Problems with unpaid internships in regards to privilege and access widen the racial wealth gap.
Here’s what needs to chanage.
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In 2010,Vogueauctioned a one-week internshipfor charity.
The offeringalbeit for a good causewent to the highest bidder for $42,500.
And too often, the roles function as a financial barrier to upward mobility and future earning power.
Unpaid internships result in killing the careers of these lower- and middle-class students early on, he says.
Akilah Cadet, DHSc, MPH, is a diversity educator and activist who holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Education in Community Based Public Health, a Master of Public Health, and a Doctorate of Health Sciences in Leadership and Organizational Behavior.
They just cannot afford to do an internship that doesnt pay.
It sets up the rich to get richer and puts so many blockades for the rest.
This is how unpaid internships widen the wage gap, Tate says.
Take Anayasia Johnson, 21, who is African American and Latinx, for example.
This left fewer opportunities (both paid and unpaid) up for grabs.
But still, many universities, colleges, and specific majors require internships as a graduation requirement.
And needless to say, often employers favor entry-level job candidates who have completed one or more relevant internships.
Some interns and former internsin publishing and other industrieshavefiled suits against employers, and many resulted in back-wage payouts.
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Akilah Cadet, DHSc, MPH, is a diversity educator and activist who holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Education in Community Based Public Health, a Master of Public Health, and a Doctorate of Health Sciences in Leadership and Organizational Behavior.
Glatt and Footman were paid $7,500 and $6,000, respectively.
In short, progress has been made, but a problematic infrastructure of internship culture remains.
Whats next?
Below find 4 steps for finally ending the internship culture that supports working for free.
Thats not so taxing on someone who still has to work.
I used to work at U.C.
Berkeley, and thats what we did, says Dr. Cadet.
For three months, that individual intern would be gainfully employed and focus on the internship.
You want somebody who is willing to learn.
Its also imperative that the recruiters and hiring teams are diverse themselves and celebrate diversity, says Cadet.
This way, the applicant feels like they belong.
Then, when the internship is over, theyre like, Oh I they wanted me here.
I had the money.
I made these relationships.
Maybe it turns into a job.thats the goal.
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