en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/2397239 Comments by kayyxxoo605 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/14/what-does-it-say-about-our-society-if-schools-are-more-segregated-now-than-in-the-1970s-119-blog/#IDComment144036404 He was behind 3 other people, all of which were African American. As he was standing there, the cashier started calling trying to get the attention of the sociology teacher. When my sociology teacher finally realized this and gave her his attention she called him to the front. He thought it was because he needed to tell her something at first but quickly realized that it was because she was planning on ringing him up. He suddenly became stunned and immediately retorted to this absurd notion that he should be allowed to cut line. The cashier didn’t understand why he was so “unsettled” by this. It was completely typical behavior for white people to cut in front of blacks in the grocery line, among other things. The n word among other insulting names are still common jargon down in the south. It’d be nice to think that all of America, that all of the world, is just done being shallow and pedantic, but that isn’t the case. As much as I wish I could be naïve and believe that the world is over all of this racism, it’s not even close. SOC119 has taught me that. So to hear that segregation is present more now than ever just isn’t as shocking to me as it should be. And that’s all the more heartbreaking. Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:17:39 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/14/what-does-it-say-about-our-society-if-schools-are-more-segregated-now-than-in-the-1970s-119-blog/#IDComment144036404 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/14/what-does-it-say-about-our-society-if-schools-are-more-segregated-now-than-in-the-1970s-119-blog/#IDComment144036353 It used to be acceptable for white people openly discriminate against minorities strictly due to race. If you were white, you could walk down the street and call racial slurs to someone of colored skin without worrying about repercussions. This primitive behavior made it acceptable to segregate pretty much everything. This included supermarkets, buses, even schools. It was as if those of colored skin tainted everything they touched and everywhere they went. Even though this behavior is completely bizarre in my mind, its not as if this attitude has completely diminished. Unfortunately it’s quite prominent in today’s world. I remember recently, my one sociology professor shared a story with me before taking this class. So I was still relatively blind to what racism and prejudices still existed in contemporary society and I believed the best in people; what a joke. Well my sociology professor went down south not to long ago to visit family. He was down there for a month during the summer break so he had a little bit of time to immerse himself into the community but he said there was even some things that he could just never get used to. This instance came to the top of his mind. He went to the grocery market to do normal food shopping, and felt as if everything was like any other supermarket. It wasn’t until he went up to the register to check out that things became shocking to him. He was in line for a normal register where a white person was the cashier, not that he picked the register for that reason. Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:17:23 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/14/what-does-it-say-about-our-society-if-schools-are-more-segregated-now-than-in-the-1970s-119-blog/#IDComment144036353 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/12/do-you-think-you-would-actively-try-to-not-benefit-from-nepotism-if-the-situation-presented-itself-119-blog/#IDComment142321025 For example, I had to carry hay out to the chickens every morning, so instead of being able to sleep out and value friends more than work, I made sure to be home every night a grew a sense of responsibility. I like how being born into a wealthy family has put me amongst other wealthy family’s where I created connections. I don’t resent it. I can’t say that I am strong enough to walk away from nepotism, I have watched kids who are. I find nepotism comforting and convenient, I embrace it. Tue, 12 Apr 2011 23:14:26 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/12/do-you-think-you-would-actively-try-to-not-benefit-from-nepotism-if-the-situation-presented-itself-119-blog/#IDComment142321025 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/12/do-you-think-you-would-actively-try-to-not-benefit-from-nepotism-if-the-situation-presented-itself-119-blog/#IDComment142321011 Eventually he ends up pursuing a career as a construction worker until his body is too old to take it anymore. Faced with two completely different lifestyles it’s easy to point out how neither individual was able to choose what kind of family they were born into. This lead to creating a psyche that valued different things and gave them different lifestyles. If the poor man had been motivated to become wealthy, he could have pursued a higher education and created connections for himself. Visa-versa, the wealthy child could have chosen to step out on their own and start a life without her family’s help. Since I find myself relating more to the wealthy individual, I can understand his/her lifestyle. I very much appreciate the way that my father was an alumni here and how that could have helped in getting me in. I also like how he raised me doing chores that most people wouldn’t dream of making their children do. Tue, 12 Apr 2011 23:14:22 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/12/do-you-think-you-would-actively-try-to-not-benefit-from-nepotism-if-the-situation-presented-itself-119-blog/#IDComment142321011 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/12/do-you-think-you-would-actively-try-to-not-benefit-from-nepotism-if-the-situation-presented-itself-119-blog/#IDComment142320977 I never knew the exact word given to “connections”, but nepotism seems to fit is as best as the next word to come along. A few weeks ago, if one can recall from then, that we had a lecture discussing whether we believe if one benefits from factors within their control or outside of their control, this question yet again stumbles into my mind. When it comes to nepotism, I can’t help but think of whether this can be something within one’s own control. To better explain, one is born into a wealthy family considered pretty high up on the socialite ladder, the child of such a family goes to an amazing prep school and then the family name gets them into an amazing ivy-league college where they are offered a full time position in a stock firm before even graduating. On the other side of the fence, a young individual whose parents left him for dead grew up in an extremely poor neighborhood where street smarts were valued more than academic smarts. Because of this, he never has the finances, opportunity or motivation to go to a good school or even continue on to a higher education. Tue, 12 Apr 2011 23:14:11 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/12/do-you-think-you-would-actively-try-to-not-benefit-from-nepotism-if-the-situation-presented-itself-119-blog/#IDComment142320977 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/31/has-the-class-on-the-needy-penis-made-you-uncomfortable-and-why-119-blog/#IDComment140273621 Uncomfortable is a term that I don’t know how it makes me feel. So when confronted with the question about any issue, about being uncomfortable, I become unsure of how I feel. I can say that I disapprove of some of the things that were said during the lecture of “the needy penis”, so yes maybe it did make me “uncomfortable”. After boiling it all down there are a few feelings that arose from within myself. I enjoyed most of what Sam and his wife had to say, but some of it also upset me. I am an outspoken individual so I can openly confess that I am one of the few women who is actually fortunate enough to have an orgasm majority of the times that I have sexual intercourse. With this said, I would like to address the fact that the presentation made it appear as though so many women need sex to be a certain way, like an emotional, sensual, in depth experience. Tue, 5 Apr 2011 22:26:16 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/31/has-the-class-on-the-needy-penis-made-you-uncomfortable-and-why-119-blog/#IDComment140273621 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/31/has-the-class-on-the-needy-penis-made-you-uncomfortable-and-why-119-blog/#IDComment140273303 It has become more acceptable in some areas that females are having plenty of sex before and/or after marriage. Females are becoming more and more independent, and due to this new found self, embrace their sexual status more. This has caused plenty of girls to be one hundred percent comfortable with their sexual activity, and also caused girls to view sex in a less emotional manner. There are many females who would prefer to bring a guy home, do the dirty, and then have them leave. No necessity for talking or foreplay, just straight sex with no added baggage. A perfect example of this is the movie that was recently released staring Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher titled No Strings Attached. The values that are apparent in the beginning of this movie have become the ideals of many people today. So to give the idea to so many people that girls view sex in a certain light I believe is misleading and that is what makes me “uncomfortable”. Tue, 5 Apr 2011 22:24:32 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/31/has-the-class-on-the-needy-penis-made-you-uncomfortable-and-why-119-blog/#IDComment140273303 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/31/has-the-class-on-the-needy-penis-made-you-uncomfortable-and-why-119-blog/#IDComment140273257 I can only speak for myself and the other women that have confided their feelings on such an issue in me and say that this is not always so and by telling 700 individuals that this is usually the case, you’re stepping on thin ice. People change throughout the generations, society and social values reshape all the time. So the ideology that females need more time to warm up to sex or that girls do view sex the same as guys is only looking through a one way mirror. I know I am also in a biased position and that as a young adult in college who have guys with overactive hormones around me constantly that I would naturally be on the other side of the spectrum but I am trying to make my point valid. In today’s world there are still a significant amount of people that believe in double standards for men and women when it comes to sex, but as you can already see where I am going with this, times are constantly changing. Tue, 5 Apr 2011 22:24:23 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/31/has-the-class-on-the-needy-penis-made-you-uncomfortable-and-why-119-blog/#IDComment140273257 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/24/how-have-you-acted-when-involved-in-racist-or-discriminating-events-119-blog/#IDComment138475466 To the best of my memory, this man said “watch where you’re going curry-muncher”. Now growing up in a loud home, among a bunch of people with a type-a personality (including myself) and learning to cut my own path in life, I had picked up quite the cajones along the way. Without even think twice my voice rose to a level loud enough for at least people within a 30 foot vicinity heard me over the music say “Excuse me you pathetic POS, who exactly do you think you are insulting a beautiful lady with slurs of a food that she is actually allergic to. You couldn’t get a girl as gorgeous as her to even dance with, you’re lucky enough the she brushed your arm you ugly f***.” Thinking back on it I’m sure there was a more responsible way in which to handle the situation but it was a reaction, I couldn’t just let some jackass hurt my friend in such a barbaric manner. So I know what I would do/have done in such situations. Now all you can do is look in the mirror and ask yourself, what will you do? Tue, 29 Mar 2011 23:06:43 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/24/how-have-you-acted-when-involved-in-racist-or-discriminating-events-119-blog/#IDComment138475466 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/24/how-have-you-acted-when-involved-in-racist-or-discriminating-events-119-blog/#IDComment138475450 When reflecting on my own actions, I can remember a specific example. I hadn’t had many black individuals in my high school, but before moving to the suburban area that I still call home, I had lived in the depths of Philadelphia. Here I met an array of people, from many backgrounds. When visiting the city one weekend, my best friend (who’s white), myself (I am also white) and our friend Sarah (who is of a middle-eastern descent) decided to go out on the town. We went to a common club (which will remain nameless as to not change anyone’s opinions of the club due to the actions of one individual) and started of the night having a blast. We danced, we met people, and were just all around enjoying ourselves. This bliss was soon brought to a halt. While moving from one dance floor to the other, we ran into one of the club promoters on the steps. As soon as my friend (the middle-eastern one), which was the one who had actually made physical contact with this man, was about to say sorry, the man blurted out the most heinous thing. Tue, 29 Mar 2011 23:06:34 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/24/how-have-you-acted-when-involved-in-racist-or-discriminating-events-119-blog/#IDComment138475450 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/24/how-have-you-acted-when-involved-in-racist-or-discriminating-events-119-blog/#IDComment138475409 It’s a scary question to think about my own actions in an uncomfortable situation such as taking action when racism was occurring. However, to my own relief, I can proudly say that I am unlike most. After hearing in lecture the one day from that video that in a research study done that 22 individuals (the majority) sat back and did nothing when present when a racist act was being committed. It’s even more frightening to think about the 6 or so people who actually supported that act! For those people; get your hidebound peanut sized brains out of your ass and realize that these people are your equals, at least when it comes to outer appearances. I can’t say if someone is indeed equal in morals or socially equal, but if they’re not, it shouldn’t be based on their skin color. Yet again I can’t play stupid, and must admit that I am sure they aren’t equal because of such reasons, because they were denied opportunities due to things such as race (this imaginary social construction that has destroyed the lives of countless individuals). Tue, 29 Mar 2011 23:06:18 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/24/how-have-you-acted-when-involved-in-racist-or-discriminating-events-119-blog/#IDComment138475409 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/18/where-do-the-messages-come-from-119-blog/#IDComment136635865 But these were ideas that were implanted from family members that I am sure were present in the lives of these ladies for a long time. It’s very hard to think one way when every single day someone dear to you is telling you it’s another way. It’s like knowing that 2 plus 2 equals 4, but for 5 years someone sits there and tells you no 2 plus 2 equals 5. At some point you will question your own knowledge and be tempted or may even accept theirs as truth. I've seen plenty of other examples of family and even peer/friend pressures. Witnessing girls in my own school talk a young girl straight from Africa out of her ethnic clothing by teasing a ridicule and into a pair of Hardtails, velour zip up and straight hair is just another example of environmental pressures that remind us all of how racism has yet to decease Tue, 22 Mar 2011 03:16:06 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/18/where-do-the-messages-come-from-119-blog/#IDComment136635865 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/18/where-do-the-messages-come-from-119-blog/#IDComment136635848 Meaning that this idea, this belief, that lighter skin is prettier and better was implanted into their minds from somewhere else than these cartoons. I’m merely playing devil’s advocate in this sense because I truly do believe that the media plays a large role in this battle of the pigment. I don’t however feel like media can be solely to blame. Yes the models in advertisements are usually lighter skinned with European features and so mostly are news castors as well as plenty of other prominent faces on television, but they aren’t that only ones who should shelter this blame. For those of you who were present and paying attention to the video that I mentioned above, you would have heard the one girl talking about her mom and the other talking about her grand-mother and how they would straighten her hair or tell her she should straighten her hair because it looks to wild and “African” otherwise. Well no duh it’s African hair. Tue, 22 Mar 2011 03:16:00 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/18/where-do-the-messages-come-from-119-blog/#IDComment136635848 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/18/where-do-the-messages-come-from-119-blog/#IDComment136635785 It’s extremely difficult to name one particular source where the connotations/denotations of ski color originate. As some people in lecture attempted to do after witnessing the video about the young black females and the children choosing dolls of certain skin tones when asked to pick up the nice/good doll; we can try to blame the media. But can we really throw all this weight on the mass media’s shoulders? Think of it this way; the examples that cartoons portray white characters to be good and dark skinned characters to be bad may hold true for the United States of America, but outside of our humble walls and across a great big body of water await cartoons of other nations. These cartoons don’t always hold true to statements such as this. Yet people in those cultures are spending millions of dollars in the cosmetic industry on skin whiteners and bleachers. . Tue, 22 Mar 2011 03:15:40 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/18/where-do-the-messages-come-from-119-blog/#IDComment136635785 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/15/what-is-your-view-and-experience-with-white-privilege-119-blog/#IDComment135696473 After years of working with him I learned that he lived in the more predominantly black occupied areas of the city, was surrounded by mostly black friends and family and did activities that have been associated with black people, such as joking around with the n word. Although this normally feels like I am betraying an unspoken code between myself and my old manager, I feel that it makes it relevant to this story by stating that he doesn’t seem to favor white people in anyway. After that job I have had 6 more different occupations up until present day. Oddly enough, each hiring manager since my first job has been white and 4 of the 6 have been female. It is possible and ever probable that because of the manager’s ascribed characteristics, and my own, that I have received certain acceptances into work fields. Without taking this class I would probably feel as though white privilege isn’t as strong of an influence today as it was years ago. However; after witnessing studies and hearing various stories I have been firmly convinced otherwise although I wish it weren’t so. Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:53:56 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/15/what-is-your-view-and-experience-with-white-privilege-119-blog/#IDComment135696473 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/15/what-is-your-view-and-experience-with-white-privilege-119-blog/#IDComment135696448 Am I positive that this has led to open windows in my life? No of course not, but those who feel the opposite aren’t certain that they have. I would like to think that my own hard work and determination has earned me everything I have today, but that would just be plain naïve. Unfortunately I have to admit that I can honestly acknowledge that my skin tone may have helped me out in a number of situations. My personal experience could date back to getting my first job. The only reason I find this highly doubtful is because I remember learning in class that white privilege in most situations in the workforce is among other white people not normally among people of color. My hiring/ general manager of my first job (which happened to be at McDonalds) was black, and not to judge be he seemed pretty much a part of his racial culture. Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:53:50 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/15/what-is-your-view-and-experience-with-white-privilege-119-blog/#IDComment135696448 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/15/what-is-your-view-and-experience-with-white-privilege-119-blog/#IDComment135696392 As a white female myself I am sure that I have been exposed and possibly encompassed in the phenomenon known as “white privilege”. I most certainly did not choose my skin color, but I have noticed its benefits, especially since taking SOC 119. I am friends with people of many races, and there are plenty of black males in my life which have brought many things to my attention. For one, I am a female, so not only have people in my life determined that I got a job or somehow benefited due to my skin color, but also due to my sex/ relative attractiveness. I am not cocky, and in no way narcissistic, but I am aware that I am a full chested petite woman who is at least decent looking. Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:53:32 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/15/what-is-your-view-and-experience-with-white-privilege-119-blog/#IDComment135696392 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/23/why-do-we-think-of-people-from-other-countries-as-so-different-from-us-119-blog/#IDComment134361562 Most of the time they are using terminology that is disliked and because they are trying too hard they are making the members of the other race uncomfortable which in turn may result in anger or frustration. These individuals just need to be open and front that yes there are people of different colors and yes it affects their lives (unfortunately) but I as a public person am not trying to hide behind names for these races that someone somewhere decided were ok. These terms are making the gap, that should be nonexistent, between “us” and “them” even larger. It’s understandable that we as humans naturally feel that when someone has a different way of thinking, behaving, and/or coping that we automatically draw a line in the sand that “they” are different. The best way that I can think of to help heal this issue is just to have people educate themselves. When more familiarized with the behavior the more accepting and understanding one can be. Sat, 12 Mar 2011 04:36:47 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/23/why-do-we-think-of-people-from-other-countries-as-so-different-from-us-119-blog/#IDComment134361562 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/23/why-do-we-think-of-people-from-other-countries-as-so-different-from-us-119-blog/#IDComment134361554 In fact although I know this blog is about how politicians and the public tend to avoid the whole race issue, I just read an article about a new York congress man who actually wants to put into affect a project that investigates Muslims to try and find any terrorist activities and take other pre-emptive actions to protect the future of america. Excuse my language but didn't we get past this barbaric, cruel bullshit?!? There are also others who are stepping on glass and making complete fools of themselves while doing it as well as offending plenty of people in the process. Sat, 12 Mar 2011 04:36:42 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/23/why-do-we-think-of-people-from-other-countries-as-so-different-from-us-119-blog/#IDComment134361554 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/23/why-do-we-think-of-people-from-other-countries-as-so-different-from-us-119-blog/#IDComment134361523 I actually am on vacation as we speak, in Wyoming (yes, you should all be jealous) so I had the experience of traveling through the airport very recently and observing the exact behavior that we talked about in class. I had two flights on my way here. One of the flights an Indian, who wasn't in Muslim head gear or dressed any differently than the average male, clearly got different some may even say scrutinizing/ suspicious looks while walking through the terminal and eventually boarding the plane toward Chicago with my family and I. I feel as though the airport is one of the most noticeable places that Muslims and other Easterners are discriminated against, so I have to wonder why nothing has been done to help aid a transition back to treating them as normal human beings. Sat, 12 Mar 2011 04:36:29 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/23/why-do-we-think-of-people-from-other-countries-as-so-different-from-us-119-blog/#IDComment134361523