RACISM and SEXISM AND BEYOND Seneca Falls New
RACISM and SEXISM AND BEYOND
Seneca Falls New York 1848: Declaration of Sentiment • We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; , … But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their duty to throw off such government. . . and to provide new guards for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of the women under this government, …The history of mankind is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations on the part of man toward woman, having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over her.
OVERVIEW • Define Racism and Sexism • Describe the Socialization Process of Sexism • Explain the Eight Dimensions of “ISM’S” • Strategies for Anti-Racist and Anti-Sexist Allyship
By Analogy Racism and Sexism are conceptually the same. The definitions are interchangeable, except for the different attitudes associated with the constructed categories of “race” and “gender”. race -> racism and gender -> sexism
VOCABULARY • Glossary of Terms: • Value: Represents something important in our existence; a type of belief, centrally located in our self-concept, about how we ought or ought not to behave. • Value System: A set of Values • Stereotype: An exaggerated belief associated with a category which characteristically is over-generalized (may be positive or negative) that has an adverse impact on the target. • Discrimination: Acting out prejudice thoughts or opinions
RACISM • Define Race and What is Racism…Ethnicity • Race is a constructed division of mankind whose perceived members have inheritable traits that are sufficient to characterize them as a distinct human type. • Ethnicity refers to a distinct sub-group of people who are classified according to common racial, national, tribal, religious, linguistic, or cultural origin or traits. • Racism is any attitude, action (conscious or unconscious) of a person or institutional structure that subordinates and subjugates a person or group because of race. • Two components of racism are prejudice and discrimination.
RACISM • Describe Two Forms of Racism. . . • Personal - Individual Racism - Refers chiefly to the prejudicial beliefs and discriminatory behavior of individuals toward groups of people. • Institutional Racism - Refers to the policies of institutional communities such as schools, businesses, the military, and other groups and organizations that restrict the opportunities of individuals and groups which may or may not violate the statutory laws prohibiting such policies and conduct. These policies may or may not have been intentionally written to practice discrimination.
SEXISM • What is Sexism. . • Sexism is any attitude, action, or institutional structure which subordinates and subjugates a person or group because of gender. – Two components of sexism are prejudice and discrimination.
SEX ROLE SOCIALIZATION • What is Socialization. • What are Gender Roles. . . – They are socially and culturally defined roles that individuals are expected to fulfill. • What is Gender Role Socialization. . . – The process by which males and females learn to display behavior considered appropriate for their perceived gender identity. • Gender Role Socialization (“appropriate behavior”) is reinforced by family, peers, and environment • Gender Roles once reinforced become familiar. What is familiar becomes a valued norm or normative.
THE EIGHT DEMENSIONS OF RACISM AND SEXISM • Personal: An individual belief or action. • Institutional: Practices, policies, or behaviors of individuals acting for organizations that discriminate. • Overt: Out in the open, easy to identify. • Covert: Unstated, unwritten, hidden practices. • Intentional: Individual or institutions actions focused on expected outcome • Unintentional: Actions not consciously intended to be racist or sexist, but having the same effect as intentional discrimination. • Active: Taking part in an activity through action or s doing or speech-acts. • Passive: allowing actions or statements to go unchallenged.
Core Values Run Deep
PRO-SEXISM • What is Pro-Sexism. . . – Pro-Sexist behavior is accommodating sexist behavior by encouraging or reinforcing it, rather than questioning, checking, or opposing it. • Examples of Pro-Sexist behavior. . . – Paternalism: Males assuming a protective/superior role – Interrupting, Speaking For, Clarifying, Ignoring: Discounting others input. – Exclusionary Language: Using gender specific work as a universal when a neutral term exists and is appropriate. – Using First Names: Addressing women by their first names and addressing men by their titles – Infantalizing : diminutive names, comparing men and girls, babes, chicks, shorties …
STRATEGIES FOR ANTI-RACIST/-SEXIST ALLYSHIP – Self-Analysis/Self-Awareness/Suspend assumptions – Acknowledge, Understand, and Appreciate your categorical positionalities – Acknowledge, Understand, and Appreciate categorical differences, in power and privilege – Increase your knowledge, and skills to intervene appropriately within your spheres of influence
- Slides: 13