We've discussed in detail already the concept of "power," a somewhat nebulous term that is hard to pin down. Power can be individual, as in agency, and power can be structural, as in racism and sexism. Agency is the ability for someone (the agent) to act in the world. This action can range from conforming to the status quo to actively rebelling against the status quo; the ability to have this choice is a feature of agency.
Hierarchical structures of power, such as sexism, racism, classism, heterosexism, and ableism, affect ALL of us, as you analyzed in your papers. Some of us are privileged by these structures of power, while some of us are oppressed. You all did an excellent job of analyzing how these structures of power shaped your personal lived experiences.
At the same time, whether you used the term or not, a few of you discussed your sense of agency: how you actively resist racism, for example, or how you had grown up unaware of some of your privileges (thereby conforming to the status quo).
The myth of the American Dream is powerful and alluring. Who wouldn't want to believe that anyone, regardless of race, class, gender, sexuality, etc., with enough hard work could "make it" -- if not become another Bill Gates, then at least become financially comfortable? Isn't that what we've always been taught, according to the Puritan work ethic: those who "make it" were willing to work hard and sacrifice, while those who didn't were lazy and indulgent?
If not consciously, then certainly this is a dominant (hegemonic) ideology (shared set of ideas and assumptions) about America. Part of the power of this myth of the American Dream is that sometimes a few people actually do achieve it. Those who "make it" seem like the norm, while those who don't seem like the deviation.
I would like you to explore this PBS webpage "Race: The Power of an Illusion." Focus on "Where Race Lives," but feel free to check out other parts of this webpage if you're interested. Keep in mind that the title refers to race as a social construction which has material consequences for the ways we live our lives.
For your in-class assignment, share your reactions to this webpage (about a paragraph). If you have any questions, post these as well. See you soon!
Interesting Links
- The Feminist Newbie Forum
- Feminist Anti-Oppression Forum
- Elizabeth Sackler Center for Feminist Art
- Bust: Culture Vulture Links
- Bitch: Feminist Response to Pop Culture
- Korean Council: Cyber Memorial
- National Organization for Women: Young Feminism
- Feminist Majority: Arts, Entertainment, Literature
- Main WMST 250 Class Blog
Labels
- American Dream (1)
- Announcements (7)
- Art and Capitalism (1)
- Art and Ethics (1)
- Assignment 3 (9)
- bell hooks (1)
- Colonialism (1)
- Congratuations (1)
- Controversial Art (2)
- Feminist Art (3)
- Final Paper (7)
- Gender (1)
- Gradebook (1)
- Group Work (1)
- In-class Assignments (13)
- Influential Women (1)
- Intersectionality (1)
- Introductions (1)
- Manifest Destiny (1)
- Mass Media (1)
- Matrix of Domination (1)
- Museum Papers (9)
- Museums (1)
- networking (1)
- Nuts n Bolts (1)
- Patricia Hill Collins (1)
- Project Link (1)
- Questions (1)
- Race (2)
- Scholarship (1)
- Science Fiction (1)
- Sexuality (1)
- Structural Oppression (1)
- Sweatshops (1)
- Tunnel of Oppression (2)
- Women's Leadership Training (1)
- Women's Studies (2)
Assignment Deadlines
- Event Analysis -- Feb. 14
- Grade Book -- March 4
- Discussion Group Leaflet/Event -- March 4
- Partner Plan --- March 25
- The Analysis of Everyday Life -- April 22
- Learning Analysis -- May 13
Blog Archive
Class Meetings
8 comments:
I believe that this webpage could serve as an eye opener to alot of citizens, as many still to this day wear blinders when it comes to racial segregation. I especially enjoyed the section about Uncle Sam where it explains in depth the movements and how they excluded groups of people other then whites. The power of society and how these movements and other issues which the website discusses not only affected the times then but also now.
As the class draws to a near I feel that though feminism has made great strides, those strides have only been made in the communities of marked categories leaving all others behind. Until all citizens come on board change will not be as effective.
I enjoyed the way this website showed specific events of discrimination throughout history. I was particularly shocked to learn just how throughly certain acts, such as the Wagner Act, were used to exclude non-Whites.
Alexis Aduba
Carissa: 03
Race-The Power of an Illusion
Though I have been lucky in my life to beat many odds against me and rise with the sense of agency despite opression I do realize that this is not always the case. It is unfair that while some people are priveliged others are opressed and because of this they have to work twice as hard to get half as far or perhaps nowhere at all. Opression effects us all but no one more than those who are opressed.On the webpage: "Where Race Lives" they discuss " How government policies and past discrimination have made generating wealth easier for some Americans than others." (PBS.com) I feel that this proves to be very true especially when looking at race. In the section labeled "Uncle Sam Lends a Hand" they talk about how federal government policies and programs that helped white families achieve the American Dream made it difficult for minorities to buy homes and retain wealth. In the section labeled " The Downward Spiral" they discuss how " White flight" contributed to the downward spiral and horrible living conditions for minorities. "White Flight" is nothing more than a symbol of how racism and discrimination do have an effect on peoples lives and can alter them for the worst.
I like reading the Tale of two Families because it shows that race does play a big part on whether one is privledged or oppressed. It compared two families and showed how race affects income and where they are later in life. It is very hard to become successful when youre oppressed all of your life. I thin that a lot of people can learn from this because many people think that everyone is given the same opportunity in the US and if they do not then it must be their own fault. For the Uncle Sam Lends a Hand, I was surprised at how all of these law were supposed to be fair but they still ended up disciminating aganist minorities. A lot of these laws were created to prevent discrimination but none of them were actually enforced because minorirites were still disctiminated against for example in housing.
wow, That website is amazing.
I learned a lot about how large of an advantage even middle class white families have over minorities just in terms of assets. I always knew that having assets in the family was important but I didn't really internalize how big the difference was.
The other thing that surprised me was the "white flight" problem. I had heard of white flight before but never had the problem been spelled out in such clear and powerful terms.
I thought the facts about racism where really interesting, especially about how racism is so modern and how race has no genetic pretense. It really shows how racism is so rooted in American history, especially with the section about Uncle Sam lending a hand, and how so many acts made it difficult for minorities.
This website served as very educational as it showed how racism can be traced through American history. It also reminds us that though racism should not be present today, sadly it still is. I also enjoyed the Tale of Two Families because it reminded me a lot of our project #3 which allowed me to compare my life to my partners life while finding examples of privilege and oppression.
The "downward spiral" section was interesting because a few days ago I saw an article online where a man was beat down by 15 individuals and then stripped and further humiliated right out in the open. The article interviewed an older woman (in her late 70's) and she mentioned that all she ever wanted was to retire with her husband, and relax and enjoy their once calm neighborhood, but she can't now because it is so riddled with violence and crime. A few quotes from the article that are basically directly from the downward spiral are "Poverty and drugs have left many houses in the neighborhood dilapidated. There are a few newly renovated homes and two newer ones, one with barred windows. The once-lively commercial district around the corner is made up of mostly closed stores interrupted occasionally by a barbershop or storefront church." Another, from the lady interviewed comments about the dream of working hard to be able to retire : "You pay for your home, you work hard, you retire and you want to enjoy, just come out on your porch and enjoy, wait for the summertime to come and sit and enjoy".
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,355235,00.html
Post a Comment