Video that I had wanted to include in my final post as well

Jamila Lyiscott: 3 Ways to Speak English

Final Reflection

The Aims of Diversity...

      According to definition, if one is aiming for Diversity, they are ultimately striving for variety and/or looking to explore a range of things. This simplistic interpretation of the word doesn't adequately express the vast number of topics that fall under the paradigm. Over the course of the quick summer semester, I have explored many topics related to diversity, and have increased my knowledge of what that word means, however continuous exploration is needed for such an extensive word...

      Originally, I had believed that I was pretty well versed in the field of diversity, having been a psychology major minoring in counseling in undergrad, however, I realized I was just at the beginning once I started reading for this class. My views on diversity have certainly been expanded, and I learned about a myriad of topics, but I will focus on some personal developments in four major areas: Social Class, Disability, Race, and Gender.

      With regard to issues of social class, having grown up in a middle-class family, I had believed that I had the average American experience, however I would soon find out that everyone experiences issues of diversity differently. After reading and analyzing several articles, I truly came to appreciate the fact that I was extremely privileged to have a mother and family that was entirely supportive of me and my education, thus allowing more opportunities in my future. In addition, I was unaware of the ways in which society was spreading the gap between the rich and the poor. Upon gaining knowledge of the Gini coefficient, inheritance contingencies, and the dangers of inequality, I understand the need for change in order to ensure a bright future for this country. The issue of social class is one that I had naively believed to have understood, but after attending classes and analyzing several articles, I certainly have learned quite a lot of information about such an important topic.

      In addition to social class, my views were expanded involving issues of disability as well. I was appalled to learn that as a society, we claim that individuals' disabilities are the problem, not the fact that we are inadequately accommodating them. Also, I found it disheartening that much of the social stigma and ostracizing comes from the ignorant belief that people need to all be the same and fit into a "normal" niche. I also found it intriguing to read about life experiences through many different individuals eyes. Doing so allowed me to gain a better (empathetic) understanding of what life could be like for those disabled folks. I truly increased my knowledge on disability studies, and will continue to do so in the future - partially because I've never agreed with the idea of a "normal" human being anyway...

      Whenever I thought of diversity studies, race was immediately the first to come to my mind - with gender at a close second - and I had believed that I knew a great deal of information about this topic as well, but I was mistaken. I was intrigued to learn about the "one-drop" rule, the protean"n-word", the implicit association test aimed at showing how our preconceived notions dictate our judgement, and ultimately the evolution of racism. It was also fascinating to delve into the inherent categorical nature of humans to see how it relates to feelings of race and identity. This class has truly allowed me to delve into a topic that I have only begun to understand.

      Finally, as in the aforementioned paragraph, I usually thought of gender studies when the word diversity came up in conversation. Being a male, I had somewhat of an idea what influence my gender had on my life, but I was unaware of the intricacies associated with establishing gender. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about how our society has developed the gender roles that we use today, and the ways in which we categorize people solely based on preconceived expectations of behavior. By creating norms, we are limiting people to certain categories, we should instead remove all boundaries, and allow everyone to express themselves as they please. Gender studies has always intrigued me, and I will certainly continue to look into this topic in the future.

      Overall, I am very pleased that I have learned so much about a myriad of topics thus far, allowing me to have such a diverse knowledge of the subject. I thoroughly enjoyed taking this class, and have truly developed a new outlook on life. Awareness is certainly the first step to solving any problem, and education about said problem is truly the best combatant, thus I am grateful to have had the opportunity to explore topics of such importance.

      Taking into account all that I have learned thus far, through the class exercises, discussions, and readings, I believe that I have somewhat of an idea of what the "aims of diversity" could be...

In my opinion, I believe that some of the most important aims of diversity are to influence people to:

• Challenge socially constructed societal norms, preconceived notions, and negative biases towards people
• Value differences as unique rather than as deviant aberrations 
• Evade any attempts at dehumanizing a person
• Afford everyone the right to be treated equitably

      When discussing social class previously in this essay, I remembered that a while back, I had written a poem regarding the unfairness of class structures, and how class is an inaccurate representation of a person anyway... The following is that poem...

Embellishments

By Brett Santo

Shoes, slacks, belt, shirt, tie, jacket

If you’re not wearing these, you’ll certainly make a racket

Trying to make it in this world, ha! You must wear the synthetics

Because professionalism is primarily judged on aesthetics

Yes, first it’s how you look, not how you feel

Not what you know, can this be real?

They say first impressions are truly essential

But I think your outfit shouldn’t be your first credential

No one ever asks if we can afford such things

And I didn’t know it was required to look like kings
Intelligence and diligence come from within

So I think its important for me to begin

Speaking about the true driving force in our hearts

Its not personal embellishments, cause that’s about cost

Instead its about our talents, dreams, and desires

Because when it comes down to it, I think we should want to hire

Someone who really wants to do this job, not for the prestige or label

Who holds innate characteristics that you will be able

To palpably notice once they walk in the room

They’ll make all the difference, so change your mind soon…

      I'd like to close with a quote that I had coined during my junior year of my undergraduate studies, as I feel that it ties in very nicely with all of the topics discussed over the course of the semester...

"Life is a series of realizations, once you realize something, 

you look back to see how you're going to successfully move forward"

      I feel that my quote ties into the fact that in today's society, if we realize that something needs to be changed and/or is truly deleterious to society as a whole, we should actively work towards making that change, as it will ultimately lead to success on a macrocosmic level...

      I feel as if we are making progress in the field of diversity studies, and this is apparent in various advertisements that I've seen recently...

How to Act, the Importance of "Time Constancy" and "Stubborn Ounces"

An analysis of the following quote referenced in the following article

What Can We Do? Becoming Part of the Solution by Allan G. Johnson

"It is in such small and humble choices that oppression and the movement toward something better actually happen" (Johnson, 507)

      As humans, we inherently strive for perfection, and since that isn't possible, we perpetually settle for the next best thing. Upon realizing that the world is filled with problems revolving around issues of exclusion, harassment, privilege, and discrimination, we are slowly beginning to understand that societal views need to be improved. Although there are many who believe the world is far better than it was in the past, there is still plenty of work to be done.

      Analyzed from a sociological perspective, this article delves into the inherent hindrances that humans face when attempting to implement change. Fully acknowledging the fact that there are many issues in the world today, the author describes what is holding us back from our true potential - and no surprise - its ourselves...The article describes how it is important to understand that change occurs gradually over time, and this certainly doesn't satiate our need for immediate gratification. Often, a person will do something, hoping to alter the course of the future, (whether on a large or small scale), and unless the effect is immediately perceived, the individual believes that they have had no impact whatsoever. This obviously leads to feelings of inadequacy and ineffectiveness, ultimately lessening the chance of that person trying again in the future. To address this debacle, the author contends that humans need to develop "time constancy", and describes how it is important to understand that change still occurs whether we see it or not. The idea of "time constancy" is analogous to the idea of object permanence, (an understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be observed). In addition to this idea, he also delves into the importance of modeling behavior. He exclaims, "...the simplest way to help others make different choices is to make them myself, and to do it openly" (Johnson, 506). Making an observable difference in your own life can have a major influence on the lives around you. Even if it seems to be an extremely small change, due to the social nature of humans, the concept will change, and potentially, begin the restructuring of a new societal norm, and this time, one that is beneficial. Further exploring the concept of changing behavior, the author also describes how change is more prevalent across generations, bolstering the argument that change happens slowly. Although we may not see the immediate effects of an action today, people two or three generations down the road may have extremely different views about something (having been influenced by our behaviors today). Although he makes several important points in the article, one of the most salient is that it is imperative for us to continue to try to implement change in the world, even with small acts, because no act is truly insignificant, as every act has some influence down the road.

      To be honest, reading this article was truly enlightening - not just because I absolutely love sociology and psychology - but because it helped to tie in much of what I've learned about in this class thus far. When learning about diversity studies, one is always left with the question, "Okay, now what can I do? - and many times during some of my analyses, I found myself thinking that exact thought. I enjoyed this article because it addressed many myths and inherent fears that deter people from trying to influence society, and also showed ways to overcome them. By restructuring the way we think about change, and how to implement change, we can begin to believe that we have a significant impact on the world.

I also enjoyed the "stubborn ounces" reference, as it is extremely important to know where to place your "stubborn ounces", because they can certainly influence your future health...

Stubborn Ounces by Bonaro W. Overstreet

To One Who Doubts the Worth of

Doing Anything If You Can’t Do Everything)

You say the Little efforts that I make

will do no good: they never will prevail

to tip the hovering scale

where Justice hangs in balance.

I don’t think I ever thought they would.

But I am prejudiced beyond debate

in favor of my right to choose which side

shall feel the stubborn ounces of my weight.

As I was reading this article, and really connecting to what the author was saying, I was reminded of many things that I had seen in my life that related to what he was discussing... Several are below:

One of the movies that I always show in my Leadership class to show the power of a single act and how one person can truly make a difference:

A quote that I've seen relating to the power of one small good thing:

And...two of the quotes that I leave my students with at the end of every class:

"Change is not always better, but in order to be better you have to change. You can't be better by staying the same"

&

"The three hardest tasks in the world are neither physical feats nor intellectual achievements, but moral acts: to return love for hate, to include the excluded, and to say 'I was wrong'"

A Necessary Reconditioning of Societal Views

An analysis of the following quotes referenced in the following three articles:

"Can You See the Rainbow?" The Roots of Denial by Sally French

"By denying the reality of my disability I protected myself from the anxiety, disapproval, frustration and disappointment of the adults in my life" (French, 318)

The Other Movement That Rosa Parks Inspired: By Sitting Down, She Made Room for the Disabled by Charles Wilson

[Referring to the mistreatment of disabled people in regards to available methods of transportation]

"None of this should be happening in America. 'Rosa Parks could get on the bus to protest', says Roger McCarville, a veteran in Detroit who once chained himself to a bus. 'We still can't get on the bus'. A true tribute to Parks would be to ensure that every American can" (Wilson, 492)

Disability and Representation by Rosemarie Garland-Thomson

"Disability studies challenges our collective representation of disability, exposing it as an exclusionary and oppressive system rather than the natural and appropriate order of things...it recognizes the contributions of a group of people who have historically been dismissed because of deeply rooted cultural bias" (Garland-Thomson, 475, 476)

      Disability is a topic that is seldom explored when speaking about issues of Diversity. The colloquial understanding that disabilities are medical issues, not oppressive and stigmatizing concepts has become the societal norm. This naive conjecture couldn't be further from the truth. The three articles mentioned above delve into various topics within the paradigm of disability and display how important it is to alter this conditioned societal norm.

      The first article, written by a woman who is nearly-blind, offers an empathetic retelling of a life lived with a minor disability. The most salient point made in the article, (and seen in the quote above), is that as a person who didn't fit into the category of "normal", the author learned to deny the fact that she had a disability entirely, ultimately attempting to evade any admonishments from the external world. Throughout the article, the author describes a myriad of situations in which she felt that her best option was to deny that she had any problem in the first place. Whether she was at home with family, in school with "abled"children, or in a special school for the blind, there was never any accommodation given from the outside world. Instead, children were taught to alter their internal thought process from seeking external help to bolstering internal motivation to become "normal". In one instance, a headmaster at one of her schools insisted that these blind children not acknowledge that they are blind in any manner, but instead strive to achieve successes that seem impossible for those without sight. As she repeatedly exclaims in the reading, it was important to become superhuman and deny one's disability entirely, for that would be the only way to truly assimilate into society and achieve success.

      The second article draws a connection between Rosa Parks and those within the disabled population. The brief article quickly retells various stories of individuals who have struggled to find adequate public transportation, further justifying the need to offer more accommodations to those who are disabled. As seen in the quote above, and expressed at the end of the article, one of the author's main points is that everyone should be able to receive the accommodation that they need. The author describes how our inadequate transportation systems have hindered the lives of those with disabilities, thus disallowing them to live a life of normalcy. By not having sufficient transportation methods, we are eliminating their chance to succeed in both their professional and personal life. In addition, these inadequacies lead to embarrassment, anger, and isolation as we are truly singling-out those who are different from the rest. Just as Rosa Parks influenced change by refusing to give up her seat, disabled individuals are trying to increase the chance of simply having a seat to sit in. A request as simple as this should be easily resolved in today's adapting society, yet we are still struggling to provide efficient accommodations for everyone.

      The third article touches upon the evolution of societal views, describing how we have begun to embrace differences and disabilities rather than creating social stigmas. It is important to note that the article also discusses the pragmatic truth that we have not yet counter-conditioned oppressive beliefs entirely. As seen in the quote above, one of the author's main intentions is to display the impactful and salient nature of disability studies. The author describes the many ways in which we have redirected society's perspectives toward acceptance and even reverence of those who are different, further justifying the importance of empathy, awareness and understanding. Another important fact listed in the article is that those who are disabled are part of the largest minority in the country, further displaying the necessity and importance of assuaging this turmoil. The article gives many examples, from movies and magazine cover pages to artists and composers that represent the importance of understanding that these individuals were successful because of their disability, not in spite of it. It is this level of understanding that needs to be achieved in order to truly combat the conditioned biases of the general population. 

      I enjoyed delving deeper into the oppressive issue of disability through these three articles. Each provided important information and necessary experiences that truly opened my eyes. When reading the first two articles, I couldn't help but find myself disgusted with the way society was treating these disabled individuals. Simply explaining that "they'll figure it out", or that they should adapt and change in order to fit within the realm of normal is immensely naive and extremely indolent. Rather than adjusting society and its views, (concepts that are surely malleable), we are sitting back and expecting these people to do the impossible, and alter their inexorable difference. This is surely not the way to overcome the exclusionary system that we have created over the years. The third article revitalized my hopes through its wonderful success stories and revolutionary methods of thinking. If we cannot alter the inevitable fact that someone is disabled, the only way to assuage this stigma is to eliminate the negative associations revolving around disabilities. If we can change our own perspective on what is acceptable, we can wash away the stark boundaries of "normalcy", and instead value everyone as individual and unique. 

      When developing this analysis, I thought about two videos that can relate to the concepts discussed in these articles. Although they aren't about disabilities per se, they dovetail quite nicely with the idea of restructuring societal norms. The following two videos truly challenge society's view of beauty, and show how simple it can be to accept differences or imperfections as ideal and desirable.

"Flawz" by Caitlin Crosby & "Try" by Colbie Caillat

The Evolution of Racism & America's Protean Epithets

An analysis of the following quotes referenced in the following two articles:

Between Barack and a Hard Place by Tim Wise

"Obama might well have won the nation's highest office in spite of ongoing traditional white racism, and yet because of a newer, slicker Racism 2.0, in which whites hold the larger black community in low regard and adhere, for instance, to any number of racist stereotypes about African-Americans - and yet carve out acceptable space for individuals such as Obama who strike them as different, as exceptions who are not like the rest" (Wise, 365)

The Protean N-Word by Randall Kennedy

[When referring to a decision that President Lyndon Johnson was making in appointing Thurgood Marshall, an African-American, to the supreme court for the first time in history, and responding to the fact that he referred to the candidate as a (n-word)] 

"On this particular occasion, however, it seems likely that he was merely seeking to highlight the racial exclusion against which he was acting, parodying the old regime even as he sought to reform it. If this is an accurate assessment of the situation, I see nothing wrong with what Johnson said, and I applaud what he did" (Kennedy, 472)

      When the average person hears "diversity studies", they're very likely to fall into the colloquial realm involving racism, as this seems to be the most salient topic. Albeit rather important, there are many other areas of diversity studies that are just as paramount, and just as heavily studied. After reading these two articles however, I found it extremely necessary to write about the ubiquitous topic of racism...

       The first article mentioned above discusses the evolution of racism within the United States with regard to the 2008 presidential election of Barack Obama. Popular belief would dictate that with his triumph, racism within the United States had began to diminish, however further analysis into the matter reveals this contention to be demonstrably fallacious. As seen in the quote above, one of the author's main points is that we have not necessarily assuaged all racism simply by electing an African-American to office, but instead have further displayed how we have created categories to which aberrants of a certain minority group can fit into, devoid of any negative connotations associated with their minority group. This conjecture is extremely important as it displays our shift from absolute racism to the allowance of certain exceptions. This can certainly be seen as a step forward, but it is in no manner a triumph over issues of race. Rather, this argument is predicated on the fact that humans are heavily influenced by preconceived notions about people, and thus after learning about them, pre-categorize them as either fitting into the negative stereotype, or deeming them as an outlier. By stating that an individual seems to be behaving and/or acting in ways that are "better" than their minority group dictates is both a praise and a denigration. The elimination of any preconceived notions or categorizations is truly the only way to conquer such a powerful issue, but until then, we are left with the aforementioned paradox.

      The second article delves into the vacillating concept of the "N-word" and its evolution over hundreds of years. The author describes the origin of the word, the many contexts in which it has been used, and the various interpretations that it has taken on. With its derivation literally stemming from the color black in Latin (niger), it is quite clear that it was merely categorical at first. This fact is important, because originally there were no negative connotations associated with the word, thus entailing that it would be the volatile nature of humans that would ultimately alter its meaning forever. Used in many admonishments, altered through various interpretations, and mocked in a myriad of parodies, the "n-word" has evolved into what we acknowledge today as the most disparaging racial epithet in the American lexicon. Today, such an opprobrious word would never be heard in an educational, professional, or even friendly setting, for society has come to understand that it can only be derogatory and racist. However, as the author has exclaimed in the quote above, the protean nature of the word can allow it to be understood as a compliment, in addition to an acknowledgement of one's race. Taking an in-depth look into the etymology of this word truly displays the influence that society can have on a concept as subjective as a word.

      When first reading these two articles, I wasn't necessarily sure how to tie them together, however, after further analysis it is quite clear how the two are closely related. They both touch upon the fact that although we have enhanced our awareness of the topic of racism, we have a long way to go before we can say it has been severely diminished. The first article displays a macrocosmic example of how we can have preconceived and/or preconditioned racist thoughts about a person even when we ironically choose to revere them and elect them as our leader. The second article describes a microcosmic example of how a remark can be seen as belittling, denigrating, and racist, yet conversely in other contexts, unifying, identifying, and complimentary. Racism is certainly an ambiguous topic to discern, but hopefully with further awareness, and education, such a travesty can be overcome.   

      To be honest, I was very excited to read both of these articles simply based on their titles, as I believed they would be extremely interesting. Although I made a judgement based purely on face value, with heavy influence from my own preconceived notions, it was a judgement that would leave me captivated and intrigued. Being a white male who grew up in a diverse suburb, I had believed that I understood what racism was and how to assuage it. As an adolescent, it was very common to combat being called a racist by simply stating the different friends that you had from various minorities. However, looking back at all of the times that my friends' justification for not being racist was that they, "had black friends", further clarifies the fact that we were all falling victim to the same irony explained in these two articles. I have enhanced my awareness and understanding of issues of race and diversity since then, and I will certainly continue to learn more about these pervasive topics.

Through the looking class...how it's actually reality...

An analysis of the following quotes referenced in the following three articles:

Cause of Death: Inequality by Alejandro Reuss

"In all, the lower you are in a social hierarchy, the worse your health and the shorter your life are likely to be...Many of us have probably said to ourselves, after a trying day on the job, 'They're killing me.' Turns out it's not just a figure of speech. Inequality kills - and it starts at the bottom" (Reuss, 302,304)

Why Are Droves of Unqualified, Unprepared Kids Getting into Our Top Colleges? Because Their Dads Are Alumni by John Larew

"It is somewhat ironic to have us so deeply disturbed over a program where race is an element of consciousness, and yet to be aware of the fact, as we are, that institutions of higher learning have given conceded preferences to the children of alumni" (Larew, 307)

The Silver Spoon: Inheritance and the Staggered Start by Stephen J McNamee and Robert K Miller Jr.

"If we think of money as a measure of who gets how much of what there is to get, the race to get ahead does not start anew with each generation. Instead, it is more like a relay race in which we inherit a starting point from our parents" (McNamee & Miller Jr., 136)

      When the average person thinks of the "American Dream" seldom do they take into account the many obstacles that are involved while climbing that ladder towards success. Although we live in a society engendered with feelings of hope and malleability, the abhorrent truth is that our "class" system may be moderately analogous to that of the caste systems in the past. The three articles above explore just the surface of this perpetually growing canyon that we are building in between classes...

      The first article discusses social class in relation to life expectancy. One of the author's main points is the dismal truth that those in the lower classes are destined for shorter, unhealthier lives than their superior counterparts. The author delves into a number of statistics, ranging from topics such as the correlation of one's social class on the likelihood of becoming an alcoholic, the relationship between social class and rate of exercise, and ultimately the correlation between job status/title and life expectancy, to name a few. In all of his findings, it is clear-cut that there is an extremely strong correlation between the fact that those in lower classes are more likely to develop deleterious habits, not live s long as their superiors, and/or die of various diseases. It may seem like common sense that those who have less will not be afforded the same luxuries as those above them including proper health care, exercise and relaxation days, and a proper education, however as a society we have yet to find a way to assuage these terrible findings, and this is a problem that is only going to get worse as the gap between classes thickens...

      The second article delves into a serious debacle found in the admissions offices of various elite Ivy League Universities. As seen in the quote above, one of the author's main points is that colleges may be making attempts to assuage issues of diversity, yet they are unjust by ironically claiming that favoritism of children of alumni is not a problem. The article describes the distasteful truth that many Ivy League Universities are granting acceptance to under-qualified students (who are children of alumni) over other applicants. Even though certain applicants may not have the proper criteria to make it through the arduous process, whether or not they are the offspring of an alum heavily weighs into their decision. The author retells statements given by deans of various universities and touches upon the fact that all of them acknowledge the financial bolster that these parents give to the institution, and thus are important to maintain a relationship with. Ironically, there are some individuals that are aware of this, yet understand that although the alum may become perturbed for a while, they eventually return to support the institution. With education being a vital determinant of one's success, we cannot sacrifice one's educational opportunity for the chance of bolstering our financial situation. It is important to offer everyone an equal opportunity at a proper education, thus allowing for mobility among classes, and assuaging any formation of elitist caste systems...

      The third article mentioned above discusses the head-start that many individuals are granted simply by being born into a family that is well-off. As obvious as this statement may seem, the author describes how children born into affluent families are already ahead of others, and how easy it is for the trend to continue, shutting out others' chance of gaining wealth and success. One of the author's main points, as seen in the quote above, is that the "race" towards wealth and success is better described as a relay race based on the fact that inheritance from one's parents surely gives them an advantage over others. Although there are the aberrant cases where a person from a lower class family becomes very successful, wealth seems to be a family characteristic that is easily passed down from generation to generation. The article also touches upon the fact that we do not live in a society where the economic situation can be described as simply symmetrical or even bell-shaped. Instead, we live in a world where the poor greatly outnumber the rich, and with the gap between these classes growing larger, we are only creating a larger obstacle to overcome...

      In today's society, establishing an elite or successful role is certainly contingent upon the education that one achieves, and although we believe in providing educational opportunities for everyone equally, we may not be following through with that promise. In addition, those individuals who find themselves in the lower classes are not privileged with the same resources affording them an equal chance to succeed. The three contingencies displayed in the above articles further bolster the fact that something needs to be done in order to overcome this turmoil. If we are not affording everyone the same opportunity at education, and making it nearly impossible for poor individuals to ascend from their class (based on a disadvantage), then we are setting those "less-privileged" up for shorter and unhealthier lives, creating our own heinous version of "survival of the fittest"...

      These three articles really opened my eyes to the various ways in which we truly bolster the concept of class differentiation, whether we like it or not. Being part of a diverse school population, I truly observed the concepts discussed in all three of these articles. It bothered me when some of my classmates (from rich families) wouldn't try as hard in school simply because they knew that their parents would pay for them to go to any college anyway, especially if they picked their parents alma mater. In addition, there were some students that literally dropped out of school based on the fact that they assumed a position at their parent's companies (making more money than those coming out of college 4 years later). Finally, and most depressingly, I noticed many instances in which students from very low income families would completely lose all hope, and ultimately develop a myriad of health problems (many of my classmates turned to drugs and alcohol), and I have not heard any positive things about them since, [and I wouldn't expect them to have a rather long life expectancy either, having read about one of them in prison]...As an individual who grew up in a middle-class family, I was moderately unaware of the true turmoil that those in lower classes face. Conversely, growing up near an affluent neighborhood gave me a small perspective into the world of those "advantaged" folks. All of these articles made me think back to many instances in my life, and made me truly appreciate the opportunities that I was afforded, and I truly hope that in the future, many members of society will be able to say similar things about their successful endeavor through life...until then, I guess it's through the looking class and into the harsh reality...

The salient influence of the media's portrayal of social class

An analysis of the following quote referenced in the following article:

Framing Class: Media Representations of Wealth and Poverty in America by Diana Kendall

"We overidentify with the wealthy, because the media socialize us to believe that people in the upper classes are better than we are. The media also suggest that we need have no allegiance to people in our own class or to those who are less fortunate" (Kendall, 449)..."The issue of class in the United States is portrayed in the media not through a realistic assessment of wealth, poverty, or inequality but instead through its patterns of rampant consumerism" (Kendall, 452)

      Some people say that one of the most influential and revolutionary changes took place when nearly every home in the United States had a television. From that point on, society was hooked, and truly fell victim to the clever marketing and advertising tactics of thousands of companies. Humans are very easily influenced, and just as it was mentioned in a previous post, are unaware of how quick they are to judge, based purely on preconceived notions...

      This article delved into the media's influence, and how rather than doing society justice, it portrays many different aspects of social class, all of which focus on the wrong thing...Rather than showing the true successes of the "average" american, it shows the pitfalls of not being wealthy, by praising many rich stars on television today. Rather than highlighting the good nature of people, the media displays the importance of brand names and a luxurious lifestyle. Most importantly, rather than accurately displaying the many hardships that some in the lower class face, the media portrays these individuals as the less than us, the stigmatized other that is destined to fail, and who is deserving of such travesties. These common misrepresentations are what is causing American society to crumble quicker than they can say "money". By focusing on the elite, and conditioning members of society to emulate those in such high status, we are denigrating everyone else, including ourselves. We are setting ourselves up for failure before we even recognize our own accomplishments! By setting the standard acceptable lifestyle at this far-fetched elite level, we are literally belittling the life that we have right in front of us, ultimately striving to be better than the rest of society, and further bolstering the competitive nature within the primitive psyche of what Freud calls the id. The value of our lifestyle should never be based on the material possessions that we possess, but based on the media's portrayal of power and the importance of brands, we have been taught differently. As represented in the quote above, one of the most important points made in this article is the fact that we have become a society that is constantly engaged in hedonistic consumerism, rather than in a search for inter-class understanding and mobility. By emulating those who have more than they truly know what to do with, members of society begin to value many things in life, and regrettably ignore those intangible items that are of true importance...

While reading this article, I couldn't help but become more and more angry with how impressionable we are as a society. Rather than understanding that a luxurious lifestyle and material objects do not make a person happy, people strive to "get rich", and it's truly terrible that this desire is noticeable at ages as young as preteens. When I was younger, my friends would watch some of those shows that involved taking a look into some celebrities lifestyles, and I always remember how it felt looking at those houses, cars, and other things, and it always astonished me that those celebrities were revered and emulated. I have always tried to live my life with the idea that money is not what will make you happy, it is love from those around you and even though some rich individuals may seem perfectly content, there are always problems, and the desire for more continues to heighten...As I continued to read this article, I kept thinking of a song, (and in fact it has been stuck in my head the entire time reading and writing this), that truly bolsters my contention...In 2002, rock bank Good Charlotte debuted the song "Lifestyles of the Rich and the Famous", and it didn't focus on the importance of getting rich, but rather that rich folks apparently were just as unhappy as the average person. (Yes there are two hyperbolic references about how being rich gets you out of certain things, but I'm focusing on the chorus and some other parts of the song). In my opinion, this was a song that dared to shun those that everyone else had been emulating, and it showed that even those "elite" folks are not untouchable after all...Some awesome and important lyrics of the song are as follows: 

"

Always see it on TV
Or read it in the magazines 
Celebrities want sympathy
All they do is piss and moan
Inside the Rolling Stone
Talkin' about how hard life can be

I'd like to see them spend a week

Livin' life out on the street

I don't think they would survive

If they could spend a day or two

Walkin' in someone else's shoes

I think they'd stumble and they'd fall

They would fall (fall)

Lifestyles of the rich and the famous

They're always complainin'

Always complainin'

If money is such a problem

Well, they got mansions

Think we should rob them

"

As a person who has always despised the idea of money representing a person's true worth, all I can truly say is that Oscar Wilde said it perfectly..."Ordinary riches can be stolen; real riches cannot. In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you" (Oscar Wilde)...

Here is the video if you'd like to hear the whole song...

Lifestyles of the Rich and the Famous

July 8 Class - Digital Responses to Videos

In response to the video Colorblind: ReThinking Race:

      I found it intriguing that the video was in some ways addressing the colloquialism "ignorance is bliss". Personally, I find this conjecture to be demonstrably fallacious, as I believe that awareness, knowledge, and understanding is vital to any aspect of one's life, but I digress. Many important aspects were touched upon in this short video, including the fact that being "colorblind" does not exude an inclusive and positive mentality, but rather a hurtful and denigrating one. Additionally, another salient point was that we are ultimately becoming "color-mute", truly not acknowledging any differences among each other. It was interesting to see how truly deleterious it can be to disregard one's race entirely, yet as humans, we still will do it on a regular basis. I think that it is truly important to not disregard one's race (in an attempt to assuage any racial stereotype or conflict), but instead acknowledge and value the difference as it truly is. One instance in my life that relates to this video is the fact that presently, at Lyndon State College, we are having our incoming freshman read the book White Like Me by Tim Wise as an introduction into our "Year of Social Justice". Upon hearing this, I inquired as to the intention of this common-read, and learned that the impetus was to help the predominantly caucasian population of Lyndon learn about race, and not from a minority's perspective. Being a caucasian male, it is true that I don't often acknowledge what it means to be "white", and I think that the ideas portrayed in the book, and this video (that ironically enough actually features Tim Wise) are important to discuss in an attempt to assuage the turmoil revolving around issues of race. It is imperative that we do not behave in a way so as to "not notice people of color", but rather acknowledge the differences in the room, and understand how your own race plays into the situation at hand...

In response to the BBC video My Autism and Me:

      I found this video to be eye-opening and truly thought provoking. As a person who has been immensely interested with the Autism spectrum, I found it very informative and in my opinion, a very successful attempt at assuaging the stigma revolving around the idea of Autism. When the majority of people think of children with Autism, their minds don't wander too far from the stereotypical severe cases where an individual is vastly "different" from the "normal" person. I found that the video accurately offered an empathetic view into the lives of four children who normally would be generalized and potentially ostracized, and showed the viewer what "normal" is to them. In that quick 14 minutes, Rosie King was able to capture the audience with the fact that even though these people may be "different", there is no reason why they can't necessarily be successful and integrated into society with everyone else. I found that one of the main points of this video was that even though individuals with Autism may be perceived as being "different", they are in fact constructing their own definition of normal, and in my opinion, it is in this subjective belief where we can find a true way to break the colloquial idea of what normal is to begin with...

In response to the TEDx video Seeing Beauty for a change:

      This was one of the most amazing videos that I've ever seen regarding shifting one's perspective. Rick did an amazing job of showing how what we see in people as differences or aberrations should instead be seen as beautiful and unique. Typically, when one looks up a "disorder" or "disease", the litany of negative images is abundant, as he accurately showed in his talk. These images and negative connotations certainly bolster the stigma and isolation that these "different" individuals often face, when ironically, their differences should be valued as uniquely beautiful and rare. It was inspiring to see how one photographer noticed this issue, and successfully acted upon it in a way that showcased the problem with societal views to the entire world. Flipping the image from always negative and never positive to what he has done with his work has influenced a true culture of change in the world, that definitely was needed. In addition, the sorrowful stories revolving around someone having a disease can now be portrayed as having a rare beautiful trait. In my opinion, one of the most important points made in his talk comes in the middle, where he says that the girl who was originally reticent will walk with her head higher that next day, and that she will ultimately change the way the community sees her difference. By falling victim to the abuse and displaying the emotional turmoil in public, a "different" individual ironically justifies that he/she does in fact have something to be ashamed about. Conversely, showing pride, happiness, and positive self-image can and will make other members of society who may think their "normal", stop, and as Rick puts it, "gaze a little longer and see beauty in that difference".

In response to the video A Credo for Support:

      This was another unbelievably powerful video that not only showed how the preconceived notions and stereotypes that we have about disabled people are wrong, but also delved into the fact that how we think we need to help these people is entirely wrong as well. One of the most powerful statements came at the end, when three individuals strongly proclaimed the following: "Do not work on me. Work with me." By showing that these individuals do not feel that they have anything wrong with them, and instead it is our perceptions, this video truly depicts the problem with society. We must not work on people in an attempt to make them behave in the way that we deem appropriate, but instead, work with these people with the belief that they have the same ability as us and are just as capable. Another powerful statement came in the middle of the video, when one woman stated, "Do not help me, even if it makes you feel good, ask me if I need your help. Let me show you how you can best assist me." Often we find ourselves feeling sorry for an individual who is (as we inaccurately put it) "suffering" from a disorder, and thus feel the need to help, thinking that we'll be seen as selfless, when in reality, we are doing that person a disservice and treating them as if they are worse off and less-able than us. Realizing that there is no "normal" way to do things, and gaining a better understanding of the fact that everyone is truly different in their own unique way is truly the first step to assuaging the stigma of associated with many (mislabeled) "disorders" of society. 

      All of these videos made me think of a time in my life when, (as a psychology major), I had a major problem with the fact that all of the categories in the DSM revolved around the idea of "disorders". As many psychology majors tend to do, I self-diagnosed all the time, and found myself having a litany of these "disorders", but rather than categorizing myself as having a detriment, I found these traits to be some of my positive attributes. My Generalized Anxiety "Disorder" allows me to rationalize all of the potential negative consequences of situations, and thus has aided in my being branded a "goody-two-shoes" by my peers. My Obsessive-Compulsive behaviors made me more organized, and thus punctual with school-related items and in many other aspects of my life. I mean, as a kid, I don't think it was a disorder that my presents were neatly stacked after I opened them on Chanukah, it just made my clean-up faster...

We shouldn't judge things in life purely at face-value...Even though many of life's categories associated with being different are deemed as disorders doesn't mean they should be seen as such...

Societal Generalizations & The paradox associated with the "Model Minority Myth"

An analysis of the quotes referenced from the following articles

 The Model Minority: Asian American "Success" as a Race Relations Failure by Frank Wu

"it contains the premise that people can be arranged by racial group, and furthermore, that the differences between racial groups are more significant than either the similarities between racial groups or the differences within them. It makes the race the main feature of an individual as well as the leading division among people..." (Wu, 375)

and

Let Me Work for It! by Isabelle Nguyen

"I have been robbed of the equal chance to prove myself, to see my mistakes and grow. I feel that I have so much to give, but my audience is content with what they 'know' of me...positive and negative stereotyping are different sides of the same coin. Both invalidate individuals as human beings and lead to negative consequences" (Nguyen, 377)

      When it comes to having preconceived notions about groups of people, society seems follow the same pattern which inexorably, has been to focus on generalizations...Racial stereotypes are seen as one of the most common identifiable characteristics associated with people, and whether they accurately represent an individual is entirely irrelevant. Instead, what matters is whether or not the individual fits within the constructs that are accepted by the rest of society. Taking into account the ethical problems associated with this societal behavior, it would seem necessary and apparent to stop using such vast generalizations that denigrate minority groups. More importantly, we should not overlook the fact that even those "positive" and "elitist" generalizations still have extremely adverse effects, as these two articles clearly demonstrate...

      The first focuses on the many intricate details that are associated with the "model minority myth", delving into the different expectations and assumptions that are made about Asian Americans, and later discussing the fact that being labeled as an erudite isn't necessarily a positive stereotype. One of the author's main points in the first article is that by categorizing and generalizing successful people based solely on their race, we have created a societal division that once again places people into categories of comparison among races, rather than allowing for everyone to have an equal chance at being deemed successful. This article explained the many colloquial generalizations that are made regarding the Asian American population, while providing justifiable arguments as to why these seemingly positive assumptions can be truly deleterious.  

      The second article shares a personal experience revolving around preconceived notions about race. Even though the author's personal account is extremely brief, it accurately bolsters the argument that being part of a "model minority" isn't necessarily positive. One of the main points in the second article is the fact that societal generalizations have led to inaccurate assumptions about groups of people, ultimately taking away the importance of an individual's true capability. This can certainly have many negative consequences, as different preconceived expectations are created, and consequently, performance is ultimately not based on an equal scale across races. As seen in the quote above, the author feels that she has been given unreasonably high expectations, and thus an unequal chance of achieving success in comparison to others outside of her minority. When people follow societal views of groups of people without truly taking the time to look at them on an individual level, members of minority groups are not given the respect and true acknowledgement that they deserve. 

      I truly enjoyed reading these two articles, as they focused on a topic that (as a caucasian male), I was truly unaware of. Growing up in a rather diverse school population, I certainly understood that there were different societal expectations across different races, but I never took the time to actually examine their consequences. I found it enlightening to learn about how something that could seem like such a "positive" stereotype can in fact have severely negative consequences. Both articles opened my eyes to the fact that by setting the bar high for some cohorts, we are ironically limiting their ability to successfully establish an identity outside of our expectations. On a microcosmic personal note, due to geographical location, students at my undergraduate institution (Queens College in Flushing, Queens, NY), were predominantly of Asian background. It was not uncommon for many of my classmates to naively assume that their Asian friends would do the best work and/or have the most knowledge about certain topics in class, thus there were many instances where my friends would recruit those "gifted" students for group projects. Ironically, in an attempt to break out of the cliche mold, some of these students really didn't put any effort in, and in fact were a hindrance on the group's project. I would always try to make a conscious effort when picking my group members, as I would base my decision on their diligence and knowledge once I began to get to know them, rather than by ignorantly thinking they'd just know it all because of their race...

 

      In general, we should not make assumptions about most things in life, especially people. By taking the time to truly learn about people on an individual level, we can gain a better understanding of who they are as a person, thus establishing an identity as an individual rather than as part of an expected "model" cohort...

      "You can't judge a book by its cover" - this old homage speaks volumes to the issue of race...(had to throw that pun in there)...

Thanks for reading!

Nature vs. Nurture
(or rather)
 Nature via Nurture in regards to Preconceived Notions and Racial Stereotypes

An analysis of the quotes referenced in the following articles:

Blink in Black and White by Malcolm Gladwell

"The giant computer that is our unconscious silently crunches all the data it can from the experiences we've had, the people we've met, the lessons we've learned, the books we've read, the movies we've seen, and so on, and it forms an opinion. That's what is coming out in the IAT. The disturbing thing about the test is that it shows that our unconscious attitudes may be utterly incompatible with our stated conscious values" (Gladwell, 354)

and

See Baby Discriminate by Po Bronson & Ashley Merryman

"Children naturally try to categorize everything, and the attribute they rely on is that which is the most clearly visible. We might imagine that we're creating color-blind environments for children, but differences in skin color or hair or weight are like differences in gender - they're plainly visible (Bronson & Merryman, 358)

     One of the most obvious and deleterious behaviors that every human being takes part in is racial stereotyping. Whether they believe it or not, there are different aspects in one's life where categories play a major part, and these two articles accurately address and bolster this argument. The perpetual debate regarding Nature vs. Nurture with regards to this topic is also a heavily studied concept, as it attempts to bolster the contention that humans aren't inherent bigots...

      

      With regards to the "Nurture" side of the debate, the first article looks at this topic from an interesting psychological standpoint, addressing the influence of the unconscious on one's conscious choices. The article delves into the details of the Implicit Association Test (IAT) and the fascinating results that it yields. One of Gladwell's main points, as seen in the quote above, is that our biases are largely based on the associations that we make in our lives based on our various life experiences, and whether we claim to be unbiased, our unconscious conditioned responses will show our true colors. The second article takes a look at both sides of the Nature and Nurture debate. This article describes many different observations and studies that have been conducted in an attempt to understand the point at which children develop their racial stereotypes. The article discusses the fact that even from a young age, (6 months old), children are more likely to react differently to things that seem unfamiliar to them, (i.e. a baby is more likely to be caught staring intently and curiously at another baby of a different racial background). One of the most salient points made, as shown in the quote above, that certainly relates to children's future stereotypes, is that children inherently categorize things that are noticeably different. They often do this as a learning process for themselves, being that it allows them to identify and group things together. This is not necessarily a bad thing, because there are no negative connotations or associations that are made with any of these categorizations, but it is in the nurture side of the debate, where we find the true birthing of one's stereotypes. There are studies described in the article that touch upon the fact that parental involvement regarding conversations about race have a strong influence on the child's upbringing. In one experiment, parents who actively conversed about race, and how there shouldn't be any negative associations made with it, had major impacts on their children's racial beliefs in the future. On the other hand, other parents who felt uncomfortable speaking with their children about issues of race, and felt that ambiguous comments such as "Everybody is equal" should suffice, had children that had more negative associations regarding race. Even though humans have a natural tendency to categorize, it is our environment that has a major influence on how we think of those categories...

     Both of these articles were really eye-opening for me, due to the fact that I had never heard of the IAT before, and I truly never thought about racial stereotyping occurring at a young age, until now. While reading the first article, I thoroughly enjoyed taking the sample tests, as I found it immensely intriguing to see the difficulty level keep increasing with each test. Due to the preconceived notions that I have that were conditioned from societal beliefs, it was in fact interesting to see how I would answer the associations on the test slower when trying to combat my unconscious impulse with moral reasoning. I am a person that remembers many things in my life with the help of associations, and I've always thought of it as a talent and a good thing. It certainly can be at times, but when it comes to associations involving race - based on the movies, shows, and advertisements I've seen, and the conversations I've overheard - it is truly difficult to differentiate between that almost seemingly inherent impulse and how I really (morally) feel about someone or something. The second article was very interesting to me as well, for many reasons. Firstly, I was astounded with the fact that many parents refused to take the time to speak to their children about something as important as race - because they were uncomfortable - that's utterly ridiculous! As the article shows, parents have a major influence on their child's behavior and beliefs, and not taking the time to ensure that their child is aware of racial differences and the moral obligation they have as a human to ensure that all people are treated equally is a major injustice to their child and society as a whole...Secondly, due to the fact that as a child, I never saw anyone as less than me due to their skin color, (I was the "rare" caucasian child that had friends that were Indian and "Black"), I guess I didn't have biases at the time. Growing up in a rather diverse area of the country, I had the privilege of being part of the cliche "melting pot" - or rather "salad bowl", as they like to call it now (more of an amalgamation of different people with different aspects rather than a coalescence of all people into one kind of being). Looking back in retrospect now, I do believe that I was in fact part of the culture of students that (due to the increased diversity, observed more division among my friends), as the article discussed. There were many different ethnicities in my high school, but there was one instance that I recall that really blows my mind now thinking about it...

      My friends and I were walking into the cafeteria for lunch one day, and it dawned on me, every table in the entire room was categorized in some way, not by routine, but by association and familiarity. There were of course, class divisions that took place - some freshman sitting in the corner trying to "find their place", and some seniors by the door eager to get to their cars and escape, but there were often further subcategories as well. The only time that class would be irrelevant was when the students found others of similar racial categories. But I digress...as my friends and I walked in (all being caucasian), we went to sit at the table near the food line, that (unbeknownst to us freshman at the time) was typically occupied by the "Black" students that would cut class and sit there most of the day. When we went to sit at the empty table, one of the caucasian lunch monitors mentioned something to us discreetly as she walked by..."I would get up and move if I were you" - We all replied with a quick "Why?" And her response was simple - "Firstly, that group of kids doesn't let anybody sit here, especially white freshman, and second, if you sit here, and the administrators come through, they may think you're part of their group, and you'll get on the administrations' bad side"... At the time we simply thought, no problem, and got up. When doing so however, we never thought "oh, we definitely don't want to be associated with "them"". But at the same time, we did move because we didn't want to be associated with them - we had impulsively responded to the understanding that "black" delinquent students could spell trouble for us...We never even realized all of the associations that took place during that quick encounter, most of which did nothing but place a specific minority group in a place lower than ourselves, and we were only freshman...

      As I said before, these articles show the important role that our environment plays in our societal views of race. With regards to the Nature vs. Nurture debate, there is one aspect that we do have some control over...our environment. In my opinion, we definitely need to alter the way we think as a society and be more comfortable to have conversations revolving around issues of race, otherwise we are going to be living in a world that is filled with bigots holding many negative preconceived notions, not because humans are inherently bad, but because they've been conditioned based on our negative views within society. 

The Contingencies Associated with a Physical Disability

An analysis of the following quote referenced in the following article:

"Public Transit" by John Hockenberry

"All around me, crowds of commuters with briefcases and headphones walked by, stepping around me without breaking stride. If I had worried about anything associated with this venture, it was that I would just be in the way. I was invisible...by stepping around me as I slid, two steps at a time, down toward the tracks, they created a quarantined space, just for me, where even the air seemed depraved" (Hockenberry 316)

      Disability is a topic that is too often overlooked in terms of diversity studies due to the inaccurate colloquial belief that it isn't as important an issue as concepts such as race, gender, or sexual orientation. This article delves into the story of one's mans experiences corresponding to his paralysis and the fact that he is bound to a wheelchair. He first describes the laborious task of hailing a cab while in New York, and the challenges that he faces with the many different types of "cabbies". He describes the types of people that he encounters and, (according to them), how terribly difficult it is for them to take the time to assist him by putting his wheelchair in the back of their car. He points out the abhorrent truth that too often people don't offer to help others due to the fact that they don't want to be inconvenienced! He also describes the arduous task of taking on numerous stairs as he rides the subway. As seen in the quote above, even though he is in plain sight of all those he encounters, he feels entirely invisible. Those who actually take the time to notice him either do so with utter disdain, or seldom the case, with the intention of assisting in some way. This fact of feeling "in the way" and "invisible" due to either inaccessible options or societal views of his disability, is one of the author's main points throughout his article. He mentioned that he even took the time to record the audio of his experiences on the subway so as to make a radio special regarding public transportation. To his surprise, he describes that his audio would more likely reflect the the correlation associated with willingness to assist others and race. He mentioned that those who he believed to be "white" ignored him almost always, and those who he believed to be "black" continuously offered to help him in some way. Throughout the entire article, he touches upon the fact that those who could be considered part of a minority group are the ones that treat him more like a human, and less like an inconvenient aberration. 

      While reading this article, I felt angry at both society and myself. While reading about the difficulties of hailing a cab, I was reminded of the trepidation everyone faces on those crowded streets, but I was blind to the fact that in the author's case, it was even more challenging. While reading about his subway endeavors, I remembered how intense and intimidating it can feel to be on those platforms, but until now, couldn't imagine or fully understand how difficult it might be for one who is disabled. While reading, I truly began to question some of the choices that I made while in that rough hustle-and-bustle city, and whether or not I should have acted differently... Being from New York originally, and having gone to college and some grad school literally where he was describing truly brought me back to the "New York" mentality. People aren't seen as caring or altruistic in NYC. Instead, they are seen as fast-paced go-getters that need everyone to get out of their way so they can get their stuff done. However, in my opinion, I had naively believed that this mentality might change for those who are "disabled", but I guess that doesn't even sway their moral compass...

      It really astounded me that so many cab drivers refused to take the time to get out of their cabs and place his wheelchair in the trunk. It's not that difficult, and they are still making money off of a customer! I was also astonished to hear that people literally stepped over and past him, as if he was not there at all...I understand what that's like as it has happened many times to me if I had dropped my books or something, but I would think it would've been different for someone who is "disabled"...The article presented me with a vastly different perspective on life, that I would have otherwise been entirely oblivious to. Often when I see a person in a wheelchair or with some sort of other physical disability, I feel some sort of inherent desire to assist in some way, yet at the same time, am faced with the paradoxical contention that maybe they don't want to be helped. For example, there was one time when a women in a wheelchair was attempting to cross a busy intersection, (slower than the traffic had anticipated), and I kindly asked if she would like me to push her along to help get her there faster. She replied with a moderately frustrated, "I can manage...I'll get there when I get there. They can all shove it"... One part of the article that supported this idea was seen when the author stated at the end that he "believed he could do it", without help from anyone, although he was pleased that he was at least acknowledged by some. Even though some "disabled" people may not want to feel that others pity them and thus feel obligated to help them, they don't want to be invisible and disregarded as inconvenient and in the way. There is also another important fact in this article that, in my opinion, showed the power of community. This was seen when he described those who actually respected him, acknowledged him, and took the time to assist him. Those who belong to minority groups, and might have some empathetic understanding of what he is going through to some extent were the ones more likely to help him. As mentioned before, he stated that those who were "black" offered to help him, and in addition, described the story of the Egyptian cab driver that helped him twice. One amazing thing that I think can be taken from the cab driver's story is the fact that due to his heinous crime of setting a bomb in the World Trade Center, no one in society, besides the author, would know that he actually was a kind, helpful, and respectful man at one point. Even someone who has the audacity to commit such a terrible crime had better morals than many other cab drivers at the time...

      I think this article truly speaks to the problems that "disabled" people face in our society. There are many constraints that society places, with too few solutions to assuage any of these issues. We avoid helping somebody because it could be seen as an inconvenience. Taken even further, we frequently try to disregard their existence due to the fact that they may make us uncomfortable or unsure of how to react. Too often do we ask the question, what is wrong with these people, rather than what do we need to change in order to make life more accessible. Too often do we take for granted the ability to complete commonplace tasks and not offer to help those who may be struggling. Education and awareness about these issues is truly the only way to combat these travesties, and I certainly look forward to learning more ways to make a difference... 

A Perspective on Education via Social Class

An analysis of the quote referenced from the following article:

Class and the Transition to Adulthood by Annette Lareau & Elliot B. Weininger

"To varying degrees, middle class parents and their children form a collective in which concerted action on the part of each family member is carefully directed toward a shared goal over the course of the child's high school career. Among working class and poor children, by contrast, parental involvement appears to be substantially rarer" (Lareau & Weininger, 299)

      When discussing some of the most salient issues found in today's society, it is seldom seen that educational opportunity isn't brought into the conversation. Educational opportunity is a concept that can correlate with a myriad of topics interrelating to issues of diversity; whether they be race, disability, or social class, education is influenced by the entirety of one's "identity" in our society. The article mentioned above particularly focuses on education and "transitions into adulthood" through the perspective of social class, primarily with regards to the "poor" and "middle" classes. One of the most important points made in the article revolves around the colloquial idea that it is difficult to achieve educational success if you don't come from an educated background. The article describes the arduous task that many students from "poor" backgrounds face when it comes to success in school. Whether it be lack of resources, parental unfamiliarity with educational concepts, or lack of inherent motivation on the part of the students, it seems very challenging for members of the "poor" class to achieve success. Juxtaposed against this image of a "poor" child, is the hidden, yet inherent truth that many of these students are truly bright individuals, but due to societal constraints, (like I said before) be it money, resources, lack of parental involvement, or people simply overlooking them, they aren't recognized and thus, are more likely to fall out of their successful pathways. The article also describes the debacle faced by members of the "middle" class; touching upon the paradoxical fact that parents are more likely to be involved, albeit negatively influencing their child's level of responsibility within their educational constructs. In the past, it was very common for parents to become involved in their child's education (talking to their teachers, guiding them on certain pathways, helping them with work) - of course, up until a certain age cohort. However, recently the concept of a hovering or "helicopter" parent is becoming the norm for many members of this "middle" class. The article delved into the fact that students find themselves unprepared and unaware in terms of decision making, which certainly takes their independence into question. Overall, this article discusses several important aspects regarding education in our society today, and gives the "educated" reader a perspective of the difficulties that many others face. Education is certainly a highly regarded aspect of society, but the ways in which we are dealing with equitable accessibility and pragmatic opportunity certainly could use some parental involvement and persuasion... 

      I felt a strong connection while reading this article, being the first member of my immediate family to have graduated from a four-year institution. When going through the article and hearing the different stories about the level of involvement from parents, I couldn't help but make the connection with my own upbringing. The idea of a "helicopter parent" was exactly the way in which my mother had raised my two siblings and I. Coming from a divorced family from the city, my mother strongly valued education, and the success that came along with it. Therefore, she made it one of her top priorities to ensure that my sisters and I obtained the best education available. Even though at the time I may have been unaware, my mother was behind the scenes contacting my teachers and guidance counselors all the way up until my junior year of high school to ensure that I was on the right track. I am most grateful for all of her efforts, because thanks to her, I am where I am today. Additionally, while reading, I started to realize the aspects in my own life that greatly differed from the article. Not to say that I am the outlier, (because I would like to believe that all parents would like to ensure the success of their children), but due to my parents divorce in my pre-adolescence, my family was part of that "poor" class for a while. Due to my life experience, I actually didn't understand why the article only described "middle" class and educated parents as the one's who became involved. My mother was neither of these, (not to say that she wasn't and isn't extremely intelligent and has the impromptu ability to learn topics and concepts better than those educated folks), yet she understood what was needed to help me succeed and saw it through to the end. Now, another pragmatic realization taken from my life experience is that for quite some time, I was unaware of how to make certain choices about my education - in fact, I wasn't sure if I was taking any of the right classes or what path at all I aspired to be on. All I knew was what my mother had taught me - "if you have questions, ask - somebody is bound to know, and if you don't like their answer, or it isn't necessarily good enough, go to someone else...until you fully understand what it is you're asking, then you can make an 'educated' decision (I always enjoyed that pun) - you can always learn more". And so I did, and I certainly enjoy being an aberration in society's view. 

This article provided a lens through which the reader was able to gain a bit of understanding into what it may be like having to deal with educational struggles influenced by one's social class. Ironically, the more educated society becomes concerning these issues, the more apt we are to be able to assuage some of the problems associated with them. Being an aspiring higher education administrator, I truly desire to live in a world where every student has the best opportunity available to them so that they can be the best that they inherently yearn to be. 

Wonderful talk that I watched regarding an awesome perspective on "disability"

What is Disability?

An analysis using quotes from the following two readings:

Disability Definitions: The Politics of Meaning by Michael Oliver

"As far as disability is concerned, if it is seen as a tragedy, then disabled people will be treated as if they are victims of some tragic happening or circumstance...if disability is defined as social oppression, then disabled people will be seen as the collective victims of an uncaring or unknowing society rather than as individual victims of circumstance" (Oliver, 167)

and

A World of Their Own by Liza Mundy

"Because they don't view deafness as a disability, they don't see themselves as bringing a disabled child into the world. Rather, they see themselves bringing a different sort of normal child into the world. Why not bring a deaf child into the world? What, exactly, is the problem? In their minds, they are no different from parents who try to have a girl. After all, girls can be discriminated against. Same with deaf people" (Mundy 174)

      These two articles discuss perspectives as they relate to the concept of "disability". The former article addressing the abhorrent fact that as a society, we deem disabilities as travesties, and the latter article contradicting this conjecture by giving an example of a justifiable argument. 

      

      The first article touches upon the negative connotations that we give to those with "disabilities"and highlights the salient and impactful nature that definitions have when used to identify people. As the quote exclaims above, one of the main arguments in this reading is that as a society, we have deemed disabled individuals as not only different in accordance with societal norms, but we have also degraded them to a level described as those who are "less fortunate" or "worse-off" than others. This unjust fact is proven later in the reading, when describing the types of questions that were asked in a 1986 census survey attempting to accurately identify "disabled" people; some questions included: "Can you tell me what is wrong with you?", "Do you have a scar, blemish or deformity which limits your daily activities?", and "Are your difficulties in understanding people mainly due to a hearing problem?". Analyzing these questions, it is evident that we were clearly belittling folks with disabilities, as we were blaming problems they may face in society on the fact that they had some sort of disability. One of the most enlightening contrasts to these questions were the questions formulated later on in the article that address the ultimate cause of disability as due to the social and physical environments within society. Some of these questions read: "Can you tell me what is wrong with society?", "Do other people's reactions to any scar, blemish or deformity you may have, limit your daily activities?", and "Are your difficulties in understanding people mainly due to their inabilities to communicate with you?". The restructuring of these questions further justifies the need to change our preconceived notions that disabilities are a problem with the individual, we should instead recognize that societal views, reactions, and accommodations are the true problems...

      The second article delves into the lives of two deaf women who desire to have a baby, but not just any baby, they express their wish to have a deaf baby. This article opens up an entirely new perspective as it shows that what could be desirable differs from family to family. As seen in the quote above, one of the main points in the article is the fact that these two parents want to bring a child into the world that is normal according to them - not what society deems normal.Throughout the reading, the author describes what their lifestyle has been like already having one child that is deaf, and why they desire to have another. The article discusses the fact that there is a community of people that individuals who are deaf belong to, there is a rhythm and a way of life that is very different from those who can hear. These two women want to have a child that will "fit" into this same community (this larger family as is it often referred to), and grow up with the same lifestyle as they have now. From their perspective, it will be easier to raise a child in an environment that they can all share together; just as a new parent faces the trouble of discerning whether or not they are actually doing a good enough job, this task is exponentially more challenging if the parent does not have the same experiences as their child. One of the most powerful statements in this article can be seen at the end, when describing their baby boy's results of his hearing test. Although he is not entirely deaf, it is decided, and understood that he is in fact certainly "deaf enough" to belong to the community with which these two women had desired him to be in. This reading truly hones in on the fact that there are many different communities within our world, none that should be considered better than another, just different. 

      These two articles pose a powerful flip in one's though process as it relates to feelings of disability and belonging. I found the first article truly inspiring, due to the fact that as I was reading the questions from the census, I felt that society was persecuting those individuals, and I was hoping for a change. As I was reading, I found myself understanding more and more about how easily it is to place people in a category that is "below" yourself without even knowing that you had done so. I was frustrated to see more examples of how, as a community, we tried to identify the "bad/wrong" things that people had, rather than the ways in which we can accommodate them, or not react negatively toward them. While reading this article, I couldn't help but introspectively analyze the fact that whenever I would see somebody who is wheelchair bound, or cannot walk, or cannot speak, I inherently began to feel bad for them. It's definitely important that I am establishing an awareness for this, and that I consciously act to change it... 

      With regards to the quote from the second article, the most powerful aspect is the statement reading "a different sort of normal". The thought of disability is like most issues of diversity, very ambiguous, and thus open to subjectivity. Definitions of "normal" differ from one person to the next dramatically as I began to realize once I finished reading this article. As an avid listener of music and moderately-professional DJ for 4 years now, I immediately thought of the hindrances associated with not being able to hear, and in the beginning, had thought that what they were doing to the newborn baby could be considered wrong or unethical. It somewhat reminded me of the debacle that some parents face when choosing the sex of a child who is born a hermaphrodite. Who is to say that the baby wouldn't want to hear and experience life different from the choices of his mothers? After finishing the article though, I realized that they would in fact allow their child the ability to hear if he desired in the future, and that they weren't necessarily being selfish, but instead trying to bring someone into this world that would be able to have the same experiences as them. I also realized that it isn't the most horrible thing to not be able to hear, and that instead of my myopic view of missing out on music, these individuals obviously live very happy lives. The comparisons that the reading made to people choosing whether they want a boy or a girl, or any of the other aspects contingent on the different specifications that can be requested from a sperm donor, really made me question what the difference in this situation was anyway...They have a truly valid point - just like their quote says above - what's the problem...why does it matter? They do not feel that they are missing out on life, just living a different lifestyle. It's this pragmatic switch in perspective that really is amazing in my opinion, and I look forward to reading more articles like this one.

      One powerful situation in my life that directly relates to these articles took place a couple of years ago, when I was helping run an exercise called "Target/Non-Target". This exercise involves having people stand on one side of a line corresponding to different prompts given by the facilitator. The group started out as male on one side and female on the other, and as the risky exercise entails, the categories delved deeper in both meaning and risk factor. At one point, the facilitator said "I consider myself fully-abled" (while pointing to one side), and "I consider myself not fully-abled" (pointing to the other side), and everyone's attention, as well as their physical body language, shifted towards the one male student who was in a wheelchair in our class...He quickly moved over to the side that was designated for "fully-abled" folks, and the room was floored. Everyone stared at him while quickly attempting to hide their astonishment, and to those that were on the other side, whether it was for the fact that they had glasses, or had learning "disabilities", they stared at him as well - in awe. After the exercise concluded, and we debriefed, (this debrief being the only time that the students could talk during the entire exercise), the class was eager to hear this one student's "justification". He simply stated that he may be in a wheelchair, but he does not consider himself to be "disabled". He claimed that he could still live the life that he wanted...I was really excited that this happened, as one of the major points of the exercise is to gain a better understanding of everyone and to challenge preconceived notions and conditioned responses due to societal "norms"...

      I enjoyed these articles very much, as I found them to be truly enlightening...I think that gaining an understanding of people's different perspectives, giving you an empathetic experience is the only real way to somewhat understand what life feels like for that person...