Social inequalities in Rain of Gold
Throughout Victor Villasenor's Rain of Gold there are many examples of social inequalities among ethnic groups, social classes, and men and women. These inequalities lead to prejudice among the different groups. The examples in Rain of Gold show how prejudice in their society either leads to discrimination or helps maintain social inequality. One example of how ethnic prejudice works in society is when Juan goes to eat breakfast at a little cafe. While he is there, the cook comes up to him and explains that they cannot serve to Mexicans and tells Juan he has to leave. The cook, you can tell, is very sorry for making Juan leave but in order to keep his business afloat, he cannot serve to Mexicans. This part of the story is an example of discrimination without prejudice on the cook's part. The cook has no problem with Mexicans dining at his restaurant; but because of the other people who dine there who do not want Mexicans dining at the same place, he is forced kick the Mexicans out in order to stay in business. After Juan is asked to leave the cafe, he comes to realize why Mexican men had stared at him with hate and why his nephews had so much doubt. He realizes, "Mexicans were nothing but dog shit down here, along the border, a
The foreman said the reason he only gave her half her wages was, "If you had a husband, I'd give him your money for you. She believed that some women are far more capable at handling money than men were. Another example in Mexican society of prejudice against women is that according to Mexican tradition, money should only be handled by men. Prejudice played a major role throughout Rain of Gold. They rent their house in the middle of a bunch of gringo houses so that they can make their whiskey. Therefore women will never be able to prove to others how capable they are of doing things. Because women are not paid as much as men, it leaves them at a disadvantage in the world so they will never be able to have social equality. Because you made too much money, and the other men will get angry at me if I give you as much as you made" (243). One example is when Lupe's sister Sophia only got paid half her wages from working. Another example of how ethnic prejudice pervades throughout Rain of Gold is when Juan and his partner Julio rent a house. This social class prejudice led to discrimination against Lupe's family because of where they lived and what they did for a living. Lupe had on a new dress her mother made but the other girls had on dresses that were made especially for them or were store bought.
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