Tracking the Stereotyping...One Long Day at a Time

Monday 2/23/09

Race & Gender in the Media

Law Center 6:00pm 

Dean discussed racial hardships in metro OKC area growing up

Racial Stereotypes

Monday 2/23/09

South Park re-run ("The China Problem" season 12)

southparkstudios.com 9:30pm

Racial stereotyping against Chinese people--the way they talk, their communist ways, etc...

Racial Stereotypes

Tuesday 2/24/09

Marketing 3013

Price Hall 10:30-11:45am

Topic of women's buying habits compared to men, and how they are stereotypically the bigger spenders

Gender Stereotypes

Tuesday 2/24/09

Discussion with Roommates

My apartment 10:15pm

Talking about politically correct terms for races/ethnicities, i.e., Mexican vs. Hispanic vs. Latino

Racial Stereotypes

Tuesday 2/24/09

YouTube Video: Demetri Martin

My apartment 11:00pm

Racial slurs about minorities/foreigners and their accents

Racial Stereotypes

Wednesday 2/25/09

Beatles Seminar

Catlett 1:30pm

Discussion of stereotypes of Beatles fans...raging hormonal teenaged girls

Gender Stereotypes

Wednesday 2/25/09

White Chicks (DVD)

Friend's apartment 11:00pm

Inter-racial relationships, calling doorman Taco Bell, etc...

Racial Stereotypes

Thursday 2/26/09

Car Radio: Animals by Nickelback

Driving home 1:15pm-ish

Singing about girls in a sexually degrading way

Gender Stereotypes

Thursday 2/26/09

Snapped TV show (Oxygen)

My apartment 7:00pm

Gender stereotypes about sexual assault and women lashing out (pent-up housewives)

Gender Stereotypes

Thursday 2/26/09

Dark Knight (DVD)

My apartment 10:30pm

Rachel is weak and can't take care of herself (Harvey makes her hide out in Bruce's penthouse)

Gender Stereotypes

Friday 2/27/09

50 Cent: Candy Shop

MTV Online Music Video 12:30pm

Sexual innuendos degrading women and women dressed in skimpy clothing for his choosing pleasures

Gender Stereotypes

I was slightly surprised, not at the amount of stereotyping, but just how many places it occurs. It seems like everything I watch nowadays has stereotyping. But I guess I was surprised by the amount a little bit because I think our society just tunes it out so much anymore, because it never goes away, that we simply are immune to it in a way and think nothing of it until we are forced to pay attention to it. This assignment was definitely eye-opening. It made me more aware of my surroundings. I was also taken back by how much I learn and discuss these issues in classes as well. I had several instances, just in this week in classes that discussed something about racial or gender matters. They may not have been 'stereotypical' discussions, but the fact is that it came up in conversation. 

I was not considerably affected by my experiences of the racial and gender stereotypes. I am a pretty open-minded person, and I tend to take things with a grain of salt. So I did not particularly take offense to, say, the images I saw on 50 Cent's video. I believe it is degrading to women and gives them negative images, but what can you do? I am only one person, I cannot change the world...although, at times, I wish I had that power (as most of us do). 

I think that with all continuous images representing stereotypes it makes people believe things that aren't true. Some people may not experience other cultures and actually know what they are like, and only see them for what the media portrays them to be. This is crippling to our society because if the only thing people see is what someone else wants them to see, there is no other way to prove that is not correct. It is like making up a lie, and then telling it enough that you start to believe it yourself. It is never a good habit to get into.

Automatic Admission for Racial Minorities?!

I searched and searched and searched on thoroughly through EVERY Big 12 university site for race-based admissions, but to no avail. The only thing I could find pertaining to admissions were SAT/ACT scores, GPAs, and in-state/out-of-state regulations. The only thing I found pertaining to race, were articles written about lawsuits dealing with race-based admissions, or projects students did through the law programs. 

The one thing I did notice was that each university promoted diversity in different ways. For instance, they each had a link, somewhere from the main page or the page for prospective students, describing the particular student diversity at each school. There were no exact implications saying whether they had certain admissions for minority races or anything to that extent. They simply stated that they were diverse in their student population. I feel that since I found so many instances of lawsuits against race-based admissions during my search, that universities do not specifically state they have certain regulations and quotas for races, but it is implied. 

White Privilege

After watching Tim Wise, I think I came to realize how big of a thing privilege is. I have never really been aware of the circumstances, probably because, like Wise said, I am not a minority and have never had experiences dealing with privilege. I have never been discriminated against due to the color of my skin or my religion. The "white denial" Wise talks about kind of hit a spot because I saw that it was completely true. If you ask any white person if there is a racial problem in the United States, most would say no. Yes, there are many people out there who see these problems and are aware of them, but there are probably more who have absolutely no idea. I definitely think Wise was very outright with his argument, which could be sort of a turn off to people, sounding more like preaching, but I think he handled himself well, proving his point without bantering over and over with the same exact message. But I do feel slightly upset because he makes it seem like White people are evil and out to get the rest of the world. He essentially blames every problem dealing with race on White people, which I do not think is completely true. Granted, white people tend to have more privileges than other races, but it to make whites at fault for that is a completely different issue.

I think the media utilizes privilege by the stereotypes they carry within shows. For example, I know a lot of African American people who absolutely hate the Cosby Show because they say it is not even close to their lifestyles. I know more white people who watch that show than anybody, because it is what they think is the truth. Granted, I have no clue on what the differences between certain lifestyles according to race are. 

Here is my list of privileges I have come up with:

1. White people often have more opportunities for a better education.

2. Race is not a daily issue for White people.

3. Native Americans get free healthcare in Native American hospitals.

4. White get better jobs opportunities.

5. White people are not suspected for crimes as much as minorities.

6. White people get more positive recognition.

7. Black people are already assumed for being better athletes.

8. White people have an easier path to success.

I definitely still believe society uses the "one drop rule." The thing is, some people use it to their advantage. If they can prove they have African American blood in them, it qualifies them to be a minority, getting special privileges for scholarships, medical, and things of the like. For instance, when people go out to prove they are Native American. Most the time Native Americans have horrible stereotypes associated with them, but the second it gets someone free health care or a free college education, they are on that at the drop of a hat. For Obama, there was a HUGE deal made about him being black. He is only half black, but to the greater population that does not matter. The fact is that he is partly black, and that makes all the difference. There is no other questioning after that. 

I think people changing behaviors is a gradual thing. It has taken decades for people to become less racist, and I think it will take even longer for there to be 100% acceptance of other races. But I do believe it is the peoples' responsibilities to watch their actions and try to adapt to new ways of thinking. People need to step outside their boxes and experience the world every once in awhile.

Working Full-Time...The New Pink.

I know we haven't started talking about this yet, but it crossed my mind the other day. I was thinking about how society is changing and women are no longer staying at home raising the kids. They are getting out into the world and having careers of their own. I kind of find it funny how the new thing for men to do is be the 'stay at home dad.' It's like role reversal. Just because the women are out getting jobs, the men stay home. I can understand this, because someone has to take care of the kids. But it seems weird to me because it's almost like the woman is wearing the pants in the family. I was raised in a very traditional family, where my mother stayed home to raise my brother and I, never having a full-time job since we were born. She only had a part-time job for a couple of years. So part of me feels like that's what I should do one day, raise my kids instead of going back to work. But that seems kind of hard these days because of the way our economy is heading. I just have problems thinking about giving up my career that I worked so hard for (in college) to start. 

It seems that even Hollywood has caught on to the double-income family, with all their movies portraying two working parents. Hollywood is now empowering women with all these movies of women becoming great leaders and succeeding in their careers, forgetting about creating a family. There are no typical Stepford Wives movies anymore, at least not very many. One exception, which is outdated, which is surprising considering the recent trends, is the movie Mr. Mom with Michael Keaton. Obviously somebody knew what would happen in 30 years. Society is changing, so I guess I better get on the bandwagon.

Red and Yellow, Black and White...They Are Precious In His Sight...

...Jesus loves the little children of the world!

Sorry, thinking about race and gender reminded me of my favorite song as a kid when I would go to sunday school or vacation bible school. Sigh, the good ol' days. 

Anyways, I have to admit I am really excited to get into the material for this class. I signed up for the course because it is not very often you see a class specifically devoted to stereotypes about gender and race. I have never been any sort of activist for racial rights or any kind of feminist, but I have always had an interest in the subject. I took sociology last year and absolutely loved it; digging into the minds of people and finding out why we do the things we do. So even though this class counts for an upper-division JMC elective, I am taking 18 hours to specifically be in this course. 

To me, race and gender play a HUGE role in society today. Yes, I know, how common of me to say that. But seriously, most people don't even give this subject a second thought. Something that always boggles my mind is how inter-racial relationships go unnoticed these days...for the most part. 

My aunt's best friend from high school (caucasian) married an african-american man and had two kids. Those kids are by far the most adorable human beings I have ever seen in my life. The kicker is my grandmother refused to visit the woman simply because of the fact she married into a different race, even though my grandmother had known this woman for a very very long time. I know that growing up with certain beliefs and such stay with a person, but I was appalled at such acts. I guess our generation grew up with more acceptance to people different than ourselves. And people stick to what they know.