My Vietnamese Haiku Webquest

Web Quest

Internalized Oppression

In psychology internalized oppression is the manner in which an oppressed group comes to use against itself the methods of the oppressor. For example, sometimes members of marginalized groups hold an oppressive view toward their own group, or start to believe in negative stereotypes of themselves. For example, internalized racism is when members of Group A believe that the stereotypes of Group A are true and may believe that they are less intelligent or academically inferior to other groups of people. Any group can internalize prejudice.

In The Bluest Eye  the main character Pecola is told she is ugly and she never receives love from her family. Pecola eventually begins to believe the reason for her troubles is that she is black and has brown eyes. Pecola also sees that all beautiful people in the media are white: specifically Shirley Temple. Because Pecola sees how poorly she and other blacks are treated at this time she wishes to be white and have blue eyes. Pecola begins to believe the stereotypes around her and gives into internalized oppression by wishing to be different. 

Assignment: 

1. Take time to think about whether or not you face internal oppression in your life. For example do you feel that growing up in this area and school you have felt forced to live a certain way because of what society expects of you? No writing assignment is required for this section; this is just to get you to start thinking. 

2. Write a blog post on whether or not you think the media imposes stereotypes upon African American society. If you agree expand on how these media created stereotypes can create internal oppression amongst African Americans. 

3. Read this article about the football player Ryan Moats. Then draw a political cartoon that illustrates racial profiling or stereotyping. 

Sources: the red words are links

1. Crime and race this is part of the  school data base issues and controversies

2. Women and internal oppression this is part of the school database Proquest

3. Alec Baldwin and Tracy Morgan youtube

4. Black women on hating being black youtube

5. Book on Internal Oppression read pages 116, 118, 120, and 121

6. Jake Hart blog

7. Anti Racism  blog

8. Ebonics blog

9. Examples of Internalized Oppression website

10. Itunes: type in racism in the Itunes Store and it is the 14th item down. The artist is New York University and you should listen from the 5 minute to 15 minute mark. 

You can also peruse through these links on my delicious site. All of the articles relating to this webquest are under the tag internaloppression/beingsaxon. 

Quotes:

1."It had occurred to Pecola some time ago that if her eyes, those eyes that held the pictures, and knew the sights-if those eyes of hers were different, that is to say, beautiful, she herself would be different." (p. 46)

2. "She looks up at him and sees the vacuum where curiosity ought to lodge. And something more. The total absence of human recognition-the glazed separateness." (p. 48)

3."She was never able, after her education in the movies, to look at a face and not assign it some category in the scale of absolute beauty, and the scale was one she absorbed in full from the silver screen." (p. 122)

4."Adults, older girls, shops, magazines, newspapers, window sign - all the world had agreed that a blue-eyed, yellow-haired, pink-skinned doll was what every girl child treasured. 'Here,' they said, 'this is beautiful, and if you are on this day "worthy" you may have it.'"(pg. 20)

Race Research

    Right now close to one million black men are serving time in American jails. This means one in every three black males will have a prison record at some time (Wilson par. 7). This statistic holds true to the life of Chris Shurn, a 25 year old African American, from Oakland, California. Shurn was jailed in San Quentin Prison, at the age of 21 for crack-cocaine possession, and a weapons violation (Wilson par. 2). Four years later Shurn was released; he was then faced with the option of returning to his old life of drug dealing, or tackling life head on and getting a job and an education. Chris Shurn decided it was time to stay off the streets thanks to a special rehabilitation program that he encountered at San Quentin: Project Choice. The goal of Project Choice is to help convicted drug dealers turn their lives around, by helping them get an honorable hard working job. With the help of Project Choice and his own strong will, persevering grit, Shurn is off the streets and working an honest $9 dollar an hour job to help support his girlfriend and her child. Even though as an African American ex-convict statistics show Shurn is doomed to fail, it seems that Shurn's dedication to hard work will keep him from selling drugs and out of jail. 

    Chris Shurn like many other African Americans seemed to be born into a life destined for failure. He was born into a family with little money, in a bad area, with parents who had no intent of raising him (Wilson par. 3). While Shurn is currently overcoming tremendous odds to lead a successful life there are many other African Americans who aren't: for example, take Cholly Breedlove from the novel, The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison. Cholly was born into a similar situation to Shurn, but unlike Shurn he failed to overcome it. Cholly Breedlove was abandoned in a dumpster when he was just a baby with no parents to guide him through his life. As an adult Cholly is faced with numerous obstacles: he has no job and still has to raise a family. Chris Shurn and the character Cholly Breedlove were both once at this similar juncture in life; Shurn had to support his girlfriend while jobless and Cholly had to support a family without a job. Both make terrible decisions and end up in jail (Cholly burnt down his house abandoning his family and Shurn sold drugs to make money). Now what separates these two black males is what they do after jail in order to better their lives. 

    When both are released from jail they are left with no options but to work their way up from the bottom. Chris Shurn decides to make his own future and get a job, while on the other hand Cholly Breedlove returns to his somehow forgiving family. When Cholly returns to his family he re-enters his life of alcoholism and abuse. While there are brief moments that portray Breedlove as an endearing parent he spends most of his life enraged from the racism he encounters and the life he was dealt. Instead of getting over his anger Cholly lets it consume him; this ultimately leads Cholly to continue his cycle of alcohol and family abuse. Unlike Cholly, Shurn made the smart decision of getting a job and restarting his life. Rather than getting mad at the life he was born into and the lack of opportunity, Shurn has decided to take a chance at climbing the corporate ladder; something shocking and admirable in a time where jobs are as scarce as ever. 

    Today in America many African Americans are either born, or eventually placed into very tough situations. Some blacks are born into very bad socioeconomic environments without parents to guide them. Unlike a life like mine where I was spoon-fed everything I’ve needed, others are faced with tough life choices: specifically blacks in poor areas. The decisions people make in these tough environments are indicative of a person's mental strength and fortitude. In these positions one is left with two options: to cower and return to the terrible life one was dealt, like Cholly Breedlove, or to get tough and better oneself like Chris Shurn. 

Heterosexism: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

The producers of the TV show "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" made a bold and daring move by focusing one of the episodes' plot on homosexuals and the running of a gay bar. The show is about three guys and a girl: Mac, Charlie, Dennis, and Deandra all of whom co-own a bar in Philadelphia and how their self-centered personalities often land themselves in unusual conflicts and predicaments. While the show traditionally has the "gang" run a regular Irish pub, this particular episode, "the gang gets racist" focuses on the gang turning their bar into a gay bar.

During this episode the gang's bar is making very little money, so in order to get more people to come to the bar, they hire Deandra's friend Terrell to promote the bar. When Terrell tells the gang stories that hint at the possibility he is gay, the gang finds other reasons to believe Terrell is not. They come up with these reasons because the gang doesn't believe a cool normal black guy can be gay. Later in the episode Charlie, Mac, and Dennis meet other guys from Deandra's theatre class, all of whom are revealed as gay. This episode perpetuates the stereotype that all guys who are involved in theatre are homosexual, a stereotype that is very untrue.  

When Terrell begins to promote for the gang's bar, the bar turns into a gay bar because everyone Terrell invites is gay. All of the gay men who attend the bar are portrayed in a very stereotypical manner; all of these guys are seen as acting very flamboyant: limp wrist, tight clothing, died hair, and other stereotyped gay mannerisms. The way the gang acts when they bar-tend this new crowd also perpetuates many gay stereotypes. Dennis tries to act gay in order to earn tips from the gay guys at the bar. In order for Dennis to appear gay he dresses in tight clothes, dances around, and leads the men on in order to earn the tips and satisfy his vain self by winning the affection of the gay bar goers. 

 This show, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia usually is very heterosexist as it follows the lives of three bachelors living in Philadelphia pursuing girls. While the show is normally about this, this episode breaks the mold and focuses on the gay men who live in Philadelphia and how Dennis, Mac, and Charlie interact with them.

 

 

Gender Research

Sam Katz

2/15/09

Mr. Saxon

Honors English 4

 

    As the recession continues to lengthen and deepen it has begun to bring about change in gender roles in the United States. Because more and more men are being laid off from their jobs women have had to assume larger roles in supporting their families. The effect the recession is having on men and women in the work force and their changing incomes' is shown in the Business Standard article "Recession may bring change in gender roles in U.S.". The author discusses how the large quantity of job losses amongst men has forced women to step up and take the responsibility of becoming "breadwinners" for the family (Recession). Since more than 80% of the total job losses during the recession have fallen upon men women have had taken it into their own hands to support the family (Recession). America is traditionally a male dominated society, but as the recession worsens, women have begun to challenge the norm of males being the leaders and providers for the family.

    Although the change in the role of the "breadwinner" has not changed for all families, there are other noteworthy changes that are evident supporting this claim. Many women have taken part time jobs to compensate for their husband's lack of work while the men search for new jobs. As these men's searches have continued to no avail many women have had to become more attached to their jobs. While these unemployed men continue to be at their house for long hours their chores and daily lives at the house will change as well. These men and former workers are now left with more time for childcare and domestic work around the house (Recession). I know if I was a husband and my wife was at work all the time I would have no choice but to assume some of the chores and responsibilities she used to attend around the house. How can things run smoothly at the house if men and women refuse to make this change in gender roles? 

    Since men are employed in struggling industries such as manufacturing and construction women are taking on more and more of the nation's payroll; Heather Boushey a senior economist at the Center for American Progress was quoted saying " Given how stark and concentrated the job losses are among men... women are now bearing the burden or the opportunity one could say of being breadwinners," (as stated in Recession). At this time it can be argued women have more stable and reliable careers to support a family. Because women unlike men happen to work mostly in education and healthcare their jobs are less threatened by the hostile roller-coaster ride of the economy (Recession). With stability and assurance in their lives women seem poised to make money for their family. 

    While the household budgets in America are cut thinner and thinner by men losing jobs, it is the right time for women to jump in and become "breadwinners" for their family. Maybe not all women have to swap gender roles or even income with their husbands, but as more men are being laid off it seems gender role changes are imminent for certain couples. If women plan on taking more of a proactive role in providing for their family, there isn't a better time than now. 

Poem Second Semester

Hi everyone this is my first post. This post is a poem I wrote for English about being a second semester senior. In this poem I list a number of rules for seniors to follow in order for them to enjoy their second semester. I based my poem on the poem Girl by Jamaica Kincaid where Kincaid writes a poem in the voice of a mother to a young girl. The mother is giving the girl advice on how to be a mother when she grows up. 

Sam Katz 

Second Semester Senior

Sleep in every day; don’t go to school on time; when you get to school make sure you have no pencils, notebooks, or any other materials; cut as many classes as you can; if you go to class go to the bathroom as soon as possible and don’t go back; walk around the hallways; go out to lunch far away; skip the class after lunch; never bring your clothes to gym; sleep during class; don’t pay attention to any of your teachers; never hand in any assignments on time; go out and party on school nights; when the weather gets nice skip school and go to the beach; have fun with your friends on the weekends; play games on your laptop all day; leave all of your classes early; don’t study for any of your tests; you’re all ready into college, have fun;  this is how you listen to music during class; this is how you text so the teacher can’t see; this is how you speak on the phone so nobody can see; this is how you play computer games while making it appear that you’re on task; pass notes during class; get ready to choose your college; flirt with every girl; you’re never going to see anyone again; live in the moment; have as much fun as possible; remember this is your last year of high school; be friends with everyone; don’t worry if you weren’t before; get ready for prom; get ready for graduation; look forward to your last summer as a kid; have as much fun as possible; stop doing what you are doing now and be spontaneous; go on adventures; end late nights at the diner hanging out with your friends; remember if nothing is going on the night is still young; enjoy being at the head of the school; you’ll be the youngest again next year; go to all the school’s sports games; slack off in school; if you’re doing Mr. Saxon’s poem for homework stop now and party you’re a second semester senior; I’m going on an adventure now!

My other popular friends from English class also have awesome poems about rules. Meet my friends and their poems: Jozack, Gregorio, and TDN. 

This blog is made by a man named Ian Dodds who owns a consultant company. The company's job is to help implement strategies in diversity for other companies to use. This blog lists recent current events and news in diversity. 

This is a gender blog about women. The blog is for "geeky" or "nerdy" women who enjoy doing science experiments or just plain smart engaging activities.