Jessica Bermudez
WMST250Section 0102Tunnel of Oppression Assignment
Due: April 22, 2008
Music: Drawing out emotional aspects of experience of oppression
Even today, a woman who is rumored to be promiscuous is called a “slut” and often disrespected by other men and even other women, where as men are allowed to make jokes about how much sex they have. Presently, this discrimination against promiscuity among women is seen less, but insults such as “slut” or “whore” are still used commonly and throughout joking conversation, even among women themselves. As seen in the tunnel of oppression, women are made into sexual objects daily in songs like “Superman that ho,” which is a metaphor for disrespecting a woman in the bedroom. With degrading lyrics like these being associated to some of the most popular and most successful artists, these thoughts are being disseminated all around the U.S. daily. Most people gladly accept the song lyrics and rarely protest artists because of their right to freedom of expression; it is continuously popular in clubs and definitely hit the music charts. Both women and men laugh at the lyric’s implications and no great activism on part of today’s youth. By simply laughing off the joke, we as a society are accepting and agreeing to that treatment of women and not taking a woman’s worth seriously. If handled naively, this increasing popularity trend would be stopped completely, but that would inhibit freedom of expression. Instead, we should focus on more positive music
Structures of Oppression: US-centric Issues
The tunnel of oppression did cover issues being discussed all over the world, but sadly the stereotypes and prejudiced mindsets that are perpetuated in our present society are broadcast internationally through television, radio and cinema. There was one station with racist Disney clips. I couldn’t believe that at some point, an artist had drawn such scenes and not seen something wrong with it. I’m glad that today we are more aware of these issues and are more careful. These movies very often have a large impact on child development. Subconsciously, a negative message is being delivered. There was one clip that I didn’t agree should be in the collection, and that was the crows being black. I felt like these characters were black just because the animal that had been chosen was the crow, and the crow by nature has a negative image because it preys on other birds and have somewhat of a menacing appearance. However, I did make me realize that small details like these can offend someone.
Most countries around the world depend on Los Angeles for entertainment and the most famous American actors are famous around the world. This cannot be said about the actors who are native to countries such as Mexico, Spain, France and Colombia. Many non-Americans look to the U.S. as a central distributor of ideas. Whatever music, style or thought is seen as popular at the time is easily communicated through international channels such as MTV.
Intersectional Analysis
With that in mind, I think about the social economic environment that established my lifestyle and thoughts. Thanks to my parents’ financial decision to take advantage of the economic recession in the early 1990s and the urban sprawl around Germantown, MD, I was raised in a new neighborhood with access to a new school with great teachers and all different kinds of resources. Most of the leaders I look up to and really have faith in to change people’s mind are our student leaders. Student activism can provide the greatest voice. Role models that many in my generation look up to, however, include the rich and the famous. Those music artists who produce music to the wittiest, but sometimes discriminating lyrics, along with the rich producers who create reality TV shows are continuously shaping kids’ minds.
The Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants are a pageants put on by one of the most famous entrepreneurs in the world. There is nothing “dirty” about placing young models in a competition where talent, physique, and public speaking skills are the core criteria, but why is there even a focus on appearance? Why is the focus of the most appearance-oriented competition on women? Society’s perception of beauty and overall way of thinking has been developed by those who hold the money. And these moneymakers, along with all the other producers of lust-driven primetime shows like Tila Tequila and other dating shows, are making money by brainwashing youth to watch their shows, with the most proactive and sometimes violent episodes peaking interests in viewers. Unfortunately, the mentalities of future leaders are being shaped by the media and society and the media is directed by money.
Competitions such as these can become famous around the world and can be fun, but at the same time severely harming the reputation of women as serious leaders in the workplace and are often responsible for eating disorders and a desire to fit a certain profile.
At the anorexia and cosmetic surgery station, I found out that 40% of women between 18 and 25 years old are affected by anorexia and that 91% of all cosmetic surgeries are conducted women. The collection of beauty magazines all had pictures of really skinny or photoshop-ed models. All lot of the women who choose to spend money on their beauty usually has excess money to spend and are in upper socio-economic classes. It would be difficult for someone not well off to become anorexic.
Activism: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Rights
I’ve heard other students make racist jokes about Mexicans in reference to me and make statements such as “Women are meant to cook, clean and not own companies,” jokingly. As much as I enjoy jokes, I do not think that those immigrants who are living underprivileged in real life would feel as accepted as they should feel in a society made up of different cultures.
While in the tunnel, I was impacted by on particular station that had me listen to several insults against a homosexual while looking at myself in front of a mirror. This made me realize that sexuality is something we all choose. Choosing a lifestyle other than heterosexual is a choice that perhaps I could have been influenced to make. It is a personal decision and no one should be discriminated against. It bothered me to read the statistics about the increase in suicide rates. This motivates me to take action. At the University of Maryland, I hope to become more involved with the minority student groups. At the most recent town hall meeting hosted by the Latino Student Union where the Latino Studies Program was being promoted, fellow students from many other organizations such as the Asian American Student Union were present. It is important to show support for one another, and I agree to support other groups’ fight for equality by fighting just as fiercely for them as I do for the student groups I am involved in.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Analysis of Everyday Life
“Sex and race because they are easy and visible differences have been the primary ways of organizing human beings into superior and inferior groups and into the cheap labor in which this system still depends. We are talking about a society in which there will be no roles other than those chosen or those earned. We are really talking about humanism.”-Gloria Steinem. Steinem tackles all the main factors that prevent equality in this country as well as expands the control of power structures in this country. Throughout the course of this class I have been exploring my role in society. I have been a victim of stereotypes as well as the initiator. I have been complemented, criticized, and categorized. My name has been slandered and used in both negative and positive connotations. Through it all I am still searching to find myself and to set my mark as an individual in this country. Saying it out loud makes assumptions that the task will be easy however power structures, Matrix of Domination and Marked and Unmarked differences tend to be the speed bumps in a road that we wish was smooth. The following paper will cohesively connect the three previous themes mentioned as well as integrate my own personal experiences and attach the foundation in which stereotypes are built.
Before you can really voice out your opinions on the bigger picture, it is significant that you take a look around you to the little things that often go unnoticed. It is important you examine the environment that surrounds you. Growing up in New York it was almost impossible for me to be narrow-minded when it came to culture, race and individualism. I have grown up my entire life-classifying race by ethnicity and not by skin color. Ethnicity was something beautiful, something that tied our country together. I was possibly one of the very few people in this world who thought that way. I spent my earlier years going to public school until the sixth grade. I remember my dad came home one day, and declared that he was finally capable of affording Private education for both my brother and I. It was something he wanted for us for the longest time. I did not know back then what I do now, but it what his attempt to allow us the proper education that would ensure success in this dog eats dog world. It was his way of cheating the system and allowing us to be above the power structure.
As usual I was very nervous about this brand new start, because I have always been fearful of change. I gave this new school a try. The school was a forty-minute drive from our house and was in a very wealthy neighborhood. I remember staring out the window thinking I was in a fairytale. The school was predominantly white and had very few minorities. I did not realize the racial separation that existed until they made it evident for me by ostracizing me. I feel as though my brother had an easier time than I did because he was a boy and all they ever cared about was playing. However girls were a little more difficult to befriend. It was a coincidence that when my brother and I started attending the private school things were reported missing. There was an incident when a boy’s game boy was stolen, and then a girl lost her bracelet and someone’s pokemon’s cards were stolen. Till this day I have no clue who took them or whatever happened to those missing items but the principle of the school will always feel as though I took them. I remember one afternoon while in class, I heard over the loud speaker “ Will Ashley Taylor report to the principle’s office”. Typically all the students made all types of sound effects, which made me even more nervous. As I was walking I was shaking because I had never been called to the principle’s office let alone been in trouble before. She asked me to sit down and explained to me the list of items that had been missing. I remember being so confused as to why she was telling me. Then she went on to say “ I don’t know if stealing was appropriate at your old school but it is not tolerated here. You are to return each and every item that you took to its rightful owner.” It amazed me how she could just accuse me and not ask. I was in no way shape or form a thief. Later that night when my parents came home I immediately told them what had happened and they met with the principle and before I knew it I was back in my old school. My dad’s integrity was way more important than the reputation that came with attending a private school”. It goes without saying that I felt discriminated against and was being Marked because of my race, upbringing and economic situation.
In everyday life the power structures and factors that divide us as a community are often acknowledged yet neglected and swept under the rug. When examining power structures and the basis of them, it is essential to define what power structures are and who belongs where. Power structures are those persons or groups in a nation, city, organization etc., who through economic, social and institutional position constitute the actual ruling power. Whether it be intentionally or accidentally power structures are responsible for the three distinct social classes that exist in America. The first of these classes is Upper Class. Ironic to its actual definition it is the minority of the other two classes. Upper class consists of the economically wealthy population. Then there is the middle class, which a large portion of Americans fit into. Middle class consists of the working class and is the middle ground between upper class and lower class. Middle class occasionally has financial burdens, however not as drastic as those of lower class. Lower class is the final social class and possibly a majority of the countries population. Those apart of lower class experience poverty at first hand and depend on government assistance for survival.
“The idea that any hardworking American by dint of good character and hard work could rise up the social ladder has long been celebrated in the great American myth of Horatio Alger who rose from “rags to riches” providing a fictional example instructing young men--- and it was men--- of what they needed to do to make their fortunes in 19th Century America.”- Frank F. Furstenberg, Jr. I completely agree with this quote. I especially love Furstenberg’s choice of words. He explains that it is the common belief to think that anyone can be successful and climb up the social ladder if they receive proper education and work hard is a myth. There are exceptions and this myth does apply in certain cases but in others race, economic background and networking are key issues in who is more qualified for the job. Furstenberg claims that there has and perhaps always will me social/economic inequality in America. A rightful question to ask is “How can we change this?” How do you change a society where hard work is not always acknowledged; where what you look like represents what your capable of doing. It almost seems as though there will be no solution, however I like to think that if American government made more of an effort or expand opportunities or immigrants to climb the social ladder as well and not just make enough to get by then possibly we can eliminate the notion if inequality in a country that promotes equality.
Social scientists believed that life chances are also determined by the values and skills obtained in the family and structures of opportunity in the child’s immediate environment; that these values and skills have shaped their chances of economic success. Furstenberg explains that “Fine gradations of social class could be linked to virtually everything from toilet training to marriage practices” Social class, has become a tool or strategy to label and categorize people. It has become a tactic to divide a country that thrives on unity. I love Furstenberg’s argument that social class has become this idea of who is rich and who is poor. Furstenberg also uses the example of single parent families. He explains that stereotype that comes with being a single parent and how it often gets categorized under poverty rather than “a differentiated category of families that experience life differently as their two-parent counterparts.” I feel as though Society narrow down people in this country into two categories, poor and rich. This is an unfair practice because there are many categories that people can fall under.
Among the three social classes, I have been a member of two of them and often feel as though I am the middle ground between lower class and middle class. It was not until the Conceptual Map exercise did I feel that my social class defined who I was as a person and truly separated me from a lot of the students that go here. The purpose of this exercise was to distinguish each person’s location in society through social class. The exercise began with a series of questions. The questions were scrambled and varied. For each question that was asked, the instructor would state if we were to step back or step forward depending on the question. We were also asked to hold hands and refrain from letting go. For a large portion of the questions I had to step back, but there was quite a few that allowed me to step forward. A lot of the questions were phrased to determine/differentiate who the privilege and unprivileged were. While discussing the results with my partner she realized she was over privileged and often took it for granted. It was through this discussion I developed a new concept. I was neither over privileged nor under privileged but rather middle privileged. There were specific questions from the exercise that stood out and persuaded me that I was of neither category but in between. The first question was “Have I ever been to a Broadway play/show?” My response was no, and I felt as though things like plays and shows are things you go to or do on a special occasion. I’m sure many people go on a regular basis however where I grew up, it wasn’t common to go see a play unless it was a special occasion or we won tickets. A few other examples/questions that stood out for me were “If I have ever been dependent on public transportation, If I had my own credit card and if I grew up in an environment surrounded by drugs, violence and prostitution. The first question implies or rather subliminally suggests “ who owns a car”. Unfortunately I do not have a car nor did I ever need it growing up in New York. A car for each of my siblings and I would have been expensive therefore we grew accustom to the subway and public transportation. Cars are not as abundant in urban areas as it may be in suburbs where there is actually space to drive. To follow up on the question in reference to the credit card, I feel as though attaining a credit card is a big deal. In order to have a credit card you have to be financially qualified. The banks has to be almost certain that you are accountable to pay back all the money spent on the credit card. My personal opinion is that even something small and materialistic like a credit card gives you status and can sometimes place you on a economic pedestal. Credit cards may seem helpful but it can also be a scam. For those who are unable to pay off their balances, they are fined, which puts them in more debt that they originally were in. having a credit card may not be a luxury but it is definitely a privilege. The last question that stood out to me was in reference to the environment each of us came from, this question truly separated the minority from the majority. It opened the eyes of those that are not familiar with a world filed with violence, drugs and another negative aspects. It also gives hope to those who do come from such upbringing that a perfect world possibly does exists.
The one thing I am proudest of is knowing what I am and loving every bit of it. Despite peer pressure and media influences I have never tried to change who I am in order to blend in with the normalcy that society has constituted. However, throughout my entire life my ethnicity has been unclear to everyone else. I have often been told that I look Black, Indian, West Indian, mixed, Hawaiian and some have rightfully guessed Hispanic. A lot of people assume my race because of my skin color, facial features and even the texture of my hair. It is almost unbelievable how people often associate you with a certain race because of your appearance yet fail to see that ethnicity is an internal thing as opposed to external. Oddly enough I did not experience this racial scrutiny in high school but outside of high school. My four years of high school were spent in a predominantly Hispanic environment. As sheltered and narrow-minded as this may sound, I felt safe; I was in my comfort zone. I am far from racist however there is something abut being around people of a similar ethnicity who share the same morals, values, culture and language that is comforting. It was as if high school was one big sorority or sisterhood; to be completely honest I still miss it everyday of my life.
I have been exposed to other races an cultures while living in New York but it was not until I attended the University of Maryland that I had full on interaction with people of various races and cultures. It took awhile to adjust and accommodate to the College Park atmosphere. It was almost impossible for me to find my niche at this school because I was that city girl looking for security and acceptance with the Latin crowd. Despite what I thought and how I felt, I was able to make friends pretty fast. Most of the friends I made were African Americans and I would always accompany them to numerous Black Student events. I am not sure if I made myself comfortable or that sense of comfort came naturally but it did. This caused even more speculation on campus as to what my race was. Here was this girl with a heavy Spanish accent hanging out with African Americans. It didn’t bother me though because it felt right to me. However this “new me” was not what my parents had in mind when I returned home. They reminded me almost everyday that I changed and that they did not recognize me anymore. They felt as though I traded in my Latina culture and pride to assimilate with the black culture. They found it odd that I hardly ever wanted to speak Spanish and would respond in English whenever they spoke to me. They saw a change in my accent, they saw that I had a taste of both worlds and were almost scared of what this would do to my identity. The irony of this all was that while they thought I was abandoning my Latin culture my friends thought I was too attached to it. They often considered me “too Hispanic”. It was as if both sides classified me with the other when in reality I was a combination of both.
This is a broader scope analysis of the power structures that exist throughout the world today. Through personal experiences, the effects of immigration, education and religion on a money-oriented society are examined.
Nature is an omnipresent force that drives human behavior, both by providing a natural environment for humans to grow in and by creating the biological response that makes up human thought. It both separates and brings together different marked and unmarked categories of people. However, within the U.S., for whatever reason, we choose to separate each other by race and socioeconomic status. Our country does not have an inherent desire to help others, but relies mainly on defending its own. This is seen in developing countries that still lack a constantly available fresh water supply, medical technologies and dependable food supply. Although the leaders of more developed countries have access to technologies that can improve the lives of millions, they find no reason to invest in poorer countries when they can invest in their own security. Because we live in a wealth-dependent world, it is more in nature to do something that will benefit both you and the benefactor.
Burdens such as the energy crisis, natural disasters and global warning test the human race’s ability to work together for survival. Global warming is a test to see how far we are willing to go before we realize that we are exhausting all of our natural resources too rapidly and taking action. It is also a time to see how capable we are of helping those in less privileged areas because when natural disasters strike, the richer, more developed areas are more likely to survive. Unfortunately, disaster relief demonstrated in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina proves that we are not a united race, but one easily divided by race and social status.
The tunnel of oppression did cover issues being discussed all over the world, but sadly the stereotypes and prejudiced mindsets that are perpetuated in our present society are broadcast internationally through television, radio and cinema. Most countries around the world depend on Los Angeles for entertainment and the most famous American actors are famous around the world. This cannot be said about the actors who are native to countries such as Mexico, Spain, France and Colombia. Many non-Americans look to the U.S. as a central distributor of ideas. Whatever music, style or thought is seen as popular at the time is easily communicated through international channels such as MTV. The world’s two richest men, Warren Buffet and Bill Gates, are born in the USA and therefore most of the rest of the world believes we are the richest nation.
Ever since man was created, reproduction and dominance over nature to use resources wisely were needed to survive. Lust and desire to dominate are innate human characteristics that are seen in everyday human interactions. Because women were the divine bodies that carried children, they were treasured by man, but this resulted in females becoming sexual objects. Sexuality is a force that many would not consider a power in their lives. Everyone always talks about how often men think about sex, but could this saying exist just because sexual feeling in women is suppressed? In some ways, I feel that this oppression of feeling has resulted in the greater objectification of women versus men. This power structure has existed since ancient times when women were forced to wear wardrobes that covered their breasts. In that time period, women were valued and sought after for either the fortunes they inherited or for their mystery. Unfortunately after a while, those who wanted the same rights as men to be free and express their bodies as they wanted to were discriminated against. Even today, a woman who is rumored to be promiscuous is called a “slut” and often disrespected by other men and even other women, where as men are allowed to make jokes about how much sex they have. Presently, this discrimination against promiscuity among women is seen less, but insults such as “slut” or “whore” are still used commonly and throughout joking conversation, even among women themselves. As seen in the tunnel of oppression, women are made into sexual objects daily in songs like “Superman that ho,” which is a metaphor for disrespecting a woman in the bedroom. Most gladly accepted the song lyrics; it is continuously popular in clubs and definitely hit the music charts. Both women and men laugh at the lyric’s implications and no great activism on part of today’s youth. By simply laughing off the joke, we as a society are accepting and agreeing to that treatment of women and not taking a woman’s worth seriously.
With that in mind, I think about the socio-economic environment that established my lifestyle and thoughts. Thanks to my parents’ financial decision to take advantage of the economic recession in the early 1990s and the urban sprawl around Germantown, MD, I was raised in a new neighborhood with access to a new school with great teachers and all different kinds of resources. I was even able to attend pre-school, something only a small percentage of the 3-4 year olds could take advantage of at the time. With GT and magnet programs getting all sorts of funding, and Montgomery County having one of the best public education programs in the nation, I grew up with a tremendous support system and learned from teachers that knew I could and encouraged that I reach my full potential. I’d say that the reason I am here at a top-ranked university today is because of all that support early on that drove me through several special talented programs. However, the current government policies and academic institutions that set tuition rates govern many of the fundamental factors affecting my academics, from monetary worth to the amount of stress and motivation in me. Because tuition rates are high, not only will I have to plan ways to pay off my loans right after graduating, but I am motivated to help others in the area. The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) is a society that encourages outreach to younger students in the College Park area as well as students on campus seeking professional development and mentoring opportunities. When I see the numbers of admitted Latino students and see that they are pretty much exactly the same from year to year, I wonder what is keeping Latino students from being accepted and wonder if there is some sort of quota for minority students that needs to be filled year to year because the numbers are almost identical. I wonder if these numbers stay the same because no one is being outreached to, or if it is a reality in our society too rigid that cannot be changed through our society’s efforts. I understand that change takes time, but maybe we need more effective leaders to initiate this change effectively.
Most of the leaders I look up to and really have faith in to change people’s mind are our student leaders. Student activism can provide the greatest voice. Role models that many in my generation look up to, however, include the rich and the famous. Those music artists who produce music to the wittiest, but sometimes discriminating lyrics, along with the rich producers who create reality TV shows are continuously shaping kids’ minds.
The Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants are a pageants put on by one of the most famous entrepreneurs in the world. There is nothing “dirty” about placing young models in a competition where talent, physique, and public speaking skills are the core criteria, but why is there even a focus on appearance? Why is the focus of the most appeareance-oriented competition on women? Men love watching, thanks to their hormonal drive, and women love watching and comparing themselves with what is considered beautiful. Society’s perception of beauty and overall way of thinking has been developed by those who hold the money. Other producers of lust-driven primetime shows and other dating shows are making money by convincing youth to watch their shows; the most proactive and sometimes violent episodes are the ones that peak interest in viewers. Unfortunately, the mentalities of future leaders are being shaped by the media and society and the media is directed by money.
Competitions such as these can become famous around the world and can be fun, but at the same time severely harming the reputation of women as serious leaders in the workplace and are often responsible for eating disorders and a desire to fit a certain image. As much as I disagree with some of the stereotypes associated with some pageants and the scandals, sex and violence portrayed in reality TV, I myself have benefitted from the media by receiving pageant scholarships in the past. I participated in order to receive a scholarship, so the end goal was legitimate, and the money I raised to enter the competition was directed towards a cause, so the money was going to the right places, and the talent competition did make up 35% of the score, but many people still stereotype pageants as superficial and focused on looks.
Where government regulations fail to inhibit media deemed indecent by some, religion comes in. The dress of modern Mormons is meant to show modesty and conformity. Outfits usually go down to the ankles and wrists, and are often worn over garments or pants, making sure every possibly provocative inch of skin are covered. John Llewellyn, a polygamy expert and retired Salt Lake County sheriff's lieutenant, says the women cover themselves "so that they're unattractive to the outside world or other men."
Importance of Education
One major contributor to my level of motivation is hearing my mom’s experiences as an exchange student from Colombia. She didn’t have access to a private school because it was too far away from her home and her dad forbade her from walking to school because it would have been “too dangerous for a girl.” Though she was raised in a loving family, her father never believed that the girls in the family needed an education. He paid full tuition for his sons to attend the best private school, while his daughters attended the nearest public school.
In areas where public schools are out of reach, private schools are the only solution, but are unaffordable for many, especially around certain towns in South America. My mom’s first exposure to the English language was in Colombia but she received little training there and it wasn’t until she entered the ESOL program at her high school in the U.S. that she understood the importance to her learning. Upon arriving, she was in shock at all the things that were available at her disposal. A few things she never imagined having were library access to all types of books, good teachers and a chance to meet students who were just as motivated as her.
Now that I’m in college, I see how privileged I am to have all of these resources and more. I still hear stories from foreign students who moved here 2-4 years ago. A large part of my current life is my involvement in college academics. First, there is the burden of taking out student loans knowing I have to pay them back. Second, there is the need for me to be involved with campus life outside of academics to become a more competitive graduate school candidate. So how is the U.S. system of government allowing me to get a free and productive education, while others around the world are barely able to get to class? When those students arrive in the U.S. seeking the same education that’s offered to me and other American’s, why are they sometimes turned down by immigration laws?
Issues like these motivate me to be involved in societies such as the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) and other outreach programs. Through these we are able to reach out to students and families around the College Park area that may not have a clue about how to graduate high school and move onto college successfully and possibly qualifying for financial aid. In an academic year we are able to reach out to hundreds of students, but why must students such as those involved in SHPE be responsible for establishing the equality that the U.S. government is trying to promote? All students should be rewarded for their hard work and determination no matter how much English their family speaks.
However, there is one problem to minority programs like this, and that is that they are known to target a minority. As long as society focuses on the word “minority,” I do not think we will ever succeed at promoting equality. The government’s goal is to serve its people and provide benefits to as much of the population as possible. But as long as a group considers itself a minority, it will receive minority treatment. In order to change this mentality and finally end the grouping of minorities that lead to stereotyping, we need to promote outreach to students of all backgrounds. Lack of communication is a problem that affects people of all backgrounds and does not need to target Hispanic families only.
On a more global scale, how is education being dealt with? Sure, those students who do make it to the U.S. with a decent knowledge of the English language have the potential to be successful students, but those who stay behind in developing countries are left pretty much hopeless unless their family has a decent family income. The wealth distribution in these countries, however, is so large that a decent education is basically impossible.
In reference to bell hook’s “railroad tracks,” I am not on the margin, but on the other side across the tracks. I am not prohibited from entering certain stores or looking at someone in the face, nor do I aspire to someday work in a position no higher than a maid or janitor. I do, however, see those with similar stories as my family who think they are living on the margin because they see the number of workers who do work long hours in minimum wage jobs and sometimes because it is illegal for them to work. “We could enter that world but we could not live there. We had always to return to the margin, to cross the tracks, to shacks and abandoned houses on the edge of town.” This is not the case for me, but because so many immigrants have arrived without a proper academic background, many in the U.S. are forced to see Latin Americans as incapable of living and working in this country. In a way, it is my job to encourage those who are still across the tracks to take advantage of the opportunities offered to them and not be afraid of the stereotypes or fall into a certain category of immigrant.
Is this fair?
When I first examined the conceptual map for where I see power in my everyday life and saw how privileged I was, I began to think about the reasons for why I am where I stand today. Time, location, and inherited wealth all contributed to my success and all of the actions that lead up to my current state seem to add up to sheer luck. I didn’t need to attend and pay for a private school because I was welcomed into a highly gifted math and science program throughout middle school and high school. The main reason that I was accepted was because of the preparation I had received in elementary school thanks to my parents choosing a nice, new neighborhood to move into. Though I have received many of the privileges I do have today because of the family I was born into, I know that the progress I’ve made up until this point in my life is due to passion and determination on my part and my constant desire for challenge.
I have always been thankful for the experiences I have received; they are all thanks to a supportive family and group of mentors that have helped me throughout the years. I’ve never seen a point to categorizing people by appearance or accent, but it is inevitable to see that others do see me by the marked categories that I belong to, especially race and gender. Whether it was me being one out of 24 girls in a 100 student magnet program, or the fact that less than one percent of employed engineers are Hispanic women, I have tried to turn this attention into motivation and continue pushing towards a world where the word “minority” doesn’t need to exist.
I’ve heard other students make racist jokes about Mexicans in reference to me and make statements such as “Women are meant to cook, clean and not own companies,” jokingly. As much as I enjoy jokes, I do not think that those immigrants who are living underprivileged in real life would feel as accepted as they should feel in a society made up of different cultures. As for the gender jokes, I think it is just a matter of time until women change around those gender ratios in tenure positions and are more welcome in higher management positions.
I hear news reports about guerilla warfare and petroleum demand conflicts that bring turmoil to my family’s native countries daily. How did the situation escalate to this point and is there a reason for why I’m here in the U.S. and not there? It’s not fair that I was born into a family fluent in English, with a college education, and ready to raising a family in the U.S., while others are struggling to feel accepted in the U.S. let alone make it across the border. I am American who happens to be strongly rooted in Hispanic heritage and proud of Latino culture, but there is no reason why I should receive special attention just because my background indicates that I am some kind minority by appearance or the number of languages I speak.
Before you can really voice out your opinions on the bigger picture, it is significant that you take a look around you to the little things that often go unnoticed. It is important you examine the environment that surrounds you. Growing up in New York it was almost impossible for me to be narrow-minded when it came to culture, race and individualism. I have grown up my entire life-classifying race by ethnicity and not by skin color. Ethnicity was something beautiful, something that tied our country together. I was possibly one of the very few people in this world who thought that way. I spent my earlier years going to public school until the sixth grade. I remember my dad came home one day, and declared that he was finally capable of affording Private education for both my brother and I. It was something he wanted for us for the longest time. I did not know back then what I do now, but it what his attempt to allow us the proper education that would ensure success in this dog eats dog world. It was his way of cheating the system and allowing us to be above the power structure.
As usual I was very nervous about this brand new start, because I have always been fearful of change. I gave this new school a try. The school was a forty-minute drive from our house and was in a very wealthy neighborhood. I remember staring out the window thinking I was in a fairytale. The school was predominantly white and had very few minorities. I did not realize the racial separation that existed until they made it evident for me by ostracizing me. I feel as though my brother had an easier time than I did because he was a boy and all they ever cared about was playing. However girls were a little more difficult to befriend. It was a coincidence that when my brother and I started attending the private school things were reported missing. There was an incident when a boy’s game boy was stolen, and then a girl lost her bracelet and someone’s pokemon’s cards were stolen. Till this day I have no clue who took them or whatever happened to those missing items but the principle of the school will always feel as though I took them. I remember one afternoon while in class, I heard over the loud speaker “ Will Ashley Taylor report to the principle’s office”. Typically all the students made all types of sound effects, which made me even more nervous. As I was walking I was shaking because I had never been called to the principle’s office let alone been in trouble before. She asked me to sit down and explained to me the list of items that had been missing. I remember being so confused as to why she was telling me. Then she went on to say “ I don’t know if stealing was appropriate at your old school but it is not tolerated here. You are to return each and every item that you took to its rightful owner.” It amazed me how she could just accuse me and not ask. I was in no way shape or form a thief. Later that night when my parents came home I immediately told them what had happened and they met with the principle and before I knew it I was back in my old school. My dad’s integrity was way more important than the reputation that came with attending a private school”. It goes without saying that I felt discriminated against and was being Marked because of my race, upbringing and economic situation.
In everyday life the power structures and factors that divide us as a community are often acknowledged yet neglected and swept under the rug. When examining power structures and the basis of them, it is essential to define what power structures are and who belongs where. Power structures are those persons or groups in a nation, city, organization etc., who through economic, social and institutional position constitute the actual ruling power. Whether it be intentionally or accidentally power structures are responsible for the three distinct social classes that exist in America. The first of these classes is Upper Class. Ironic to its actual definition it is the minority of the other two classes. Upper class consists of the economically wealthy population. Then there is the middle class, which a large portion of Americans fit into. Middle class consists of the working class and is the middle ground between upper class and lower class. Middle class occasionally has financial burdens, however not as drastic as those of lower class. Lower class is the final social class and possibly a majority of the countries population. Those apart of lower class experience poverty at first hand and depend on government assistance for survival.
“The idea that any hardworking American by dint of good character and hard work could rise up the social ladder has long been celebrated in the great American myth of Horatio Alger who rose from “rags to riches” providing a fictional example instructing young men--- and it was men--- of what they needed to do to make their fortunes in 19th Century America.”- Frank F. Furstenberg, Jr. I completely agree with this quote. I especially love Furstenberg’s choice of words. He explains that it is the common belief to think that anyone can be successful and climb up the social ladder if they receive proper education and work hard is a myth. There are exceptions and this myth does apply in certain cases but in others race, economic background and networking are key issues in who is more qualified for the job. Furstenberg claims that there has and perhaps always will me social/economic inequality in America. A rightful question to ask is “How can we change this?” How do you change a society where hard work is not always acknowledged; where what you look like represents what your capable of doing. It almost seems as though there will be no solution, however I like to think that if American government made more of an effort or expand opportunities or immigrants to climb the social ladder as well and not just make enough to get by then possibly we can eliminate the notion if inequality in a country that promotes equality.
Social scientists believed that life chances are also determined by the values and skills obtained in the family and structures of opportunity in the child’s immediate environment; that these values and skills have shaped their chances of economic success. Furstenberg explains that “Fine gradations of social class could be linked to virtually everything from toilet training to marriage practices” Social class, has become a tool or strategy to label and categorize people. It has become a tactic to divide a country that thrives on unity. I love Furstenberg’s argument that social class has become this idea of who is rich and who is poor. Furstenberg also uses the example of single parent families. He explains that stereotype that comes with being a single parent and how it often gets categorized under poverty rather than “a differentiated category of families that experience life differently as their two-parent counterparts.” I feel as though Society narrow down people in this country into two categories, poor and rich. This is an unfair practice because there are many categories that people can fall under.
Among the three social classes, I have been a member of two of them and often feel as though I am the middle ground between lower class and middle class. It was not until the Conceptual Map exercise did I feel that my social class defined who I was as a person and truly separated me from a lot of the students that go here. The purpose of this exercise was to distinguish each person’s location in society through social class. The exercise began with a series of questions. The questions were scrambled and varied. For each question that was asked, the instructor would state if we were to step back or step forward depending on the question. We were also asked to hold hands and refrain from letting go. For a large portion of the questions I had to step back, but there was quite a few that allowed me to step forward. A lot of the questions were phrased to determine/differentiate who the privilege and unprivileged were. While discussing the results with my partner she realized she was over privileged and often took it for granted. It was through this discussion I developed a new concept. I was neither over privileged nor under privileged but rather middle privileged. There were specific questions from the exercise that stood out and persuaded me that I was of neither category but in between. The first question was “Have I ever been to a Broadway play/show?” My response was no, and I felt as though things like plays and shows are things you go to or do on a special occasion. I’m sure many people go on a regular basis however where I grew up, it wasn’t common to go see a play unless it was a special occasion or we won tickets. A few other examples/questions that stood out for me were “If I have ever been dependent on public transportation, If I had my own credit card and if I grew up in an environment surrounded by drugs, violence and prostitution. The first question implies or rather subliminally suggests “ who owns a car”. Unfortunately I do not have a car nor did I ever need it growing up in New York. A car for each of my siblings and I would have been expensive therefore we grew accustom to the subway and public transportation. Cars are not as abundant in urban areas as it may be in suburbs where there is actually space to drive. To follow up on the question in reference to the credit card, I feel as though attaining a credit card is a big deal. In order to have a credit card you have to be financially qualified. The banks has to be almost certain that you are accountable to pay back all the money spent on the credit card. My personal opinion is that even something small and materialistic like a credit card gives you status and can sometimes place you on a economic pedestal. Credit cards may seem helpful but it can also be a scam. For those who are unable to pay off their balances, they are fined, which puts them in more debt that they originally were in. having a credit card may not be a luxury but it is definitely a privilege. The last question that stood out to me was in reference to the environment each of us came from, this question truly separated the minority from the majority. It opened the eyes of those that are not familiar with a world filed with violence, drugs and another negative aspects. It also gives hope to those who do come from such upbringing that a perfect world possibly does exists.
The one thing I am proudest of is knowing what I am and loving every bit of it. Despite peer pressure and media influences I have never tried to change who I am in order to blend in with the normalcy that society has constituted. However, throughout my entire life my ethnicity has been unclear to everyone else. I have often been told that I look Black, Indian, West Indian, mixed, Hawaiian and some have rightfully guessed Hispanic. A lot of people assume my race because of my skin color, facial features and even the texture of my hair. It is almost unbelievable how people often associate you with a certain race because of your appearance yet fail to see that ethnicity is an internal thing as opposed to external. Oddly enough I did not experience this racial scrutiny in high school but outside of high school. My four years of high school were spent in a predominantly Hispanic environment. As sheltered and narrow-minded as this may sound, I felt safe; I was in my comfort zone. I am far from racist however there is something abut being around people of a similar ethnicity who share the same morals, values, culture and language that is comforting. It was as if high school was one big sorority or sisterhood; to be completely honest I still miss it everyday of my life.
I have been exposed to other races an cultures while living in New York but it was not until I attended the University of Maryland that I had full on interaction with people of various races and cultures. It took awhile to adjust and accommodate to the College Park atmosphere. It was almost impossible for me to find my niche at this school because I was that city girl looking for security and acceptance with the Latin crowd. Despite what I thought and how I felt, I was able to make friends pretty fast. Most of the friends I made were African Americans and I would always accompany them to numerous Black Student events. I am not sure if I made myself comfortable or that sense of comfort came naturally but it did. This caused even more speculation on campus as to what my race was. Here was this girl with a heavy Spanish accent hanging out with African Americans. It didn’t bother me though because it felt right to me. However this “new me” was not what my parents had in mind when I returned home. They reminded me almost everyday that I changed and that they did not recognize me anymore. They felt as though I traded in my Latina culture and pride to assimilate with the black culture. They found it odd that I hardly ever wanted to speak Spanish and would respond in English whenever they spoke to me. They saw a change in my accent, they saw that I had a taste of both worlds and were almost scared of what this would do to my identity. The irony of this all was that while they thought I was abandoning my Latin culture my friends thought I was too attached to it. They often considered me “too Hispanic”. It was as if both sides classified me with the other when in reality I was a combination of both.
This is a broader scope analysis of the power structures that exist throughout the world today. Through personal experiences, the effects of immigration, education and religion on a money-oriented society are examined.
Nature is an omnipresent force that drives human behavior, both by providing a natural environment for humans to grow in and by creating the biological response that makes up human thought. It both separates and brings together different marked and unmarked categories of people. However, within the U.S., for whatever reason, we choose to separate each other by race and socioeconomic status. Our country does not have an inherent desire to help others, but relies mainly on defending its own. This is seen in developing countries that still lack a constantly available fresh water supply, medical technologies and dependable food supply. Although the leaders of more developed countries have access to technologies that can improve the lives of millions, they find no reason to invest in poorer countries when they can invest in their own security. Because we live in a wealth-dependent world, it is more in nature to do something that will benefit both you and the benefactor.
Burdens such as the energy crisis, natural disasters and global warning test the human race’s ability to work together for survival. Global warming is a test to see how far we are willing to go before we realize that we are exhausting all of our natural resources too rapidly and taking action. It is also a time to see how capable we are of helping those in less privileged areas because when natural disasters strike, the richer, more developed areas are more likely to survive. Unfortunately, disaster relief demonstrated in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina proves that we are not a united race, but one easily divided by race and social status.
The tunnel of oppression did cover issues being discussed all over the world, but sadly the stereotypes and prejudiced mindsets that are perpetuated in our present society are broadcast internationally through television, radio and cinema. Most countries around the world depend on Los Angeles for entertainment and the most famous American actors are famous around the world. This cannot be said about the actors who are native to countries such as Mexico, Spain, France and Colombia. Many non-Americans look to the U.S. as a central distributor of ideas. Whatever music, style or thought is seen as popular at the time is easily communicated through international channels such as MTV. The world’s two richest men, Warren Buffet and Bill Gates, are born in the USA and therefore most of the rest of the world believes we are the richest nation.
Ever since man was created, reproduction and dominance over nature to use resources wisely were needed to survive. Lust and desire to dominate are innate human characteristics that are seen in everyday human interactions. Because women were the divine bodies that carried children, they were treasured by man, but this resulted in females becoming sexual objects. Sexuality is a force that many would not consider a power in their lives. Everyone always talks about how often men think about sex, but could this saying exist just because sexual feeling in women is suppressed? In some ways, I feel that this oppression of feeling has resulted in the greater objectification of women versus men. This power structure has existed since ancient times when women were forced to wear wardrobes that covered their breasts. In that time period, women were valued and sought after for either the fortunes they inherited or for their mystery. Unfortunately after a while, those who wanted the same rights as men to be free and express their bodies as they wanted to were discriminated against. Even today, a woman who is rumored to be promiscuous is called a “slut” and often disrespected by other men and even other women, where as men are allowed to make jokes about how much sex they have. Presently, this discrimination against promiscuity among women is seen less, but insults such as “slut” or “whore” are still used commonly and throughout joking conversation, even among women themselves. As seen in the tunnel of oppression, women are made into sexual objects daily in songs like “Superman that ho,” which is a metaphor for disrespecting a woman in the bedroom. Most gladly accepted the song lyrics; it is continuously popular in clubs and definitely hit the music charts. Both women and men laugh at the lyric’s implications and no great activism on part of today’s youth. By simply laughing off the joke, we as a society are accepting and agreeing to that treatment of women and not taking a woman’s worth seriously.
With that in mind, I think about the socio-economic environment that established my lifestyle and thoughts. Thanks to my parents’ financial decision to take advantage of the economic recession in the early 1990s and the urban sprawl around Germantown, MD, I was raised in a new neighborhood with access to a new school with great teachers and all different kinds of resources. I was even able to attend pre-school, something only a small percentage of the 3-4 year olds could take advantage of at the time. With GT and magnet programs getting all sorts of funding, and Montgomery County having one of the best public education programs in the nation, I grew up with a tremendous support system and learned from teachers that knew I could and encouraged that I reach my full potential. I’d say that the reason I am here at a top-ranked university today is because of all that support early on that drove me through several special talented programs. However, the current government policies and academic institutions that set tuition rates govern many of the fundamental factors affecting my academics, from monetary worth to the amount of stress and motivation in me. Because tuition rates are high, not only will I have to plan ways to pay off my loans right after graduating, but I am motivated to help others in the area. The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) is a society that encourages outreach to younger students in the College Park area as well as students on campus seeking professional development and mentoring opportunities. When I see the numbers of admitted Latino students and see that they are pretty much exactly the same from year to year, I wonder what is keeping Latino students from being accepted and wonder if there is some sort of quota for minority students that needs to be filled year to year because the numbers are almost identical. I wonder if these numbers stay the same because no one is being outreached to, or if it is a reality in our society too rigid that cannot be changed through our society’s efforts. I understand that change takes time, but maybe we need more effective leaders to initiate this change effectively.
Most of the leaders I look up to and really have faith in to change people’s mind are our student leaders. Student activism can provide the greatest voice. Role models that many in my generation look up to, however, include the rich and the famous. Those music artists who produce music to the wittiest, but sometimes discriminating lyrics, along with the rich producers who create reality TV shows are continuously shaping kids’ minds.
The Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants are a pageants put on by one of the most famous entrepreneurs in the world. There is nothing “dirty” about placing young models in a competition where talent, physique, and public speaking skills are the core criteria, but why is there even a focus on appearance? Why is the focus of the most appeareance-oriented competition on women? Men love watching, thanks to their hormonal drive, and women love watching and comparing themselves with what is considered beautiful. Society’s perception of beauty and overall way of thinking has been developed by those who hold the money. Other producers of lust-driven primetime shows and other dating shows are making money by convincing youth to watch their shows; the most proactive and sometimes violent episodes are the ones that peak interest in viewers. Unfortunately, the mentalities of future leaders are being shaped by the media and society and the media is directed by money.
Competitions such as these can become famous around the world and can be fun, but at the same time severely harming the reputation of women as serious leaders in the workplace and are often responsible for eating disorders and a desire to fit a certain image. As much as I disagree with some of the stereotypes associated with some pageants and the scandals, sex and violence portrayed in reality TV, I myself have benefitted from the media by receiving pageant scholarships in the past. I participated in order to receive a scholarship, so the end goal was legitimate, and the money I raised to enter the competition was directed towards a cause, so the money was going to the right places, and the talent competition did make up 35% of the score, but many people still stereotype pageants as superficial and focused on looks.
Where government regulations fail to inhibit media deemed indecent by some, religion comes in. The dress of modern Mormons is meant to show modesty and conformity. Outfits usually go down to the ankles and wrists, and are often worn over garments or pants, making sure every possibly provocative inch of skin are covered. John Llewellyn, a polygamy expert and retired Salt Lake County sheriff's lieutenant, says the women cover themselves "so that they're unattractive to the outside world or other men."
Importance of Education
One major contributor to my level of motivation is hearing my mom’s experiences as an exchange student from Colombia. She didn’t have access to a private school because it was too far away from her home and her dad forbade her from walking to school because it would have been “too dangerous for a girl.” Though she was raised in a loving family, her father never believed that the girls in the family needed an education. He paid full tuition for his sons to attend the best private school, while his daughters attended the nearest public school.
In areas where public schools are out of reach, private schools are the only solution, but are unaffordable for many, especially around certain towns in South America. My mom’s first exposure to the English language was in Colombia but she received little training there and it wasn’t until she entered the ESOL program at her high school in the U.S. that she understood the importance to her learning. Upon arriving, she was in shock at all the things that were available at her disposal. A few things she never imagined having were library access to all types of books, good teachers and a chance to meet students who were just as motivated as her.
Now that I’m in college, I see how privileged I am to have all of these resources and more. I still hear stories from foreign students who moved here 2-4 years ago. A large part of my current life is my involvement in college academics. First, there is the burden of taking out student loans knowing I have to pay them back. Second, there is the need for me to be involved with campus life outside of academics to become a more competitive graduate school candidate. So how is the U.S. system of government allowing me to get a free and productive education, while others around the world are barely able to get to class? When those students arrive in the U.S. seeking the same education that’s offered to me and other American’s, why are they sometimes turned down by immigration laws?
Issues like these motivate me to be involved in societies such as the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) and other outreach programs. Through these we are able to reach out to students and families around the College Park area that may not have a clue about how to graduate high school and move onto college successfully and possibly qualifying for financial aid. In an academic year we are able to reach out to hundreds of students, but why must students such as those involved in SHPE be responsible for establishing the equality that the U.S. government is trying to promote? All students should be rewarded for their hard work and determination no matter how much English their family speaks.
However, there is one problem to minority programs like this, and that is that they are known to target a minority. As long as society focuses on the word “minority,” I do not think we will ever succeed at promoting equality. The government’s goal is to serve its people and provide benefits to as much of the population as possible. But as long as a group considers itself a minority, it will receive minority treatment. In order to change this mentality and finally end the grouping of minorities that lead to stereotyping, we need to promote outreach to students of all backgrounds. Lack of communication is a problem that affects people of all backgrounds and does not need to target Hispanic families only.
On a more global scale, how is education being dealt with? Sure, those students who do make it to the U.S. with a decent knowledge of the English language have the potential to be successful students, but those who stay behind in developing countries are left pretty much hopeless unless their family has a decent family income. The wealth distribution in these countries, however, is so large that a decent education is basically impossible.
In reference to bell hook’s “railroad tracks,” I am not on the margin, but on the other side across the tracks. I am not prohibited from entering certain stores or looking at someone in the face, nor do I aspire to someday work in a position no higher than a maid or janitor. I do, however, see those with similar stories as my family who think they are living on the margin because they see the number of workers who do work long hours in minimum wage jobs and sometimes because it is illegal for them to work. “We could enter that world but we could not live there. We had always to return to the margin, to cross the tracks, to shacks and abandoned houses on the edge of town.” This is not the case for me, but because so many immigrants have arrived without a proper academic background, many in the U.S. are forced to see Latin Americans as incapable of living and working in this country. In a way, it is my job to encourage those who are still across the tracks to take advantage of the opportunities offered to them and not be afraid of the stereotypes or fall into a certain category of immigrant.
Is this fair?
When I first examined the conceptual map for where I see power in my everyday life and saw how privileged I was, I began to think about the reasons for why I am where I stand today. Time, location, and inherited wealth all contributed to my success and all of the actions that lead up to my current state seem to add up to sheer luck. I didn’t need to attend and pay for a private school because I was welcomed into a highly gifted math and science program throughout middle school and high school. The main reason that I was accepted was because of the preparation I had received in elementary school thanks to my parents choosing a nice, new neighborhood to move into. Though I have received many of the privileges I do have today because of the family I was born into, I know that the progress I’ve made up until this point in my life is due to passion and determination on my part and my constant desire for challenge.
I have always been thankful for the experiences I have received; they are all thanks to a supportive family and group of mentors that have helped me throughout the years. I’ve never seen a point to categorizing people by appearance or accent, but it is inevitable to see that others do see me by the marked categories that I belong to, especially race and gender. Whether it was me being one out of 24 girls in a 100 student magnet program, or the fact that less than one percent of employed engineers are Hispanic women, I have tried to turn this attention into motivation and continue pushing towards a world where the word “minority” doesn’t need to exist.
I’ve heard other students make racist jokes about Mexicans in reference to me and make statements such as “Women are meant to cook, clean and not own companies,” jokingly. As much as I enjoy jokes, I do not think that those immigrants who are living underprivileged in real life would feel as accepted as they should feel in a society made up of different cultures. As for the gender jokes, I think it is just a matter of time until women change around those gender ratios in tenure positions and are more welcome in higher management positions.
I hear news reports about guerilla warfare and petroleum demand conflicts that bring turmoil to my family’s native countries daily. How did the situation escalate to this point and is there a reason for why I’m here in the U.S. and not there? It’s not fair that I was born into a family fluent in English, with a college education, and ready to raising a family in the U.S., while others are struggling to feel accepted in the U.S. let alone make it across the border. I am American who happens to be strongly rooted in Hispanic heritage and proud of Latino culture, but there is no reason why I should receive special attention just because my background indicates that I am some kind minority by appearance or the number of languages I speak.
Tunnel of Oppression
Tania Cox
WMST 250
Katie King
22 April 2008
Tunnel of Oppression
Intersection Analysis
There is the form of oppression regarding race and ethnicity that intersects with the oppressions of being a member of the LGTB community. The oppression felt by members of the LGTB community is widespread. Discrimination is felt at work, in schools, and in the household. It was noted in the exhibit that four heterosexual students claimed they were harassed for their perceived sexuality as being queer, for every one student who actually was a part of the LGTB community and reported being harassed. This quote is very telling about how widespread heterosexism is in our society and how it immobilizes people in fear and silence. How could it be that more straight people are harassed for being queer than actual queer people? This anomaly goes to show how many instances of abuse against people who are not heterosexual are unreported. When these dominating forces are coupled with someone belonging to a particular race or ethnicity, the troubles only get worse. I did not write down specific statistics from the exhibit regarding the discrimination against people of color in LGTB communities because this is my own reality and I know it all to well.
Many cultures have very strict prohibitions against homosexual sex. The posters on the wall showed how many different religions had very harsh punishments against those who were found to be engaging in homosexual behavior. The most common punishment was death. This shows how cultural variations are of significant importance and often serve as other sources of oppression for people who are other than heterosexual. Outside of someone’s culture, the mainstream society and even the LGTB community discriminates against people who are not white, and male in sex and gender. Other races, genders, and gender expressions that are not stereotypically masculine are not represented in the mainstream society. When gay figures are seen in the media, they are often white, male, and wealthy. I have only once seen someone who was queer and looked like my friends and me. It was some sort of educational program by BET. It aired twice, and I never saw it again. The exception though is ads for AIDS and HIV medications, or when there is conversation about sex acts. When it comes to prescription ads, or fulfilling sexual favors, then I see and hear about people who are colored.
Structures of Oppression
The station about mass media had many structures of oppression. The mass media is especially powerful because they disseminate information to the masses. This means they can support their own agendas or biases in the process. They do so via radio, magazines, cartoons and things on film, and the news on TV. They showed how there is a monopoly on who owns the media, and there for, the reason why what we see is so repetitive. They even had a tree to show how so many companies are owned by one big giant. They showed the effects of advertising in the mass media where it can affect consumerism. They showed how children are heavily marked to and how they are socialized with propaganda in cartoons that reinforces stereotypes about colored people in
Art
The art used in the exhibits were especially good at drawing out emotional responses from the audience. The music helped to facilitate a mood that corresponded with the emotions felt. The art and audio performances had the same effect. They were very direct in illustrating aspects of people’s oppression. The headphones exhibit for example, had people calling out all kinds of racially and sexually derogatory terms. There were also interactive exhibits that called on the observer to see the ‘bits of the oppressor inside of us’ (Audre Lorde). Some were so direct that I avoided them. The one about sexual oppression with the exhibit on female circumcision was too much for me. I know all about female circumcision but I was not prepared to see the 3 clay vaginas showing the mutilation.
Activism
For activism, I went to the freepress.net website. The website was really good and I started to use it to read up more about mass media and the control that they have. They had really good and relevant news about propaganda by the government and Rupert Murdoch’s continued endeavors toward amassing even more media outlets, in particular, Newsweek. I think this website was especially good because it educated viewers on things like Internet neutrality and had links and resources so that people can get involved. I did the research prior to reading this question and I am happy that I did. I am happy that I am getting involved in important movements like Internet neutrality, which does not get much publicity, but is so incredibly important. The Internet is the last frontier so to speak and we must keep it neutral and free from the hegemonic forces that have pervaded all other avenues of society.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Analysis of Everyday Life
I have called the United States of America my home for eighteen years, but that doesn’t mean it’s without flaws. Within almost all of our interactions there is underlying judgment between ourselves and those we choose to associate with. When asked, people may say that their predispositions of others come from their own personal views or family. However, upon further investigation it becomes apparent that our assumptions are the result of the society we live in and the structure we are made up of. Unconsciously, we learn about a variety of people from what we see on television or in magazines, instead of learning from each other. Also, when the structure we live within is created for the advancement of only a select few of people it can play tricks on your mind. If people poor, average, minorities are unable to get into college you may begin to believe that they don’t deserve to advance themselves because the system wasn’t intended for them. Its not until we sit down and think about how situations in each of our lives have help or harmed us in some way. At the most basic point we are all human beings, and sometimes the scariest thing to do is to analyze how much you have in common with those that you presumed to be subordinate to you.
Living on Campus
Moving into my dorm last year made me effervescent with the thought of finally being out on my own. I always wanted my own space far from my semi-overprotective parents. At first, I viewed living on campus as a gift that an institution gives its students for attending their college. I now view having on campus housing as more of a privilege or just luck since I have been here at the University of Maryland College Park. Before being accepted here I had no idea that this institution had such a horrible housing situation. I enjoy living on campus this year and next year, but I don’t know were I will live my junior and senior year. Luckily I am a resident of the state of Maryland and commuting is an option. However, I have already experienced a draw back when I go home on the weekends. Whenever I am at home my environment seems to hinder my ability to be productive in my studies. I have heard statistics from professors and counselors here that claim living at home improves a students’ ability to excel in academics. Contrary to what was previously stated, living on campus has been beneficial to me thus far and I hate the idea of having that privilege taken away.
The housing situation here at the University of Maryland leaves me powerless in several aspects. Upon coming here I was told that housing is only guaranteed to the incoming freshman classes. Upperclassmen have tried to help freshman and sophomores stay on campus by telling us to become Resident Assistants, because that way we are promised a place to live. I prefer making education my only priority and not the well being of other students, so being a Resident Assistant would not be a favorable choice for me. In addition, I am working on acquiring a minor in Japanese language so I applied to the Language House, which is a living learning program that provides a place to live and enhances language retention. I was turned down by the program for next year, which then leaves me scrambling for a place to live once again.
I am aware of the fact that it is difficult to get into this institution, but other barriers await just behind the acceptance letter. I am stuck in a situation that may only be described as a gift and a curse. I was fortunate to apply to this university and be accepted as a freshman in the fall, which makes me unmarked. However, because I am a regular student and not apart of any living learning programs, such as civics or honors, my housing is a lottery in itself. I view my alternate housing situation as making me marked. I feel as though housing wouldn’t be an issue for me if my intelligence was at a much higher caliber for this university, or if I was just lucky enough to have an extremely low priority housing number.
Being the Youngest
Growing up I always resented being the youngest. It didn’t matter to me that I only had one other sibling and being the youngest was inevitable. My older sister, Shayla, is almost seven years older than I am which contributed to the differences in our childhoods. I recall standing on the sidelines as she did everything before me because we were so far apart. When she learned Spanish, started driving, went to prom, and college I was angry that my sister managed to do all these great things before I left elementary school. It wasn’t until I began middle school that I didn’t feel like the youngest anymore; I began to feel like an only child. My sister was away at school and it was only my parents and I living at home. My parents were now fortunate to spend one on one time with me going out to dinner and watching my soccer games, because they no longer had to divide their time between two children. When I explain my situation to others it is often hard for them to understand how I can go from being the youngest to an only child.
At the point when my sister left for college and I became an only child, I transitioned from being marked to unmarked. Over time I began to realize that being an only child was a privilege. I had no one to fight over things with and no younger siblings to be responsible for. I believe that my parents’ undivided attention contributed to my excellent grades in school and high level of maturity. I often imagine that having more children in my family would have had a negative affect on who I am today. Another aspect that has contributed to my unmarked only child upbringing is my social class. Both of my parents work forty hours a week, but they seniority and experience that allows them to make their own schedule and go on seasonal vacations. I see the social class of my family as a contributing factor in how we are able to spend so much time together. Had my family been poorer, then recreational time would be spent working and making ends meet and not being together.
When I analyze families from a structural point of view, I notice that smaller families are often favored. There are vacation packages made for families of four who want to visit Disney World. How much money will the larger family have to pay if they want to take the same trip? The United States has pushed the idea of the nuclear family, consisting of mom, dad, and two kids, for several years. In the 1950’s shows like Leave it to Beaver glorified the family of four. When families bypass this “magical” number it becomes an economic inconvenience limiting the vacations, vehicles, or even kitchen table set. My small family may not have been a coincidence at all, my parents realized the advantage of having only two kids.
Religion
Within the United States religion can be viewed as a very hypocritical movement. Just this pass week the pope came to visit Washington DC and Catholics in the immediate area came to show their support and get a glance at their beloved clergy. Although, instead of praising the presence of the pope, some people took it as a chance to protest the current problems within the Catholic community. Victims of sexual abuse at the hands of their Archbishops stood on the mall in DC to rally for the protection of children in American Catholic churches. Religion is a complex subject that cannot be analyzed one-sidedly.
Often times I believe that I myself, don’t have a right to comment on religion because it plays almost no role within my life. Out of the four people in my family, my mother is the only person that regularly attends church as a Baptist. In addition, in my extended families, both mother and father’s side, no one is really a member of a particular church. Growing up I thought that I was a hypocrite because I celebrated Christmas and Easter even though I wasn’t sure if I even believed in a higher power. Coincidentally, over time I realized that there were many people in this country just like me. I was apart of a group of people that celebrated all major holidays in the United States, but didn’t partake in the religious aspect of them.
After referring to the Matrix of Domination hand out from class, it was hard a first glance to figure out where I belonged in terms of religion. To be considered unmarked one must be Xtian or Protestant. However, being of a marked religion is thought to be Buddhist, Moslem, Jewish, or Catholic. I just assumed that if you considered yourself to be atheist, then that made you marked. I view this small instance as an example to how the rest of the country operates. Even when religion is not discussed it is assumed that everyone has one, or even if they don’t attend church that at least you believe in God. It’s unfortunate that in this country people hold such strong assumptions about each other instead of being open to the fact that everyone isn’t exactly the same.
Physical Assumptions
Ever since I was little people have always had something to say about the way that I look. I have the lightest complexion out of the four people in my family, which over time I learned was a big deal in the African American community. When I was about eight years old I noticed that I started to get freckles on my face. It seemed like from that point on people always asked me what race I was and I always responded that I was black. Then, when I became a teenager people thought that I was lying when I said I was black. It wasn’t until I came to college that I stopped being angry about people questioning my race.
I was born and raised in an area that is about 60% black and it was effortless to spot the people that were non black or of mixed race. It even got to a point where people questioned if my sister and I had the same parents just because she’s darker than I. Sometimes a group of students would say things about white people then look at me and say “no offense”. I would get so angry that they would think that I was white, because there isn’t one white person in my family, and they came to this conclusion solemnly on that way that I look. When I began going to the University of Maryland it didn’t matter what race anyone was anymore. This university is so multicultural that there isn’t enough time to sit around and contemplate every student’s nationality.
The Matrix of Domination places the white ethnicity above all others, which I’m not surprised about. Within society other races seemed to be willing to believe that they’re subordinate to whites. For instance, within the African American community the media constantly glorifies people that aren’t considered completely black. In magazines and in movies you’ll see people that look like they’re African American, but they’ll have hair that isn’t usually associated with being black or they will say that they are of mixed heritage. I was surprised at how people of darker complexions would say that they wished they had lighter skin. These people believed that their darkness would make them more acceptable to society in terms of how they’re treated and perceived by others. Why is such a diverse country so quick to not sell a house, hire, or associate with people that physically look different?
Outlook
Before I began working on this assignment, one day my class explored the Matrix of Domination outside as a physical activity. My TA, Maren, told everyone to line up side by side and to take a step forward when a statement said was true or to step back when the statement was false. The only hard part of this exercise was the fact that we had to hold hands the entire time. It’s hard to hold hands when everyone has different answers to the questions, which can create several feet between two people who were previously standing side by side. The questions we were asked dealt with our families, incomes, and sexual orientation. After the activity was finished the class had a discussion and I was amazed by what we learned about ourselves from the questions asked.
Maren began the discussion by mentioning the fact that she had believed people would drop hands as the questions drew us further apart. Fortunately, that never happened because people unknowingly refused to leave each other behind. In the beginning of the exercise, Maren noticed that as a class we took larger steps forward and smaller steps back. I viewed this as a true statement because some of us were proud of our privileges and even looked around to see who was with us. Over time, the people being left behind became more important to us so we took smaller steps forward and larger steps back. Surprisingly, towards the end when people moved forward in response to statements that were true for them, they began to give reasons for why this was a true statement. The people that continually stepped forward weren’t being arrogant; they actually felt guilty and wanted to explain themselves to the people they were pulling forward.
Through writing this paper I have had the opportunity to explore where I fit into marked and unmarked categories. However, it was far more interesting to see how the people in my class responded to various questions. For instance, when Maren asked if our parents graduated from college or if we were American citizens our responses nearly split us apart. I loved that our discussion class only has about nine people, but we were so diverse for such a small scale. In addition, some questions provoked thoughts about our generation when it came to technology. Maren asked who had a cell phone in high school and everyone moved forward, which I thought was funny. If that same question had been asked of our parents they would have had to take a step back. When I evaluate where I stood on that activity I was almost directly in the middle. The class ended up looking like a scatter graph, which is a good metaphor in regards to the Matrix of Domination. There is no way to be completely marked or unmarked because each individual is privileged and oppressed throughout their life.
Tunnel of Oppression
The Tunnel of Oppression was a great way to finish up this assignment. In daily life we may notice that there is more access to hearing about people with great lives and opportunities. Very seldom do we sit back and analyze the large majority of people that have been disadvantaged by structural systems, instead of pretending they don’t exist. For example, when we learn about foreign countries we learn about the majority that inhabits the land and nothing about the minority. It was through the Tunnel of Oppression that I learned there were native people in Japan called the Ainu. In school you only learn about a select group of people and the media won’t discuss people that don’t posses high ranking power. Also, in general most of the things we know about China deal with their economy and not how they treat other nations. I learned on Thursday that China constantly threatens Taiwan and has banned pictures of the Dali Lama, which places a restriction on the religions Chinese people are allowed to practice.
Another great aspect of this exhibit was the way that it allowed me to analyze the confines that pop culture places on this country. One station had an interesting quote that I think could be further explored “Does the media reflect social norms or dictate them?” One way that I can prove this statement correct is by discussing the topic of weight. In the United States the average person is more likely to be slightly overweight or obese compared to the anorexic type girls that lie in the pages of a magazine or appear in the most popular movies. The media is creating its own norm and as a result, making people believe that they are abnormal for not resembling these exceptionally small women.
One controversial topic within this country is that of prisons. These structures have been around for years, but they hold such a bad representation within our culture. People don’t want prisons or jails to be around their community because these are dangerous people and it brings down property value. Although, for poor rural areas building a jail or prison is seen as a great business decision. These facilities provide regions with little to no resources with a surplus of job opportunities. Also, major companies benefit from the free labor of convicted criminals. When I learned that Dell and Microsoft used prison labor I wasn’t surprised because their products require large numbers of people to assemble their computers. On the other hand, I was shocked when I learned that Victoria’s Secret and McDonald’s use criminal labor to make their products. These companies produce underwear and food, why are they unable to pay people for these tasks?
All in all, the structural systems that everyone lives in are made to advance only a select few of people and not the entire population. I have come to this understand after completing the research and analysis necessary for this paper. The best way to prevent yourself from being submerged into full on oppression is to be aware of the political and economic systems that you live under. Also, don’t hesitate to question the media when you disagree with a song being played or an idea that they are trying to force upon people. If you reside in the United States of America you should take advantage of the freedom of speech, because deciding not to do anything about issues can be as bad as causing them.
Living on Campus
Moving into my dorm last year made me effervescent with the thought of finally being out on my own. I always wanted my own space far from my semi-overprotective parents. At first, I viewed living on campus as a gift that an institution gives its students for attending their college. I now view having on campus housing as more of a privilege or just luck since I have been here at the University of Maryland College Park. Before being accepted here I had no idea that this institution had such a horrible housing situation. I enjoy living on campus this year and next year, but I don’t know were I will live my junior and senior year. Luckily I am a resident of the state of Maryland and commuting is an option. However, I have already experienced a draw back when I go home on the weekends. Whenever I am at home my environment seems to hinder my ability to be productive in my studies. I have heard statistics from professors and counselors here that claim living at home improves a students’ ability to excel in academics. Contrary to what was previously stated, living on campus has been beneficial to me thus far and I hate the idea of having that privilege taken away.
The housing situation here at the University of Maryland leaves me powerless in several aspects. Upon coming here I was told that housing is only guaranteed to the incoming freshman classes. Upperclassmen have tried to help freshman and sophomores stay on campus by telling us to become Resident Assistants, because that way we are promised a place to live. I prefer making education my only priority and not the well being of other students, so being a Resident Assistant would not be a favorable choice for me. In addition, I am working on acquiring a minor in Japanese language so I applied to the Language House, which is a living learning program that provides a place to live and enhances language retention. I was turned down by the program for next year, which then leaves me scrambling for a place to live once again.
I am aware of the fact that it is difficult to get into this institution, but other barriers await just behind the acceptance letter. I am stuck in a situation that may only be described as a gift and a curse. I was fortunate to apply to this university and be accepted as a freshman in the fall, which makes me unmarked. However, because I am a regular student and not apart of any living learning programs, such as civics or honors, my housing is a lottery in itself. I view my alternate housing situation as making me marked. I feel as though housing wouldn’t be an issue for me if my intelligence was at a much higher caliber for this university, or if I was just lucky enough to have an extremely low priority housing number.
Being the Youngest
Growing up I always resented being the youngest. It didn’t matter to me that I only had one other sibling and being the youngest was inevitable. My older sister, Shayla, is almost seven years older than I am which contributed to the differences in our childhoods. I recall standing on the sidelines as she did everything before me because we were so far apart. When she learned Spanish, started driving, went to prom, and college I was angry that my sister managed to do all these great things before I left elementary school. It wasn’t until I began middle school that I didn’t feel like the youngest anymore; I began to feel like an only child. My sister was away at school and it was only my parents and I living at home. My parents were now fortunate to spend one on one time with me going out to dinner and watching my soccer games, because they no longer had to divide their time between two children. When I explain my situation to others it is often hard for them to understand how I can go from being the youngest to an only child.
At the point when my sister left for college and I became an only child, I transitioned from being marked to unmarked. Over time I began to realize that being an only child was a privilege. I had no one to fight over things with and no younger siblings to be responsible for. I believe that my parents’ undivided attention contributed to my excellent grades in school and high level of maturity. I often imagine that having more children in my family would have had a negative affect on who I am today. Another aspect that has contributed to my unmarked only child upbringing is my social class. Both of my parents work forty hours a week, but they seniority and experience that allows them to make their own schedule and go on seasonal vacations. I see the social class of my family as a contributing factor in how we are able to spend so much time together. Had my family been poorer, then recreational time would be spent working and making ends meet and not being together.
When I analyze families from a structural point of view, I notice that smaller families are often favored. There are vacation packages made for families of four who want to visit Disney World. How much money will the larger family have to pay if they want to take the same trip? The United States has pushed the idea of the nuclear family, consisting of mom, dad, and two kids, for several years. In the 1950’s shows like Leave it to Beaver glorified the family of four. When families bypass this “magical” number it becomes an economic inconvenience limiting the vacations, vehicles, or even kitchen table set. My small family may not have been a coincidence at all, my parents realized the advantage of having only two kids.
Religion
Within the United States religion can be viewed as a very hypocritical movement. Just this pass week the pope came to visit Washington DC and Catholics in the immediate area came to show their support and get a glance at their beloved clergy. Although, instead of praising the presence of the pope, some people took it as a chance to protest the current problems within the Catholic community. Victims of sexual abuse at the hands of their Archbishops stood on the mall in DC to rally for the protection of children in American Catholic churches. Religion is a complex subject that cannot be analyzed one-sidedly.
Often times I believe that I myself, don’t have a right to comment on religion because it plays almost no role within my life. Out of the four people in my family, my mother is the only person that regularly attends church as a Baptist. In addition, in my extended families, both mother and father’s side, no one is really a member of a particular church. Growing up I thought that I was a hypocrite because I celebrated Christmas and Easter even though I wasn’t sure if I even believed in a higher power. Coincidentally, over time I realized that there were many people in this country just like me. I was apart of a group of people that celebrated all major holidays in the United States, but didn’t partake in the religious aspect of them.
After referring to the Matrix of Domination hand out from class, it was hard a first glance to figure out where I belonged in terms of religion. To be considered unmarked one must be Xtian or Protestant. However, being of a marked religion is thought to be Buddhist, Moslem, Jewish, or Catholic. I just assumed that if you considered yourself to be atheist, then that made you marked. I view this small instance as an example to how the rest of the country operates. Even when religion is not discussed it is assumed that everyone has one, or even if they don’t attend church that at least you believe in God. It’s unfortunate that in this country people hold such strong assumptions about each other instead of being open to the fact that everyone isn’t exactly the same.
Physical Assumptions
Ever since I was little people have always had something to say about the way that I look. I have the lightest complexion out of the four people in my family, which over time I learned was a big deal in the African American community. When I was about eight years old I noticed that I started to get freckles on my face. It seemed like from that point on people always asked me what race I was and I always responded that I was black. Then, when I became a teenager people thought that I was lying when I said I was black. It wasn’t until I came to college that I stopped being angry about people questioning my race.
I was born and raised in an area that is about 60% black and it was effortless to spot the people that were non black or of mixed race. It even got to a point where people questioned if my sister and I had the same parents just because she’s darker than I. Sometimes a group of students would say things about white people then look at me and say “no offense”. I would get so angry that they would think that I was white, because there isn’t one white person in my family, and they came to this conclusion solemnly on that way that I look. When I began going to the University of Maryland it didn’t matter what race anyone was anymore. This university is so multicultural that there isn’t enough time to sit around and contemplate every student’s nationality.
The Matrix of Domination places the white ethnicity above all others, which I’m not surprised about. Within society other races seemed to be willing to believe that they’re subordinate to whites. For instance, within the African American community the media constantly glorifies people that aren’t considered completely black. In magazines and in movies you’ll see people that look like they’re African American, but they’ll have hair that isn’t usually associated with being black or they will say that they are of mixed heritage. I was surprised at how people of darker complexions would say that they wished they had lighter skin. These people believed that their darkness would make them more acceptable to society in terms of how they’re treated and perceived by others. Why is such a diverse country so quick to not sell a house, hire, or associate with people that physically look different?
Outlook
Before I began working on this assignment, one day my class explored the Matrix of Domination outside as a physical activity. My TA, Maren, told everyone to line up side by side and to take a step forward when a statement said was true or to step back when the statement was false. The only hard part of this exercise was the fact that we had to hold hands the entire time. It’s hard to hold hands when everyone has different answers to the questions, which can create several feet between two people who were previously standing side by side. The questions we were asked dealt with our families, incomes, and sexual orientation. After the activity was finished the class had a discussion and I was amazed by what we learned about ourselves from the questions asked.
Maren began the discussion by mentioning the fact that she had believed people would drop hands as the questions drew us further apart. Fortunately, that never happened because people unknowingly refused to leave each other behind. In the beginning of the exercise, Maren noticed that as a class we took larger steps forward and smaller steps back. I viewed this as a true statement because some of us were proud of our privileges and even looked around to see who was with us. Over time, the people being left behind became more important to us so we took smaller steps forward and larger steps back. Surprisingly, towards the end when people moved forward in response to statements that were true for them, they began to give reasons for why this was a true statement. The people that continually stepped forward weren’t being arrogant; they actually felt guilty and wanted to explain themselves to the people they were pulling forward.
Through writing this paper I have had the opportunity to explore where I fit into marked and unmarked categories. However, it was far more interesting to see how the people in my class responded to various questions. For instance, when Maren asked if our parents graduated from college or if we were American citizens our responses nearly split us apart. I loved that our discussion class only has about nine people, but we were so diverse for such a small scale. In addition, some questions provoked thoughts about our generation when it came to technology. Maren asked who had a cell phone in high school and everyone moved forward, which I thought was funny. If that same question had been asked of our parents they would have had to take a step back. When I evaluate where I stood on that activity I was almost directly in the middle. The class ended up looking like a scatter graph, which is a good metaphor in regards to the Matrix of Domination. There is no way to be completely marked or unmarked because each individual is privileged and oppressed throughout their life.
Tunnel of Oppression
The Tunnel of Oppression was a great way to finish up this assignment. In daily life we may notice that there is more access to hearing about people with great lives and opportunities. Very seldom do we sit back and analyze the large majority of people that have been disadvantaged by structural systems, instead of pretending they don’t exist. For example, when we learn about foreign countries we learn about the majority that inhabits the land and nothing about the minority. It was through the Tunnel of Oppression that I learned there were native people in Japan called the Ainu. In school you only learn about a select group of people and the media won’t discuss people that don’t posses high ranking power. Also, in general most of the things we know about China deal with their economy and not how they treat other nations. I learned on Thursday that China constantly threatens Taiwan and has banned pictures of the Dali Lama, which places a restriction on the religions Chinese people are allowed to practice.
Another great aspect of this exhibit was the way that it allowed me to analyze the confines that pop culture places on this country. One station had an interesting quote that I think could be further explored “Does the media reflect social norms or dictate them?” One way that I can prove this statement correct is by discussing the topic of weight. In the United States the average person is more likely to be slightly overweight or obese compared to the anorexic type girls that lie in the pages of a magazine or appear in the most popular movies. The media is creating its own norm and as a result, making people believe that they are abnormal for not resembling these exceptionally small women.
One controversial topic within this country is that of prisons. These structures have been around for years, but they hold such a bad representation within our culture. People don’t want prisons or jails to be around their community because these are dangerous people and it brings down property value. Although, for poor rural areas building a jail or prison is seen as a great business decision. These facilities provide regions with little to no resources with a surplus of job opportunities. Also, major companies benefit from the free labor of convicted criminals. When I learned that Dell and Microsoft used prison labor I wasn’t surprised because their products require large numbers of people to assemble their computers. On the other hand, I was shocked when I learned that Victoria’s Secret and McDonald’s use criminal labor to make their products. These companies produce underwear and food, why are they unable to pay people for these tasks?
All in all, the structural systems that everyone lives in are made to advance only a select few of people and not the entire population. I have come to this understand after completing the research and analysis necessary for this paper. The best way to prevent yourself from being submerged into full on oppression is to be aware of the political and economic systems that you live under. Also, don’t hesitate to question the media when you disagree with a song being played or an idea that they are trying to force upon people. If you reside in the United States of America you should take advantage of the freedom of speech, because deciding not to do anything about issues can be as bad as causing them.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Assignment 3
Structures of Oppression in Our Culture
How would you respond to an individual who asks what you are? Many people in the United Stated would reply to this question by simply stating their nationality such as Irish, English, or German. However, if you look further into this question, it doesn’t ask what you are, but rather who you are. To this I would say that I am a twenty-one-year-old white male, upper-middle class Christian. Being white, male, and Christian I have fulfilled a spot as unmarked in basically every category according to the Matrix of Domination. Being unmarked says that I have power, privilege, and even the opportunity to choose my own destiny. Do I realize this on a daily basis? Of course not.
The notion of me having power and privilege is not something I have thought about in great depth. Perhaps it is because I am from New Hampshire, which can be easily classified as unmarked. Aside from Vermont, New Hampshire is one of the whitest, classic New England states one can experience. There are very few African Americans and even fewer Asian Americans and Hispanics. From my standpoint growing up, I had no idea that in the rest of the country blacks and Hispanics held the majority of low-income jobs. However, when coming to the University of Maryland, this fact was, in a sense, forced upon me when ordering food at the campus diner. I was unable to speak Spanish, and was therefore unable to order. In this situation in New Hampshire, I would have spoken to an individual who at most would have a thick New England accent with a few “R”s missing from words, but nonetheless still speaking English.
In the United States, the inability to speak English proficiently quite obviously leaves an individual marked. Language skills are paramount in establishing one’s power and without such skills it can become very difficult for individuals to break out of their oppression as a result of not being able to speak the native language. In the U.S. we place a strong emphasis on the ability to speak English, but does this mean that we are indirectly oppressing those who are not able to speak English by only affording them low-paying jobs that require great deals of physical labor? What I am alluding to here is the treatment of Hispanics in the United States and how our culture has forced upon them low-paying jobs that the traditional “American” does not want to do. Jobs in meat packing, agriculture, and landscaping are examples of such jobs. I would say that in many ways as an unmarked American I have a great deal of power and privilege over those who do not speak English.
In American society today, particularly in areas with high minority concentrations, we see the effects of “marking” individuals when looking at specific areas such as crime. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, in 2006 there were over 1.3 million males incarcerated in U.S. Federal and State prisons. Of these 1.3 million males, 209,500 were Hispanic and 534,200 were African Americans. This means that between just these two marked categories there are over 740,000 males of the 1.3 million males incarcerated in American prisons. There is great dispute among justice system theorists as to why these minority groups represent such a large percentage of those incarcerated in American prisons. Some argue the justice system is inherently racist. Others argue this large percentage is due to these group’s feeling that they must commit crime to get ahead. I agree with the latter argument for two reasons. The first being that there are great societal pressures for individuals at a young age. When they see individuals making a profit from illegal activities, these individuals will often follow suit resulting in a never-ending cycle of delinquency. My second reason for the overwhelming percentage of minorities in prison is due to the jobs available for those of low-income backgrounds who are not afforded the opportunity to get a proper education, which correlates with the ability to find a high-paying job.
Our readings in Chicana Art by Laura E. Perez feature one particular piece of art that points to the incarceration of Hispanics in America. The piece titled La Guadalupana by Delilah Montoya depicts a Hispanic male standing in front of his cell with his back to the camera and arms in handcuffs (Perez 137). His shirt is off displaying a mural of the Virgin of Guadalupe. As quoted in Chicana Art by the artist Montoya, “The intention was to bring back an image of colonialism’s dark side to Europe, but ultimately the piece engulfed the sacred and profane” (136). When Montoya speaks of this “dark side of colonialism” I believe she is pointing to the ways in which colonialism has caused people to move from their native lands. In this case, the Hispanic male has presumably moved from his native country and traveled North to America. We must then look at the result of his traveling to America, which is of course incarceration due to an illegal act committed on a land that is foreign to him.
The man in the picture by Montoya has created what can arguably be considered an altar on his back. Perez says, “…the prisoner has become a living altar, because he bears a sacred image on his flesh, and because his life is sacrificed for social redemption” (136). This idea of being “sacrificed for social redemption” begs us to question whether the man in this picture has committed a crime because he is inherently bad or if he has committed a crime due to societal pressures placed on him. The willingness to endure the long, painful hours of tattooing that this man has quite obviously gone through suggests that he greatly seeks redemption for the sins he has committed. Therefore, we must conclude that he is not inherently bad, but the system to which he was forced to adhere to is inherently bad causing individuals such as this Hispanic male to fall into areas of crime in order to get by.
Those in the unmarked category such as myself must question if we are at fault for the faulty system that is in use in the United States today. I understand that my needs for clothing, food, and an education cannot be accomplished without others to provide such services for me. For example, the shirt I am wearing at this current moment was made in Mexico. I can guarantee that the individuals who made this shirt, printed on its lettering, and shipped it to America do not share the same privileges I have had in my life. I would imagine that the Department of State internship I had last summer paid me an hourly rate that was over six times the hourly rate the individual who made my shirt receives.
The great pay divide between those who manage the services in our country and those who provide the services is forever expanding. We will again use the example of the shirt that was made in Mexico that I am currently wearing. I received this shirt while on Spring Break in Cancun, Mexico. It both advertises the student travel service I used to book the trip as well as the popular Mexican beer “Dos Equis.” For a matter of pennies, this shirt was printed to represent two multi-billion dollar industries. The first being Spring Break travel, which means huge amounts of money for travel agencies, airlines, hotels, and the local economy. Although these industries profit greatly, there are functions of this industry that do not. In speaking with the servers at my hotel, I discovered that they each make the equivalent of eight U.S. dollars per twelve-hour shift. Federal minimum wage in the United States is $6.55. This means an individual working in the U.S. at minimum wage would make $70.60 more in this twelve-hour shift. With the hotel being all-inclusive, these servers were lucky if they got some rich drunk college kid to tip a dollar or two.
Focusing next on just how that college kid became so drunk, is the second major industry advertised on my free shirt, alcohol. If I were to survey 1,000 college students who went to Mexico for Spring Break asking them why they went, I can safely say the overwhelming majority of these students would say, “To get drunk.” I would argue that due to our culture’s view on Spring Break I have been socialized to believe that in order to have a good time, especially on Spring Break, that this idea of getting drunk for seven days is normal for college students. In many ways, society has shielded me from the many great aspects that these vacation destinations has to offer and forced upon me this idea of binge drinking and partying instead of relaxing and enjoying the beautiful islands. For breweries and distilleries in the United States and especially Mexico in particular, Spring Break brings in millions of dollars of revenue. We must point again to who distributes this product. It is again the servers and bartenders making eight dollars a day plus minimal tips.
In good conscience I cannot however, feel as though I am doing something wrong for wearing this free T-shirt I received when I went to Spring Break in Mexico. I do not feel wrong because this is the system that is in place and is generally accepted throughout the United States and many areas around the world. To answer the question, yes I am at fault as an unmarked individual for the system that is in place, but this is not to say I would be opposed to changing such a system.
I feel that as Americans we are generally accepting of the systems in place. However, what makes us different is our ability to enact and be open to change. Throughout this course we have brought up the notion of activism. Our professor and teaching assistants have particularly been involved in activism for women’s rights and the rights of homosexuals. We commonly refer to government institutions as structures of oppression. The United States government is indeed a structure of oppression for many. However, what I would like to focus on first is the government as a system of availability. Through our Constitution and subsequent amendments to the Constitution, we are afforded the chance to enact this great change through our use of activism. Freedom of speech, press, religion, and assembly are our catalysts for change as Americans.
There are countless examples of how we have utilized our rights throughout American history. One such example that immediately comes to mind is the Civil Rights Movement. In this movement we saw a great collaboration of individuals who felt as though the treatment of African Americans post-emancipation was still not equal in accordance with the way America is portrayed as the “Land of the Free.” The use of their rights as citizens such as freedom of speech, press, and assembly enabled African Americans to be heard. The words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. were broadcast throughout America with a message that the oppression of African Americans would no longer take place in the United States of America. I have been graced with the good fortune of not experiencing first hand racism that is often associated with the South. On the other hand, due to where I am from, I am often oppressed in the form of my own ignorance on the topic of racism as I have not experienced this racism first hand and subsequently have not been exposed to the damages it causes both on a personal and societal level.
The government institution as I said cannot afford rights to all individuals and will therefore function as a structure of oppression for these individuals. For example, a topic of recent debate is the idea of gay marriage. Those who stand in opposition to gay marriage see marriage as a sacred ceremony between a man and a woman, not between two individuals of the same sex. On the other side of the debate are those who feel that marriage is more about the formality of bringing two people who care deeply for one another to be united and recognized. The United States government currently recognizes marriage only between a man and a woman. This is important due to tax breaks and other implications that the Federal government affords those who are married. For many states, including my own state of New Hampshire, the local legislatures are passing legislation associated with both Civil Unions and gay marriage, which allow gay couples to be recognized by the state as married couples and therefore have the opportunity for state benefits and tax breaks that come to those who are married. Friends of my family recently took advantage of this new bill in my state of New Hampshire, and I was able to see how such a simple ceremony could mean so much to individuals who are oppressed by the structure of government.
Before the topic of gay marriage can even come into the picture, one must first of course be gay. After experiencing the Tunnel of Oppression exhibit I was given the opportunity to learn more about the marked category of being homosexual. For this category I am an unmarked individual being straight, but for those who are gay the process of coming out is often one that is extremely difficult. According to the exhibit, those who come out as being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transsexual, a parent rejects twenty-five percent of these individuals. This means one in four people who come out are no longer accepted by one or both of their parents. This then forces us to wonder if the parents reject these individuals simply because they cannot bear that their child is not straight or if the parent rejects these individuals for fear of the social ostracism their child faces as a result of now being marked as gay. The exhibit broke this down further into whether the mother or father predicted their child was gay. For men, only seven percent of mothers suspected their child was gay while 59 percent of fathers predicted their son was gay. For women, this was 18 percent to 42 percent respectively. I found this statistic to be interesting as I feel that many of the fathers who answered this survey said they suspected their son or daughter to be gay so others would not think their so called “gaydar,” as the exhibit calls it, was not “off.”
I felt this societal form of oppression for the male need for “gaydar” during my freshman year of college. I had three roommates, one of which was gay. He came out half way through our second semester by telling our female neighbors first and then telling my other two roommates. However, he was reluctant to tell me because I was seen as the alpha male in the room. I feel his telling me was similar to his telling of his own father. When he told me, I was quite surprised and felt strange when my neighbors approached me saying, “How could you not know?” I felt as though there was this societal pressure that says I should be able to spot a gay man from a mile away. However, through this experience I found this to be completely false.
The ways in which the government functions as a structure of oppression are numerous. However, there is one particular issue that greatly affects many college women with that issue being rape and sexual assault. When a woman is raped, the action of the rape is not only traumatizing and painful, the aftermath of reporting the rape can be almost just as bad as the woman is questioned multiple times by multiple people forcing her to relive the event in her mind and the associated pain that accompanies it. The woman is then marked as a rape victim and often times looked down upon as many people share the idea that it was her fault. This leaves her completely powerless with all the power in this matrix going to the offender, as rape is a crime of power.
The University of Maryland is taking progressive steps to stomp out this problem with the multiple “Got Consent” campaign ads seen throughout campus and in the school newspaper. Programs for education about rape and sexual assault are also in place to combat this issue. I have been given the great privilege to be part of one of these programs known as VIA, which stands for Violence Intervention Assistant. I have been trained on how to seek help and offer a safe place for victims of violence and therefore I am marked as an individual who can help which I consider to be a great privilege.
Although I am marked as an individual who can help people who have been victims of rape and sexual assault, I am also marked as an individual who can potentially be an offender of these crimes. For one, I am male. For two, I am a member of a fraternity. Many see fraternity men as guys who want nothing more than to get drunk and take advantage of girls who attend their parties. This is a stereotype I, along with numerous other members of my fraternity take very seriously and seek ways to change. It takes just one person in the Greek system to ruin the progress many of us are making to change this negative stigma.
The Matrix of Domination at face value is a simple concept to understand. However, with the great variation among our population one can be marked in one category and unmarked in another which only further entangles the web of marked and unmarked individuals. For me, I am unmarked in all categories of the matrix of the domination, but this is not to say I have been without oppression in various areas of life. Yes, I have been privileged with food to eat, a place to sleep, and the availability to attend above average educational institutions. Many in marked categories do not have privileges such as this, and of course experience hardships I may experience, but to a far greater degree. The varying degrees of hardships are what separate the marked from the unmarked in our struggle for power. I have discussed the various ways in which power is distributed in our country and in foreign lands. The search for power comes in the form of crime, money, language, and various other forms that separate each of us in our endless search for the utmost power.
How would you respond to an individual who asks what you are? Many people in the United Stated would reply to this question by simply stating their nationality such as Irish, English, or German. However, if you look further into this question, it doesn’t ask what you are, but rather who you are. To this I would say that I am a twenty-one-year-old white male, upper-middle class Christian. Being white, male, and Christian I have fulfilled a spot as unmarked in basically every category according to the Matrix of Domination. Being unmarked says that I have power, privilege, and even the opportunity to choose my own destiny. Do I realize this on a daily basis? Of course not.
The notion of me having power and privilege is not something I have thought about in great depth. Perhaps it is because I am from New Hampshire, which can be easily classified as unmarked. Aside from Vermont, New Hampshire is one of the whitest, classic New England states one can experience. There are very few African Americans and even fewer Asian Americans and Hispanics. From my standpoint growing up, I had no idea that in the rest of the country blacks and Hispanics held the majority of low-income jobs. However, when coming to the University of Maryland, this fact was, in a sense, forced upon me when ordering food at the campus diner. I was unable to speak Spanish, and was therefore unable to order. In this situation in New Hampshire, I would have spoken to an individual who at most would have a thick New England accent with a few “R”s missing from words, but nonetheless still speaking English.
In the United States, the inability to speak English proficiently quite obviously leaves an individual marked. Language skills are paramount in establishing one’s power and without such skills it can become very difficult for individuals to break out of their oppression as a result of not being able to speak the native language. In the U.S. we place a strong emphasis on the ability to speak English, but does this mean that we are indirectly oppressing those who are not able to speak English by only affording them low-paying jobs that require great deals of physical labor? What I am alluding to here is the treatment of Hispanics in the United States and how our culture has forced upon them low-paying jobs that the traditional “American” does not want to do. Jobs in meat packing, agriculture, and landscaping are examples of such jobs. I would say that in many ways as an unmarked American I have a great deal of power and privilege over those who do not speak English.
In American society today, particularly in areas with high minority concentrations, we see the effects of “marking” individuals when looking at specific areas such as crime. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, in 2006 there were over 1.3 million males incarcerated in U.S. Federal and State prisons. Of these 1.3 million males, 209,500 were Hispanic and 534,200 were African Americans. This means that between just these two marked categories there are over 740,000 males of the 1.3 million males incarcerated in American prisons. There is great dispute among justice system theorists as to why these minority groups represent such a large percentage of those incarcerated in American prisons. Some argue the justice system is inherently racist. Others argue this large percentage is due to these group’s feeling that they must commit crime to get ahead. I agree with the latter argument for two reasons. The first being that there are great societal pressures for individuals at a young age. When they see individuals making a profit from illegal activities, these individuals will often follow suit resulting in a never-ending cycle of delinquency. My second reason for the overwhelming percentage of minorities in prison is due to the jobs available for those of low-income backgrounds who are not afforded the opportunity to get a proper education, which correlates with the ability to find a high-paying job.
Our readings in Chicana Art by Laura E. Perez feature one particular piece of art that points to the incarceration of Hispanics in America. The piece titled La Guadalupana by Delilah Montoya depicts a Hispanic male standing in front of his cell with his back to the camera and arms in handcuffs (Perez 137). His shirt is off displaying a mural of the Virgin of Guadalupe. As quoted in Chicana Art by the artist Montoya, “The intention was to bring back an image of colonialism’s dark side to Europe, but ultimately the piece engulfed the sacred and profane” (136). When Montoya speaks of this “dark side of colonialism” I believe she is pointing to the ways in which colonialism has caused people to move from their native lands. In this case, the Hispanic male has presumably moved from his native country and traveled North to America. We must then look at the result of his traveling to America, which is of course incarceration due to an illegal act committed on a land that is foreign to him.
The man in the picture by Montoya has created what can arguably be considered an altar on his back. Perez says, “…the prisoner has become a living altar, because he bears a sacred image on his flesh, and because his life is sacrificed for social redemption” (136). This idea of being “sacrificed for social redemption” begs us to question whether the man in this picture has committed a crime because he is inherently bad or if he has committed a crime due to societal pressures placed on him. The willingness to endure the long, painful hours of tattooing that this man has quite obviously gone through suggests that he greatly seeks redemption for the sins he has committed. Therefore, we must conclude that he is not inherently bad, but the system to which he was forced to adhere to is inherently bad causing individuals such as this Hispanic male to fall into areas of crime in order to get by.
Those in the unmarked category such as myself must question if we are at fault for the faulty system that is in use in the United States today. I understand that my needs for clothing, food, and an education cannot be accomplished without others to provide such services for me. For example, the shirt I am wearing at this current moment was made in Mexico. I can guarantee that the individuals who made this shirt, printed on its lettering, and shipped it to America do not share the same privileges I have had in my life. I would imagine that the Department of State internship I had last summer paid me an hourly rate that was over six times the hourly rate the individual who made my shirt receives.
The great pay divide between those who manage the services in our country and those who provide the services is forever expanding. We will again use the example of the shirt that was made in Mexico that I am currently wearing. I received this shirt while on Spring Break in Cancun, Mexico. It both advertises the student travel service I used to book the trip as well as the popular Mexican beer “Dos Equis.” For a matter of pennies, this shirt was printed to represent two multi-billion dollar industries. The first being Spring Break travel, which means huge amounts of money for travel agencies, airlines, hotels, and the local economy. Although these industries profit greatly, there are functions of this industry that do not. In speaking with the servers at my hotel, I discovered that they each make the equivalent of eight U.S. dollars per twelve-hour shift. Federal minimum wage in the United States is $6.55. This means an individual working in the U.S. at minimum wage would make $70.60 more in this twelve-hour shift. With the hotel being all-inclusive, these servers were lucky if they got some rich drunk college kid to tip a dollar or two.
Focusing next on just how that college kid became so drunk, is the second major industry advertised on my free shirt, alcohol. If I were to survey 1,000 college students who went to Mexico for Spring Break asking them why they went, I can safely say the overwhelming majority of these students would say, “To get drunk.” I would argue that due to our culture’s view on Spring Break I have been socialized to believe that in order to have a good time, especially on Spring Break, that this idea of getting drunk for seven days is normal for college students. In many ways, society has shielded me from the many great aspects that these vacation destinations has to offer and forced upon me this idea of binge drinking and partying instead of relaxing and enjoying the beautiful islands. For breweries and distilleries in the United States and especially Mexico in particular, Spring Break brings in millions of dollars of revenue. We must point again to who distributes this product. It is again the servers and bartenders making eight dollars a day plus minimal tips.
In good conscience I cannot however, feel as though I am doing something wrong for wearing this free T-shirt I received when I went to Spring Break in Mexico. I do not feel wrong because this is the system that is in place and is generally accepted throughout the United States and many areas around the world. To answer the question, yes I am at fault as an unmarked individual for the system that is in place, but this is not to say I would be opposed to changing such a system.
I feel that as Americans we are generally accepting of the systems in place. However, what makes us different is our ability to enact and be open to change. Throughout this course we have brought up the notion of activism. Our professor and teaching assistants have particularly been involved in activism for women’s rights and the rights of homosexuals. We commonly refer to government institutions as structures of oppression. The United States government is indeed a structure of oppression for many. However, what I would like to focus on first is the government as a system of availability. Through our Constitution and subsequent amendments to the Constitution, we are afforded the chance to enact this great change through our use of activism. Freedom of speech, press, religion, and assembly are our catalysts for change as Americans.
There are countless examples of how we have utilized our rights throughout American history. One such example that immediately comes to mind is the Civil Rights Movement. In this movement we saw a great collaboration of individuals who felt as though the treatment of African Americans post-emancipation was still not equal in accordance with the way America is portrayed as the “Land of the Free.” The use of their rights as citizens such as freedom of speech, press, and assembly enabled African Americans to be heard. The words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. were broadcast throughout America with a message that the oppression of African Americans would no longer take place in the United States of America. I have been graced with the good fortune of not experiencing first hand racism that is often associated with the South. On the other hand, due to where I am from, I am often oppressed in the form of my own ignorance on the topic of racism as I have not experienced this racism first hand and subsequently have not been exposed to the damages it causes both on a personal and societal level.
The government institution as I said cannot afford rights to all individuals and will therefore function as a structure of oppression for these individuals. For example, a topic of recent debate is the idea of gay marriage. Those who stand in opposition to gay marriage see marriage as a sacred ceremony between a man and a woman, not between two individuals of the same sex. On the other side of the debate are those who feel that marriage is more about the formality of bringing two people who care deeply for one another to be united and recognized. The United States government currently recognizes marriage only between a man and a woman. This is important due to tax breaks and other implications that the Federal government affords those who are married. For many states, including my own state of New Hampshire, the local legislatures are passing legislation associated with both Civil Unions and gay marriage, which allow gay couples to be recognized by the state as married couples and therefore have the opportunity for state benefits and tax breaks that come to those who are married. Friends of my family recently took advantage of this new bill in my state of New Hampshire, and I was able to see how such a simple ceremony could mean so much to individuals who are oppressed by the structure of government.
Before the topic of gay marriage can even come into the picture, one must first of course be gay. After experiencing the Tunnel of Oppression exhibit I was given the opportunity to learn more about the marked category of being homosexual. For this category I am an unmarked individual being straight, but for those who are gay the process of coming out is often one that is extremely difficult. According to the exhibit, those who come out as being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transsexual, a parent rejects twenty-five percent of these individuals. This means one in four people who come out are no longer accepted by one or both of their parents. This then forces us to wonder if the parents reject these individuals simply because they cannot bear that their child is not straight or if the parent rejects these individuals for fear of the social ostracism their child faces as a result of now being marked as gay. The exhibit broke this down further into whether the mother or father predicted their child was gay. For men, only seven percent of mothers suspected their child was gay while 59 percent of fathers predicted their son was gay. For women, this was 18 percent to 42 percent respectively. I found this statistic to be interesting as I feel that many of the fathers who answered this survey said they suspected their son or daughter to be gay so others would not think their so called “gaydar,” as the exhibit calls it, was not “off.”
I felt this societal form of oppression for the male need for “gaydar” during my freshman year of college. I had three roommates, one of which was gay. He came out half way through our second semester by telling our female neighbors first and then telling my other two roommates. However, he was reluctant to tell me because I was seen as the alpha male in the room. I feel his telling me was similar to his telling of his own father. When he told me, I was quite surprised and felt strange when my neighbors approached me saying, “How could you not know?” I felt as though there was this societal pressure that says I should be able to spot a gay man from a mile away. However, through this experience I found this to be completely false.
The ways in which the government functions as a structure of oppression are numerous. However, there is one particular issue that greatly affects many college women with that issue being rape and sexual assault. When a woman is raped, the action of the rape is not only traumatizing and painful, the aftermath of reporting the rape can be almost just as bad as the woman is questioned multiple times by multiple people forcing her to relive the event in her mind and the associated pain that accompanies it. The woman is then marked as a rape victim and often times looked down upon as many people share the idea that it was her fault. This leaves her completely powerless with all the power in this matrix going to the offender, as rape is a crime of power.
The University of Maryland is taking progressive steps to stomp out this problem with the multiple “Got Consent” campaign ads seen throughout campus and in the school newspaper. Programs for education about rape and sexual assault are also in place to combat this issue. I have been given the great privilege to be part of one of these programs known as VIA, which stands for Violence Intervention Assistant. I have been trained on how to seek help and offer a safe place for victims of violence and therefore I am marked as an individual who can help which I consider to be a great privilege.
Although I am marked as an individual who can help people who have been victims of rape and sexual assault, I am also marked as an individual who can potentially be an offender of these crimes. For one, I am male. For two, I am a member of a fraternity. Many see fraternity men as guys who want nothing more than to get drunk and take advantage of girls who attend their parties. This is a stereotype I, along with numerous other members of my fraternity take very seriously and seek ways to change. It takes just one person in the Greek system to ruin the progress many of us are making to change this negative stigma.
The Matrix of Domination at face value is a simple concept to understand. However, with the great variation among our population one can be marked in one category and unmarked in another which only further entangles the web of marked and unmarked individuals. For me, I am unmarked in all categories of the matrix of the domination, but this is not to say I have been without oppression in various areas of life. Yes, I have been privileged with food to eat, a place to sleep, and the availability to attend above average educational institutions. Many in marked categories do not have privileges such as this, and of course experience hardships I may experience, but to a far greater degree. The varying degrees of hardships are what separate the marked from the unmarked in our struggle for power. I have discussed the various ways in which power is distributed in our country and in foreign lands. The search for power comes in the form of crime, money, language, and various other forms that separate each of us in our endless search for the utmost power.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
sexual literacy
Sexual literacy can be defined as “the knowledge and skills needed o promote and protect sexual wellness-having healthy intimate relationships, being able to prevent disease, understanding sexuality beyond just the act.” In a 1990 Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) survey, 55% Americans failed the basic sexual knowledge test. In another SIECUS study completed in 1999 (Public support for sexuality education reaches highest level) two in five teachers said that school policy restricts their ability to answer questions about sex. If teachers themselves cannot reach out and express an interest in communicating sexual issues to their students, then a different form of outreach is necessary. The problem is that those contacts are almost never available to students and these students are at the stage when sexual activity is a major issue.
This discomfort when dealing with sex results in the U.S. being the developed country with the highest teenage pregnancy rates. Every year, 4 million new STD infections occur. It cites that the abstinence-only programs, which have received nearly $1 billion in government funds, actually decrease sexual literacyrates. In order to improve literacy, we need programs that encourage rather than prohibit discussion of contraception and have educators talk about sexual activity as a personal decision rather than just wrong and harmful.
The National Sexuality Resource Center is a online resource whose motto is “Advancing Sexual Literacy through new dialogues.” On the website, I found links to Sexualidades Latinas, which aims to broaden sexuality dialogues among Latinos and Spanish-speaking communities, religion and sexuality dialogues, and nutrition and sex articles. San Francisco State University has a Human Sexuality Studies Program that hopes to clear up misconceptions about sex. On a Planned Parenthood of Indiana Website, I found links to more info about their Free Emergency Contraception (EC) Day, services to have birth control delivered to your home, and a way to get confidential questions to difficult questions. These kinds of resources are needed to effectively reach out to those who feel uncomfortable discussing sexual health issues openly or have no one to speak to.
This discomfort when dealing with sex results in the U.S. being the developed country with the highest teenage pregnancy rates. Every year, 4 million new STD infections occur. It cites that the abstinence-only programs, which have received nearly $1 billion in government funds, actually decrease sexual literacyrates. In order to improve literacy, we need programs that encourage rather than prohibit discussion of contraception and have educators talk about sexual activity as a personal decision rather than just wrong and harmful.
The National Sexuality Resource Center is a online resource whose motto is “Advancing Sexual Literacy through new dialogues.” On the website, I found links to Sexualidades Latinas, which aims to broaden sexuality dialogues among Latinos and Spanish-speaking communities, religion and sexuality dialogues, and nutrition and sex articles. San Francisco State University has a Human Sexuality Studies Program that hopes to clear up misconceptions about sex. On a Planned Parenthood of Indiana Website, I found links to more info about their Free Emergency Contraception (EC) Day, services to have birth control delivered to your home, and a way to get confidential questions to difficult questions. These kinds of resources are needed to effectively reach out to those who feel uncomfortable discussing sexual health issues openly or have no one to speak to.
Sexual Literacy
When I researched sexual literacy this is what I found. I believe the different points show sexual literacy through a scientific and emotional point of view.
- Sexuality touches each of our lives and is essential to our well-being.
- Sexuality is about health, intimacy, desire, and protection.
- Sexuality is more than just the 'sex act.'
- Sexual literacy, the knowledge needed to advance and protect one’s own sexual health and well-being, is vital.
- Accessible information and resources are essential for healthy discussions, education, and decision-making about sexuality.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Sexual Literacy
I do not know if there was something wrong with how I performed my Internet search, but for some reason, i had a little difficulty finding a definition for "sexual literacy." With that being said, I found that "... sexual literacy is the knowledge you need to promote and protect sexual wellness and rights. Check back each month for new articles and information" on this website (http://www.igda.org/sex/archives/2005/12/link_of_the_day_116.html). Because I am such an open and straight forward person, if i had to initiate a conversation about sex or sexuality with my best friend, i would just ask her what she thought about the topic. To random people though, i would first start by asking them , how they define, sex and sexuality, what their understanding of the two is, how they relate to the concept, and then finally what their over all feelings towards the subject is. You could make a game, which would also be very interesting to see how people verbally or artistically express their views on sex and sexuality.
Chapter Reflection from Chicana Art : Chapter 2 - Body and Dress
The topic of discussion for this chapter struck me as particularly interesting. I feel that body art, decoration, and dress are all ways in which people express themselves and are ways in which they are marked or unmarked, or ways in which they mark and unmark themselves. I feel that the messages sent from these objects can be implicit or explicit, but they serve as ways in which much can be discerned about the wearer. "The clothing of humanity is full of profound significance, for the human spirit not only builds its own body but also fashions its own dress, even though for the most part it leaves the actual construction to other hands" (52). This passage was interesting to me because aside from its literal implications, it also had a more symbolic one as well, referring to how we construct ourselves and our identities, but not without a significant input or reference from the outside world. In this respect, the construction of ourselves and our garments are very similar and share an intimate connection that many things do not. Our garments, and decorations are more than things we simply do or do not put on. They are both individually, and socially constructed mediums from which we speak to others and to ourselves. They are of significant importance as they represent so many intangible aspects of ones reality. Going one step further beyond the realm of concrete items of dress and decoration, it was noted that "indeed the body itself may be thought of as a social garment" (51). I felt this was a particularly interesting point of thought reflecting the intricate nature of the relationship between things like race, gender, sexual identity, normative values, the expression of each, and just what all of this means.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Chapter 6
I began reading Laura E. Perez’s book “Chicana Art” last week and I decided to start reading the last chapter first. Chapter 6 is titled face, heart and it was a very insightful regarding religion and women’s place in society. Throughout the chapter there are numerous artistic interpretations of the La Virgen de Guadalupe or the Virgin Mary. The Virgin Mary is a major religious figure within the Latino community and as a result she has become a source of inspiration for Latino artist. Perez also mentions how Latina women have been taught to emulate the humility and obedience of the Virgin Mary. However, some women feel that those specific characteristics were created by men and they don’t agree with the idea that she is only an obedient woman to God. Other women believe that the Virgin Mary is their god and that women are free to interpret her anyway that they wish. The mother of Jesus has been portrayed as an Aztec statue, a scantily clad woman with attitude, and with the face of Frida Khalo. These paintings have met a variety of opposition within museums from clergy and everyday people causing the paintings to be removed in some instances. In general they view the Virgin Mary as a protector of disenfranchised people. Ironically, one could say that women are disenfranchised and La Virgen de Guadalupe.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Matrix of Domination
Hi all,
In case you haven't heard of or don't have access to Patricia Hill Scott's text, Black Feminist Thought (whichI would encourage you all to take a look at), here is a website that has excerpts from her text particularly about the Matrix of Domination. Please take a look at sections of this reading before our next class on Thursday, April 10.
Black Feminist Thought in the Matrix of Domination
In case you haven't heard of or don't have access to Patricia Hill Scott's text, Black Feminist Thought (whichI would encourage you all to take a look at), here is a website that has excerpts from her text particularly about the Matrix of Domination. Please take a look at sections of this reading before our next class on Thursday, April 10.
Black Feminist Thought in the Matrix of Domination
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