Discussion question responses

CAT

Locate scholarly definitions of “microaggressions” and “color-blind racism.” Provide them here and explain briefly how they might apply to society.

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John Williamson

Re:Topic 5 DQ 1

When we talk about stereotypes, remember that they are cognitive frameworks for understanding what goes on around us given limited information, according to Loury. I’ll use an entirely neutral example to show this. If you decide to buy a car, you absolutely cannot test drive every single car in your area. Perhaps you have a belief that Hondas are excellent cars based on a few friends that you have who love theirs or a prior experience with a Honda; that is a stereotype, as you have generalized this experience to all cars. You have probably watched a lot of commercials and heard from friends about which car dealerships are the most honest or will give you the best deal, so you will probably buy a car from that dealership. As a result, you have used two stereotypical beliefs in order to help you wrap your mind around which car is the best to purchase and the place at which you should buy it, thus saving you time, research, and resources. Stereotyping, in Loury’s definition, is something that each of us do daily, but the word itself has a very negative connotation.

Now, obviously cars are not people, and so stereotyping people rather than objects is a much different story. Is there a way that stereotyping, especially with the understanding of the self-confirming nature of them, can have a positive impact on the object of the stereotyping? If not, how might we as a society shift our cognitive frameworks in order to make stereotyping, which is something that we naturally do, become a net positive?

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Michelle Serrano

3 posts

Re:Topic 5 DQ 2

My personal position on affirmative action is that it is not a program I support. This is because it puts business and/or schools at a disadvantage. Being required to have a certain amount of minorities or genders can force those who do not deserve a spot within that company or school take a spot that isn’t necessarily deserved. With affirmative action, the very best of the best can be left out because the law forces affiliations to have a certain amount of minorities. This policy can also make a minority question if they are truly qualified for the position, or if it is forcefully given. This happens in all big and small corporations, universities, and private sectors. I did not see affirmative action being demonstrated in my former career. It was a salon and we welcomed everyone based on talent, not race. My school has mostly been online and again; I haven’t personally seen any affirmative action being demonstrated. Being that I am from the west coast, I did see niches of minority groups in the city I am from, however I never witnessed discrimination or racism. If anything our community is helpful and open to everyone. Reply | Quote & Reply

Michelle Serrano

 

3 posts

Re:Topic 5 DQ 1

The difference between racial stigma and racial stereotyping is stigma is motion by others that someone must live with and experience throughout their lives based on an act of disgrace such as, but not limited to a criminal. Stereotyping is clumping a group together and making a generalize judgment based on race, religion, or gender without having any evidence of preconceived notion.

 

Racial stigma adds to the tensions because if someone of a certain race commits any disgraceful act that therefore causes that person to be labeled and judged.  Now, others of the same race will be generalized into that disgraceful category. This will cause snowballing into stereotyping because of that one person’s actions. However, stereotyping does not necessarily need someone to be stigmatized first to be stereotyped. However, an unpopular act causing a stigma does unfairly “validate” the stereotype because there is now evidence to be pointed to.

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Resources to use

“Does the US Need Affirmative Action?” on the ProCon.org website.http://aclu.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=000697