Anderson and Middleton: Article 19
1. I feel that someone is being discriminatory when you can easily distinguish the way they are interacting with one person is noticeably different from another person. After the saleswoman ignored Dr. Mock for the third time, helping a third customer before him, her actions are inexcusable.
2. I am impressed with the Asian American man's response to the situation; he kept his cool but also did not sit back and let injustice happen. Oftentimes large-scale justice attempts do not work as well as small-scale personal ventures to bring justice to personal matters.
3. The saleswoman was ignorant in the way in which she was treating the man. To her, she was justified in treating him differently from the other customers, which is an incorrect thought-process. The man wanted to practice what he preaches, since he is an "activist" of sorts, studying inequality in America and knowing the effects that is has on members of society and also having the right tools to combat the sentiment.
4. If I were the woman ally I would notify the manager of the way in which one of the employers treated a paying customer unfairly. I would testify all that I saw and the injustice that I witnessed. Since she is a member of the "agent" white group she possesses privileges that others may not.
5. The saleswoman may not have many interactions with Asian Americans and is umcomfortable with people different from her. Perhaps she was turned off as well by the trench coat, that he used for practical purposes.
6. I would want to tell the people who received mistreatment that I am sorry for the way that their humanity is questioned and that that's no way to be treated. A kind word and an interest towards someone's personal well-being speaks magnitudes, just as in the example with the Middle-Eastern woman and the Asian American man.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Text Journal #4: 3.31.09
In response to "Reflections on Heterosexual Privilege", I have been enlightened to account for the difference in treatment of those who are heterosexual from those who are homosexual or transgender, or "GLBTQ." There is a strong, negative sentiment towards people who are not heterosexual and they are not culturally accepted. Many people , myself included, shy away from interactions with people who are not heterosexual. Sexuality is a unique topic of discussion in the United States because it is a major selling point for advertisement agencies and Hollywood, but it is not acceptable to discuss one's sexuality in formal situations or settings. TV commercials and Hollywood movies may show women parading around scantily clad and men in provacative attire but to discuss one's sexuality or one's sexual preference is viewed as taboo. I believe it would be more acceptable in society to discuss one's "blackness" or "asian-ness" before one's sexual preference because of the strict cultural mores we have on sexuality.
Some of the feminist's from the reading would claim that this is because of society's unnatural view of the roles of men and women in society; men having to be the leaders and women being the subservient "appologetic" type which in turn leads to "emotional and social problems." However, she contradicts herself in the next paragraph stating that even though she is lesbian, she must combat the tendency to "act according to the heterosexual norms that are apart of me;" which is like saying that it is normal for her to act out of her heterosexual nature.
An issue that Deborah brings up is the question of whether or not people choose to be gay. Her beliefs on the issue derive from her personal experience with people in her hometown who committed suicide because of, as she later found out, emotional struggles regarding their sexuality. She believes that their crisis comes from their struggle with society's norm of finding the perfect mate and fitting into those narrow roles. This article has not changed my thoughts on the question of "nature and nurture" and which is responsible for a person's sexuality but it helped me to be more understanding of the seriousness of the situation with GLBTQs.
Some of the feminist's from the reading would claim that this is because of society's unnatural view of the roles of men and women in society; men having to be the leaders and women being the subservient "appologetic" type which in turn leads to "emotional and social problems." However, she contradicts herself in the next paragraph stating that even though she is lesbian, she must combat the tendency to "act according to the heterosexual norms that are apart of me;" which is like saying that it is normal for her to act out of her heterosexual nature.
An issue that Deborah brings up is the question of whether or not people choose to be gay. Her beliefs on the issue derive from her personal experience with people in her hometown who committed suicide because of, as she later found out, emotional struggles regarding their sexuality. She believes that their crisis comes from their struggle with society's norm of finding the perfect mate and fitting into those narrow roles. This article has not changed my thoughts on the question of "nature and nurture" and which is responsible for a person's sexuality but it helped me to be more understanding of the seriousness of the situation with GLBTQs.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Personal Journal #3: 3.23.09
Some of the questions involved in this survey were shocking. They tended to lean toward the more extreme side of the spectrum for either side, whether it be the hostile sexism or benevolent sexism. I was confused by the questions regarding feminism, because I am not sure what degree of feminism they are referring to. Feminism can be simple and non-abrasive but it can also be pushy and in your face. I leaned more towards the feminism that is present today, wanting equality in the workplace. Feminists already have a major win, they got women the vote, so there is not much need for them to be extremely active today, in my opinion.
I was surprised by my scores because I scored a 2.18 on my hostile sexism report and 2.91 on my benevolent sexism score, both of which were higher than the average American male and female. I was only slightly higher than other males in hostile sexism, but a significant amount higher than females. I have not idea why that my be. Perhaps the scoring is not altogether accurate as well. I do find myself leaning more towards the chastity side and assuming that men should care for and honor women, which is what I assume the benevolent sexism is. I was closer to a 3 on this score, but am still not overtly high. In Syria, both the men and women scored higher than me in the benevolent sexism column; women near a 4.5 and men near 4.
I was surprised by my scores because I scored a 2.18 on my hostile sexism report and 2.91 on my benevolent sexism score, both of which were higher than the average American male and female. I was only slightly higher than other males in hostile sexism, but a significant amount higher than females. I have not idea why that my be. Perhaps the scoring is not altogether accurate as well. I do find myself leaning more towards the chastity side and assuming that men should care for and honor women, which is what I assume the benevolent sexism is. I was closer to a 3 on this score, but am still not overtly high. In Syria, both the men and women scored higher than me in the benevolent sexism column; women near a 4.5 and men near 4.
Text Journal #3: 3.23.09
One of this week's chapter was on Hispanic Americans and their struggles in American society and even before entering into the United States society. I found it interesting that so many of the Central and South American countries suffered from civil war which is what drove them to the United States. Also, some of the civil war fights and gangs followed the people into the United States and gangs were formed in many of the states and the fighting continued, perhaps the most noted was Salvadoran gangs in Southern California and how it's influence spread to other countries in central America as well.
The majority of Latino Americans in the United States come from Mexico. The next highest population is Cuban and then Puerto Rican. Central and South America both are represented, but not as significantly as Mexico, Puerto Rico and Cuba. The Dominican Republic has the next highest population percentage in the United States.
Some startling statistics are that the Latino population is the fastest growing population in the United States. By 2020, it's expected that 1 in 4 children will be Hispanic. 58% of the population 25 years and older have a high school education. In 2004, almost 22% of Hispanics lived in poverty.
Some problems in society is that the different subgroups have the highest high school drop-outs of any group and the lowest high school completion rate in the country. It was interesting that men were noted for not wanting to be involved in social work sessions due to a cultural belief. Some ideas and ideals from culture are embedded deep within us and we are unable to get rid of them.
The majority of Latino Americans in the United States come from Mexico. The next highest population is Cuban and then Puerto Rican. Central and South America both are represented, but not as significantly as Mexico, Puerto Rico and Cuba. The Dominican Republic has the next highest population percentage in the United States.
Some startling statistics are that the Latino population is the fastest growing population in the United States. By 2020, it's expected that 1 in 4 children will be Hispanic. 58% of the population 25 years and older have a high school education. In 2004, almost 22% of Hispanics lived in poverty.
Some problems in society is that the different subgroups have the highest high school drop-outs of any group and the lowest high school completion rate in the country. It was interesting that men were noted for not wanting to be involved in social work sessions due to a cultural belief. Some ideas and ideals from culture are embedded deep within us and we are unable to get rid of them.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Personal Journal #2: 3.8.09
Question: How would you respond to Dr. Tatum's closing question in the film: Who has had opportunities in my environment and who hasn't? What can I influence? How am I making a more equitable environment?
The differences between people of privilege and those without is vast. Usually the people in our environment who do not have privileges have been that way for a long time. Once something has been a certain way for a long time, it's hard to make a change for the better. Through being in this class I am more aware of the privilege that has been afforded to me simply because of the color o f my skin. In my environment at home people with more money have more opportunity than those without money. The majority of people in my area were white, but the disparity of money is extremely vast. Also, about 20 minutes down the road were the projects on the North Side of Pittsburgh which were inhabited mostly by impoverished African Americans. This is another depressing picture of the "white flight" to the suburbs that they discussed in the movie after WWII. The culture shock from one area to another was extremely disturbing to me, and I tried to make a difference in the ways that I could.
I used to work on the North Side over the summers at a day camp for the youth who lived in the project and also for kids in the surrounding area whose parents needed an affordable option for their kids for the summer. Since I love to teach and to spend time with children, being able to interact with the youth and to help with their education over the summers was an unforgettable impact on my life as well. Now that I am older and can see the truth of the disparity, I can take my passion to work with chidren and to see equal opportunities for education and use my age and whatever other authority I have in society as leverage over the system. I believe that the root of the problems in today's society is perpetuating the effects of the racism of our forefathers by basing school funding on property taxes. This has been detrimental to our school system and in turn detrimental to our society as well. Any way that I can be a voice for the equal opportunity to a QUALITY education would be one step closer to making a more equitable environment.
The differences between people of privilege and those without is vast. Usually the people in our environment who do not have privileges have been that way for a long time. Once something has been a certain way for a long time, it's hard to make a change for the better. Through being in this class I am more aware of the privilege that has been afforded to me simply because of the color o f my skin. In my environment at home people with more money have more opportunity than those without money. The majority of people in my area were white, but the disparity of money is extremely vast. Also, about 20 minutes down the road were the projects on the North Side of Pittsburgh which were inhabited mostly by impoverished African Americans. This is another depressing picture of the "white flight" to the suburbs that they discussed in the movie after WWII. The culture shock from one area to another was extremely disturbing to me, and I tried to make a difference in the ways that I could.
I used to work on the North Side over the summers at a day camp for the youth who lived in the project and also for kids in the surrounding area whose parents needed an affordable option for their kids for the summer. Since I love to teach and to spend time with children, being able to interact with the youth and to help with their education over the summers was an unforgettable impact on my life as well. Now that I am older and can see the truth of the disparity, I can take my passion to work with chidren and to see equal opportunities for education and use my age and whatever other authority I have in society as leverage over the system. I believe that the root of the problems in today's society is perpetuating the effects of the racism of our forefathers by basing school funding on property taxes. This has been detrimental to our school system and in turn detrimental to our society as well. Any way that I can be a voice for the equal opportunity to a QUALITY education would be one step closer to making a more equitable environment.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Text Journal #2: 3.3.09
After reading the article "Structural Racism and Youth Development Issues, Challenges, and Implications" I can see the correlation between the class session that we just had and the issues within the article. In class we are coming down hard on the realization that there is racism embedded into the structural system of the United States. Being split up into the groups of "colored" and "white" we began to discuss stereotypes and dialogue with members of our "group" what the issues of race were from our perspective, problems we have with that, and questions that we had for the opposite group. I voiced the frustration of structural racism and the helplessness I feel in combatting it. The author of the article made a claim that resonated with my remark that "those born into disadvantaged communities cannot be blamed fot the insufficient education they receive in their local public schools, and the consequent challenges they face as unskilled job seekers" (p. 13). Structural racism is a "sick cycle" that repeats itself; children, statistically, are not the authors of their success if they are born into the bottom 10% of the income scale.
The only way to stop such a cycle is to use the white privilege that I have been given, naturally, to make changes to the structural system. This takes hard work, and as Becky McIntosh mentioned in her article that it's hard to make changes to a system when you are reaping the benefits. I would agree with her because statistically that is what evidence has proven, however, I believe that it's more of a passive neglect of a situation than an active refusal to do something about the change that plagues most people of the "white" privilege group.
Also, when the author mentioned the statistics about whites being surveyed about the outcomes of affirmative action, I have to admit that my attitude would be counted towards that high percentage. I'm not proud of it, but that was my sister's attitude when applying for school, so I inherited it as well. What angers me most is that because of the way the system works, African Americans, and people of color for that matter are born into an already difficult situation. In order to make a change, a vast social justice change must take place in order for everyone to have "equal opportunity." We need to stop basing public education funding on property taxes and discontinue "No Child Left Behind" and actually start caring about the children of America, no matter where they start, that should not matter, they should all have access to an equal education. Education is the key to success and the white children from the affluent suburbs should NOT be the only ones with access to reputable education.
The only way to stop such a cycle is to use the white privilege that I have been given, naturally, to make changes to the structural system. This takes hard work, and as Becky McIntosh mentioned in her article that it's hard to make changes to a system when you are reaping the benefits. I would agree with her because statistically that is what evidence has proven, however, I believe that it's more of a passive neglect of a situation than an active refusal to do something about the change that plagues most people of the "white" privilege group.
Also, when the author mentioned the statistics about whites being surveyed about the outcomes of affirmative action, I have to admit that my attitude would be counted towards that high percentage. I'm not proud of it, but that was my sister's attitude when applying for school, so I inherited it as well. What angers me most is that because of the way the system works, African Americans, and people of color for that matter are born into an already difficult situation. In order to make a change, a vast social justice change must take place in order for everyone to have "equal opportunity." We need to stop basing public education funding on property taxes and discontinue "No Child Left Behind" and actually start caring about the children of America, no matter where they start, that should not matter, they should all have access to an equal education. Education is the key to success and the white children from the affluent suburbs should NOT be the only ones with access to reputable education.
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