those opportunities means fewer chances to earn a sustainable income over the course of a lifetime.

Even if we assume that someone is able to access higher education despite facing discrimination, the journey is not over. Discrimination can manifest itself in various ways such as being excluded from certain programs, being less likely to receive scholarships, or being assigned to inferior instructors. These factors can impact someone's academic trajectory and limit their ability to obtain high-paying jobs and earn more money over time.

Now, let's talk about the long-term effects of wealth accumulation. The wealth gap is essentially the disparity in accumulated assets between groups of people, and that gap continues to widen as people's lives progress. Discrimination in higher education plays a significant role in widening the wealth gap because, as we've established, it limits access to well-paying jobs and opportunities for career advancement. That, in turn, means that folks who face discrimination end up with less wealth, which can impact their ability to provide for their families and create generational wealth.

In conclusion, discrimination in higher education can absolutely lead to a persistent wealth gap. It's a ripple effect that impacts someone's access to higher education, career opportunities, and ultimately, their ability to accumulate wealth. So, let's do better and work to create a more equal playing field. After all, who doesn't want a piece of that cake?