I think that the media is a huge proponent of how we live our daily lives – right down to what we wear (or don’t wear), what we believe to be true, etc. The fact the women wear fewer and fewer clothing really boils down to what our culture and society accepts as being “in” right now. Turn on MTV and you’ll see in the music videos scantily clad women that are, usually, doing so in the presence of men. While some of us women choose to believe that how we dress is our free will, our individual decisions, our influence and no one is else’s is completely wrong. What we wear is largely dictated by the media and what message(s) it chooses to send. Today, more skin is in…especially if men are involved. I understand that this is definitely not all women. However, I think this “trend” is growing. Even for me, looking back to how I personally dressed as a sixth grader compared to how sixth graders dress now (especially on the weekends, out of school and in the presence of friends) is amazing. The difference is just that – much less modesty and more skin. For me, this screams less respect for their bodies and is begging for attention from others, whether men or women. This may be due to how I was raised, but I really think that it is our culture, dictated by the media, is what has caused this change. I think younger girls do not understand this correlation. They associated with “showing off their body” and “being comfortable with less clothes” as having more confidence, more dominance. They rarely see that the opposite is true, and this scares me. They do not see that they (unknowingly) are actually showing more skin due to the media and the accepted notion that men are who dominates. You think that showing off skin is a way to exude your confidence? This is so wrong. Confidence and respect for oneself does not come from baring your body or skin, but rather is a demeanor, behaviors, a way of life – it does not relate in any way to being basically naked. Even having confidence and gratitude toward your body does not relate to this. Younger girls need to understand that doing this means to eat healthily, have healthy habits when it comes to your body, and treat it with respect through diet and positive feelings & actions – again, this does not even come close to showing skin. Sadly, this reality is not widespread and is, in fact, just the opposite. Girls today are taught by the media that skin is how you acquire and maintain power when, tragically, the opposite is what is the truth.

I feel like what the woman described in this video is a smaller-scale version of what we learned about in class about the inequality and injustice in the prison system. Not only are these kids being arrested or detained at a much higher rate in these less privileged schools, but (like the statistics we saw in class) I am sure these kids are actually doing (or selling) drugs a lower rate than the more privileged schools. This saddens me that the information in class we learned is even perpetuated in schools that children attend. The fact that the injustice is so prevalent, stretching across all areas and all ages, makes me feel angry and almost hopeless for a better outcome.
I think that what is worse than those who are disadvantaged being targeted more is that those who are privileged that are unaware or unknowledgeable about why they are the privileged ones and what it means to be privileged. In addition, they should know the results of this privilege and what comes of it. If they are unaware of why they are able to lead the lives they do, they will never even begin to know how to help this dilemma or possess the ability to impart this wisdom upon others. The ignorance of these kids definitely needs to be addressed. I feel as though (especially at a younger age), nothing but good can come from this. Even if they had a class once a week similar to our Soc 119 class (but obviously geared toward a younger age group) I feel as though it would do wonders.
If we teach children the roots of these stereotypes and inequalities, it could possibly help them to be eradicated or lessened. Additionally, it would undoubtedly help if these children were taught about the various mediums utilized in perpetuating these stereotypes, such as the media. To fully understand something and be able to do something about it means to be familiar with its beginnings and what has caused it to grow. If children understood its core, as well as its proponents, I feel the future has a good shot at aiding the inequalities and misunderstandings that lead to events such as the ones described by the girl in this video. Whether this is started simply with a smaller lesson or a little time taken out of each week, I feel that the fact it is even being done will reap benefits.
Overall, I believe what occurs in classrooms and schools is a reflection of a broader, more frequent, and even more devastating occurrence in the prison system of our society and country today. If we can devise a method that can be started at an early age and carried on throughout their educational careers, I feel that the future of our society can truly accomplish a lot.

This makes me feel incredibly angry and sad. I am angry that I was born with a privilege others do not have and, in a sense, are penalized for not having. It makes me angry that others do not have the luxury of having the same justice I do. I don’t know if “white guilt” would appropriately label these feelings. It is not so much guilt as it is disappoint and anger. And, on top of that, I feel helpless and hopeless. And, because of these feelings, I subsequently feel sad and upset. It pains me to see news like this and believe I have nothing valuable to say or do or give back. I feel lost as to how to act or how to go about making a difference in the world regarding unjust tragedies such as this.
I am really not sure what needs to be done to change this. I believe it is something that time will tell and cannot be rushed. I feel that nothing monumental and substantial can or will happen overnight. In addition, I think this is a generational entity. As more time passes, some of the stereotypes and negativity will fade out (and hopefully, no new ones will replace them); just like the pattern that can slowly be seen over the past few generations. In time, I believe that perhaps a more open, accepting mindset will begin to grow and ideally, ultimately become the “norm” in various and numerous societies and cultures.
I believe simple things, such as exposure to other races and cultures, can truly help others to become better people and to be less narrow-minded. And, hopefully prevent tragedies such as this. However, I think that the majority of people actually willing to do this and to seek change and take action are the ones least likely to do something to that degree and of that nature. The ones the most likely to do something similar or commit a similar crime are the ones least likely to want to change. They are the ones that will stubbornly stay put with their stereotypes and prejudices. They are the ones that do not feel they need to “better themselves”, because in their mind they are absolutely right and just with what they believe and how they behave. This makes me sick to my stomach. I am not saying that all hope is lost to eradicate or lessen one’s prejudices and stereotypes, however, I think the vast amount of those who have the strongest and most wrongful beliefs are the ones who will never budge with their false beliefs and evil attitudes & behaviors. They will not accept others’ advice to be more open-minded.

I definitely have had a similar experience. Although I cannot place exactly which stage I am in, I can relate to what the student in the video had voiced. The more I thought about it, however, I think that because I moved four times when I was younger, it may have exposed me to way more than I will ever recognize, know, notice, or understand. When I lived outside of Philly, I was exposed to a larger amount of people that were of different races than I. The majority of my life (the place where I currently live at home), is largely white. So maybe living in the area outside of Philly for seven years did influence more than I thought. Or maybe not. I cannot really say and probably will never exactly know for sure.
I also think my upbringing and how my parents raised me immensely contributed to my openness and comfortableness about race. Even though my grandparents on both sides are very clear about their race preferences and deeply ingrained prejudices, my own parents are extremely different from my grandparents. They have raised me to be open, like the student in the video had mentioned. It was very important to them to raise my brothers and me to be accepting and understanding of all walks of life. I would not say I am “color-blind”, because, as we learned in class, color matters and often dictates the path of our life, but I would say that race is something I openly embrace and welcome, and do not shun it or try to ignore (or fight) it.
All in all, I believe that not only your environment (for example, a community with various races), but also your upbringing (for instance, being taught by your parents to be accepting of all races) influence what “stage” you are in or how comfortable you are with race. I do not think it can be exactly pinpointed as to why you are in the “stage” or mindset you are in. I believe that a vast amount of factors go into how much or how little we feel comfortable with race.
Not to mention, I think the whole “stage” labeling is very wrong. I do not feel as though you can limit and box-in what stage you are. I do not think it is something that can be clearly defined or categorized. So, with that being said, just because you fall under one “stage” does not mean you additionally have to pertain to all of the other requisites that the label encompasses. Just because you are at “stage 3” does not automatically mean you have to have had grown up in a racially diverse neighborhood.

Places I go to seek truth about the war and the Middle East usually consists of newspapers, major news websites, and also informal websites (such as blogs). I rarely listen to televised news coverage just because I think only a small portion of actual information is shared on these programs, in my opinion. This is perhaps due to the limited time and time restraints of being on the air. I do not think they give a full, comprehensive picture and often times, as a result of the broadness of them, fail to have the entire impact and true essence of the stories they tell. This, many times, leads to generalizations and false portrayals. So this is why I am not a huge fan of televised news. Out of the mediums I do choose to get news from, I do not weight their individual importance or truth any differently from one another. Each has relatively equal value to me.
However, with that being said, I still do not believe everything I read or see. I make sure to read everything in its entirety and to also pay attention to other sources that challenge that particular perspective. It definitely helps to take the time to view each perspective and side of the scenario. It also helps to pay attention to all stories – not just the big one that are labeled “breaking news” or are on every news station. All information from the media about the Middle East and war, whether big or small, counts to some degree. It is important to not turn a blind eye to individual, personal accounts or seemingly trivial stories in the news.
I do not know of any other ways to gain more information about this topic. What comes to mind is generally: the television news, newspapers, articles (both online and in print), and informal websites (such as blogs). I truly wish I knew of credible, reliable source to alternatively obtain information from. This certainly would help to broaden my horizons and make me more knowledgeable about the Middle East and war. I think if everyone had this source or these sources that they were confident in its credibility, that it would immensely benefit a vast amount of factors and people. Unfortunately, this is many times not the case. With the media comes faulty stories and information, which is in return circulated and misconstrued even further. This cycle of the media and its misleading tendencies seems to be a cycle that is powerful, and, thus, will never end. I am unsure of how to break this cycle. Furthermore, every time we read any news, we all run the chance of possibly reading false or deluded information and news.

I think there are many different reasons why people are often so closed-minded when confronted about something that goes against their beliefs. One reason is that a lot of people refuse to hear something that goes against their beliefs because that would mean their whole way of thinking about that particular topic or issue would have to be uprooted and accommodate for those changes. They do not want change and are content with what they believe to be true or taught to them to be true. Often times, it is easier for a person to shake their head, stop listening, and maintain whatever prior beliefs they have over taking the time to listen to the differing perspective and to spend time evaluating it. Another reason might be that the person truly does want be open-minded but is too afraid or ashamed to go follow through or take any kind of initiative. Some fear the implications and repercussions of going through with changing their opinion or close-mindedness about something. If they change their mind about that one thing, then what else do they believe to be true that, in fact, is or was a fabrication?
In regards to the army or military “closed-mindedness” that occured in class that day on the Twitter feed, I think it is an entirely different beast. I am not sure if I would label it as close-mindedness, because people did question what he said – some may have not whole-heartedly listened to or considered his explanation, but some people, at the very least, did question it and did not immediately dismiss it. I also think that because military ties are so numerous and hit close to home for many in that class, it might have felt like an attack on what their families/relatives/friends stand for and what they do by fighting for our country. Which, by the way, no one’s “beliefs” are wrong in a sense, because who is one person to judge how another person should live his or her life and what he/she should believe?
Many of the arguments against Sam’s statement I can also see as being correct. So it is not so much that everyone was close-minded, rather, they were able to surmise a valid challenge against what Sam was claiming to be true. I could see those who were stagnant with their actions or thoughts in this case to be close-minded, but I think for the most part many people did take action by questioning what was said or presented a legitimate argument. Not to mention, this topic is sensitive to many and is not a light one – because it may pertain to family members or close friends, it is hard to really open your mind to something that has a high pertinence with your intimate, personal life.

I think that International Racism is an awful thing that, unfortunately, is underrated and known by a very small percentage of people in our country. Again, as I have also written in my other blogs, I think this is a ‘fish in water’ kind of thing – we, as a country, are so submersed in it that it truly becomes invisible around us, or at least until someone points it out. I, for one, have never heard of International Racism before Sam’s class today, yet, it still makes a lot of sense and I do not doubt its presence or pervasiveness. I think that because so few in our present-day society know about it and its pertinence, International Racism should be something discussed in all schools and at all ages. The power that awareness brings about is sometimes underestimated. For one to be simple aware about an issue can lead to and ignite numerous actions.
However, on the other hand, it makes me angry that International Racism exists, but I feel helpless as to how to (myself) eliminate it. The people with the most power and wealth, I assume, are the ones who really have an influence or can directly sway it. Although I know that I am still more ‘well-off’ than numerous others in many countries, I feel as though in THIS country I do not have a say because I am not of the prestigious, wealthy backgrounds as others. So, all in all, while I feel compelled to do something, I am at a loss as to where to even begin.
I do not think International Racism has an easy or an immediate fix. I am sure that it is complicated and intricate, and would have to be gradually tackled, but I am positive that something can be done. I know that there has to be some way to eradicate (or at the least, lessen or reduce) it – but how? In a culture and society where wealth and money dictate power, it is difficult for me to understand how I, personally, would have much influence on this process. Additionally, I do not have faith or trust in the political system and do not feel it would do the issue justice if I were to call upon someone of this profession to help this cause.
So, ultimately, I feel stuck – I want to do something about International Racism and to change it, but every option I think of I feel limited to how much I could truly accomplish, due to my status or standing in this country. Even if I did have some sort of political-pull or connections, I would not feel confident that my wishes, thoughts, and ideas would be justly represented or carried out in the most efficient or appropriate way.

What really struck me as astonishing and as something new was also something I learned last semester in another sociology class: the disparity in the prison system regarding race. Not only did I learn that blacks (and other minorities) are immensely disproportionate to the number of whites in jail and prison systems, but also that it has nothing to do with more crimes (or more serious crimes) being committed by those particular races or ethnicities. I found this amazing yet really frustrating at the same time. I was angered that these groups were being targeted and, in a way, being kicked while they were already down. I hated that those races, especially blacks, are already disadvantaged by white privilege with generally lower incomes and worse housing opportunities (on the whole) and then are further disadvantaged by being more susceptible to being arrested and convicted of a crime, although they are no more likely to commit one and to commit one that is more serious. It makes me upset that, because of its prevalence and persistent, many voices are probably going unheard. Lastly, I am infuriated by the prospects of these men and women when they finally do (if ever) get out of jail or prison. They are most times better off staying in prison than they are when released. Job opportunities, housing options, and their role in the community are so often compromised and deprecated. Essentially, they are robbed of their rights before, during, and after prison. If I were to be in their shoes I would feel total defeat and helplessness. Looking at it the other way around, a white who has a criminal record still has much better chances of being hired than a black with absolutely no criminal record. This astounds me and I really wonder nothing substantial has been done yet.
Furthermore, after learning this information, I became worried and feared that this perhaps will not get any better and possibly even worse. Because I have no experience in the world of corrections, I really cannot think of where to start in terms of aiding this issue. Also for this reason, I am certain there are issues much worse that I (or the general public) am not even aware of. Something definitely needs to be done regarding the rights of the prisoners and detainees. I am sure they have numerous things to say and crucial opinions that must be heard. Why there is no outlet for them to do so is beyond me. I do not understand how this has gotten so bad and why no one (especially our government) has felt the need to correct it. Even the goals of the correction system have changed from rehabilitation to punishment. I am not sure of the exact steps that need to be taken in order to fix these problems, but I do know that something definitely needs to be done and soon.

What really struck me as astonishing and as something new was also something I learned last semester in another sociology class: the disparity in the prison system regarding race. Not only did I learn that blacks (and other minorities) are immensely disproportionate to the number of whites in jail and prison systems, but also that it has nothing to do with more crimes (or more serious crimes) being committed by those particular races or ethnicities. I found this amazing yet really frustrating at the same time. I was angered that these groups were being targeted and, in a way, being kicked while they were already down. I hated that those races, especially blacks, are already disadvantaged by white privilege with generally lower incomes and worse housing opportunities (on the whole) and then are further disadvantaged by being more susceptible to being arrested and convicted of a crime, although they are no more likely to commit one and to commit one that is more serious. It makes me upset that, because of its prevalence and persistent, many voices are probably going unheard. Lastly, I am infuriated by the prospects of these men and women when they finally do (if ever) get out of jail or prison. They are most times better off staying in prison than they are when released. Job opportunities, housing options, and their role in the community are so often compromised and deprecated. Essentially, they are robbed of their rights before, during, and after prison. If I were to be in their shoes I would feel total defeat and helplessness. Looking at it the other way around, a white who has a criminal record still has much better chances of being hired than a black with absolutely no criminal record. This astounds me and I really wonder nothing substantial has been done yet.
Furthermore, after learning this information, I became worried and feared that this perhaps will not get any better and possibly even worse. Because I have no experience in the world of corrections, I really cannot think of where to start in terms of aiding this issue. Also for this reason, I am certain there are issues much worse that I (or the general public) am not even aware of. Something definitely needs to be done regarding the rights of the prisoners and detainees. I am sure they have numerous things to say and crucial opinions that must be heard. Why there is no outlet for them to do so is beyond me. I do not understand how this has gotten so bad and why no one (especially our government) has felt the need to correct it. Even the goals of the correction system have changed from rehabilitation to punishment. I am not sure of the exact steps that need to be taken in order to fix these problems, but I do know that something definitely needs to be done and soon.

To overcome or make the factor of race on test scores better is a huge challenge and mystery to me. As Sam mentioned in class, however, these differences (solely based on race, controlling for income) are very slight. I understand and recognize that the difference is still present and very real, but it is hard for me to think of an easy, broad solution for such a miniscule variation in difference. If this difference between races (controlling for income) was a large difference, then I could easily see that it would be an issue to tackle and to brainstorm ideas about how to overcome it. But because it is such a small difference, these “solutions” to make the problem better is beyond me.
I think that the way to go would be to not isolate one variable or factor responsible for the differences on test scores. Instead, I believe what should be done is to devise a comprehensive strategy to encompass a vast amount of factors and variables. Like I said earlier, if the sole factor of race was largely responsible or the main cause of differences on test scores, then I could see why it would be the focus. But a better approach, I think, would be to improve numerous qualities of that child’s life: such as schooling, community, education, work opportunities for the parents, one-on-one free (peer and professional) tutoring…just to name a few.
Again, I have no idea how you would go about making an immense difference just based on race (as the person in the video asks). But I think a good start would be to look at the factors that cause significant variations, such as income and education. When looking at the bigger picture, it might be easier to recognize patterns or trends and to begin by deconstructing these and delving further. Dissecting minute factors does pay off in some circumstances or situations, but as far as just focusing on race I think might not be the best way to start off. Once the solutions for the comprehensive factors prove to be efficient, then it would be wise to look into race more deeply.
All in all, I believe the best way to eliminate any weight race has on test scores is to account for a broader number of factors rather than simply singling out one. That being said, a way to execute this would include an extensive outreach to children that would be comprehensive and would encompass many differing factors. In this sense, all bases would be covered and substantial number of factors and variables would be addressed and aided. When looking at this issue, it is best to consider the bigger picture at first rather than focusing on a single variable to ultimately make a profound difference.