I feel like we pick out certain topics to discuss in our society. These topics are the bold topics that have had media attention or have been on-going issues throughout our history. Race is one. Others are gender, religion, and sexuality. These are all hot topics that can be discussed for days and usually everyone has an opinion about each one. We mostly try to portray ourselves as not being racist. We look down on people who are, or who are sexist, etc.
In the course of this class I have tried to evaluate my feelings on these issues and I have questioned (due to some confusion in the reading) as to whether Hartigan is telling me that I am a racist or not. As I began to understand and take a sigh of relief that I am not in fact a racist, other things began to dawn on me. There are stereotypes that we all have on groups of people that do not necessarily have anything to do with race or any of the bold topics. People are generally afraid of what they do not understand and then form stereotypes or rumors and develop hatred for these things. This is so much easier to do than actually educate yourself on it and try to understand. I thought that I was a pretty open-minded person because I am accepting of people no matter their race, creed or sex. However there are groups out there that I have made fun of...I admit this and I am ashamed.
For instance, I used to make fun of people who are in sororities or frats. I did not know them, they seemed a certain way to me and I took it as that. I did not try to understand it--I had more fun making fun. But this is how hatred starts, this is how it spreads. I strive to be understanding and open minded, and I am glad that I had to come to this reality so I can change it. So maybe I wasn't being racist, but what difference does that make if I would still pick a group to be prejudiced against?? I do not have to agree with someone else's beliefs, or ways of life, but I can try to understand them and know that just because we are different does not make one better than the other.
I think that when we make fun of others we should really look at what we are saying. It doesn't matter how small or insignificant we think it is, because to whomever you are making fun of, it still hurts.
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I think you make very good points in this post. I think you can see this is especially relevant to gay rights in today's society. While there may not be open prejudice or discrimination based on race in recent times (not entirely true, but most of the time... one example against this is the open discrimination on people from the Middle East following 9/11,) there is definitely open discrimination and laws preventing homosexuals from having the same rights in society. Personally, I believe this results from exactly what you are talking about: fear of what people do not understand. A lot of the older generations might not know a lot of people who are openly gay leading to stereotyping and mistrust. I hope that when our generation has children, they will be as confused about unequal marriage rights as our generation is about legal segregation, or the fact that at one point women could not vote. Its a process of education and people standing up for what they believe in.
ReplyDeleteEveryone has been guilty of making fun of someone they have never met (more often then most people will admit haha) and I think the first step to creating an open mind is recognizing this. It can be funny, but at what price? I think everyone would agree that they would be hurt if we knew people were judging us based on I would love to meet someone who is free from any negative thoughts based on prejudicing.
Miranda and Lauren, I believe you have both hit on some very important points. Discrimination is an oft-referenced, but seldom addressed issue. Whether it be race-based, focused on homosexuals, or anyone else that does not fit within whatever worldview (and the stereotypes or beliefs it includes) one possesses, any form of prejudice adds to the problem.
ReplyDeleteI believe one key example of this was my own ignorance when I was younger. Stereotypical and off-the-cuff comments towards any group of people, myself included were quite normal among myself and my friends as we finally came in contact with the "real" world outside of our homes. However, anytime we were met with anyone who was upset with one of our joking (re:ignorant) comments, we all had the same defense: we were "equal opportunity offenders." I used to always tell my mom this when she would give me a disapproving look for any kind comment perceived as prejudicial, even if they were made ignorantly in jest.
Now when I look back on these comments, I am frustrated with myself because of the content of the comments. However, it goes beyond that. I am even more annoyed with myself because of the forum in which such unfortunate events most often occurred: around other young people. I am not exactly sure how this can be remedied without restricting free spirits and joking manner of kids and adolescents. However, you both have done us all a service by making us think about this. Because anytime we make these comments, or stand idly by or laugh them off, we are enabling the spread of prejudice and ignorance.