Saturday, April 3, 2010
blog prompt for april 7th
Patricia Hill Collins in “The Prison and the Closet,” argues that the assumption that racism and heterosexism are two separate systems of oppression obscures the fact that racism and sexism rely upon each other for meaning. She writes about the intersecting relationship between racism and sexism as two hegemonic ideologies. Explain how the convergences of these two ideologies both affect the everyday lives of all people.
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Divide and Conquer. The point has been made in several of our readings that the introduction and enforcement of binary and oppositional concepts of race – white vs black, gender – feminine vs masculine, and class – Christian vs Muslim, simply serves as a mechanism of societal control. When people are sufficiently convinced of their inclusion in one group (and more importantly exclusion from another) then they no longer see the interests and needs of the “others” as in any way related to their own interests and needs – and even more damaging see the “others” needs as in DIRECT COMPETITION with their own. As Chong-Suk Han says in his essay, Darker Shades of Queer, “[S]ocial justice is not a zero-sum game. Granting rights to others does not diminish our rights” (pg. 261). This need for an oppositional identity – our individuality has no form unless it is shown in contract to what we are NOT - eg. I am feminine because I do not act like a guy is what allows us ignore the destructiveness of this strategy.
ReplyDeleteOnce we identify oppositional characteristics we are now freed to (and even encouraged) behave in ways that serve to protect our “like” interests with no guilt or conflict. Unfortunately, this behavior is not exclusive to the “ruling” classes. Marginalized communities continue to exhibit this zero-sum mentality and fail to recognize the truth in Martin Luther King Jr.’s words, “an injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” (pg. 261). The movie Milk briefly highlights the history of the Gay rights movement and touches on the fact that the movement was concerned with gaining rights for Gay, White, Men, and was guilty of excluding and dismissing the concerns of females and homosexuals of color. This control of the narrative and focus of Gay rights issues largely continues to this day. Likewise, people of color (largely blacks and Hispanics) actively worked in SUPPORT of passage of Proposition 8 – which overturned the California’s Supreme Court ruling allowing gay marriage. I heard several discussions between people of color and gay rights activitivists and the position of the people of color was that there was no common human-rights issue between the racism they experienced and the homophobia gays experienced – AND that the gay rights activists had not helped their own cause with homosexuals of color and others of color because they had done nothing to welcome and involve those of color in their movement.
So, the establishment won and Proposition 8 passed, because the groups who could have come together through common cause and experience of exclusion – instead exhibited that same behavior to each other. Divide and Conquer – the gift that keeps on giving.
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ReplyDeleteBoth racism and sexism are used to enforce racial and sexual hierarchies.
ReplyDeleteSegregation is used a “marker” to classify where one group of people live, work, etc. these are used as a form of social control to keep groups apart. In communities where segregation is practiced racial discrimination is also tolerated.
Heterosexism also segregates the LGBT community/individual, forcing them to remain in the closet for fear of losing their homes, jobs, etc. by no claiming heterosexuality; one puts them in great risk. Laws also don’t punish hate crimes against LGBT and/or fail to protect them from it.
The standards of the population of are controlled by racism and heterosexism.
Laws give tax breaks to married (heterosexual) couples than they do to single or unmarried couples, an incentive to get married. This system also works to keep people in their race as well by enforcing laws prohibiting interracial marriages. The Federal Defense of Marriage Act was also a form of enforcing heterosexual marriage as the “correct” type of marriage.
Racism and heterosexism are based on ideologies of what the “correct” status quo is. The “normal ideal” is: white, male, and heterosexual.
Both Black people and LGBT are stigmatized for their sexual practices. Only outside the fantasy cruise does one see non-white gays/lesbians such as Jamaica, Puerto Rica, or the “Orient”. The idea for the marginalized group is to take what they can from the dominant group and make it their own.
Women and young girls are bombarded by the media everyday with the message that they are not pretty enough, not sexy enough, too smart, etc. therefore something is very wrong with you. To be a “pimp/ho” has its darker side. With images of Paris Hilton being categorized as: blondness, hotness, richness, anti-intectualism and exhibitionism; young girls everywhere are feeling the pressure to conform to this ridiculous “norm” that has bad results. Now to fit into this sexist norm, women have to get plastic surgery, go to the mall, have blonde hair, etc.
Racism and sexism are repressive to ALL people. Looking for a so call “ideal” is really not the ideal, for “they” have not done anything to DESERVE to be the ideal, they were just born with it. By being so blind to all others we, as a society, don’t make any progress in bettering ourselves and others.
What heterosexism and racism achieve is essentially social control as Collins explains. (236) They force, or perhaps trick, the population into accepting what is the “norm” or the status quo. The population then defends these norms and thus makes it normal to adhere to sexist or racist views. The hegemonic ideologies are defended by the binaries to which people accept. You are either white or black, heterosexual or homosexual, and essentially normal or a deviant. I think this is one of the most dangerous things that result from this hegemonic ideal. Under this ideology it is deviant to be black or to be homosexual which leads to a variety of other “abnormal” traits. This makes the world more dangerous as parts of society follow these norms and strongly support hate crimes or fight to ban same-sex marriage or support segregation.
ReplyDeleteI think Ariel Levy’s essay Get a Life, Girls shows one aspect of how these hegemonic ideologies affect everyday people. The development of this “raunch culture” as Levy explains has exploited women and created a society in which women are expected to flash, strip, and groan. (253) This new culture is really a new market strategy rather than a new openness to society and if anything serves to devalue women. These hegemonic ideals have created a new norm within Western society for women to be sexually revealing and promiscuous. This is also evident in Brennan’s Selling Sex For Visas where sex tourism and prostitution have become more widespread. With the excuse of providing more opportunities for women, women are exploited and often abused or even killed. Again these hegemonic ideals create a norm that takes advantage of women without any repercussions.
-Nadia Quiroga
According to Collins, the systems of heterosexism and racism are two separate forms of oppression in the United States - and people are positioned at the margins of both of these systems. The intersections of racism and heterosexism, was first crossed by black lesbians, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities. They were the first to really question the system of how racism and heterosexism are intersected.
ReplyDeleteRacism and heterosexism does play a part in our every day lives. This is truthful because these two systems are manifested into our everyday ideologies. This becomes a system that is natural and becomes hegemonic. This plays into social hierarchies and social cultures in which we identify. These two systems use binaries to create a certain way of thinking. These binaries play into our everyday lives with how we identify ourselves amongst two opposing characteristics. For example, identifying yourself as black or white, two separate and opposite binaries. Also, identifying yourself as male or female. These identifications then become “normal” using the white, heterosexual standpoint. The “non normal” category would be: black, lesbian, and female.
It is oppressing society by having only one hegemonic way of life. It is a system which continuously oppresses people who go against our culture norms. I feel like this hinders people from really identify with who they really are in fear of being ostracized from society.
I believe that any –ism (racism, sexism, anti-Semitism etc.) exists because people feel insecure about themselves and need to feel like they have some control over something. Take for example bullies. Bullies act the way they do because they do not feel confident about their social skills, and turn to violence and hate to reassure themselves. People who are homophobic, or racist are unsure of themselves and are not confident in themselves. Take for example the history of the racism of African Americans. African Americans have always been depicted as unattractive or even scary. This has been like this because the American people were scared that they were not confident enough to welcome someone with a different skin color into their society. They were scared to be attracted to them in any way. Now take homophobia as an example. People who are homophobic, in addition to their silly fear, they may act overly masculine, if they are a man. To them, this shows others, who they may not know that they are manly and straight. They want to make sure that everyone knows that they don’t fly that way. Personally, I still do not understand why people are literally afraid of being hit on by someone of the same sex. Personally, I’d be flattered by anyone who finds me attractive, whatever gender/sex they are. All one has to do is tell them that they are not interested romantically in that person. It is not like they are going to hurt you.
ReplyDeleteFinally, it was interesting to me to read the “Darker Shades of Queer” by Chong-Suk Han. It was really interesting to hear is take on the situation of LGBT people being racist and people of color being heterosexist. I feel for those who are gay and of color, because they may feel as though they do not fit in with either group. Not only that, but Han especially feels like in both groups he is put down when he should be feeling uplifted about who he is. It is true; in society you are black or gay, never both. Apparently there are no gay blacks.
Reading the text, I realized the strong connection that exists between racism and heterosexism. Even in the history of this country there is strong evidence of this. Patricia Hill Collins mentions hoe studies of African American slave women show that the “sexual victimization as a defining feature of American slavery (page 235)”. While I was reading this section I was reminded of the Cara Walker exhibit in which her “fairytale” silhouettes show the viewer the violent sexual crimes that African American women experienced during slavery.
ReplyDeleteThe close relationship between racism and sexism is usually first is noticed by those that are affected by it. It may not be as obvious to those that are privileged and do not experience the affects. It is like being white and colourblind. Race is not always the first issue to be thought of when you are white privileged. This is why African American LGBT people were the first to draw attention to the connections that exist between these two injustices.
LGBT African Americans make the point that both systems are “state-sanctioned institutional mechanisms to maintain racial and sexual hierarchy (236)” and through segregation social control can be achieved. Marriage is another practice that is evidence of such control. For example, marriage has long been seen as a union between the opposite sex and within the same race. Married couples even received tax breaks, sending the message that it makes financial sense to get married.
Racism and Heterosexism also create a master binary (black or white, masculine or feminine and heterosexual or homosexual) which defines “normal” as being white, masculine and heterosexual.
These ideologies have become integrated into our everyday life so that we do not even question them. It is important to be aware of their existence so that we can question them.
Collins explains racism and heterosexism as two systems that interweave. Both converge on how they are “state-sanctioned institutional mechanisms to maintain racial and sexual hierarchies (236).” It is done to maintain social control and to discipline those to follow the status quo or the “norm”. Society abides by this “norm” and it is seen as acceptable to act accordingly. And these ideologies that defend the status quo are defended by the binaries people accept. An individual is either white or black, heterosexual or homosexual, and normal or deviant.
ReplyDeleteThe introduction of “raunch culture” in society has become a driving force in the media. It builds this sense of what makes a woman. Levy discusses how if a woman was caught doing any pornography she would destroy her reputation but these days it has become the norm. It has essentially gone mainstream. She uses Paris Hilton as an example of shooting to international fame based off of a sex tape. She goes on to explain how sex no longer involves the human factor but acquiring things; boobs, bleached hair, long nails, poles etc. The meaning of being hot to women is fuckable and saleable. It is another marketing strategy and not necessarily the feelings or openness of society at large. But it has become a new norm for young girls within Western society. Levy makes a great point that it gives off this notion that all we want to do is “rip our clothes off and shake our butts in men’s faces.”
Convergences between sexism and racism is something that effects peoples lives daily. “Neither system of oppression makes sense without the other, racism and heterosexism” The two are linked as one. Racism is defined as the belief that race is a primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race. Sexism is defined as the belief or attitude that one gender or sex is inferior to, less competent, or less valuable than the other. It can also refer to hatred of, or prejudice towards, either sex as a whole.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of feminine females and masculine males came about it the 1940’s when the symbol of “sterility” was confined to the homosexual lifestyle. Homosexuality was a lifestyle that people lived before the word “homosexuality” was introduced to society. The history of heterosexuality helped us “recognize” sexual emotions and behaviors.
Whiteness in the gay community is everywhere. Media portrays the gay community as upper-middle class and white, which isn’t accurate. If you look at the media such has movies, shows, magazines, and books we rarely see “non-white” gay images. The media makes people think that there are no gay men or women of color that exist in society, and that’s not the way it should be portrayed because it gives people a skewed image of how the society actually is.