Thursday, February 23, 2012

Race, Class and Gender Response

Please write your response to the following-when you are done, ask a strong question that starts a discussion thread. Comment on other people's ideas and questions. I want you to be thought-provoking and challenge one another.

What was illuminated to you in this reading? Use 2 quotes to support your response;
Did this reading give you any new ideas? If so what were they? How might YOU change your perceptions based on this reading?


150 comments:

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  2. The authors made an interesting point when they wrote,

    "This does not mean that woman's studies is about 'male-bashing'. It means that we take the experiences of woman and men seriously and analyze how gender, race, and class shape the experiences of both men and woman, in different, but interrelated ways."

    This is a great quote, because it emphasizes the point that not all minorities have viewpoints that go against the typical white man. Sometimes people think that "different" viewpoints diminish their own, but that is simply not true. We focus too much on the "rights" and "wrongs", and by doing so we fail to allow ideas to work together.

    If someone has a different viewpoint than you, does that make them wrong?

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    1. Aubrey - I like your point. In answer to your question, I think that people are not wrong if they have a different viewpoint, they just have a different perspective. It is okay if people don't agree with you because that is how humanity has progressed so much today. If we always disagreed with everyone because they had a different viewpoint, then no one would get anywhere.

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    2. Vivian- I agree with you. I think that the beauty of our world is that there is diversity in opinion and thought. These differences of opinion allow people to share their ideas and compromise over different things. Each person brings something different and unique to the table, and this ultimately allows our world to thrive, learn, and prosper.

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  4. I felt that the author was somewhat unjustified in saying, "By minimizing the experiences and creations of these different groups, we communicate that they have no history or that their work and creativity and is less important and less central to the development of culture than is the history of White American men." The reason I thought it was unfair to assert is because in culture, majority rules. In no way do I mean that the work and history of a minority is less valuable but rather not the center of attention only because it's the minority.

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    1. Holly, I totally agree. I think that we don't ignore minorities on purpose or to be malicious. The minorities are not talked about as much because not as many people can relate to them. The majority will always be the dominant group, because they are the greatest number of people that can relate to the same thing. We are not devaluing the minorities, or saying that they are less important. The author says people touched briefly on slavery, women's suffrage, and the Holocaust. I have studied all of those things for years, and we always spend a lot of time on them. If our school is anything to judge by, the rest of schools do the same.

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  6. From this reading, I thought it was very interesting how white men are the center of a lot of our ideas. For instance, when describing what shifting the center is, she says, "When they are seen, they are typically judged through the experiences of white people, rather than understood on their own terms." I never really thought about how much we compare events to "white men" incidents in history. I also enjoyed the picture analogy, "But, as you move your angle of sight to include those who have been overlooked, new subjects come into sight." I think this is a good comparison to how we view society. We often only get one side of an issue, and often never see all perspectives as it's not in our line of focus. However, this article doesn't really change my perceptions, it just makes me think about the world a tad bit more.

    Are we really a racist and/or sexist society?

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    1. Jonny- I think we are a racist and sexist society. Not necessarily in a bad way as we once were with segregation and slavery, but we are still racist. For example, our education system. Some people will get a scholarship to a college just because that of their ethnicity. Just because that college has to have so many Latinos, Asians, or African Americans to look good. Another example is being a gentleman. When there's no seats on a bus and a man is standing, no one would be expected to give up their seat for him, but if it was a woman standing it would be chivalrous to let her take your spot.

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  7. This reading made me realize that many of the things we do subconciously shape our vision of life. We center our gaze on certain things based on our interests and other things get blocked out. It made me wonder what if we "shift our vision of society from one that is typically centered in the voices and experiences of dominant groups". I wonder what would change in our subconcious actions? I think that we would see more good in others like the the authors say will happen, "Shifting the center asks you to think more inclusively." It made me think that even if we think we know what someone is about that they could've changed and be totally different, we just wouldn't see this because they weren't in the center of our focus.

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  8. After reading this article, I realized that a lot of stereotypes that I believe are due to my perspective and the way that I look at the world, look at myself and look at others. The article challenged me to try to look inwards instead of outwards and examine my heart. This quote really grabbed my attention and caused me to wonder what is the outcome of the way that I think and what kind of effect does it have on the conclusions I come to about all types of people: "What false or incomplete conclusions does this exclusionary thinking generate?" (Andersen, Collins) Also, the environment which I live in adds to my vision and how confined I am to being white. Living in a predominately white city, going to a predominately white school and hanging out with predominately white friends narrows my exposure to other cultures which has a really big impact on how I see other people and 'minorities'. Its really difficult to put myself in someone else's shoes and change my perspective when I am constantly being exposed to mainly people who are in the same place as I am. Just as this quote says, I judge others through my experiences."...they are typically judged through the experiences of White people, rather than understood on their own terms; this establishes a false norm through which all groups are judged."

    How can someone justify general conclusions about a population just by observing the behavior of a few individuals with common characteristics (race, class, gender, etc.)?

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    1. I think that in a way, stereotyping and making conclusions about an entire group of people is fueled by our own insecurities and fears. We may look at someone different than us and be threatened by their actions or their traditions because they are not familiar to us. Because of this uncertainty, we make rash judgments about the group, usually negative, in order to protect our selves. We decide not to look at the entire population and their differences, but rather start to associate negative connotations with the group in order to feel superior.

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  9. I noticed that experiences make people who they are today and show how they affect culture. The author states, "It is also recognizing how groups whose experiences have been vital in the formation of society and culture..." He says a lot about how our experiences shape people and affect history. The author said a lot about accepting history and learning about group oppression; however, I think history should be accepted as history. It should be accepted as something in the past that we cannot change. People should use history as a learning experience and then forget grudges and move on. The author also states, "...means acknowledging the diverse histories, cultures, and experiences of groups who have been defined as marginal in society..." Instead of looking at history and how different groups were oppressed, I will look at it as a chance to change the future. I don't want to dwell on the past, it is important to "shift your center" to a view that is living in the present. What do others' histories mean to you?

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  10. Through this reading, I was able to see that get our perspectives based on the reflections and ideas of how to think and behave that all originate from the dominant group. If we think the opposite of their opinions and saying that in its own shows that we are comparing ourself to the dominant class. We need to learn how to think independently without thinking about how the dominant group thinks. Anderson and Collins say, “by learning the the diverse histories and experiences of these groups, but in doing so, we transform our understanding White experiences too.” I had never thought of my opinions and compared to that of how one group thinks. I had always perceived my ideas based on my experiences, but now I realize that I think the way I do because of experiences that have come from the past that all relates to experiences of other ethnic or racial or sexual groups. The biggest idea that I got from this text is that all histories and cultures are intertwined and connected. It really hit me that this is what the authors were saying this when they wrote, “The exclusionary thinking we have relied upon in the past simply does not reveal the intricate interconnections that exist between the different groups composing the U.S. Society.”

    Is any idea independent from influence of other 'groups' or do we all have opinions and thoughts because of what others have done or experienced?

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    1. Olivia: I think all our opinions and ideas come from what we have seen. Our families experiences, our races experiences and our personal experiences all tie in together. I think we have to base our thoughts off what we see but then I think it depends on the person. Some people solely use that and others will intertwine their own opinion with that knowledge. Which type of people do you think are more successful? Do you think the more you experience and endure the more open mind you have? Or do you think the experiences of others can fulfill ones life?

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  11. Emily: I think so because they are starting to make up more of our population. There is an issue of immigration today and how a minority could become one of the major races in our country.

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  12. In this reading what stood out to me was the repetition of the phrase "shifting the center". I really liked the idea of a change in perspective to include the ideas and experiences of another. I feel like on a smaller scale, within our own friends and family, this could benefit how we think and live. The article states, "..it means actually seeing things differently, perhaps even changing the lens you look through -thereby removing the filters(or stereotypes and misconceptions)that bring groups to what they see." I think this is a very good idea. However, I feel that on a global scale it would be hard to implement. A question I had was how could the world accomplish this together? But then I decided that the point of perspective is not changing how everyone else sees a situation- it's how you yourself sees it. I think that if each individual tried "shifting the center" even in small ways in their daily life then gradually a larger change could take place. Do you think change occurs once people take responsibility for themselves? Or does it occur when others force responsibility on them? Which way would get you to do what is right and stand up for something?

    Another part that stuck out to me was the irony of the United States. The article says, "By minimizing the experiences and creations of these different groups, we communicate that they have no history.." and I agree with this. The article goes on to talk about the ideas of democracy but how does that work if there's enslavement or laws against Asian American or Native Americans? I found this very upsetting and I feel like America seems to be a hypocrite based on its past. Do you feel the same way? Is America hypocritical with what they say versus what they do?

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    1. Savannah-I really like the idea that shifting the center in small ways would eventually make a big difference, and I think this is absolutely true. I think people have to make the decision to change by themselves. It doesn't work when someone tries to force them. If someone tries to force me to do something, I would think about what they are saying, but in the end I would decide for myself if I wanted to listen to them. Based on the past, America does seem very hypocritical. But they have tried to fix the wrongs they have done, and haven't made the same mistakes. Do you think America is still hypocritical today? How?

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  13. Aubrey: I think that in actuallity, it doesn't make the person wrong. However, often we personally think they're wrong. We often are very naive and think that because we say it's right, it has to be right. We almost trust ourselves for facts more than others. So no, it really doesn't make the other person wrong, just maybe in you opinion.

    Class: Is it possible to "shift the center" to another race? Or should there even be a "center" at all?

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    1. Johnny: I think that there really shouldn't be a center, because that will always be the main focus. Even what used to be important could then fall by the wayside. I think that there should be focus on a little bit of everything.

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    2. Jonathan, I think the "center" is someone's personal race. I don't think that will ever go away, but I don't think that is a bad thing. Many people have their center but are also able to see others point of view. I don't think having a center would prevent you from seeing or understanding other people's center.

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    3. Hannah, I agree. Everyone can have their own center and peace will be maintained. I understand what is potentially beneficial about 'shifting the center' so that we can, "begin uncovering the structures of race, class, and gender..." but at the same time I don't believe that an inability to broaden one's perspective is, "damaging and dehumanizing systems of oppression."

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    4. Johnny- I have never met a truly racist or sexist person- but I am sure that there are people that way. We all have said something that may be hinting at racism or sexism but the just our natural competitiveness coming out or true hate? Is it natural?

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  14. How do you reshape what you know, especially when you have been prone to what you know?

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    1. I think you have to reshape what you know from education. When people become educated about something, their opinion usually changes on the subject. Some may think that every one from the Middle East is a terrorist toward Americans because one group from the Middle East acted that way. But if this person was to met someone and learn about their culture, I'm sure they would soon find that they are not all terrorist at all.

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    2. In order to reshape what you know I think that it is crucial to first realize that what we are taught and everything we hear in the news today or by word of mouth needs to be filtered. I can connect to this personally because I have a 12 year old brother who started his first year of middle school this year and my parents are constantly telling him that he can't believe everything that he hears. He is taking that step between child-like belief and faith into reality and being able to think for himself. Sometimes I wish that people wouldn't have to make that choice or take that step but in order to not be ignorant in our world, you have to be able to think on your own and be in control of what you know. Once you are in control of what you believe and what you think is valid information, then you can reshape or change your beliefs if you realize that you may be under the impression of something invalid.

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    3. I think it's really hard to reshape what you know, especially if it's something you have known your whole life. I think people have to put aside what they have grown up with and what is familiar to them and start questioning basic things. If someone has a certain prejudice towards a group, in order to reshape it they have to question why they ever believed that in the first place. I think it would take a big confrontation with ones self.

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    4. In order to reshape what we know, I feel like we have to consciously make an effort to see the world in a different, more positive light. In the case of race, class, and gender, it's important to acknowledge the importance of other cultures and histories. It says that "by shifting our perspective, we can better understand the intersections of race, class and gender in the experiences of all groups, including those with privilege and power." Not only can the privileged learn about other races, but also rediscover themselves.

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  15. Through out the reading Race, Class, and Gender, Margaret L. Andersen and Patricia Hill Collins illuminate the idea of perspective. These authors talk about seeing the world differently ranging from people of different race, class, and gender. Andersen and Collins state: "Think of the process of taking a photograph...But, as you move your angle of sight to include those who may have been overlooked, new subjects come into sight." This quote demonstrates the different perspectives we can choose to see. People ultimately decide what to see and what they are blind to, whether they choose positive or negative images is up to them. You can highlight the good or highlight the bad all depending on your way of living. Since we choose our own perspective, we can never truly see others. Andersen and Collins talk about the result of choosing our own perspectives: "The result is that what we know-about the experiences of both these silenced groups and the dominant culture- is distorted and incomplete." This proved that what we learn about others is not fully complete because we determine it ourselves. A new idea I got from reading this is attempting to change my perspective more and learn about different things from the other point of view. Instead of judging others, I need to know what's going on and put myself in their place to see how I would react. Learning that all the world works differently is something that is hard to accept but through different perspectives, we can slowly start to understand it.

    Is it possible to fully understand a different perspective other than your own?

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    1. I think it is definitely possible to fully understand someone else's opinion. The trouble is accepting it. Other's opinions will always be plagued with your own.

      Do people truly "change their minds" or is the second perspective the one they truly chose in the first place?

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    2. Lauren: I don't think it is possible to fully understand someone else's point of view. No matter how hard you try, you can never have the exact same thoughts as another person. And since we have already had thoughts on a situation, those thoughts wont go away so they will affect your mind when trying to understand somebody else's perspective.

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    3. I think it is impossible to fully understand someone else's perspective. Each person is an individual and handles experienced differently. Even if you are in the same situation as that person you still can't completely understand what they feel like. You can relate to them and try to understand, but only that person can truly understand what their feelings are. If you can fully understand there feeling their perspective will be difficult to understand as well.

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    4. So are you saying their second perspective is just a different version of their first perspective? If so, I think that we've changed our minds to the best we can. Accepting different things is hard for most people. So at first it may still be a version of our first perspective but eventually, we may be able to change our minds.

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  16. The author says, "Exclusionary thinking is increasingly being challenged by scholars and teachers who want to include the diversity of human experience in the construction and transmission of knowledge." Do you think everyone is genuine in shifting their center? Or do they feel obligated to do so from a moral stand point?

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    1. I think that if you are only pretending to shift your center, you are not so at all, regardless of your reasons why. This shift is an internal idea and it doesn't matter if you say and do not do, because it is just for you. It would be like saying that you eat healthy. That's fine if tell people that so they can see you as healthy, but in the end, it is your body that is being harmed by not actually eating good foods.

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    2. Holly: I feel like there are people who genuinely do want to shift their center. Some people have seen the struggles that the minorities in today's society must face and feel compassion for these groups. These people are the leaders though, and when there are leaders there will be followers. Some of these followers will be genuinely interested in shifting their center but others will do so because they feel obligated.

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    3. As the article says, shifting the center will benefit both sides: the privileged and the minority groups. I think that there are people who do truly wish to shift the center, but at the same time there are those who might pity those of other race class and gender and therefore try to understand the values behind their histories and cultures.

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    4. I think that we feel morally obligated sometimes as a society to include others. However, this is progress. In the past, acceptance and morality have not gone hand in hand. In the future, I hope that accepting other will become less of an obligation and more of a way of life.

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    5. I feel most people want to shift there center because they understand that every one is created equal. They genuinely want to see eye to eye with the people of the world. I also believe that there are people who say they shift their center because they know that in this day and age it is considered morally wrong to do so. The people who are doing this to fit in will never truly shift their center. " Seeing these connections is what we think is most important about analyzing race, class, and gender. it is the reason for taking the perspective of people other than those who like you." People who truly are trying to shift their center are the people who are doing it for a real reason.

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  17. I realized that looking deeper into the people who are oppressed could change the way we look at ourselves. On the third half-page it says, "Shifting the center asks you to think more inclusively. Without doing so you are prone to understand society, your own life within it, and the experiences of others through stereotypes and misleading information." Thinking intrinsically means looking within yourself. An example of doing this is asking a black person living in a not-so-good neighborhood about how they feel being in this situation. It will not only bring to light the hardships and the differences in their lives compared to ours but it will also force us to think about how we would feel being in a situation like that. Seeing all they do in their lives to help their families and society makes me wonder why more emphasis isn't put on them in a typical social studies class. On the second half-page it says, "By minimizing the experiences and creations of these different groups, we communicate that they have no history or that their work and creativity is less important and less central to the development of culture than is the history of White American men."
    The idea of shifting the center to focus on these minorities is great. It will help future generations understand that everyone is important and it wasn't only white men that built this world. However, I do not think the center should be completely changed. If we switch our views completely from one extreme to the other, nothing is fixed. We still miss out on a huge part of this world and its history.
    Everyone stereotypes. It is a natural human idea. They might never go away. This reading kind of makes you realize how unequal the world is and was and possibly always will be. As long as I've been old enough to understand the difference between right and wrong, I have been making decisions on how I see life. This reading (along with life in general) gives me the desire to abolish stereotypes from my mind. If not completely, they should at least be a second thought instead of a first.

    Does the world have the potential to change its stereotypical ways?

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    1. No, I think stereotypes will always exist, consciously or otherwise. For example, when I was a kid I was bitten in the face by a husky that belonged to one of my neighbors. I have always been a bit more timid around those types of dogs since then. I love the dogs and I have met many of them that are gentle and loving, but the action of one of those dogs will always stay in my mind. It is tough to forget encounters like that, and when applied to the real world, you can understand how the same stereotypical train of thought is a real possibility. Stereotypes will always be present, whether we want them there or not; we will always have a tendency to build stereotypes.

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    2. Like you said, stereotyping is natural, so I don't think that we will ever be able to stop it. I think that we can counter it by "shifting the center" but there will always be people that will stereotype.

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  18. This reading gave me a new idea about how important other races are. I have always valued other people and have never been racist but from reading this, I learned how other races help shape our own. On the second page it says, "It is also recognizing how groups whose experiences have been vital in the formation of society and culture have been silenced in the construction of knowledge about this society." I like this quote because it showed me about the way other cultures help make my culture the way it is. I think diversity is something that is vital to everyone in the world. Diversity helps us understand ourselves through understanding others. On the third page it also says "...we transform our understanding of White experiences too." I truly believe diversity is a building block of character and understanding. I loved reading about "shifting center."

    One question I had was Do we subconsciously discriminate? Is it wired in our brains or do we make the decision to view ourselves as better?

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    1. @Hannah B, I think that we subconsciously discriminate. I think we like to place ourselves on a scale of where we fit in with the others around us. When you are doing an activity, I think it is human curiosity to know who we are competing with or who we are better than.

      Do you think this drives us to do better if we put people below us but also see that their are others above us?

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    2. Hannah - I don't think that we are wired to discriminate or view ourselves as better, but I think we are "wired" to judge others. I think that it is part of human nature to question others decisions by relating them to your own life. I think that it is natural to judge others even if you don't want to. People always say, "Walk a mile in someone's shoes before you judge them." I think it is hard to be religious about this because you will always have those small thoughts in the back of your mind.

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    3. I agree with Vivian. Competition is a part of our culture and like Charles Darwin's theory of survival of the fittest said from the beginning, those who are more successful will survive and prosper while those unsuccessful will either die or live an unhappy lifestyle. This being said, it is human nature to compare ourselves to others and try to be better. It takes a really strong willed person to put aside judgments and live solely for themselves. Walking a mile in someone else's shoes before you judge them is also a lot easier said then done. Does education help us become more aware of the struggles minorities have gone through or does it only fuel the stereotypical and discriminatory thoughts that we either consciously or subconsciously have?

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    4. Hannah- I think everyone subconsciously discriminates to some degree. People like to be the best, and will think that they are better than some others. It's human nature to judge as well as the need to be the best. It's hard to put those thoughts of being superior aside, and it would require a lot of practice. Trying to beat someone can also be a positive. It drives us to work harder, run faster, and to continue improving. So are the thoughts of being better than someone and trying to beat them more positive or more negative?

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    5. Rae - I think that education only furthers our understanding of how things work. It is on our terms whether or not we let knowledge fuel stereotypical thoughts. We have control over what we think; education only adds to the collection of thoughts.

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  19. Whitney K:

    In this reading, it was clear to me that when talking about race, perspective is a big part of the issue. When dealing with unequal treatment of different races, many people feel that that people of certain races are awarded more opportunity that other races. In Race, Class, and Gender, Andersen and Collins explain that, "Part of this process is recognizing that knowledge has been constructed largely from experiences of the most powerful groups-- because they have had the most access to systems of education and communication." Although we live in a free country, there still is unfair treatment and stereotyping of different races. Overtime, people that are white are generally given more chances to succeed than those of other races. Another part of the problem when dealing with racism is general assumptions. As Andersen and Collins put it, "Think about the large number of social science studies that routinely make general conclusions about the population." Often times society is lead to believe certain ideas about a minority group because one study led them to believe it was true. This reading gave me a new perspective on how I view people. I think it made me realize how many stereotypes I thought were true that are often times not true. It proved to me that it is only necessary for one person to be different in order to break a generalization. If you look around and take each person for who they really are, stereotypes can easily be crushed. Where do we learn the stereotypes that society believes to be true?

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  21. After reading "Race, Class, and Gender" it became apparent to me that societies as a whole have always focused on the dominant group, shoving all the others into a corner. A quote that really sums this up is, "Think of the process of taking a photograph. For years, women and people of color-- and especially women of color-- were often totally outside people's frame of vision." There will always be a dominant group, and a minority. One member of a minority group said that he, "...seemingly had no place, no history, no culture." Societies shouldn't just ignore minorities to the point were they feel like strangers in their own home. If societies embraced the minorities, then not only would it benefit the minorities, it would benefit society by bringing diversity.
    After reading this my perceptions have changed to try to see what the minority groups have gone through and how society embraces them.

    Does Arapahoe High School embrace minorities or leave them in a corner?

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    1. I feel like it is somewhere in the middle. We do not have very many minorities to begin with. It's hard to embrace something that isn't really there a whole lot. There are some students of different race in this school and they seem to fit in fine with the others. You probably need their perspective on it to understand. The reading says, "...we take the experiences of women and men seriously and analyze how gender, race, and class shape the experiences of both men and women." But look at the special ed program. Those kids have so many opportunities to participate. They go on field trips, have sports teams, etc. I don't think that is leaving them in the corner.

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    2. I agree with you but I think that some people would make the argument that if society embraced minorities and there were no social conflicts between those seen as lesser, we wouldn't have any minorities anymore. And although that would be an ideal world to live in, I think it is completely possible to eliminate all forms of discrimination or stereotypes because it is everywhere we look. And also, Arapahoe doesn't have many minorities. The few minorities that we have are not seen "pushed in the corner" because I think that we are a generally excepting community.

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    3. @Jared I believe that Arapahoe High Schools embrace the minorities as I believe that this generation is more welcoming and less racist. The people at Arapahoe treat everyone the same, yet I also believe that media plays a big role because of people getting used to seeing minorities in mainstream television and movies.

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    4. Jared, I think like the rest of the world, we given equal and ample opportunity to minorities in our community. Although we may not push ourselves to understand their history, we certainly aren't, "minimizing the experiences and creations of these different groups..."

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  22. One concept that was illuminated to me in this reading was one of perspective. Constantly throughout this excerpt the authors talked about "shifting the center" to let new things into view. The way this is changed is by us willing to change our own perspectives. The less rock solid you think your perspective is, the better, because it's easier to "shift your center" of vision and take in new things. "But, as you move your angle of sight to include those who have been overlooked, new subjects come into sight." (Andersen, Collins, 1). One of my annotations said, "If you don't accept what's different around you, you'll never learn anything new." By not accepting anything new, you limit yourself to a small amount of obtainable content. "Shifting the center asks you to think more inclusively. Without doing so you are prone to understand society, your own life within it, and experience of other through stereotypes and misleading information." (Andersen, Collins, top of page 2) Personally, I think this reading made me realize not to have a concrete line of vision. We should all have a double sided perspective that puts us in other people's shoes too. What does changing your perspective do for others, rather than just for yourself?

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    1. @MarkC, changing perspective can help others because it gives them a chance to be understood. If someone knows how they see things and what they go through, they know that their is someone who can partially understand why they are the way they are.

      Who do you think does it benefit more when you change perspective? Us or others?

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    2. Mark - I thought your question was interesting because most people don't think about others' when analyzing perspective. I think that by changing our perspective, we can save other people from discrimination or being hurt by judgement. By stepping into someone else's shoes, we can learn about their lives and spread the word. If more people understand different perspectives, then we can make a change in how people are treated.

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    3. Whitney K:

      Mark, I think that is an interesting question. I think that if people were more focused on helping each other succeed, the world would be a better place. The world is full of greed and hatred and at this point it is every man for himself. If people cared even half as much about the success of others as they do about themselves, it would change the world. People would learn more about each other and the would gain a new respect for different races and genders.

      Do you think it is possible for a person to care about others success just as much as their own?

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    4. Mark- Changing your perspective can defiantly change/help yourself as well as others. But that all rests upon if it is a good change. This article is all about changing your perspective for the better and if so the minorities will feel more welcomed etc. But what if my perspective was changed for the worse and I became more deeply rutted and my rash views on people. This would not help anyone.Changing your perspective can be dangerous- so does it help or hurt others? I would say it depends.

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    5. Whitney, I think its possible, but it's for sure not natural. It's instinct as humans for us to care about ourselves first, then others second. It takes some real dedication to lift up others around you and put yourself at the bottom.

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  23. One of the most powerful messages in this reading was to train your mind to see differently. To emphasize the importance of this Margaret Andersen said, " Thus,'shifting the center' means putting at the center of our thinking the experiences of groups that have formerly been excluded. Seeing the groups that have not been seen before will change the way culture is perceived. Opening your mind will change the way you see these groups, and truly seeing means not relying on stereotypes. Andersen is in favor of people forming their opinions of others, and says, 'It means constructing new analyses that are focused on the centrality of race, class, and gender in the experiences of all'. The words 'experience of all are a crucial part of this quote. They stress that opinions should be made based on one's own experience, not on stereotypes or preconceived notions. Like everyone else, I judge people based on what I have heard about them. I know that it is not fair to that person, but this article has encouraged me to try harder not to judge people based on the way they look, or based on what their stereotype is. it's difficult not to rely on stereotypes, which are a large part of society. Is it possible to completely remove stereotypes? If so, how?

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    1. I honestly don't think it is possible to remove stereotypes. When you first meet a person, you often refer back to common stereotypes like, for instance, if he/she wears glasses, he/she is smart. These stereotypes often give us our first impressions and it would be hard to get rid of all these stereotypes, because they are so extremely common in our society, and we almost always refer back to them at some point or another.

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    2. I think it is impossible to remove all stereotypes. There is never a point in which we do not judge someone based on their appearance, economic status, or any other category you can place someone into. The key is to remove stereotyping that is done out of ignorance. By being uninformed and politically incorrect, that is how people get hurt and offended. If we teach people to "look before they leap" that would clear the vast majority of all the negative stereotyping we face in a modern society.

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    3. I feel like if you started fresh, you could remove them all. But this basically means starting over completely. Our world is built on stereotypes. It would be like taking away the holocaust. Sure, this was a terrible event in history. But modern day society needed it to get to where we are today. Sometimes, stereotypes can keep you safe. Say you are in a bad part of town. A stereotype for this is getting mugged in a dark alley. If you didn't know about this stereotype, you might just see this dark alley as a shortcut and get mugged. Knowing this means you would probably have the better judgement to not go down there. So yes, getting rid of them is possible. It just probably isn't the best idea in the world.

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    4. Clairissa- That's a really interesting point of view. I'd never thought of it that way before. So do you think that our society needs stereotypes? Are they more positive or more negative?

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  24. To me it was shocking to understand how minorities are really left out. I tend to be very open minded and try to never judge anyone because of the way they look. "For years, woman and people of color- and especially woman of color- were often totally outside people's frame of vision. But, as you move your angle of sight to include those who have been overlooked, new subjects come into sight." I have never thought of looking as the world this way. I too have been looking in one area and have not ever seen outside the box. If people were more open minded what would the world be like?
    The world needs to start "Shifting the center". Anderson and Collins say "Thus 'shifting the center' means putting at the center of our thinking the experiences of groups that have formerly been been excluded." Both authors want readers to look at every one as equals and not as skin colors or sexes. They want the readers to learn
    I need to open my mind more too. I'm not going to judge because of the way someone looks or where they are from. I am going to judge a person based on them, not on the people they are associated with. I will like each person because they are them-self.
    Is our generation more or less racist then past generations?

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    1. Answering your question, I think we are less "actually" racist, but as a whole we still joke about a lot of things and tell a lot of racist jokes. Also, racism was accepted back in the day, however, now it is not (obviously). All men are equal (and women).

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    2. I agree with you Mark. I think we say we are less racist and are more accepting of others but we still make racist jokes and still stereotype people.

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    3. I do feel as though our generation is less racist because we were born in a time where all people have equal rights, and we have never known any other truth. I think that it is easier for us to treat other races with respect and dignity opposed to our grandparents and great grandparents who had to change their attitudes and opinions towards other races who gained rights over their lifetimes.

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    4. I understand what Mark says but I also think that we are more racist. I believe this because we don't understand people in the way we should and we don't allow them to prove us otherwise in that situation. In a weird way I would almost say that we are very similar to how racist people were in the past. This is because; yes, women have more rights, but we have made up our own racist ideas. For example if some don't think another dresses in style, they won't hang out with them. I'm not saying everyone does this, but there are those that do. So, to answer your question, I believe we are just as racist as past generations.

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  25. In this reading, I was amazed to consider just how closed off I am from the history and cultures of others. On the first page, it states "Part of this process is recognizing that knowledge has been constructed largely from the experiences of the most powerful groups--because they have had the most access to systems of education and communication." Applying this to my life, it holds much validity. I see the world from the average American view, and the only information I receive is either told to me by the news or through my education. I don't see the world from the perspective of someone who has been discriminated against. "By shifting our perspective, we can better understand the intersections of race, class, and gender in the experiences of all groups, including those with privilege and power." Especially in America, the melting pot of cultures, there is so much we can learn from each other if we value the culture and history of others. Our cultures are exponentially interconnected, and yet we have been blind to the opportunities that could be unveiled by recognizing our differences. Before this reading, I never considered how narrow my view of other cultures was restricted to. There is little room to grow if we are only seeing half the picture. After this reading, I will pay more attention and recognize the worth that every individual can contribute to society.

    Why do you think that we are often ignorant of the cultures and history of groups who do not share our race, class, and gender?

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    1. Maria - I think that we aren't affiliated with a lot of other cultures, so people don't really care about it. Most people think that if it doesn't have to do with them, then why does it matter? I think it is important that we start to pay attention to other cultures because we never know how it might affect us.

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    2. Whitney K:

      Maria: I think that most the time people are too busy to consider how other people's life and how they are affected by the choices we make. No one takes the time to step back and think about how their actions affect everyone. Therefore, we do not take the time to learn about their cultures and people because we feel like they aren't taking the time to learn about ours. Its a never ending circle of selfishness.

      If we are all interdependent on each other, why do we not care about how we treat others?

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  26. I thought it was interesting, and I agreed with the author when they said, “Shifting the center means acknowledging the diverse histories, cultures, and experiences of groups who have been defined as marginalized.” While acknowledging these different stories and perspectives, we should also remember what about those stories are similar, because if we simply acknowledge those ideas, there will still be the problems in differences. This is where the idea of interconnecting relationships between groups comes in as said in the article, “The exclusionary thinking we have relied upon in the past simply does not reveal the intricate interconnections that exist between the different groups composing U.S. Society.” It is very important, at least to me, to understand these connections and the similarities we all share in these experiences to come together and stop being so “exclusionary”.

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  27. In the reading "Race, Class, and Gender," the authors were so focused on shifting the center. But why do we have to shift the center? We can just broaden our view. Instead of trying to focus on a single race, class or gender, we can include all of them into a large vision. "Thus, 'shifting the center' means putting at the center of our thinking the experiences of groups that have formerly been excluded." By shifting the center, we aren't getting rid of minorities, we are just creating new ones. If we broaden our view, then there are no minorities. We are just people with no discrimination. When broadening our view, it is like looking at something up close then taking a step back and looking at it from a different perspective. "By shifting our perspective, we can better understand the intersections of race, class, and gender in the experiences of all groups, including those with privilege and power." Instead of looking at different races, classes, and genders like a bad thing, from a different perspective the diversity can been seen as a good thing. Everybody has different strengths, we just have to acknowledge all of them.
    Instead of focusing on just the best people in school, sports, or jobs, people we should let everyone in on the effort and see what happens. Instead of a few people's ideas, there will be a surplus of them. Who knows, maybe that teamwork will take us farther than we ever imagined. Does our selfishness blind us from achieving our best?

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  28. This reading brought to light many things that society neglects. History is written by the winners, or the dominant, so these other races have been neglected simply because they were the minority. I feel some parts of the passage are no longer true, such as "You probably touched briefly on topics like slavery, women's suffrage, perhaps even the Holocaust, but most likely these were brief excursions from an otherwise dominant narrative that ignored people of color and women, along with others," because we did study the civil rights movement and women's suffrage thoroughly last year, however I do feel as though people don't pay as much attention to the contributions that these struggles have made to our country.It has brought me to think of whether or not I blindly follow what I am told simply 'because someone said so.' On the last page of the article Andersen and Collins wrote, "This may not be because you are intentionally racist, anti-Semitic, sexist, elitist, or homophobic; it may simply be because you do not know any better," which I could not disagree with more. It reminds me of the trial which the video game companies that were being sued for the events that happened at Columbine High School. There comes a point in our lives where we must accept responsibility for our actions, and it upsets me that it took as long as it did for many of these civil movements to take flight. Members of our society were oppressed only because people didn't allow themselves to think twice about it. Saying that people 'didn't know any better' is a poor excuse for not challenging the way these minorities were, and are treated. What does it feel like to be a victim of stereotype?

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    1. To be a victim of a stereotype makes you feel like your held back to "who you are" or "where your from". This I'm sure, can be very frustrating for someone because of their own individuality's sake.

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    2. @Torri To be a victim of a stereotype is usually hard as many people think that you should fit in the stereotype, and they push you until you believe that you have to fit that stereotype. I should know because one stereotype that people always throw my way is that Asians are good at math. Because of that I always think that all Asians are supposed to be good at math, so then I feel obligated to do well in math as to not let down my fellow Asians.

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  29. During the reading, I saw that the people that created the stereotypes had no stereotypes at all. "When they are seen, they are typically judged through the experiences of White people, rather than on their own terms"(pg.17). I found this very true as there are stereotypes for many of the races, genders, and classes on earth, yet I have not heard of one stereotype of the common white male. "Women and people of color...were often totally outside people's frame of vision." This also shows the idea that people that creates the stereotypes often have none. It is because the frame of vision that sees the stereotypes is the only view that the majority of people see. "'The public view of Asian Americans is a lot like that of Casper the Ghost: we're either white or we're invisible"(Kurashige 1994).'" This gives me the new idea that many Asian Americans are only noticed if they are conforming to the ideals of the white people, and they are not noticed for their cultural background and dedication to their culture. That is why people must shift their center of thinking to include all of the pieces of the races, classes, and genders, and not just the fragments they see from the majority's center frame of vision.

    How come the negative aspects of stereotypes are usually shown?

    How is a stereotype created through the use of social media?

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    1. James: I think negative aspects of stereotypes are usually shown because this way, society can say they are better than that specific stereotype. It gives people an advantage over someone which makes them feel better. People are constantly striving and competing for the top of something,so I think people feel that they are at least higher than that specific stereotype.

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    2. James- I think a stereotype is created through social media because the media represents the majority. In the society we live in the majority group is white, so there aren't going to be any stereotypes against white people. But I'm sure there are, we just don't hear them. If someone were to go to a completely different location were the majority is different such as Africa or Asia, the stereotypes would probably be different.

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    3. James: I don't know if stereotypes are necessarily created by social media but they spread more rapidly as a result of social media. For example with New York Knicks basketball player Jeremy Lin there has been a lot of racist garbage thrown around along with his rise in the league. If not for social media there would be a few hard core basketball fans that had heard of him and those few could make all of the stereotypes they want, but those stereotypes would not be nearly as widespread.

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  30. The article Race, Class, and Gender illuminated to me that placing stereotypes and racism behind us is harder than it would seem. It doesn't just take a couple of decisions but rather completely changing the way that we think and learn. The article says, "By minimizing the experiences and creations of these different groups, we communicate that they have no history or that their work and creativity and is less important and less central to the development of culture than is the history of White American men." As a result simply touching on events such as the Holocaust and women's suffrage in school is not enough, rather we need to study them in depth along with the rest of the events of history. Another hard part of putting the racism and stereotypes of yesterday behind us is that finding the goods in others will also expose the flaws in ourselves. The author of the article writes, "Likewise, the study of racial-ethnic groups begins by learning the diverse histories and experiences of these groups, but in doing so, we transform our understanding of White experiences, too." This quotes is very true since when one thinks about events like slavery it not only shows the innocence of the blacks but also the cruelty and brutality possessed by the whites. I feel like this may be a part of why society has not put all of their stereotypes behind them since no one wants to see all of the wrong they have done. I know that I use plenty of stereotypes throughout my day and this article has inspired me a little bit to stray away from saying those stereotypical phrases and replacing them with something that is not as bad. I also feel like I should be more compassionate toward the fights that others must face just because they were placed there by their minority status. On the other hand there are parts of the article that I don't really agree with such as how positive Nationalist groups are. Most Nationalist groups are seeking the rise of their own group whether they are a minority or a majority, so how would they be good for society?

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    1. You said that putting racism and stereotypes behind us is harder than it seems. But, my question is putting that behind us even possible? Won't some part of us always revert back to our old ways from time to time even if we learn new things about people?

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  31. This article really made me think about the subconscious stereotypes that we still live with today. We unknowingly judge people, good or bad, based on simple glances or information we believe to be true. The article really emphasized the point that many important events that have shaped the cultures and the lives of many people, are completely ignored or watered down to better suit society. It is a simpler version that never gets to the root of modern stereotyping. If the truth was told to everyone about the history and importance of each group, who knows where we could end up?

    "How much did you learn about the history of group oppression in your formal education? You probably touched briefly on topics like slavery, women's suffrage, perhaps even the Holocaust, but most likely these were brief excursions from an otherwise dominant narrative that ignored people of color and women, along with others" (Anderson Page 2).

    Even in a world were we claim to practice equality for all, why do we still hesitate to teach on touchy subjects such as race? Are we ashamed or are we censoring what we feel the general population needs to know?

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    1. At least in this country, I think there are things we are ashamed of. Slavery and Japanese internment camps are just two of the big mistakes this country has made. I will say I have learned a significant amount of both. However, the highlights are the emancipation proclamation, Martin Luther King and when it all ended. I think these issues are never shown in their true light but the positive parts are highlighted in school. I think the country wants to know the good and pretend there is no shame in what has happened.

      Do you think public schools today are ever giving us information without both sides? Or do you think all perspectives are usually appreciated for?

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    2. I think that our society for so long has had all these taboo subjects such as race, that we do not really know how to approach them now. We are afraid to offend or be politically incorrect so a lot of things go unsaid. If every class could open up and talk about stereotypes without being afraid that they will be viewed of as racist just for stating differences, people could come to accept each other more easily. In my race-activity group, we said right from the start that saying someone or something is different is not being prejudice or racist. There is a fine line between the two and because we never talk about it and 'censor' it as you said, we never know where that line is.

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  32. If it's true that "what you know frames how you behave and how you think about yourself and others," how might our learned experiences reflect our knowledge that leads to "bad social policy-policy that then reproduces, rather than solves, social problems"?

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    1. From an early age we, as white middle class Americans, are taught to accept others, whether thy be African American, Asian, Latino, we are to ACCEPT them all. But deigning to "accept" other leaves us in a position of power, we are accepting them into our society. That is our education, teaching us to be "accepting" when in reality we don't have to accept, but intertwine. Let the other be part of you just as much as you are a part of him instead of him molding to you.

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  33. This reading really brought to my attention just how biased I am. That's not to say that I am a racist but I refuse to acknowledge the fact that as a society we are not as integrated as we believe we are. When the author said, "The result is that what we know-about the experiences of both silenced and the dominant culture-is distorted and incomplete," I realized that they were probably right; we are not overly accepting of other races. However, they still are the minorities. The author consistently mentioned “shifting the center", meaning we are supposed to focus on the minority's experience in today's society. If we focused on the minorities, we would not be getting an accurate picture, we are missing out on the majority view. "Thus, 'shifting the center' means putting at the center of our thinking the experiences of groups that have formerly been excluded." This is where I believe that the author is wrong, in order to create an accurate picture and obtain an understanding of today's society we have to take each group's, both minorities and majorities, thinking into account, but we must also take into account how large of a portion that group is. "Shifting the center", to me, is a good thought with solid reasoning, but not to extreme that the author is suggesting it does not make sense. I know that not everyone agrees with this, so why do some people feel that the minority experience should be focused on? How does that create an accurate picture of today's society if you ignore the majority's views?

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    1. I agree with you Dan. I think that focusing on the minorities will not help the big picture either. Generalization that are made may exclude people from the majority, so that could be the issue that we need to work on. If we focus on the minorities the rest of society will be blurred out and in my eyes I believe that would switch roles and minorities with become the 'higher' than people on the top of the 'list' now, and this would just make this problem cycle.

      By focusing on the minorities are we trying to repay them for their lack of attention?

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    2. I think that although our society is more accepting of others, we still see it as an "accomplishment" or even "lucky" when minorities fill positions that are traditionally the role of white men. We have to get past the idea that when minorities succeed, they are just lucky or they have defied the odds. We need to value their hard work and talent just as much as anyone elses.

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  34. "How might we see the world differently if we were to shift our vision of society from one that is typically centered in the voices and experiences of dominant groups to the lives and thoughts of those who have been devalued, marginalized, and excluded?"

    This statement is so generalized that it was hard to relate to. Everyone has been devalued, marginalized, and excluded at some point. I do agree with the idea that there should be focus put on people that are minorities, but wouldn't it easier if society stopped generalizing?

    "Arturo Madrid, for example, shows how his experience as young Latino student was silenced throughout his educational curriculum, leaving him to feel like an 'other'"

    As I was saying before we all have felt like an 'other', this topic could apply to everyone. But if we just strip away generalizations -not assume all Latinos have a bad education, or that all white people are over weight- everyone becomes the minority.

    Does striping way generalizations or focusing or minorities allow people to see the world from another's eyes?

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    1. No. Getting rid of generalizations would just means we would see people differently. We can judge them based on what we actually know instead of what we assume. Seeing their perspective is something different entirely.

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  35. part 2-
    Anderson and Collins write:

    "Understanding race, class, and gender means coming to see the systematic exclusion and exploitation of various groups. This is more than just adding in different group experiences to already established frameworks of thought. It means constructing new analyses that are focused on ... the experiences of us all."

    This part of the reading was what I got the most out of. It tells of the idea that we can't just tack on minorities ideas as an afterthought. They have to become a part of the way that we think, or else we are not truly including them. This can be seen every day when we learn about American History. We include some minority experiences, such as slaves and Native Americans, but for the most part we focus on the white man's America. I think that this is due less to what we are taught by our teachers and more to he actual history. White men were traditionally the leading thinkers, writers, and scientists in our history. They are the ones who had years of education, and therefor they are the one's whose articles and books we read today.
    We need to think about how we can avoid the same thing for future generations. If the ideas of minorities are considered now, then in the future, perhaps minorities won't be an issue at all.

    Do you think that minorities will cease to be an issue in the future, or will new ones be created?

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    1. Aubrey: I feel like there will always be minorities in some form or fashion but that the issue will improve as time passes. The fact that there has to be a bully and a bullied in society though I feel like is something that is almost built into human DNA and we may never get rid of that. Class: Why do people oppress and stereotype others?

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    2. Chad-- people oppress others because it makes them feel powerful. As Aubrey was saying, sometimes humor can be one of the main outlets for oppression and stereotyping, oddly enough. We stereotype as a for of oppression, and sometimes it's easier to have everyone fit into their own little box instead of "shifting the center" and recognizing what others can bring to the table.

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  36. It may be natural to exclude the other, and to "assert the perspective and experience of [our] own group" but where does compassion and understanding and sympathy play into this?

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  37. The idea of thinking inclusively is a good one because doing so would probably make us more aware of others and therefore better people. However is it plausible in today's society to get people to do this?

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    1. Garret: It's not plausible in today's society to get people to think inclusively because it's human nature to want power. If we think inclusively that means that everyone is thought of as equal. People don't want to be equal because they want recognition for their hard work. If they paid their dues and made it to a higher class then they should have that right to acknowledge that.

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    2. I agree with you Amanda that people seek power, but I think there is a difference between seeking power/success and just changing your state of mind to be inclusive to people's differences. People can still seek personal success and rise above others but that doesn't mean people can't set racial boundaries aside and train their minds to see past them. You can achieve power and have a powerful mind that is accepting of everyone.

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  38. After perusing through the article, I found contemplating trains of thought that previously I never would have. Predominantly, that of oppression related revolt.When a group of oppressed or wrong peoples rises up against their oppressors, i had previously viewed it as nothing but good, however after learning this mans views on shifting the center, i began to understand the type of thinking many of these revolts perpetuate. "Nationalist movements of different kinds have done this. They are valuable because they recognize the contributions and achievements of oppressed groups, but ultmently the uni dimensional frameworks because the are centered in a single group" It made me realize that often what we interpret as good is because we have no knowledge of the other side, or of the end result. Realizing that many "Good" movements have been in reality a breeding ground for what he calls exclusive thinking has been eye opening for me. It makes me question many things in depth, this article actually was one that shifted my thinking, allowing me to look at the rifts between people more clearly. "Seeing inclusively is more than just seeing the World through the perspective of any one group whose views have been distorted or ignored." iv'e realized that often what people consider their inclusiveness is really them formalizing the rift between their group and another group.

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  39. What do we gain from taking on the perspective of people other than those like you?

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    1. We gain a wider and more accepting viewpoint. We take our opinions and viewpoints from our life experiences so when we have more knowledge and more of a variety of experiences from outside our own comfort zone, we are able to uncover the structures of race, class, and gender and be more discerning.

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    2. I think that we gain a whole new idea of what life is. The people directly around us are very similar to us barring a few minor differences. However, getting the point of view of a person who we have absolutely no connection to will make us realize that there is more out there than what is common in the people close to us.

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    3. I think we gain an open mind. This makes me think of traveling and how once you have visited somewhere completely foreign to your home you begin to compare and appreciate things from both places. I think this is similar to taking others perspectives. If we know how a situation affected one person, we will have that one idea and opinion. But if we know how the situation affected twenty people, then we have twenty opinions and ideas that can than be formed together into a conclusion. The more perspectives you listen to, the more knowledge you have to make your own conclusions with respect to more people. Far too often we think our lives and our experiences are what's important. But when compared to others they might seem quite trivial. Taking more perspectives can lead to selflessness which to me as a very great quality in people.

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    4. It allows us to step into the shoes of them and really get into their head before we make assumptions about them. We should see that there are more perspectives that we should see that we aren't.

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    5. I think that we gain knowledge. We gain an understanding of how other aspects fit into society. Changing perspective means changing how you look at a situation. It means accepting the fact that you are different and that other people are the normal ones. People can also gain a respect for themselves. By looking at a situation in a different light, we can look at ourselves and how we are accepting the situation.

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  40. In this reading, I saw the importance of standing out and being different. The main part of this though, is the knowledge you need to understand the impact of being different. This is because the knowledge we can contain allow when you are different to have people enjoy being around you because of the surprises you present and the different experiences each person will go through. Also you will be able to know more by learning from each other. As stated, "Finally, knowledge is not just about content and information it provides an orientation to the world" (pg. 18). This shows how knowledge is important not just in school but in the way we are with others and the way the world sees us. We should choose to be different because it will allow the world to adapt and make new ideas. We should be able to get our world to the point that no one is stranded because of the differences. "No longer do different groups seem just "different,""deviant," or exotic"(pg. 19). I believe that if our society can get to this point then we will have more people act as themselves and the action of judging that we all do will go away or decrease to where it is bearable.This reading gave me an idea of how I should act to those around me and how no matter my first thought (which we will always have), I will always allow for a time where that person can change my mind. This I understand will be hard but if this can happen then, hopefully others will decided to do the same and the world can change the views the people have on one another. If possible, would you do the same? If we have knowledge from one another, how will our world get stronger and increase in ways relating to the judgments we make?

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    1. I think a lot of the judgments we make affect how we act, even if they are sub-conscious. In retrospect, I realize that when I walk into a classroom at the beginning of the semester and I do not know anyone, I do not think to myslef, 'I'm going to sit next to the person who seems the most different.' I usually look for someone who is most similar to me. I think that this idea has changed a lot for me, because looks and appearance are not what makes a persona unique. We could all look the same, but we would still have different opinions and ideas. Originally I thought I did this because we would have similarities and therefor similar topics to discuss, but now I know that I did this in order stay in my comfort zone. But if we can met and learn with people who do have different ideas or beliefs than us, we can realize the unfairness behind some of our ideas and opinions. If everyone doubted them self, it would allow for a world that was more connected and did not feel like they had a strict path in front of them that they had to follow.

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  41. The two most prominent things I took away from the activity and reading on race and gender were that stereotypes are gathered from others opinions that become ingrained in society. These thoughts about race take many years and much effort to correct or 'shift the norm'. In the excerpt from Race, Class, and Gender, the authors explain that their piece is meant to challenge people to begin "...uncovering the structures of race, class, and gender, that are embedded in the experiences of all people." The word embedded stands out to me because many experiences of one's life fit together to create their thoughts. With so many different individual minds and viewpoints it takes a world event to get a vast amount of people to shift their thoughts and think of people in a new way. Likely when many people begin to think differently others will too, but there is no way to change these firm stereotypes overnight.
    Also, we realized that many times stereotypes highlight the negative aspects of one's race, class, or gender in order to enhance one groups superiority over another. In the excerpt, they touch on the fact that many studies "...routinely make general conclusions about the population when they have been based on research done only about and by men." For all of history minority groups have been put down so the white male leaders could maintain power. People's stereotypes often bring out the worst in a group of people. This occurs because it's human nature to be competitive and want to come across as better than others. As time goes on, do you think there will be the same, less, or more amount of tension between races, classes, and genders than there is now?

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    1. I think there will be less tension, but not significantly. The reason I say this is by looking at the history of black men/woman in America, there is a trend of getting more and more rights. First, they had little to know rights as slaves, than they were freed, then they got the right to vote, and then there were civil rights laws that were passed. Tensions also have declined over time because of this. They do still exist, but as history shows, think they will still decrease.

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    2. @Natalie I believe that there will be less tension between races, and classes and genders as time goes on. I believe because these days there are a lot more interracial marriage. Because of that more people are welcoming minorities into their family.

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    3. As time goes on I think humans will improve and kids won't be born into a racist world. It can only get better from here.

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  42. What I found to be most interesting about this reading was the term "shifting of center." I have always tried to live by, "living in another's shoes," but shifting of center seems to give a wider approach to seeing the world. The authors noted, "If [our own experience] is the basis of our knowledge about each other, then we have little ground for building more just and liberating relationships and social institutions. Thus, 'shifting of center' means putting at the center of out thinking the experiences of groups that have formerly been excluded." Instead of seeing the world through another's shoes, this means to see the world through everyone's shoes.

    Seeing the world through more than one pair of shoes at a time is a difficult task. Most of us only have two feet. Shifting of center may be a good idea, but it is also notably harder, as we cannot go back in time to document the history of minorities more than what is already published and documented.

    That said, I fail to see the validity of these women's claims. They inquire, “How much did you learn about the history of group oppression in your formal education? You probably touched briefly on topics like slavery, women's suffrage, perhaps even the Holocaust, but most likely there were brief discussions from an otherwise dominant narrative that ignored people of color and women, along with others.” I understand that these question were rhetorical, but I simply must answer them. The study of oppression, white male tyranny, and the culture of those “forgotten” is and was a very important facet of my education. I studied slavery in 3rd grade, 7th grade, and now 10th grade in their respective depths. It is a the dominant topic in pre-turn-the-century American history class, other than the Revolutionary War. I spent an entire study on woman's suffrage, watching an entire movie in class and studying the various movements throughout the nation and in England. The better half of the latter semester of 7th grade was devoted to the Holocaust in my school. What this article fails to realize is that modern teachers tend to be the type of personality interested in these studies, so we as students are fed enough “shift-of-center” topics.

    What disappoints me the most is that the course of taught history is dominated by white males, so in modern times, a wariness carries over when addressing the subject. Now, people scoff when a white male with legitimate ideas runs for the office of President. Being white on a college resume is a detriment. We seem to have lost sight of the idea of a meritocracy; now culture is being defined as meeting a minority quota.

    Is this trend really the equality dreamed of by minority leaders and suffragettes of yore?

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    1. Joe- I completely agree. We can't fix fire with fire.

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    2. Joe that is one of the best breakdowns of society i have heard in a while. i agree with that it is almost to the point that we are so focused on no minorities that we have made the white male into one. I believe we have taken a wrong turn in the fight for equality, punishing the dominant instead of rewarding the minority.

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    3. I like to use the analogy that unbalance in society is a pendulum, swinging back and forth. When one party is oppressed, they fight for equality; then they fight to for inequality to favor themselves, justified by past wrongs done unto them.

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    4. Equality is a thin red line we step over now and then, but it never seems to find its way because culture always shifts and what is right and wrong tends to shift with it. As a white male, Joe, do you believe your future may be half chance? I'm glad that you feel your education has provided you with these sort of topics, but that doesn't make people's behaviors, words and actions change-as I agree with what you say, it doesn't change the fact that people are trying to make it in this world and our hate, dissension, disagreeing, lack of tolerance and acceptance just pull this country apart rather than to unite it.

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    5. Joe- I agree with many of the statement you have made. I feel that in the attempt to provide equality, society has overshot their goal and has, in some cases, given more privileges to other races simply because they are the minority. It seems as though people no longer make these actions to promote equality but just to, as you said, 'meet a minority quota.' I don't think that this is what people of the past suffered for. They didn't want to be just to be handed 'equality' or more opportunity. They wanted to be seen as people and not any less than, which they had been treated as in the past.

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  43. One of my favorite quote in this reading is on the third page, "By shifting our perspective, we can better understand the intersections or race, class and gender in the experiences of all groups, including those with privilege and power." I like this because it shows how we are all connected.

    In the world do you see connection or separation between different races, classes, and genders?

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    1. Hannah- I see separation between these groups. On average men are still payed 1 dollar to every 70 cents a female makes. Many races group together because people gravitate towards those similar to them. This goes for classes as well. Although in our country everyone is entitled to the same rights, there are still social divisions.
      Do you think that society would benefit more from connection between these groups?

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    2. I think within the last century we have been working to reach equality for all, especially with the Civil Rights and Suffrage movements. However, there is still great separation. It is not so physical anymore, but more mental. Stereotypes, racism, and sexism are holding us back from "shifting the center" and realizing our full potential as a human race.

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    3. Although it may be beneficial for these groups to interconnect, there has to be a reason they haven't done so already. As has been pointed out in previous posts, people tend to gravitate toward others similar toward them. Will connections like that ever happen on a grand scale? And if not, is that a problem?

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  44. As hate might always be a part of our world, how do we teach others and model the idea of valuing diversity?

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    1. Hate is something that can never be diminished, however, it can be overruled. By teaching others to see the similarities and benefits of others, appreciation can develop.This appreciation can even turn into trust, partnerships, and even friendships. If enough people can learn to value diversity, the few people who truly do believe in hating minorities, will become the minority, and be forgotten by society.
      How do you teach people to take the initial steps towards equality?

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    2. Whitney K:

      Mrs. C: As each generation is born, I think a different level of tolerance and appreciation are also born with it. I would argue that my generation is a little more open to diversity than yours is and additionally your generation is more open to diversity than the one before that. I do think hate is something that will always be apart of this world however, I think that each new generation realizes that certain stereotypes and generalizations are hurtful and downright ridiculous. Therefore, it is almost as if we do not have to teach people to appreciate diversity, that overtime, people will come to it on their own.

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  45. In this reading what was illuminated to me was that people in our society are classified into groups rather than seen as individuals, which makes it difficult to see people who are different than us as having individual characteristics, ideas, and actions. When we define a certain race or group of people under one definition we are not allowing ourselves to truly become familiar with what they have to offer. The reading questions, "How much of what you study now is centered in the experiences of the most dominant groups in society?" I think this is something that we need to think about and realize that there is more than just one view in any situation. People are not all the same, a race is not two dimensional. Therefore we should take the chance to learn about each different culture, etc., but at the same time realize that the traditions, actions, and culture of one group does not define the entirety of the population. The reading also states that, "Once we understand that race, class,and gender are simultaneous and intersecting systems of relationship and meaning, we come to see the different ways that other categories of experience intersect in society." The passage is saying that although race, gender, and class do contribute to the characteristics of people, it doesn't define them. Just because someone grew up in the ghetto doesn't mean that they are part of a gang. We need to learn how to separate those stereotypes from when we judge people and take these ideas about a group with a grain of salt rather than basing our entire opinion of a person on them. Although stereotypes often seem to be true, giving into them is almost a sign of weakness. Do you think people should be encouraged to step out of their stereotype? If so, how would society view them?

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    1. I think that at first people are surprised to see people outside of their stereotype. But usually, when people do leave that stereotype behind, they are usually accepted after it is recognized that what they are doing is unique, although there is typically a lot of struggle attached to their story. Especially as the world is changing and becoming so much more accepting of certain ideas, it will become easier and easier for people to fall out of stereotypes.

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    2. I defiantly think people should step out of their stereotype. Staying in a stereotype is like staying in a safe place, there is nothing wrong with that but I think every time you step outside your comfort zone you grow. I think if people want to eliminate stereotypes, than people need to prove them wrong by defying the stereotype. Society should view these people as trail blazers.

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    3. I think people should be who comes to them naturally. If that natural person fits exactly into a stereotype, then so be it. However, in my own experience, no one fits exactly into a stereotype. I've met the football player who got a trill out of chemistry. I've met the Air Force officer that enjoys acting and singing more than any other pass time. A member of my family, on surface value is a huge redneck, but underneath, he is the smartest person that I know.

      I think what we have to realize is that no one is a cookie-cutter personality. We should be encouraged to be ourselves, not break out of a group of people that we might feel perfectly comfortable in.

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    4. People should be able to step out of their stereotype if they want but they should not have to feel inclined to do so. If your hopes and dreams are outside of your stereotype then you should definitely go get them, but if where you want to be is within your stereotype then you should be able to stay there without being judged by the rest of society.

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  46. Throughout this reading I saw that stereotypes come from the mind and don't represent what the race is about. I also saw that all our ideas and knowledge come through the whites, which isn't right. Many minorities should have a say as they are citizens of the United States just like the rest of us. No one is a native to the country, but a few and they have no say on society. In the text,"Traditionally, our Western history has been written by upper-class white Christian males..." Throughout history white has been the color of History, but the other colors are finally catching up. "Race, class and gender bring us together," this quote really makes think about how. They all provide balance because each of them have their own qualities. It is so sad that there is still racism and imbalance with these three things, because as people we should be better than what our actions hold.

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    1. Can either race, gender or class ever outweigh one another?

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  47. Anderson and Collins said "How much did you learn about the history of group oppression in your formal education? You probably toughed briefly on topics like slavery, women's suffrage, and perhaps even the Holocaust, but most likely there were brief excursions from an otherwise dominate narrative that ignored people of color and woman, along with others." Both authors say that we haven't learned enough about minorities.
    Do agree with this? Why or why not?
    Is our education teaching us enough about minorities and history?

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    1. We only skim the surface as we recognize it but don't process the severity. Last year in US History we learned about the key figures of the black revolution in the 50's and 60's, although we never touched on why it was wrong. Education gives us the information, but that is all and then give us the question, what do you think?

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    2. This is a really good question. I think in school we learn about other cultures but I think its taught in a way that doesn't put other cultures on the same level as us. I don't know if this response makes any sense but I feel like when we learn about a different race for example, we get taught about the differences, not focusing on similarities.

      Do you think we learn about different cultures because we have to or because we know how it benefits us?

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    3. I think that ignorance is the root of the entire issue of stereotyping. Ignorance is bliss and many people don't want to learn the horrible truth about other people's past or even that someone else could be as intelligent, successful or well-liked as they are. So they oppress and ignore many prevalent facts and the education system still falls into this routine. While they may present general information about certain topics, do they ever open the floor up for discussion? Is questioning the moral integrity ever accepted?

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  48. In Texas, a white woman is suing a college for not letting her in based on racial preferences. She claims that in order for the college to fill their race quota and seem diverse (for example: accepting a certain percent of students of a certain race), she has been denied admission, simply because she is white. The rest of the news article is linked below, but I was wondering what you all though of this in light of Race, Class, and Gender. The authors argue that a shift to the center will "change how we understand the cultures and groups who have more power and privilege to others."

    Do you think this woman is right to accuse a college of denying her entry because she is white, while for years white people have excluded minorities from higher education?

    Does "shifting to the center" mean placing certain race or gender quotas on places such as colleges?

    http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-court-affirmative-action-20120222,0,2046555.story

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    1. Although I'm not too familiar with the situation of race quotas in schools, I disagree with what I have been exposed to as of now and I don't think that shifting the center means having race quotas. By making a race quota, I think that we just keep classifying people into groups, which is the opposite of what we should be moving towards. Instead, they should base their selection of students on our individual achievements and how we all compare on a fair scale, as opposed to accepting or declining people because of race.

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    2. I think this woman has a valid argument. Sure, white people didn't let in minorities in certain colleges in the past, but that was the past, and this woman didn't contribute to that. Also, it goes against equality. Equality is where anyone has a chance to succeed, and do what they want, and because she's not let in because of her race, this denounces equality.

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    3. Aubrey- I think this woman is right to take action against this college for denying her for her race. Everyone is created equal, right? So no one should be denied or accepted just because the color of their skin. Everyone should have a fair chance. If everyone is equal, then giving special benefits to a minority just isn't right. Racism is racism, no matter what group its against. As shown by our modern education system, racism can even be against the majority.

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    4. I really like where you are going with this, Aubrey. I think that the idea of accepting other cultures and "walking in other's shoes" is truly a double edged sword. Although it is important to embrace diversity, I think that the world is becoming wrapped up in this idea and is maybe trying too hard...

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  49. Have you ever tried to fit into a stereotype or a certain group? Why? Was it for sports, friends, and image? What makes us steer towards certain groups? Have you ever changed yourself to be better liked by someone? Why? What made their opinion matter?

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    1. It is very noble to assume that we care not for the way people view us, that we are pour own person separate from anyone. But in reality we mold society, and thus we are connected to the people around us. We may not find their opinions all important but we have to take them into consideration.

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    2. I have tried to fit a stereotype because I thought then, that it would allow me to be more successful in what I do. I thought if I did then people would like me more and I would be able to relate and get along with them better. The reason I believe was because I thought that it would allow me to get further. The reason that their opinion was important was because I thought that it would allow for everything to fall into place and form into one when it really was the opposite.

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  50. The authors state that, "There are real consequences to having partial or distorted knowledge." What consequences would affect others more than ourselves seeing as the ones they list are "single-mindedness and bad social policy." They seem to say that shifting the center is a way of making us more complete people but, can we ever be complete?

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  51. In this reading, the idea that people are labeled into groups and stereotypes before they are seen as an individual is most illuminating to me. We are practically defined by what others think, instead of who we really are, thus making it extremely difficult to believe we should be anything but what society expects. Regardless of how oppressive stereotypes are, different groups still succumb into how people perceive them to be because of the fear of judgement. I believe that this fear is what forces people to accept stereotypes. Other groups place these stereotypes in hopes of justifying their dominance. For Example, the author writes, "Shifting the centers is not just about illuminating the experiences of oppressed groups, however. It also changes how we understand the dominant culture and groups who have more power and privilege than others." From this, I got the idea that society might actually need stereotypes in order to function. Subconsciously, we place a label on groups that have authority above us regardless of how much we dislike it. Our dependency on an instant judgement of others might be a form of defense, which could be why society can never get rid of stereotypes. The important thing to do is to have an open mind. For example, the author suggests "Thinking more inclusively opens up the way the world is viewed, making the experience of previously excluded groups more visible and central in the construction of knowledge." Although stereotypes will alway be subconsciously effecting our decisions, changing our perspective will still give us a better understanding of people as individuals. After this reading, I realized that the beneficial decision for society to make would be to embrace individuality and acknowledge uniqueness even though we will always have an instant perception of others.

    A question I had was: How does the way we are raised effect our perspective throughout our lives?

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