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.