Blog Post # 15 in response to Question O

This class has made me realize and understand that various forms of oppression and systemic discrimination exist in our society that I never had taken the time to think about before. I think that everyone can take certain steps to fix these problems that exist in our society. The first step that everyone can take to fight for socio-cultural transformation is to realize that discrimination does exist. If you don’t realize that something exists you can’t do anything either for or against it.

Now that I realize that forms of oppression and discrimination exist I think my next step is to truly try and understand what privileges I have in society. There are so many different privileges that it can be hard to understand them all. Before this class I never gave much thought to even having white privilege, but now I realize that not only do I have white privilege but I also have heterosexual privilege, Christian privilege, able-bodied privilege and the list goes on and on. What I need to remember is that, yes I may have these privileges, but by having these privileges it means that others miss out on the change to have these privileges as well. I am going to try and look at my life and lifestyle from the other end, and I will try and understand how much of a struggle life can be for people who suffer because of the privileges that I have.

Realistically, one person can’t change the world. No matter how much I want the world to be an equal place for all, I alone cannot make that happen. I need to reach out to friends and family and teach them what I have learned from this class. It doesn’t even need to be in a formal setting because in everyday life situations of racism and forms of oppression come up. If I can just point out and make the people around me see how harmful and destructive acts of racism and discrimination can be then maybe they can spread the message to people that they know too. I know that I will be more aware of what goes on around me, and if I see something that I don’t like in regards to discrimination I will say something and fight for it. I don’t need to start a revolution, but I can take little steps to fix the common occurrences that happen because of the inequalities that exist in our society. These little steps are the key to having equality in our society, and if everyone can take a few little steps each day we will be well on our way to a safer, healthier, happier world for all.

Blog Post # 14 in response to Question N

There are many things that make a good activist. However, I think the most important thing an activist can have is a strong belief that what they are fighting for will make a positive change for all of society. Without belief in oneself and in what cause one is fighting for it will be almost impossible to be an effective activist.

An effective and positive change agent should deal with fostering change, should have awareness, action and analysis, should be allies for all, and should also be accountable for their actions.  As Barbara J. Love states in her article Developing a Liberatory Consciousness “all members of society play a role in keeping a dis-equal system in place, whether the system works to their benefit or disadvantage” (599).  Thus, those who want to change this system need to be “committed to changing systems and institutions characterized by oppression to create greater equity and social justice” even if it means that the change could work to their disadvantage. In the end, the change for equality for will be a benefit for all.

When it comes to awareness, activists must pay attention to all aspects of society, including their “daily lives, their language, their behaviors, and even their own thoughts” because living with awareness means “noticing what happens in the world around you” (600). Not only should an effective activist notice what happens around them, but also taking action to eliminate oppression.

The attribute of action that an activist should have is important because it goes past just being aware and takes the next step to actually put all of the work to fight against oppression into life. Taking action can also include helping others take action and encouraging others that they can make a difference.

An activist should also hold oneself accountable for the lives that they lead and also for the actions they take in regards to discrimination. Barbara Love made an interest point in regards to accountability. She says that people who are “raised on one end of patterns of gender, race, class subordination or domination” can actually use those experiences to provide a different perspective for people raised on the other end” (602). I would never have though to look at accountability this way, but it really does make sense.

Those who choose to be an effective activist can truly help our society “reclaim choice in our values and attitudes” (603). We can all learn from each other and all go through the journey of creating a better and equal world for all.

One of the activists that I admire more and more after reading her work is Bell Hooks. When I first watched her for one of the very beginning assignment we had in this course I wasn’t sure how I felt about her. I think is because she pointed out a lot of privileges that I had in society. I didn’t realize how my unawareness was actually hurting many people in our society and I didn’t like the fact that she explained it so clearly. After listening to what she says though, I realize that she is an amazing woman and I am glad that I have been able to learn from her. I have a lot more learning to do, but this class has made me aware of many types of privilege that exists in our society and that for the world to be a better place we must all play a part to help end inequality, and by doing so we can take the steps to create equality for all.

Quick Blog # 6

Age diversity has been a very interesting unit that we have studied. My social sphere is somewhat. I am a big family person, so I am with them a lot. My sisters and I are all the same age so I never had the chance to see what living with older or younger siblings are like, but my parents are older and my grandparents are much older. I feel that I have a lot of interaction with my grandparents who are older. I love being with them, but there are times when I recognize that they are older. This is realized mainly, with hearing and the fact that they can fall asleep on a dime, although if you asked them, they weren’t really sleeping. I always enjoyed babysitting in high school, so in some ways I suppose I had more interaction with younger children. But, I think I am set in my own age group and the friends that I have so I don’t feel a need to interact with the your or elderly people as much.

I think that our society is segregated based on age simply because we tend to form groups with people who are similar to us, and a lot of that similarity is based on age. The elderly weren’t always the elderly, they were once youth and then teenagers and then adults but they all had their groups of friends then and it seems natural that in later years of their lives they would be friends with those in their age group who all have common interests. Still, both young and old people suffer from age discrimination and are socially marginalized. I feel that many people think young people are up to no good and that they don’t deserve the respect that adults would get. On the other hand, I feel that a lot of people have respect for the elderly, but many become impatient with them, especially if they aren’t keeping up with the pace of our society and those people voice their frustration.  Young-adults and middle-age adults are certainly privileged due to their age. They are the elite and at the top of the pyramid when it comes to age because that is how our society has shaped itself. I think that everyone feels young-adults and middle aged adults are the ones who are going to be spending the most money, who are the most intelligent, and who have the most going for them.

I think there are certain ways that we can promote the integration of people of all ages and challenge age based segregation. I know it may seem silly, but the game BINGO is something that all ages can play and that people of all ages seem to enjoy playing. This is the same with bowling as well. Why not break down the barriers that exist and let everyone enjoy the same things together. The elderly could probably use a little youth in their life and the youth can learn a lot from the elderly. I think our culture could benefit from realizing that the elderly were once young, and that those who are young now will eventually become the elderly. Everyone is still the same person they were born as, but time changes us physically and mentally. This doesn’t necessarily mean in a good or bad way, but it is in a different way. We need to learn to accept people of all ages, and really we need to learn to accept all people. All people should be treated equally no matter who they are, what they look like, where they come from or how old they are. Everything, all of these isms, seem to come down to the issue of equality so I think what society needs to do is realize that everyone is equal and not just realize it but act upon it. The world would be a better place if we could all just be equal.

Blog Post # 13 in response to Question M

Ageism, also called age discrimination, is stereotyping of and discrimination against individuals or groups because of their age. I was deeply touched by the “Once We Were Young” age concern video that was put on as a part of the Age Concern campaign.

I think in our society, we are so caught up with the day to day life,that we don’t always stop to think about what it will be like to actually be older. I don’t think it is so much the fact that we don’t talk about ageism because we are ashamed of it, but more because we don’t realize that it exists. The film states that 1 in 5 older people live in poverty, 5 million older people live alone, and that in fifteen years over a third of the population will be over 50. It is especially sad to think of the scenarios where one older person is left completely alone. I have been fortunate enough to have very healthy active grandparents. My grandmother often gets mistaken is my mom, that’s how good she looks. But, I know from friends that others are not as fortunate. I hear them talking about grandparents losing their memories and not being able to live by themselves and I find it so upsetting. I would hope that I am not ageist. I feel that I am respectful of people no matter what their age is, and growing up close to grandparents who are older has taught me and shown me how wonderful older people can be.

In the film, “Look Us in the Eye”: The Old Women’s Project states that “old women must be treated as equals. We reject both contempt and “respect” on the basis of age, but rather celebrate the honest exchange between generations”. I find it interesting that they reject “respect’ on the basis of age. if I see an older person needing a seat somewhere I’m going to offer them mine, but I never realized that some could be offended by that respect. I suppose if they refuse to sit then that is fine too, it is their life to live.

I think this unit has allowed me to realize that being older is just another stage of life and that older people really shouldn’t be treated any differently. Whether it is discrimination against the young or the old, it should not exist either way. I really like the phrase that the Old Women’s Project used saying they want an honest exchange between generations. I think if people realized and practiced that motto then they would have more understanding about what age really means and how everyone should be able to live their lives no matter what age they are.

Quick Blog # 5

I chose to watch Pornland: How Porn Has Hijacked Our Sexuality by Gail Dines. In this video Dines discusses the effects that porn has had on men and women in our society, specifically how it affects women and how it affects the way men view women because of porn.

I do agree with what Gail Dines says in her video. There is nothing like seeing the images of hardcore porn that shows how real misogyny and women hating is, which Dines found out when she went to a show, and which I certainly agree with. I understand the excitement and arousal that porn can bring, and I’m not saying all porn shows women in a bad light. But, there is a definite line that exists between what images are going to corrupt men and what images are not, and hardcore porn, to me, seems like it goes past that line. For example, she talks about ATM- ass to mouth and asks what sexual arousal is there outside of the debasement of the women.  I believe that that is a valid point and clearly shows how pornography furthers the problems of sexism and misogyny. It seems that the “sizzle” that porn brings now is the debasement of women and that is why porn continues to present women in a degrading manner. I find it sad that women may bring themselves to that low of a point, and that men seem to think that acts like that are okay, but hardcore pornography is making acts like this more mainstream.

Even those who produce porn are “are absolutely amazed how they are making so much money and how they have not had more lawsuits filed against them”. If those who are producing this material feel this way I think that shows that something wrong is going on in this industry. 

One interesting point she made has to do with the technology that is available to children at a young age which shows the impact that porn is having on young men and how they view women. Boys, who used to look at Playboy, now at the age of eleven, have access to all the hardcore porn on the internet that they could possibly want. At eleven, these boys, are being exposed for the first time to what sex is, but what they are seeing is the dehumanizing and demoralizing acts that a lot of hardcore porn contains. So they grow up thinking that this hardcore porn is what sex is supposed to be and they learn that that is how they are supposed to treat women during sex. Although, I wonder about women and porn.  I don’t think they use it to the extent that men do, but what is that other side of the story?

I also like how she talked about the choices that women used to have and now have about what kind of women they want to be. When Gail Dines was growing up she had some choices, not enough because “she needed the feminist movement”, but she was still able to choose what type of women fit her. Now, in this age, there really is only one type of women for women today to now choose to be and in a society that is so hyper sexualized it certainly doesn’t leave us many options.

Overall, pornography is a tricky subject. I don’t think that all porn is awful and I don’t think that all porn shows women in a degrading light. Again, it is all about the invisible line that exists which takes porn from being exciting in a good way to being exciting in a way that demoralizes women and corrupts both men and women into thinking that the non human and more animalistic, no emotion way they treat  each other is okay.

Blog Post # 12 in response to Question L

The video Gimp shows that disabled people may have physical disabilities, but that does not mean that they cannot actively participate in society. In fact, according to Susan Wendell’s The Social Construction of Disability, it is society itself that can “damage people’s bodies in ways that are disabling in their environment” and “the availability of basic resources, or lack thereof, can also have major effects on disability” (Wendell, 477).

When watching Gimp, when the performers were dancing including those with disabilities, it was as if their bodies were transformed into something greater than the human body. The way they moved, how strong they were, and how they used their bodies shows how far the human body can go. The title explains all the different definitions of gimp, such as “a lame person”, “a halting lame walk”, or “to turn or tremble”. Yet, this film proved that those with disabilities, those who are considered to have a gimp, can still do miraculous things which allow them to overcome their physical disabilities. They proved that even though “disability is socially constructed through the failure or unwillingness to create ability among people who do not fit the physical and mental profile of “paradigm” citizens” that that unwillingness can still be defeated (Wendell, 479).

I believe that performances like this can truly help address issues of disability in a progressive manner. These performers, who have disabilities, prove that they are more than capable to be successful in society, and more than that they can be successful in an area that demands they use their bodies each and every day. I think Gimp, and other performances like it, will inspire others with disabilities to strive to do whatever they want in life even if it seems impossible for them to reach their goals. It is clear from Gimp that nothing is impossible. I also believe that those are not disabled can learn a lot from Gimp. They can see that being disabled doesn’t mean that it affects every aspect of a disabled person’s life.  Yes, “much of the public world is structured as though everyone were physically strong, as though all bodies were shaped the same, as though everyone cold walk, hear and see well” but I hope those who are not disabled can learn to see how strong those who are disabled actually are to deal with all the obstacles that are thrown at them because of the way our society is constructed (Wendell, 479).

Blog Post # 11 in response to Question K

Beautiful Daughters and “Trans Woman Manifesto” truly depict how transgender women have been stereotyped in America. It seems that talking about transgender women is almost unspeakable, and I have to admit that it is probably the most out of the whole category of gender that I know the least about.

Julia Serano’s manifesto calls for “the end of the scapegoating, deriding, and dehumanizing of tans women everywhere” and I think it is about time (441). I really like the point that Serano makes that no qualifications should be “placed on the term “trans woman” and that it is “downright sexist to reduce any women (trans or otherwise) down to he r mere body parts or to require her to live up certain socially dictated ideals regarding appearance (441).

I never realized until I watched the film and read the article how large transphobia is in our society and I think it is because I never really gave much thought to those who are transgender. In the movie Beautiful Daughters, I found it interesting that some men questioned whether they way gay once they had slept with a trans woman. It surprised me that some trans woman told them that it did mean they were gay. I was happy that the woman who told this story would tell men that she was a woman and that they were a man, and in our society today they would be called heterosexual. I really have no idea the feelings or thoughts of trans gender woman, but to me, it would seem that they actually believe they are a woman.  Although, I suppose that the trans women who still have penises could lead to some confusion for those they sleep with about whether or not they are straight or gay. I think, more than anything, this unit shows that there truly is more to being male and female than whether you have a “y” or “x” chromosome. It is emotions and desires and dreams and what simply feels right that makes us who we are. Everyone deserves the chance to experience life the way that feels right to them, whether that means they spend it the way there were born or if they make some changes along the way. Either way, everyone needs to be happy with who they are and should have the right to live life in whichever way fills them with happiness.

It takes a lot of courage for these trans women to let people know exactly who they are because there is so much hatred and fear of being ostracized that can come along with letting people know of the decisions they made in their lives. The women in the movie showed me how much they had to go through in their lives just to be the person they felt that they needed to be. In the end, we are all human and we all have human emotions and just want to be loved. If those with transphobia could recognize that, it would make the world such a better place.

Process Piece

Process Piece:

This digital video project was one of the most technologically involved projects I have had to complete, but I think I learned a lot from it.

When I first started this project, the whole idea of it was a bit daunting. Having to create a video about an ism we learned in class-there was so many different ways to approach the assignment and I wasn’t sure what route I wanted to take. I knew that I wanted to discuss racism and do something with poetry, music and quotes because I thought those three things combined would create a strong message. Initially, I was going to write my own poem, but as I started researching about those who wrote about racism I became inspired by their work and wanted to make that the center of the project. They, after all, had experienced firsthand what racism was all about and I wanted to put together a video that showed their struggles but that also highlighted on their bravery and strength, which I feel my video did.

The technological aspect of the project was the most difficult for me. I wanted to do something different and learn more about different software that exists so I chose to use Windows Live Movie Maker. Well, I think I would need about the whole length of this course to really understand it, but I watched a lot of tutorials about how it actually worked. Converting videos and music so that it was compatible with the software was challenging, but I managed to figure it out eventually. I even had trouble uploading it to You-tube, I’m not sure if anyone else did but it took me quite awhile to figure out how to do it. It seemed like it should have been simple, but for me it wasn’t.

Overall, I enjoyed researching about racism. It was interesting to see how much information there was about it and how many different viewpoints and opinions existed on the subject. I learned a lot about many great writers and musicians and saw the talent that they possess. By no means was this an easy assignment for me, but I feel that I came out of it with a greater understanding of racism, a greater appreciation for what those who experienced racism had gone through and with much respect (with what began with much frustration) for Windows Live Movie Maker. I think completing a project where you have to push yourself to learn is rewarding, and I am proud that I accomplished the assignment and I am proud of the way the finished product came out.

Works Cited

Angelou, Maya. "YouTube - And Still I Rise." YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. 2008. Web. 17 Jan. 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqOqo50LSZ0>.

Cullen, Countée. "Incident - "Early 1900's" "African - American Poetry"" AfroPoets Famous Writers. Web. 17 Jan. 2011. <http://www.afropoets.net/counteecullen1.html>.

Hughes, Langston. "John Lundberg: Poems About Racism." Breaking News and Opinion on The Huffington Post. Web. 17 Jan. 2011. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-lundberg/poems-about-racism_b_92829.html>.

Khalid, Haythum R. "Famous Quotes about Race and Racism." Book of Famous Quotes - The One Stop for Quotations Lovers. Web. 17 Jan. 2011. <http://www.famous-quotes.com/topic.php?page=0&total=21&tid=988>.

Marley, Bob. Buffalo Soldier Buffalo Dub. Island, 1983. CD.

Marley, Bob. "Get Up, Stand Up." Legend the Best of Bob Marley and the Wailers. Island Records, 1984. CD.

"Racism - Google Search." Google. Web. 17 Jan. 2011. <http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=define: racism&rlz=1R2ADFA_enUS389&aq=0&aqi=l1g8g-m2&aql=&oq=definition of racism>.

Quick Blog # 4- Willow Smith

Alright, so I had to watch this a couple times and look up the lyrics because I couldn’t catch everything she was saying and I’m still not sure how I feel about it. Some of her lyrics seem to be inspiring as if she is trying to talk about and relate to dealing with the issues of racism such as:

Don't let haters keep me off my grind /Keep my head up I know I'll be fine /Keep fighting until i get there
When i'm down and i feel like giving up i think again

And also

So whats up (yea) /And I'll be doing what to do /we turn our back /and whip our hair and just shake them off /shake them off, shake them off, shake them off

 Some of the dancing was a bit provocative, like the girl in the red dress, but overall there wasn’t anything too outrageous. Some of the lyrics such could be seen as provocative I guess, or it could just be something else, such as  I, i gets it in mmmm yea i go hard /when they see me pull up i whip it real hard /i whip it real hard, real hard, i whip it real hard. I don’t understand what she is really trying to say though- what exactly does the whipping her back and forth mean or have to do with anything? I need help on that one…

I think what she is trying to do is hard, she was only nine years old when she made this music video and it seems that dancing and singing is what is popular. If she just stood there singing into a microphone I don’t think this song would be as successful as it is. I watched some interviews of her on You-tube and I think she is still almost too young to be a role model to others. It seems like she is trying to be so much more grown up than she really is with her mannerisms. I feel that she has a bit of growing up to do before she can actually be a role model to anyone, she needs to figure out who she is herself first and nine seems a bit young to know that. However, she comes from a grounded family, the Smiths’ seem like family is important to them and in one of the interviews someone said that Will Smith was one of the only rappers who doesn’t curse in his songs-so I think overall Willow will be just fine in the music industry.

I can’t say that I love this song, but I do believe she is talented. I think we will see a lot more from Willow to come. I am curious to hear what her others songs will be like and how she shapes the music industry in the future.

Blog Post # 10 in response to Question J

The film Queer Streets showed me how much heterosexist oppression jeopardizes people’s life chances and civil rights in serious ways. The stories of those that take refuge in Sylvia’s place show clearly that queer homeless youth are “more vulnerable than their straight counterparts to violence, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, sex work and mental illness.”

Isyss who was genetically born male but considers herself female, was 18 in the film and had been homeless for 1 week. She seemed to be the most optimistic of those at Sylvia’s about getting out and making a place for herself in the world so she set off to search for a job. She ended up at in New York after coming home from her school one day in Georgia when she was jumped by three guys and shot at. She felt that she had to run away. After a few weeks of searching for a job, she realized that once asked for identification people were did not like the fact that it said male although she considered herself female. After trying so hard, she felt defeated and said she didn’t know how to get out. You then see her later in the film, turning to prostitution as a way for her to make money. Kristen, another girl in the film, said that she figured Isyss would have to turn to prostitution, like Kristen, eventually. Isyss is unhappy being a prostitute, it makes her angry, but she would rather be a prostitute and be a woman than go back to being a male. If our society could be more open to lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders so many people would be able to live safer and happier lives.

Loubriel, who was 21 at the making of this film, had already been homeless for three years and has many ways of making money. Unfortunately, as many others who are on the street, Loubriel got into drugs with the cycle being dope, detox and dope again. One can see when watching the film what Loubriel wanted so badly to find a way out and one of the last things that Loubriel is seen doing in the film is going to Beth Israel hospital to detox, swearing it will be the last time. Loubriel didn’t make it much longer though, as the film was made in memory of Loubriel who lived from 1984-2007. So many others suffer the same fate as Loubriel all because of the awful way society as a whole treats lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders.

One of my gay friends said something once that changed the way I thought about those who are gay, lesbian bisexual or transgender. He said “it’s not like we choose this, why would we choose to be something that automatically makes people hate us and makes our lives that much harder”. This coming from a friend who is one of the smartest, most intelligent, outgoing people that I know and anyone else who knows him would say the same. Lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders are all people, are all human beings, and they have every right to be given the same opportunities and to be treated as equals in our society.

Blog Post # 9 in response to Question I

Jean Kilbourne’s film Killing Us Softly 3 accompanied by her presentation of the film clearly shows how the media “perpetuates rigid and narrow conceptualizations of masculinity and femininity to uphold patriarchy”.

Kilbourne gives multiple examples in her film that show that “advertising is the foundation of the mass media and that the foundation of the mass media is to sell products”. She states that advertising “tells us what we are and who we should be” but the trouble with this is advertising tells us that “what is most important about women is how we look” while men aren’t held to this standard. Because of advertising women feel that “if we aren’t beautiful or think or successful it is because we aren’t trying enough”. Of course, it is practically impossible to be as beautiful as the women seen throughout the media as that type of woman makes up only 5% of the population which really hit home when the statistic was given that “there are 3 billion women who don’t look like supermodels and 8 who do”. Yet, it seems that constantly everywhere we turn the American population is bombarded with advertisements. She showed ads that said that innocence is sexy and that the more you subtract the more you ad, how are these ads supposed to make women feel? Almost all the ads with females use white upper class women to sell the products.  Everything is so contradictory to the way life and real women actually are, it just doesn’t seem fare.

The comparison of males and females in the media are astonishing also. It shocked me that in the March 1999 issue of parenting every single issue featured active boys and passive girls. If parents don’t seem to realize this is happening the children certainly aren’t going to understand that anything is wrong with these pictures. One part in the film when she compared the ad for female breasts and men’s genitals I actually laughed out loud, it was funny, but it also made me slightly disgusted with how society is today. There never would be an ad like the ad she made up that talked about men that way, but it happens all the time with women. Women are expected to meet almost impossible standards and it truly does make sense why young female women have such low self-esteem and almost 1 in 5 have an eating disorder. Even when I was watching the ads, and seeing all of these extremely thin women, I actually thought to myself, “Guess I should hit the gym”.  It should not be like that for us but it is.

It was also interesting to note the way women of color were portrayed in the media. They are often shown as “animals and over and over again the real message is that they are not really human”. Unfortunately, turning a human being “into a thing is almost the first step into making violence acceptable” and turning her into an “object” makes it even worse.

I will say that some forms of media are taking a step to make advertisements more diverse and to eliminate the sexism, racism and cultural portrayal in the media. The Special K advertisement did a good job of this, and I was surprised that I had not seen it before. The Dove commercials, with the Dove beauty campaign also show women as “real women” with “real bodies”.  In the end, whether we are conscious or not of the media, the subliminal messages and attitudes deeply affect us. As Kilbourne said, we have the right to live “authentically and freely chosen lives, nothing else.” Yet, to be truly able to do live our lives freely we need to wake up and not stand for the way the media depicts men and women in advertisements because it makes it seem like it is okay, when in actuality, this could not be farther from truth.

Quick Blog # 3

1. Describe an experience where you were privileged or advantaged due to your class/socio-economic status.

I think the fact that I have even gone to college makes me privileged due to my class, but to push that even further the fact that I am going to come out of college with having very minimal loans to pay back makes me even more advantaged. I see how hard some of my friends work just to make it through college financially, and I feel guilty that financial issues throughout college have never been something that I have had to struggle with.

2. Describe an experience where your were oppressed or disadvantaged due to your class/socio-economic status.

Sometimes when I am shopping and I go into a store that sells expensive items, I get the feeling from the sales clerks that I am not welcome there. I feel like they are thinking, “what are you doing in here…there is no way that you are going to be able to purchase anything”. Which, most of the time is probably true. One store I went into I didn’t realize how expensive it actually as but when I looked a pair of jeans and saw they were selling for $300 I knew I was out of my element. Between the stares of the store owners and the awkwardness I felt of being somewhere where I wasn’t welcomed I quickly left and will probably never go back.

3. Write about an experience where you witnessed an incident of classism (remark, behavior, attitude) and your reaction to it.

I can’t think of any life changing experience where I witnessed an incident of classism, but I did have a friend back in high school that would often make comments about people’s style of fashion or way of living. This particular friend fell into the upper of the upper middle class, or maybe the lower of the upper class and she gave of an air of being a little better than everyone else. She really was a good person and I don’t even think she realized how much her being privileged because of her class affected the way she acted at times. Whenever she said something completely outrageous my other friends and I would usually say, “[Friend’s name!], you can’t just say something like that” its rude/disrespectful. I haven’t seen this friend since I went to college, but I wonder if she still acts the same or if she has come down to earth a little bit. My guess is, because of how used she was to her lifestyle she was, that she is probably the same but I am hoping maybe just maybe she has changed her viewpoint on other people slightly.

Blog Post # 8 in response to Question H

Throughout this course, I have come to realize that many forms of privilege and oppression exist in everyday life, but I never realized that one could experience oppression or privilege because of their chosen religion or faith in society. However, after reading the two articles on Christian privilege it became clear to me that Christian privilege does exist.

I have been baptized as a Christian for 21 years now and I never stopped to think about the privileges that I have because of my faith. To be honest, my family and I aren’t what you would call devout Christians. We are the family who attends church at the main Christian holidays-Christmas, Easter and occasionally Ash Wednesday yet we reap benefits that others don’t just because of our faith. I actually spent more time going to a Baptist church as a child because a friend of mine always invited me to come. Still, I never believed that someone needed to attend church to have a relationship with God, and I also do not believe that I should have privilege over others just because of my faith.

 Warren J. Blumenfeld, author of the article Christian Privilege and Promotion of “Secular” and not-so “Secular” Mainline Christianity in Public School and in the Larger Society discusses five common forms “overarching categories or face of powerlessness, exploitation, marginalization, cultural imperialism and violence in relation to privilege and oppression.

After reading Blumenfeld’s article I realized how much schools allow social norms to be marginalized and reproduced when it comes to religion. The school calendar is organized to meet the needs of Christian faith communities, while marginalizing others. Examples of this marginalization include “Jewish students who are compelled to request an excuse from school to attend religious services for their “High Holy Days” and between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kepper, which usually fall during the beginning of the academic year” (248). An interesting example Blumenfeld gave of marginalization was in regards to the case that involved the “17-year old Muslim high school student who was barred by school administrators from praying in an empty classroom at lunch and before and after class hours” (248).  In 1963 the U.S Supreme Court case ruled “unconstitutional any mandatory prayers or Bible reading at public schools, subsequent ruling declared the constitutionality of many form personal religion expression on school campus” (249).  CAIR (Council on American Islam Relations) stepped in on the student’s behalf and convinced the school district to reverse its policy (250). Lewis Z. Schlosser, also of Breaking a Sacred Taboo, also makes a good point when it comes to schooling and religion. He says that those with Christian privilege can be sure “that [their] children will be given curricular materials that testify to the existence and importance of the Christian religion” (246). In school, a lot of the material that is taught and that I remember reading had emphasis on the Christian religion. It just seemed natural to me and I did not feel out of place reading or learning that material but those who practiced a different faith most probably did.

Christians also reap the benefits of privilege in America in many other ways. The workweek is structured to allow Christians “the opportunity to worship on Sundays without conflicting with their Monday to Friday work schedules” (251) .The promotion of music, especially Christmas, by radio stations and Christmas specials played on TV throughout November and December each year, Christmas decorations and the widespread availability of Christmas holiday decorations during the holiday seasons also show that people who are not Christian experience oppression (251). Schossler makes another valid point that shows Christian privilege when he says that one “one can display a Christmas tree and/or hang holly leaves in my home without worrying about one’s home being vandalized because of one’s’ religious identification” (247). Even the phrase “Under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance or “In God we Trust” on U.S currency shows that Christianity is regarded is the superior religion in our country. Little things that may seem insignificant to those with Christian privilege, because we don’t realize we have it, could have a big impact on the way others who do not practice Christianity feel in our society.

More and more I am realizing how common privilege and oppression is in our society. It seems that no matter where you turn or what you are talking about privilege exists in some way for some group of people. The majority of what I have learned in this course so far I never even realized were forms of privilege that I experienced, whether it be because of my race, class or religion. I feel almost guilty that society revolves so much around a certain groups of people and that I seem to fall into many of these categories and groups. At least now, I am realizing that I do have privilege and I am more aware of how my actions and the actions of others can affect people who don’t experience the same privileges that I do. There are steps that need to be taken to diminish the privileges that certain groups have so that society can be equal for all. It is not fair that some experience such great inequality because of their race or beliefs or gender and I know the saying that life isn’t fair, but I think eventually, if those with privilege took action to minimize the privilege that they have, life could be.

Video Treatment

Video Treatment

Topic
The whole subject of power, privilege and difference is new to me and I am still learning and still trying to get a grasp on a subject that is so expansive in material, emotions and viewpoints. However, racism is something that I have been aware of at least in some sense since a child, and I feel that I have more of an understanding of racism than any of the isms that we have studied thus far. Therefore, I will be choosing racism as the form of oppression that I want to discuss in the digital video.  Another reason I wanted to focus on racism for the digital video is because it can be observed and interpreted in so many different ways. This will allow me to delve into the issues of racism and try to understand it from different angles which will hopefully allow me to have a deeper understanding of why racism exists in the first place.

Story
For the project I have decided to make a video poem which is an “original poem you write and then illustrate with music and images” but with a different spin (JRR). A lot of the time, I can be very black and white in my thinking and in my writing. I think that some form of a poem/artistic collaboration will help me take a more creative approach on the subject and will push me to think about what words I want to use and how I want to portray what I believe racism is and how it affects our society. Words can say a lot, but music and images can say just as much, if not more. By combing words, music and images I hope that I can create a strong video that will have more of an impact than if I just used one of the three alone. There is a lot of information on racism, which includes articles songs, poems, essays-the list is endless. The spin off for my video poem is that I want the content of my video to be a collection of poems, songs and quotes written by those who have experienced racism whether they are famous or non-famous people. I will accompany the writing with images and music that I feel describe all of these forms of expression I will also write my own poem, which I think I will have somewhere towards the end of the video.  I want to show what I have learned from the research I have conducted and what I have taken away from reading and listening to all the works that show the experiences of those who have suffered from racism.

Software

The software I am going to use for the digital video will be Windows Live Movie Maker. I saw Power Point on the list and for awhile I was planning on using this because this was the only resource for producing a short digital video that I had used before. But, I figured this assignment was about creativity and this will probably one of the last chances I have before I graduate to do something different, and hopefully more creative, than what I have done before. Plus, I could potentially learn a new skill in the process. I have no experience with Windows Live Movie Maker, but I looked at the tutorial on You-tube and it was very thorough. I’ve downloaded everything I need for the program and if I need any additional help I have looked up and made sure there are more explanations available for the use of the program in case I need it.

Research
The research part of this project is actually what I am looking forward to the most (besides actually seeing the finished product). I am going to look up quotes, songs, poems and other articles that I can find online, through databases, online books and our own class textbooks that discuss racism first hand from those who have experienced it. The goal of all this research is to show to viewers how large and vast racism is and how much of a negative affect it can have on all of us.

Timeline
The timeline for my project will be as follows:

Wednesday-Research: Gather quotes, poems, songs, names, and images for the video.

Thursday-Finish gathering research and get music that goes along with the images/words. Start writing poem (finish is possible). Start making video.

Friday-Finish poem (if not finished Friday). Continue making video and works cited page.

Saturday-Finish the video treatment. Make sure everything flows smoothly and portrays the messages that I want viewers to understand. Upload it to You-tube and make sure it works correctly there as well.

Sunday-Process piece. Post on the blog.

Take Away Message
What I want viewers to take away from this video is how prevalent racism still is in our society. I want them to see how deep its roots are in our society and how much everyone suffers because of it. The more people see how much it hurts everyone, the better chance there is that they will fight for equality and for a racism free society for all.

WRITE: Blog Post # 7 in response to Question G

The film People Like Us opened up my eyes to how broad the class system is in the United States. The film states that, “naturally Americans have a really hard time talking about the class system because they don’t want to admit that a class system exists”. The class system in America is based on many different characteristics as well as categories that people fall into within the class system and can be described as “a nation of tribes” and “every American is a member of at least one of them”. Couri Hay, a society columnist, says that class is sometimes based on “looks, popularity, money, how big your house is or where [ones] daddy works”. Different class categories, as described in the film, included the fall gentry, social climber, working stiff and social critic.

Now, according to the American dream, everyone has a shot at moving up. But, “navigating class orders in American can be tricky and it is never as easy as it looks”. Paul Fussell, an author, was asked if it was possible to change social class successfully. He believed that “it might be possible, but it would take a whole lifetime of study and actress changing to do it”. Then he decided, “[he] didn’t think it was possible” and that [he] thought you are for a lifetime in the class in which you grew up. I would have to disagree with Paul Fussell. When I look at my father, I look at where he started off in the class system as a child which was low middle class at the most. He worked hard, paid for his own schooling and now he can successfully say that he is at least in the middle to upper middle class of our class system. I believe with hard work, motivation and a dream you can move up in society if it is something you truly want.

As far as the class system being invisible in this culture, I’m not so sure it is. I think people are aware of what class they are in society and that a class system exists. Do you think those who are upper class don’t know they are upper class? Of course they do. And those who are lower class know they are lower class and those in the middle class are aware of that as well.  I think I became aware of class probably in middle school. That is when I started observing what kind of houses people lived in, what kind of clothes they wore-were they brand name, something else, or was it a mix, and whose parents did what for work. People may not go around saying they have more or less money than other people, or better or worse jobs but they know where stand in the class system. I know how hard my parents worked, and still work, to be where they are in our class system today. They wanted to provide for me, for my sisters, for our family, the best life that they could and they truly have. I am appreciative and grateful for everything they have done for me, and I want to provide for my future family at least the same as my parents provided for me. I feel that generation from generation builds on each other to work their way up in the class system or, if they are happy, stay where they are. But, Americans seem to always want more, more and more so I think the goal is to usually work their way up that economic ladder.

Although I think the film did a good job of showing that different classes exist I wish it had done a few things differently. The way the film was divided into different parts was nice as it set up an outline for the film but I don’t quite understand how they decided to focus on those specific topics that made up the different parts. One part was “How to Marry the Rich” another was “Sale of the Earth: Blue Collar Life in a White Collar World (Gnomes R Us)”, another was “Friends in Low Places” and there was also “Belles Belles Belles”.  I think the part that could have been the most interesting was a blue collar life in a white collar world. I would have liked to have seen more of how people transitioned from the blue collar life to the white collar life, but the majority of it was a segment on some lady selling concrete lawn figures.  How to Marry the Rich was entertaining, but I’m not sure what is really showed.  I liked how that part mentioned that “in America, we like to think if we are not satisfied with our class we can change it” and “to many of us, it seems that the view is the better a few rungs up on the economic latter”. This, I could relate and this I could understand. But, they showed Ginie the millionaire coaching some women about how to attract rich men and it ended with them at an auction, with what I am assuming, were a bunch of rich men. If they had showed how the women was doing in a couple of years, if she was able to move up in society I felt like that could have explained more about the class system and if it is possible to move up. They didn’t show anything though which left me slightly disappointed.

I think overall, the film brought up some interesting points about the class system and showed the lives of different people but, to me, it fell short. It seemed that they showed the extremes of people. I could easily sort out rich upper class and then I had a hard time deciphering the rest. Maybe, why I had such a hard time with this film was because I couldn’t tell which people in the film were like me. Is the phrase “People Like Us” supposed to show that stereotypes of people in certain classes do exist? If so, then class cannot be that invisible in society if people are aware of those stereotypes.  Maybe I am completely off in my thoughts, or maybe I am not understanding something that others are because I think class is visible in America and people do know it exists. So, if anyone wants to help me look at this in a different perspective, please do.  I’ve come to the conclusion that you can categorize people in different class systems, but it is more than class that makes up a person-it is the values, beliefs, goals and experiences that shape a person which is so much more than one label given to them based on what class they fall into in our society.

Blog Post # 6 in response to Question F

Defining Racism

Can We Talk?

Beverly Daniel Tatum

Beverly Daniel Tatum and her article “Can We Talk” discusses many issues that exist because of racism such as the system of advantage based on race, that racism is not just for Whites and that there is always a cost because of racism.

She states that racism and prejudice is not the same thing. Prejudice, as defined by Tatum, is a “preconceived judgment or opinion, usually based on limited information” (Tatum 67).Whereas, racism is the belief that one’s race is superior or that someone has hatred or intolerance of another race. It is “not only a personal ideology based on racial prejudice” but also a “system of involving cultural messages and institutional polices and practice as well as the beliefs and actions of individuals” (Tatum 67). To this, I could not agree more. Prejudice comes from limited information and is usually formed based on beliefs and misconceptions of others who eventually influence one’s own decisions and feelings. With racism, we could have all the information in the world about a certain race and we could still feel hatred or animosity or feel that we are better than that particular race despite that fact the way may be contradicting that information. Racism seems to be start inside of someone and gradually expand to the point that it consumes that whole person. With prejudice, someone may be more likely to change their way of thinking or feeling once they understand that they have misguided information that makes them feel that way. With racism, it seems that hatred grows so deep that, although a change can be made, it takes a lot of eye opening experience and willingness to make it fully disappear.

Another definition of racism that Beverly Tatum gives in her article is that racism equals prejudice plus power. This definition, I do not agree with. I believe that there are racist people who have prejudices towards other races and who have social power meaning they have “access to social, cultural and economic resources” (Tatum 68). However, there are people who don’t have social power who are also racist and contribute to spread the evil of racism.

There is also the issue of white privilege, the “systematic advantages of being White” that plays a role in fueling the racism and prejudices that exist in our society (Tatum 68). The list of societal privileges that Whites receive simply because they are White has come up a lot in this course and in many of the readings we have studied.  Again and again, I realize how much of an advantage Whites have over others. Some of which include greater “access to jobs and housing” and that Whites aren’t followed by “suspicious sales people” while shopping in department stores (Tatum 68). Shopping, for me, is an enjoyable activity. If I had to deal with sales-people following me around because they suspect that I am going to steal something I would dread shopping and be extremely offended. Even tonight, I watched a show called Under Cover Boss.  If it weren’t for this course, I would not have taken a second to think about why all those working in the factory were black and why all of the general managers or floor supervisors were white. Now I realize it is because of white privilege.  It saddens me that our society has created a system in which some are viewed so superior to others. I hope that those with privilege can recognize that they in fact do have privilege, and then they can take responsibility to help make our society more equal with equal kindness and opportunities for everyone.

I think it is important to note that Tatum also makes a valid point when she acknowledges and discusses that racism is not only for Whites. She states that “while all Whites benefit from racism, they do not all benefit equally” (68). There are many other facts that affect our “access to social influence and power” which include “socio-economic status, gender, age, sexual orientation and mental and physical ability” (Tatum 68). I am a white, middle class female with no mental or physical inability so I know that I am fortunate and that I experience white privilege every day. However, despite all of this, I feel that I still encounter discrimination because of my age frequently.  When going out to eat with others in my age group, I notice the service is slower and the tables we are given wouldn’t be described as the best tables. However, when going out with my family, especially with both of my parents, I can tell the waiters or waitresses try harder to make sure we are happy customers and we are provided with quality service in a quality setting. Even saying this I feel somewhat selfish that something so trivial could aggravate me when so many other people suffer from discrimination much more often, in much more serious ways, that truly hurt them emotionally, physically or both.           

The hurt that those experience from racism can come in many forms but they all come at a cost. There are the easily measures costs and the “less easily measured costs” for Whites as well as for any other race. Because of racism, Whites have “fears of people of color”, feel they are “socially incompetent in racially mixed situations” and lose “interracial friendships they had as children in adolescence without their every understanding why” (Tatum 69). I am a very cautious person, and I don’t enjoy seeing confrontation or fights or anger among groups of people. Yet, in social gatherings when an occasional fight breaks out I have to admit that I am more afraid of fights among black people than I am of fights among white people. I am more afraid someone will pull out a gun or knife if they are Black more than if they are White. Maybe this is because of all the television shows that portray black people as dangerous, or how society makes us feel like we need to be wary and cautious of black people. I am not proud I feel this way, but I realize either way, the truth is, whether it in a fight or simply out shopping in a mall, a black person is no more dangerous than any other human in any other race. We need to break down these prejudices, stereotypes, fears and hatred we all have as a society towards races that are not our own. We are all human and we all deserve to be treated equally and with respect. We need to be able to live in a society in which we can all feel welcome and comfortable living just as we are and as the people we want to be.

Racism in Sports-Quick Blog 2

http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2873429

This article title “Minor hockey coach suspended after forfeiting game over racial slur uttered against one of his players” is an interesting example that shows racism is clearly present but also that there is hope that people are working to fight against it.

During a minor hockey league game in Canada, two players from opposing teams were sent to the penalty box for a minor penalty. It was here the player from the opposing team, Austin Trophies, called Andrew McCullum from NAPA Auto, one of the two black players on the team, the N-word.

Andrea McCullum stated that the offending player “kept chirping [him] in the box. He was sitting trying to ignore him and the people that were keeping the score came over to me and said he called me the N-word. I felt very angry and upset about it”.

McCullum immediately went to his coach once the penalty was over and told him what was said. The coach, Greg Walsh, then went to the refs and told them “he was going to forfeit the game, if the coach on the opposing team let his player play”. The refs said they “couldn’t do anything about it because they didn’t hear it”.

McCullum’s whole team decided that “they could and would not play” under those conditions and the “collectively left the ice” even though they were winning. As a result of forfeiting the game, Walsh was suspended indefinitely.

To this, Walsh said “I took the penalty. I knew it was coming”.

The offending player was given a three-game suspension. However, we have learned from Johnson incidents like these still affect the victim and that suspension will not help McCullum forget the hurt that he felt at the players racial slurs. Roberts, the mother of McCullum, says the suspension is “absolutely ridiculous and that Greg was standing up for a purpose, it’s just wrong”. I agree with Roberts, how could the board even think it was reasonable to suspend Greg Walsh for standing up against racism.

The Peterborough Minor Hockey Association told McCullum’s mother that “it will be looking at implement a new racism policy in the way of the incident”. Still, McCullum’s mother was proud of her son for speaking out.

I find it admirable that Andrew McCullum spoke out as well, as we know how hard it is for those who are the victims of racism to stand up for themselves. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the first time McCullum had to go through something like this but his whole team stood up for him and the subject is drawing attention to the fact that racism is clearly still prevalent. Hopefully, this story will inspire others, whether in sports or any other situation, that collectively and as a unit racism can be defeated. It’s clear that it will not be immediate but any small step will help.

On another interesting note, McCullum’s sister started a Facebook group called “Racism has No Place in Sports”. This is a good start, but I still find it upsetting that it needed to be created in the first place. I actually looked at the group and so far there are 676 people who have joined. Seeing the support of people and reading the comments made the issue of racism even more real to me simply because this happened so recently in an everyday scenario like a sports game. 

Despite how awful it is that McCullum had to go through what he did, I hope this incident will awaken people to the fact that racism is still very much present in society. If people can stand up to racism the way McCullum’s whole team did, maybe one day, we can erase it from the world.

Blog Post # 5 in response to Question E

Forms of racism and oppression can be seen in the United States every day and everyday “dominant group members use strategies to deny, minimize and erase the oppression of targeted social groups in the U.S”.

Johnson states that when people “deny the reality of oppression, [they] also deny the reality of the privilege that underlies it, which is just what it takes to get off the hook” (109). It seems that people will do or say anything, when it comes to privilege and racism to get themselves “off  the hook”  and unfortunately they have become good at it. People deny and minimize, blame the victim, call racism and privilege something else, convince themselves that life is better the way things are now, believe that things they say don’t count if they don’t mean them, or  they believe they are “one of the good ones”.

Johnson believes that “members of privileged groups are culturally authorized to interpret other people’s experiences for them” (109).  This can be seen in the example of a parent telling a crying child that the pain doesn’t hurt that much, or telling a child who has had a bad dream that there is nothing to afraid of (Johnson 108). If this denial exists between a parent and a child, one can only imagine how mistaken people may be when those who are privileged belittle or minimize the emotions or feelings of those who are not privileged.

Another way that dominant group members try to erase the oppression of targeted social groups is that they put the blame on those social groups. For example, some white people believe that “if people of color were different, if they were more like the white people, then they wouldn’t have so much trouble” (Johnson 110). It is also not uncommon for who women who are sexually harassed to be told by men that “they asked for it”, that “they sent mixed signals” or that they had “no business being where they were” (Johnson 110). Why do those who are privileged think they know better and understand the feelings of those who are actually the victims? I think they realize that they are the ones making the victims suffer in some way, but it is “human tendency to soothe  themselves into thinking there’s nothing unpleasant or challenging to deal with, and it is certainly nothing to do with them” (Johnson 113).

Dominant groups are confronted with matters of race, but when this happens they think the issues with racism aren’t because of patterns of inequality and unnecessary suffering.  They instead look at “their own personal feelings and views about race and the question of their individual guilt or innocence” and they then try to “get themselves off the hook by showing themselves to be pure on the subject of race” (114).  

This can be seen most commonly with the phrase “I didn’t mean it”. Growing up one of the phrases most commonly used to describe something stupid or un-cool was “that’s so gay”. I never even questioned my use of the phrase or how it would affect homosexuals until I went to college and became friends with many people who were gay. After I met them, I never used that phrase again but I hear people say it all the time. Now that I know how much a phrase that seems harmless to one person can affect another, I always ask people who say that if what they are saying really is “so gay”.  They usually choose a different word and say “they didn’t mean it” in that way. It seems that sometimes all people need is to look at things a different way. It is sad that most people who didn’t’ mean it “weren’t thinking, weren’t mindful or weren’t aware”, which are all things that go into “meaning it” (Johnson 117).

 Still, we are all involved every moment in social life and because racism and oppression exists in every aspect of life it means that we must all be held accountable for our actions. We need to realize as Johnson says that “there is no such thing as doing nothing and that there is no such thing as being neutral or uninvolved” (Johnson 118). We all need to become more aware of what we say and do, but also what we don’t say and don’t do which means we need to be “committed, obliged and involved (Johnson 118). We need to be on the hook, not off the hook and until all dominate groups realize that they are responsible for inequality and that they have opportunities to end racism nothing will ever truly change.

Blog Post # 4 in response to Question D

The Stanford Prison Experiment

The Stanford Prison experiment, at the time, was conducted to test how good people react when placed in an evil place, and even more to exam the social situations of how people respond to and use power.

This was not the first time I had seen the documentary on the Stanford Prison experiment, but it was the first time I had watched it in the context of racial difference, racial privilege and racial oppression. The guards in this experiment were the ones with the power, who limited “the freedom of someone else and used the power in their role to control and dominate others”. The prisoners were those who did not have privilege and who experienced forms of oppression first hand.

This experiment could not relate any clearer to forms of racism or white supremacy. Those who feel that they have power over others and who are privileged, exert their power over others. The people being oppressed are faced with a myriad of different situations, emotions and feelings. Look at prisoner 416 who went on a hunger strike to try to oppose the system of the guards. Prisoner 416 should have been viewed as a sort of hero as he was willing to fight back against the system, but instead the other prisoners sided with how the guards felt and viewed him as a trouble maker. If everyone who was being oppressed would have stood together rather than apart, maybe racial prejudices would have ended much sooner as a result of combining efforts and support among each other.

Although this may have seemed like a simple experiment of role playing, the study shows how power corrupts people and how it can make people act in a way contrary to their beliefs.  The Electric Shock experiment is another perfect example of how oppression and power affects people. The person running the experiment, the one with power, was giving orders to another, and even though it was against that person’s beliefs they carried out the orders anyway. The conclusion that “decent American citizens were as capable of committing acts against their conscious’s as the Germans had been under the Nazis” is eye opening and frankly horrifying.

 What is it about having power that changes who we are,?Why is it so hard for those being abused or oppressed to stand up for themselves and what they believe in, and why do people feel they are inherently entitled to things over others? I don’t know the answers to these questions. I don’t know why people thought, and some still do think, they are better than others just because of the color of their skin or eyes or because of their gender. It is all a lot to think about, and I am trying to understand it. Without a doubt, people are going to suffer “the same kind of atrocities decade after decade” as seen in this experiment as well as other experiments. However, one thing I am certain of is that until we figure out what in human nature causes us to act the way we do, and why as human beings we have such a desire for power, prejudices and oppressiveness will still continue to exist and cause pain to many every single day.

Blog Post # 3 in response to Question C

Mars Venus or Planet Earth by John Gray

Presentation by Michael Kimmel

The subject on the differences between men and women is one that has existed for centuries and his represented in John Gray’s book “Mars or Venus or Planet Earth”. However, Michael Kimmel’s discussion on gender differences and his critique of Gray’s work shows that men and women may not be as different as they seem.

Michael Kimmel interprets John Gray’s work to say that “men and women are so fundamentally different that [they] might as well be from different planets”. However, Kimmel believes that men and women are actually similar in “every trait and behavior” and that they are “more similar than different politically”. Basically, he is saying that there is no war between men and women, and that the things women say they need “to live their lives the way they want to live them are the same things that men need”.

My opinion regarding the differences between men and women has changed as I have gotten older and as my relationships with men have evolved. When I was younger, I leaned more towards the side of agreeing with the fact that men and women (or at this point boys and girls) were from completely different planets. I actually think that the boys and girls part of this is important. It has been proven that it is part of nature that females mature faster than men, and at a younger stage in life I feel that that maturity difference is more noticeable. Even at the same age, it seems that girls start thinking about how they want to live the lives and the finer details earlier than men. So, it makes sense that boys and girls would seem different at this point. However, as boys become men and girls become women I would agree with Kimmel’s statement that the things women and men need to live their lives are the same thus the differences in gender may not be as great as I once though them to be.

This point became most apparent to me when Kimmel talks about what makes a marriage successful. The main factor being that marriage in the form of a friendship or partnership model is the most successful. Marriages are successful in this form because there is equality, and the more “equalitarian marriage, the more likely [the marriage] will thrive”. What is interesting is how equality is measured in a marriage-this being how much household/childcare work the man does in the home.

Research shows that with shared household work children from the marriages are more successful, the wives are happier, the wives are healthier, the men are healthier and couples have more sex. It seems obvious that men would want to share an equal amount of responsibility around the house because of all the benefits, but this is still a work in process due to the four rules of masculinity as stated by Kimmel.

Rule number one, no sissy stuff”, especially comes into play since it means that men can’t do anything that even remotely hints of femininity if they want to be seen as masculine.  So, it makes sense that men don’t want to be seen as nurturing as they need to keep up their image of masculinity “which has become a relentless test and always has to be proven”.

I don’t think anyone can say that they don’t want to have a happy life that consists of meaningful relationships with people. As of now, men don’t realize that gender is an important in their lives as it is to women because “privilege is invisible to those who have it”. Women have had to work the equality rights they have, while for men it has always simply been a privilege. But, if one agrees with Kimmel that men and women want the same things out of life then the only way men will be able to have the lives they want is to support women’s efforts to create gender equality. So ,despite the zero sum game that many men are  currently playing, if they truly want to be happy they must embrace gender equality and all that comes with it.