She shot the stereotype!
The other day after we turned in our family projects, some ladies and I were talking about a very touchy subject, at least for me. The discussion pertained to “fulfilling my role” as a woman. It started off something like “what are you going to do in the future” and turned into me not performing tasks I was “made” to do. I had commented that I just wanted to wear business suits and give presentations in 136-story-office buildings. Other girls sitting around me turned their heads; I am not sure if their looks were of surprise or disguest…or both. One girl said even though it sounded cliché, she enjoyed cooking and cleaning and couldn’t wait to have children. I retorted with something like “God forbid, I should have children.” Then everyone in the room seemed to be shocked and appalled.
This whole experience leads me to believe women are still suffering from the “homemaker” stereotype disease. It was odd and poorly received that I chose a career over getting married and having children. The only person who didn’t act like I had just shot someone was a fellow female, a grad student. She just laughed and said she understood. It was nice to know I was not alone, even if only one person agreed. Will these stereotypes ever change?
Even in Cananda women aren’t equal
Canadian women celebrated equality day with a discussion on equal rights. Their verdict? Women are still facing some of the same challeneges they faced more than fifty years ago. Most women agree they experience more equality today than in years past but others don’t think it is enough. Some femenists think they are still strides behind men.
When asked what is to be done, women said simply to raise awareness and keep pushing forward. These women say they still experience unfair wages, limiter upward mobility, and just unfair treatment in general.
Men retorted that women have an unfair advantage; sex. Certain men said women received promotions unfairly because of looks or other advantages not related to job performance.
What do you think? Who is right? Can both sides be correct? With there ever be equality between genders in America? The rest of the world?
Freedom Riders
Freedom Riders were civil rights activists. They were fighting for desegregation and equality among different races. They rode in interstate buses into the segregated southern parts of the United States to test the United States Supreme Court decision Boynton v. Virginia in 1960. The first Freedom Ride left Washington D.C. on May 4, 1961, and was scheduled to arrive in New Orleans on May 17. The riders were arrested on many occasions for such things as trespassing, unlawful assembly and violating state and local Jim Crow laws. The Freedom Rides came after many “sit-ins” and boycotts in the 1960s. Their plan was to ride through Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi, ending with a rally in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Most of the violence they encountered was in Anniston and Birmingham. In Anniston a mob attacked the bus and slashed the tires. The bus was then firebombed by the cars following it. As the bus burned the mob held the doors shut, intending to burn the riders to death inside. An undercover cop drew his gun and foced the mob to let the riders out of the burning bus. As they exited they were visiously beaten.
When the bus reached Birmingham it was attacked by members of the Ku Klux Klan. As the member of the bus exited, the were beaten with baseball bats iron pipes and bicycle chains. The hospitalized Riders were kicked out of the hospital for fear of angry mobs showing up there. US Attorney General Robert Kennedy sent an assistant, John Seigenthaler, to Alabama to try to calm the situation and urged restraint on the part of Freedom Riders. All of the original freedoms riders injured, they flew the New Orleans for the scheduled rally.
Nashville student Diane Nash, felt that if violence halted the Freedom Rides, the movement would be set back years. She pushed to find replacements to resume the ride, and on May 17th a new set of riders, students from Nashville, took a bus to Birmingham where they were arrested by Bull Connor and jailed.
The Riders were met with violence in Montgomery too. Alabama Governor Patterson reluctantly promised to protect the bus from KKK mobs and snipers on the road between Birmingham and Montgomery. When the riders reached the Montgomery city limits, the Highway Patrol and their protectors abandonded them. At the bus station, a white mob was waiting and viciously beat the Freedom Riders with baseball bats and iron pipes. The local police allowed the beatings to go on uninterrupted.
Mississippi was not an easy city either. The Riders boarded busses headed for Jackson, Mississippi. They were surrounded by highway partol and arrived in Jackson without any major problems. They were immediately arrested for trying to use “white-only” facilities and the depot. This pattern continued and developed a strategy of trying to fill the jails.
All of their efforts eventually led to desegration and civil rights for all.
Modern Racism
Racism in general is decrimination against a certain person or group of persons on the basis of race. It can be seen in everyday life, such as in the work place, while driving, even in passing conversation.
A member of one group, Ms. Harnsberry, used shows like “I Love New York” and characters like “Flava Flav” to show modern stereotypes.
Today racism is more subtle. It isn’t beating people because they look different than you; it is more racist remarks and dirty looks. It has progressed to less violent forms.
One form in the work place in the glass ceiling. People claim they can only climb so far up the corporate latter before the limiting factor of race comes into play. If an African American person and a caucasian person are up for the same job, people say the white person would more than likely get the position based soley on the color of his or her skin.
Modern racism is holding racial stereotypes. Assuming hispanic people are good at manual labor, seeing African Americans as more athletic than caucasians, thinking Asians are better at math, thinking only white males can manage or run companies.
Simply having the the attitude or negative bias is racism. Today many people hold racial biases without realizing it. I showed one of my friends pictures of two doctors who are as equally as reputable and have had the same amount of education.One was black and the other whire. When asked which doctor she would choose, she pointed to the white one. I asked why and she said because he seemed more “estabolished.” There was no basis for her judgement excect race. These are forms of modern racism.
The Body Image of Women
The body image of women has been changing since before the suffragettes. Before the women who fought for the right to vote, females were seen as ‘having their place.” They were expected to stay in the home, to rear the children, to cook, clean and to perform other “womanly duties.” With the suffregettes women started to branch out of the home, fight for equality. This is where the term “feminist” orginates from. Feminism refers to any political movement, theory or moral philosophy pertaining to gender inequality or equal rights for women.
The picture of a “woman” started to shift. With WWI they were able to do things men could do, receiving public scorn of course. Before they were dresses and cooked and cleaned. Now they can wear pants and work in facorties. Rosie the Riveter became the cultural icon with which women identified. Rose Will Monroe, who was born in Pulaski County, Kentucky in 1920, was the real life Rosie.
After the 1950s, things moved progessivley for women. Today, women are enjoy more equality than even before. But today there is a problem. Publically, and generally speaking, women are used and seen as sex symbols. Any ad seen on television or in a magazine usually depicts a woman scantilly clad; her body being used to sell something. The thought is that if the patrons buy the product or service they will either look like this or date women who look like that.
In one group’s presentation Ms. James used the example of the girl she baby-sits after school. The young girl was about eleven years old. She was a gymnist. This girl was already watching her weight and asking if she needed to work out more or eat less. This shows the obsession in our society to reach a weight or certain look that is only atainable by less than 10 percent of the population.
“Suffragette” is a name given to a member of the women’s suffrage movement. These members were fighting for the right of women to vote. The movement originally started in the United Kingdom by Emmeline Pankhurst. Mostly working class women ran this movement. They were said to be frustrated with their position in society and wanted to change it.
Many women sacrificed themselves for the movement. Women chained themselves to railings, set fire to mailboxes and smashed windows. Emily Davison died after she stepped out in front of the King's horse, Anmer, at the Epsom Derby of 1913. Women were imprisoned and went on hunger strikes. This led to what was called the cat and mouse game. Women would starve themselves almost to death while in prison. They were released when near death and would be imprisoned again when they were healthy enough. The British even passed a Cat and Mouse Act to keep the women from gaining public sympathy. This kept them from acting in hunger strikes.
The movement spread to the other side if the Atlantic, America. During World War I most of the working men went off to war. This left a void in the workplace. Women had to fill it. They left their homes and set out for factories. Women entering the work place led to a new definition of what women were capable of doing.
Women received the right to vote with the 19th Amendment in 1920.
Gender in Jobs
A woman has worked in the IT field for about 15 years. When she started, she was a pioneer in her field, the only woman as well. She feels she should have advanced faster as well as being higher up on the corporate ladder. She said she feels her gender is the reason for the hold up. She said if she were a man, there would not have been as much "gender discrimination." It is a classic case of the glass ceiling. The problem here is there are other factors we are not told. Does she perform as well as the other males in her profession? Is she reliable? Is she as productive? Are people as satisfied with her work? We only know her side of the story. If she does perform as well, how would we measure this? Is there any true way to tell? Is this a problem?
A law school professor in Bennington, Vermont said race and gender are still playing prominent roles in society. However, she said she feels the population is moving forward.
Mary Jo Wiggins, a dean and professor at the University of San Diego Law School, reflected on her own experiences as a black woman growing up in America during and after the civil rights movement. She also looked to the future, saying she believes it is possible for America to become a place without labels and categories.
Wiggins said today's younger generation, college-aged and below, could drastically change the dynamic of race and gender relations future years.
She said increasing globalization, with social and economic interdependence, and an increasing number interracial marriages were two positive signs that our country is moving the right direction.
Racially, the country is moving in the right direction
Race or gender does not play role in minority women’s presidential vote
In a national survey that asked what factors minority women Democrats will consider when voting for a presidential candidate, the center found that less than 10 percent of African-American, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander and Native American women Democrats said that race or gender were the primary motivators for selecting the next presidential candidate. Nine out of 10 women said they will choose a presidential candidate based on leadership abilities, according to the results released earlier this month.
The study, put out by the Center for Leadership & Civic Engagement (LEADS) at Spelman College, is said to trump any previous reports by the media.
Minority women vote based on qualifications
1. Why is it considered social commentary?
2. What is the relevance of the comedy routine to the content and subject of class?
3. It is funny in your opinion?
Lisa Lampanelli
She is talking about racial stereotypes. She is vulgar but to me, she is funny. The shock factor keeps you on your toes. Each thing that comes out of her mouth is worse than the last. It pertains to the class because she gives social stereotypes about race and gender as well.
Leah Kayanjanian
This woman talks about gender stereotypes. Her routine is on advantages and disadvantages of being a woman. This pertains to gender roles in class. She was not as funny. It would have something to do with the fact she has not shared as much success as the previous comics. I do not think it was her martial; it was more the delivery that hurt her.
Russell Peters
This man uses race in his act. He makes fun of all races. He is Indian; he grew up in Canada. His humor focuses on the Indian race. He is funny. He is not a vulgar as others so it was refreshing. He could be funny simply by pointing out racial stereotypes. He doesn’t have to use profanity to get his point across.
Mike Epps
He talks about special education. Students who require special help is something we all deal with. It is something almost everyone has come in contact with. It does not necessarily pertain to race or gender but I suppose it is in the media. It was funny on the basic level of communication. It is showing stratification in society. Giving others elite status. Putting others down is for some reason funny.
Ellen Degenerous
She focuses more on the homosexual aspect of life. This is social commentary because she talks about gender preference differences, everyone, not just gays, can relate to her work. She is funny, she isn’t vulgar and she can speak to all people. She just talks about everyday life and people can laugh. She does not just focus on gay or lesbian topics. She is just generally funny.
Steven Colbert
He uses political humor to point out problems in society. He more or less makes fun of a woman to her face. He asks her about Washington D. C. Saying it is not a state and making other ignorant remarks.
Katt Williams
Williams is humorous because he uses shock value in his routine. He says things that some of America feels but never says. He makes fun of social ills and uses race to make distinctions. But he has an overall positive message.
Dave Chappelle
He went on record saying he had a duty to his viewers and quit the show this episode. He is funny because what he is saying and the way he is acting is not socially accepted by mainstream America. It uses racially charged humor and antics to make a point. After this episode he quit the show because he was embarrassed and was also ashamed of himself and the rest of America.
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