Complex Identities and Intersectionality Unit Three.docx
- 1. Complex Identities and Intersectionality Unit Three Learning Objectives Be able to define race, ethnicity, social class, and sexual orientation. Understand the theoretical concepts of “intersectionality”, “social location” , & “standpoint”. Have a clear understanding of the ways in which oppressions are not “additive” but rather “multiples” Be able to describe your own power/privileges Know how stereotypes work in American society, including the ways in which they are perpetuated and some of their repercussions Understand that everyone is vulnerable to their influence 2 PART ONE: What are race, class, and sexuality?
- 2. Understanding: Race RACE: is social constructed category that divides people into groups based on visible physical characteristics such as skin color, eye shape, hair texture, etc. Although race is related to the physical body, the meaning we give these superficial differences between us are entirely socially constructed. There are NO actual genetic differences between the various races. Because race categories are socially constructed, they change over time. Which categories we measure, and how we measure them, shifts. 4 Understanding: Ethnicity Ethnicity: is a socially constructed category, a way of grouping people based on their shared culture, such as religion, language, and history. The difference between “race” and “ethnicity” can be confusing. For example, “Asian American” is treated as a race, but “Chinese American” and “Japanese American” are treated as ethnicities because they have distinct languages and traditions. In the United States, there is a great deal of pressure on ethnic minority groups to assimilate the norms, values, and characteristics of the majority ethnic group.
- 3. Race and Ethnicity in America Different racial groups are just that– different. Even thought we often speak in terms of binaries (“minorities” verses “the majority”), it is important to realize that not all minority race and/or ethnic groups share the same characteristics, both between themselves and within themselves. White Americans: white is a race! Hispanic Americans African Americans Native Indigenous Americans Asian Americans Arab Americans Multiracial Racial and Ethnic Inequality A commonality among those which are considered minority groups is the experience of inequality. Inequalities are socially structured and thus can impact multiple aspects of an individual’s life– not just, for example, their ability to get a job. Racism: the belief that the physical and cultural characteristics associated with a group of people are inferior and thus unequal treatment of the group and its members is justified. Racism can occur at both the individual and institutional level.
- 4. 7 Race Impacts Life Chances in a Multitude of Ways The process of Maintaining Inequality A stereotype is developed and is circulated throughout a society via cultural channels such as popular media and art. A stereotype is an oversimplified idea about members of a certain group. Individuals who are consistently exposed to stereotypes may develop a prejudice toward people in that group. A prejudice is a negative attitude that people hold toward others. Informed by their prejudice, people may discriminate against people who belong to the group they dislike. Discrimination is the behavior of treating someone unequally. 9 Prejudice distorts how we see the world
- 5. Prejudice can make us disproportionately blame certain groups of people for social problems and overlook other possible explanations for what we observe. Understanding: Social Class Social Class is a group of people who roughly share the same economic potential, social power, and prestige. Most Americans report that they “fit in” to particular class– that is, they have a class identity. Income level is important in determining social class, but equally important are the specific mannerisms (dress, speech patterns, etc.) and lifestyle behaviors associated with each social class. 11 Karl Marx and Max Weber The two most prominent thinkers behind the concept of social class. Both were German sociologists.
- 6. 12 American Social Classes America’s social classes can be conceptualized in different ways. The four common groupings, however, are: The poor Households which make below the federal poverty line. Counter to common stereotypes, most of the nation’s poor DO have jobs– they just are low paying jobs. The working class Many working class households have steady jobs, but they are often without benefits and required little college-level education. The middle class Most people feel that they fall into “the middle class”. Jobs which are considered middle class tend to require advanced degrees and have more opportunities to move up. The upper-class The true upper class maintain access to their privilege via social networking (i.e. the relationships built at Ivy League schools which result in jobs, for example). 13 “Reading” Class on the Body? Although we often think of gender and race as something related to the physical body, we are much less likely to think of social class in this way. We tend to think of class as something only related to our bank accounts. However, studies demonstrate that social class has very real
- 7. impacts on our physical bodies. Can you think of examples? 14 The “American Dream”? Unlike the caste system of some societies, America’s class system does allow for social mobility– you can move (up or down) from the social class you were born into. About 1/3 of Americans experience upward mobility. Many of these individuals are immigrants who came to the “land of opportunity”. The concept of the “American Dream” is often used to justify inequality in the United States. Why? Based on what we have discussed in class so far, what factors can limit a person’s efforts to “move up” in society? 15 Changing Economy, Changing Opportunities Have the measures by which we judge people to be “successful” or “hard workers” changed in step? Are we more likely to see the “failures” of some as more excusable than the failure of
- 8. others? 16 Understanding: Sexual Orientation Sexual orientation operates differently than gender, race, or class because it is not “readable” on our bodies. This does not, however, mean it does not have an equally large impact on our social experiences. Sexual identity is often intentionally readable on the body. Sexual identity is the presentation we craft to attract those we are interested in romantically. Can you think of examples of how college students indicate their sexual desires to one another via dress and mannerism? 17 Heteronormativity: the “norm” Because heterosexuality is constructed as the norm in American society, social scientists describe our culture as hetero- normative. “Heteronormativity” is: the institutions, structures of understanding, and practical orientations that make heterosexuality seem not only coherent—that is, organized as a sexuality—but also privileged (Lauren Berlant and Michael Warner, “Sex in Public,” p. 548)
- 9. Form of power that exerts itself on people of every sexual orientation through the assumed naturalness of specific practices and institutions. 18 “Disciplining” Social Attitudes Heteronormativity : attitudes, actions, and institutional practices that subordinate people on the basis of sexual orientation. privileges heterosexuals while disadvantaging all others It’s so built into the fabric of our culture, many don’t even stop to question it: http://www.thinkb4youspeak.com/psa.asp?play=tvspots&video= TV_Cashiers_30 Homophobia : intense fear, or even hatred, of “homosexuals” Homophobia often results in other forms of negative stereotypes being attached to LGBTQ people. For example, the historical (incorrect) correlation between gay men and pedophilia. This is a class PSA shown to school children in the mid-twentieth century: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3S24ofEQj4&feature=relate d We can measure the severity of homophobia through the organized responses against it. Example: the “It Gets Better” project: http://www.itgetsbetter.org/
- 10. Twentieth 19 Further Examples: What does Heterosexual Privilege Look Like? I can be pretty sure that my roommate, hallmates and classmates will be comfortable with my sexual orientation. If I pick up a magazine, watch TV, or play music, I can be certain my sexual orientation will be represented. I am not accused of being abused, warped or psychologically confused because of my sexual orientation. I can easily find a religious community that will not exclude me for being heterosexual. I can be sure that if I need legal or medical help my sexual orientation will not work against me. I am not asked to think about why I am straight. I can be open about my sexual orientation without worrying about my job. From SAFEZONE. 20 PART TWO: What is Intersectionality and Social Location?
- 11. What are the benefits of “Difference”? Why Discuss More Than Gender in a Women’s Studies Course? Because this is a course focused on understanding women’s experiences, and not all women’s experiences of being a “woman” are the same. Women from different backgrounds often understand their gender in different ways Moreover, society treats women differently depending on: how they look, where they come from, where they went to school, their accent, etc. There are more differences among women than there are between women and men. 22 “There is a pretense to a homogeneity of experience covered by the word ‘sisterhood’ that does not, in fact, exist” ~ A. Lorde (1984) “Intersectionality”: A Default Lens of Analysis
- 12. After a long history of ignoring and/or glossing over the differences between women, “intersectional” analysis is now a core component of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies When we use an intersectional lens for research or activism, we become aware of individual differences in experience. This knowledge is critical for developing social policies which actually reflect people’s lives. 24 Is it even possible to think of yourself in terms of just one “ism” at a time? Many seniors are also faced with the realities of poverty. Women with disabilities are vulnerable to discrimination both on the basis of their gender and their lack of able-bodiness. Sometimes our identities are in conflict, even if both represent “minority” groups. For example, minority race communities can discriminate against minority sexuality groups. 25 A Society of Multiple “Differences” Everyone of us can be described by a combination of
- 13. characteristics comprised of both ascribed and achieved statuses. Everyday we interact with people who differ from us in at least a few categories. However, America is (still) a very segregated nation. We tend to live in homogenous communities and sometimes this can blind us to the realities of other people’s experiences within society. At times our lack of understanding for one another’s differences results in discrimination. 26 Summary: The Relationship Between Concepts Everyone one of us has a social location, a particular place in society that we come from. Our social location is made up of our various status memberships– our gender, our race, or ethnicity, etc. A large part of how we understand the world is the result of our standpoint, our view outward from our social location. Feminists believe that there is validity in how we understand the world through experience.
- 14. 27 CONCLUSION Why it all Matters “It is not our differences which separate women, but rather our reluctance to recognize those differences and deal effectively with the distortions which have resulted from the ignoring and misnaming of those differences.” ~ Audrey Lorde That differences exist between people is not problematic within itself. A problem arises when differences result in inequality and when we try to pretend that the differences don’t really exist or matter in the first place, when they clearly do. 29 When “Difference” becomes “Deviant” For every identity category in our society, there are multiple groups. In each case, this dominant group comes with more prestige– and thus more social power— than the other existing
- 15. groups. Dominant identity groups in American culture: Beyond not having as much social power, many “subordinate” status categories are actually discriminated against. For this reason, we say that American society oppresses subordinate status categories. White (Anglo-Saxon) Heterosexual Male, man, and masculinity Protestant Upper class Able-bodied 30 My Privilege, Your Oppression If we accept that that different statuses are differentially valued in our culture, then we also have accept that some people are unfairly rewarded for their group membership. What does Peggy McIntosh’s “Backpack” essay help us understand? As most of us don’t consider ourselves overtly racist or sexist, so how do we accept this? Think back to Jackson Katz’s explanation in Tough Guise.
- 16. 31 Internal Decolonization We all have the capacity to be “the oppressor”. Even those of us who may be members of one or more minority groups are vulnerable to other forms of prejudice and discrimination. Recall also that you don’t always have to do something actively oppressive in order to benefit from your membership in a privileged status. There is a difference between identify as “not racist” and identifying as “anti-racist”. 32 “The true focus of revolutionary change is never merely the oppressive situations we seek to escape, but that piece of the oppressor which is planted deep with each of us” ~ Paulo Freire (1970)
- 17. Look at the pictures below (Black Lives Matter 2016, Women's March 2017): Now, examine these two pictures (Los Angeles Women's March, Washington D.C. Women's March): How do these pictures contrast each other? What is exemplified in placing these two pictures next to each other? How does this call us back to our readings on intersectionality and social locations? What are these images critiquing? Don't forget to respond to another student (100 words) and meet the initial post word requirement (300 words).