During my first semester as a Badger I've noticed many issues regarding racial discrimination. As an Atlanta native, moving to Madison has been a bit of a culture shock. I've always been accustomed to a variety of cultures and people down South, but moving up North has steadily decreased the abundance of culture I've come across. In regards to major issues on campus, I've witnessed various moments of cultural appropriation during the Halloween weekend. I felt personally affected by this because it was degrading my own culture. It also made me question how long I can withstand a school that will easily address an issue affecting a person of a white background, but will not acknowledge the severity of slandering another culture (e.g. wearing panchos, afros, spray tanning aka "black face").
Furthermore, this past November, many students of various ethnic backgrounds participated in a March for the students in Mizzou to help bring awareness to the issue of racial discrimination on college campuses. After this march, I considered being much more present in issues of racial discrimination by helping in any way that I can. Through the "Blackout UW Board of Regents" I will be utilizing this platform as a source for further growth in my activism.
This semester, I have also taken into consideration the blatant derogatory racist comments that Donald Trump has brought forth in his campaign.
As a son of two immigrant parents, I felt the necessity to voice my concerns for those in the Hispanic community who cannot speak for themselves because of language barriers. I've been working on a poetry mixtape about Donald Trump titled, "TRUMP," that will be released January, 29th, 2016. The project tackles topics of race, discrimination, and immigration. Taken from the idea of a celebrity who believes that he can dog whisper his way into the presidential seat is what the project is cenetred around.
As a second semester freshmen, some shifts I am noticing in my thinking of social surroundings is how much work we have left as a community. It isn't enough to know that these issues exist; it's about knowing and acting. We shape the world and our environment. Race is an issue that the environment uses to communicate how segregated we are. Thus, our response must be stronger and deeper than the contextual surface level. Only through learning and applying knowledge in social spaces and in our everyday lives, can we move forward towards a country rooted in unity instead of separation.
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Devor’s piece, “Becoming Members of Society: Learning the Social Meanings of Gender”
1. "Children begin to settle into a gender identity between the age of eighteen months and two years."
In relation to this research, how does this effect the children(s) being studied? Although kids eventually become familiarized with their gender identification, it would be odd to underestimate the bizarre effects that can occur after this experiment is conducted. On an emotional appeal, how does the child react to this study? Considering that they child is at a very young age, society is still influencing their gender decision because of their personal beliefs. Thus, this can cause a confused child to question their own gender identity after being told to associate with only one specific.
2. "Children's developing concepts of themselves as individuals are necessarily bound up in their need to understand the expectations of the society of which they are a part."
It is odd that children are forced to understand the society in which "they are a part of." In a way, I believe that children are forced to understand what society has created for them, thus, they must understand what they are told by the rest of society. Children are developing concepts because of the influences from external factors that include media, music, school, as well as parent figures. They are developing their concepts because of preconceived notions that have been created from established traditional views.
3. "Body postures and demeanors which communicate subordinate status and vulnerability to trespass through message of "no threat" make people appear to be feminine.
Much of this excerpt has been related to the physical characteristics between men and women. It appears that the perception of gender is based on physical attributes (clothes, and outer appearance) rather than the actual physical genitalia. Also, it is somewhat contradictory that being non-agressive and kind makes a man appear feminine. This would mean that men must always be alpha males and in a dominant nature, which is unrealistic.
In relation to this research, how does this effect the children(s) being studied? Although kids eventually become familiarized with their gender identification, it would be odd to underestimate the bizarre effects that can occur after this experiment is conducted. On an emotional appeal, how does the child react to this study? Considering that they child is at a very young age, society is still influencing their gender decision because of their personal beliefs. Thus, this can cause a confused child to question their own gender identity after being told to associate with only one specific.
2. "Children's developing concepts of themselves as individuals are necessarily bound up in their need to understand the expectations of the society of which they are a part."
It is odd that children are forced to understand the society in which "they are a part of." In a way, I believe that children are forced to understand what society has created for them, thus, they must understand what they are told by the rest of society. Children are developing concepts because of the influences from external factors that include media, music, school, as well as parent figures. They are developing their concepts because of preconceived notions that have been created from established traditional views.
3. "Body postures and demeanors which communicate subordinate status and vulnerability to trespass through message of "no threat" make people appear to be feminine.
Much of this excerpt has been related to the physical characteristics between men and women. It appears that the perception of gender is based on physical attributes (clothes, and outer appearance) rather than the actual physical genitalia. Also, it is somewhat contradictory that being non-agressive and kind makes a man appear feminine. This would mean that men must always be alpha males and in a dominant nature, which is unrealistic.
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