The barrier to entry refers to a financial, legal, administrative, or psychological impediment that prevents someone from accessing a product or service.
An online retailer may set a high minimum order value to deter shoppers from placing small orders. This is one way businesses protect their profits. But what if there's no barrier to entry? What if you're trying to access something without any obstacles? It turns out that some problems are so deeply ingrained in society that they persist even after being addressed. Let's look at three examples.
1. Inequality
In the United States, the wage gap between men and women has been steadily shrinking since the late 20th century. Women now earn nearly 80 cents for every dollar earned by men.
This statistic is misleading because it doesn't account for factors like work experience, education level, and industry. When those variables are controlled for, the pay gap becomes much smaller - just 5%. Yet women still struggle to make as much money as men in many industries. Why? In part, it's due to systemic sexism that persists despite efforts to address it. While many employers claim they don't discriminate based on gender, subtle biases can still lead to unfair treatment of women in the workplace.
Mothers often have to take time off work to care for children while fathers typically do not. This can result in lower pay and promotion opportunities over time.
Women are more likely than men to be paid less for performing the same job duties. These differences add up over time and create an uneven playing field.
2. Mental health stigma
Mental health issues are common, affecting around one in five Americans each year. They range from mild anxiety to severe depression or schizophrenia. But there's still a stigma associated with mental illness that prevents people from seeking help. Many believe that admitting you need therapy is a sign of weakness or that you should handle your problems on your own. Others fear being judged for their symptoms. As a result, many individuals suffer in silence, leading to poorer quality of life and even suicide. Despite campaigns to destigmatize mental illness, this barrier remains intact. People who do seek help may face social isolation, job loss, and other consequences. Even if they get better, they must continue fighting negative stereotypes about mental health conditions. The problem resurfaces again and again.
3. Disability access
Disabled individuals experience barriers every day when trying to access public places. Ramps make it easier to enter buildings, but these structures aren't always maintained properly. Some businesses put wheelchair ramps far away from the entrance, making them difficult to navigate. Others don't have accessible bathrooms or parking spaces. For blind people, audio description features can help, but not all movies offer these options. Then there's the issue of attitudes towards disabilities. Many able-bodied people still see disabled people as less than human or assume they don't want to be included. This attitude leads to discrimination, which limits opportunities for disabled individuals. Despite laws requiring equal access, there are still too many cases where disabled people struggle to participate fully in society.
How do barriers resurface even after being addressed?
Barriers can resurface when the root cause is not properly identified and addressed, or when individuals become complacent and fail to maintain vigilance against the problem. Additionally, environmental factors such as lack of resources or support systems can contribute to reemergence of barriers. It's also possible for personal biases and attitudes to impact one's ability to recognize or overcome barriers, which may lead to their reappearance over time.