Sunday, September 9, 2012

Whats the Difference.. Do You Know? Hyperlinks!


In Privilege, Power, and Difference, Johnson speaks a lot about certain dangerous words. Words people tend to feel a need to defend themselves. Words like white, male, heterosexual, homosexual, and racist. In the book, Johnson says that we, as in ALL of us, are part of the problem concerning difference.  We could also be a part of the solution. However, for the solution to occur, we need to change our state of mind. It’s obvious that some people still believe racism only concerns black people, sexism only concerns women (of all races), poverty are those people’s own fault. Thinking like this is what Johnson explains as “[pretending] we can talk about “up” without “down” or “you” and “them” without “me” or “us””. Johnson uses a Diversity Wheel that “doesn’t say a lot about the individual you know yourself to be, your personal history, the content of your character, what you dress or feel. It does, however, say a lot about the social reality that shapes everyone’s life in powerful ways. Why don’t you try the wheel for yourself here? An example: I am a soon to be 18 year old heterosexual female African American born in the US who is physically able. I have minimal work experience. I’ve never been in the military. I am still continuing my education and my parents are still married. Then, Johnson asks us in his book, to imagine what would if you go to bed one night yourself and wake difference in some way. Whether your gender or sexual orientation changes, you are able or unable to walk or run. How would you feel about yourself? The point was that we are all connected one way or the other. We can be part of the solution to change society’s perception of society. It starts with you.
What would you do if you woke up the opposite sex? Heres what others said!
Heres in interesing video from my classmate Jessica, that talks about homosexuality and society (media).. Enjoy!

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