Today’s society is filled with many unique and fascinating people. Each person has had their own experiences. Some people have traveled the world, and others have participated in marathons. However, everyone is not equal in the world. While times have in fact changed dramatically over they years, such things as racism and discrimination still exist in today’s society.
Coming up to Berkeley was definitely a change of landscape for me. I’d always been, for the most part, surrounded by like-minded people, so I never really had to question myself on the things I was saying, as it was accepted. After moving to to Berkeley and into the residence halls, I found myself not only being questioned by others but also questioning others. I had to ask myself
…show more content…
First is the act of discrimination. This is when one person or group of people will treat someone else or another group of people unequally simply because they belong to a different social category. This takes place depending on race, gender, sexual orientation, etc. Avoidance is also influenced by privilege. Something as small as looking away when speaking to someone else can show privilege. Another is exclusion, which is when one group doesn’t allow someone in. This socially bans this person, which makes privilege more of an issue. Johnson states, “Of all human needs, few are as powerful as the need to be seen, included and accepted by other people. This is why being shunned or banished is among the most painful punishments to endure, a social death.” This quote describes life and the way it’s always been. No one wants to be excluded or discriminated against. Avoidance might even be less hurtful than the other two acts. Privilege is also represented in the work place as well as in the community. Sometimes the way we act is intentional and on purpose.
Johnson discusses all of the talk about “racial healing” and “healing gender wounds,” but he continues to state that these issues are far from over. For a lot of people, it’s hard to even fathom the idea of privilege and how it is also seen as negative. Everyone is privileged as well as oppressed and that is how the world works. Before coming up to Berkeley, I didn’t really see myself as privileged or oppressed, but I’ve learned that I am
Diversity means difference. The fact or quality of being diverse. People's differences can be many and varied. People are different in the way they look, dress, behave, believe and worship; where they work; how they live; age, gender, Sexual orientation, Marital status, Politics, Religion, Disability, Socio-economic differences, Family structure, Health, Values, Race, Culture, National origin, Ethnic group - yet also have many similarities. In a diverse society people need to tolerate and value differences in people so that we can continue to be individuals. Diversity allows people to contribute to society. The more people are economically active, the more successful is the economy and this then benefits everyone. Diversity
Allan G. Johnson wrote a book called, ‘Privilege, Power, and Difference’. He has written a very accessible introduction to the concept of privilege: the notion that certain members of society benefit from institutionalized assumptions and beliefs about what is normal. Conversely, attention is also given to various groups that are harmed by these same institutionalized assumptions. People of color, women, homosexuals, and those with disabilities are all included in his discussion. Furthermore, important criticisms included in this book are not only a wonderful introduction to the concept of privilege, but it also delves into how and why various systems of privilege are perpetuated in our society. Johnson is adept at
Privilege is often seen as special rights granted to individuals either on behalf of merit or through unwarranted means. In their writings, Johnson (privilege, oppression, and difference) and Peggy McIntosh (White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Backpack) discuss their views on the impact that privileging specific social groups has on society. The concept of whiteness in America is often overlooked or unaffiliated with discussions concerning racial dilemmas. Whiteness and white privilege perpetuates racism due to its normalization in society which in turn serves as an agent of how other non-white people are treated.
What does it mean to be an American? We are all different in this world, diversity includes everyone. Diversity refers to all of the ways in which people are different. The diversity of the United States society is increasing dramatically, due to high rates of immigration. America is built of people coming together from different races, nationalities, religions and sexes. This includes individual, group, and traditional differences. Diversity is a major role on impacting the the United States character, history, and tradition. Diversity made america what it is today. Can our society deal successfully with these changes?
"As a Texan, I have known many immigrant's families, mainly from Mexico, and I've seen what they add to our country. They bring to America the values of faith in God, love of family, hard work, and self-reliance; the values that made us a great nation to begin with (Ortiz)". One of our great president, George W. Bush, said these enhancing words and it now concerns me in this day of time. That now the world wants to imprison the Hispanic culture all for varies stereotypes. With President Trump theory of the wall this will cause many more issues not only with Hispanic immigrates but within America itself. Without the construction of the wall, America wouldn’t be wasting money, it will keep generating diversity and wall wouldn’t go against our founding father's rules and regulations.
I am currently at a placement site, where there is not much diversity when it comes to race. Many of my students consider themselves white or non hispanic with the exception of seven students. Out of those seven, two identify as African American, three identify as hispanic and the other two identify with two or more races. Besides race, I have diversity amongst gender, socioeconomic status, learning styles, accommodations, and modifications. My classes are comprised of more females than males who come from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds. Some of the students come from well off families with occupations such as pastors, educators, military personnel, business owners, and doctors while others come from farmers, grocery store workers, restaurant employees and construction workers. Though there is nothing wrong with the occupations of the parents, it is obvious that there is a difference between the
What I found interesting in this chapter would have to be about Diversity “The New Social Norm " in the chapter it talks about the different cultural backgrounds, opportunity changes, peoples beliefs, and religion. I find this interesting because without social norms there would be chaos in the world. In today's era society is built upon the thought of citizen conformity to a prescribed set of values and norms. In the chapter, it states “The United States is a multicultural society. This is unlike a monocultural society in which everyone looks and acts alike and believes pretty much the same thing. Diversity brings with it both opportunities and challenges; it brings opportunities for people to find commonalities and share unique beliefs and
Diversity can refer to many things all over the world. Diversity can be defined as different statuses at are together collectively. “Diversity encompasses complex differences and similarities in perspective, identities and points of view among members if an institution. It includes important and interrelated dimensions of human identity such as race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression, socio-economic status, nationality, citizenship, religion, sexual orientation, ability and age.” (“Luther College”) In conclusion, diversity is a group of different individuals that are grouped together; focus word being “different” and “together”. Diversity is very important at any setting because it challenges the way people think, it result in an effective way of analyzing thing because there are different perspectives that are being thought of. Therefore, diversity on college campuses in the United States is important because it increases academic and social interactions.
In the USA one of the most diverse place on earth, one would think that cultural diversity would not be an issue that needed to be addressed or be an issue at all. Right? I mean this country is probably the only place on earth where you can find nearly any nationality, ethnicity and type of people living among each other. You have Blacks, Chinese, gays, lesbians, transgender people, whites, Europeans, Africans, Middle Eastern people, Asians, and Hispanics, all on one piece of land. How can cultural diversity be a problem when the land is made up of so many different types of people? Shouldn't cultural diversity be striving in America? Unfortunately, in many parts of the USA, cultural diversity is lacking. Some of the many places that cultural diversity is lacking in the US is television, movies, the workplace, and schools. If you ever watched a movie or a TV show you mostly see one type of group being represented. For example, let's look some TV shows that take place in NYC. Let's look at friends, Seinfeld, Will and Grace, Sex and The City and How I Meet Your Mother, these shows
The United States of America can be regarded as one of the most diverse and progressive countries in the world with people from all corners of the world contributing to the changing culture of the melting pot that is America. Despite this, our government inadequately represents our diverse population, specifically in Congress, with many officials being Christian, older, non-Hispanic white males dominating government.
Diversity has always been a key component of American society. From its beginnings, the United States has struggled with deciding who establishes the norms and values of society, given that we are a nation built primarily through immigration (Bessett, 1997). Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) people have been a part of society throughout history. There is evidence of same sex relationships at least as far back as ancient Greece (Crompton, 2003). Over time, negative societal attitudes in the western world developed and led to active oppression of LGBT community. These attitudes were then exported around the world. From approximately the 1930’s until the 1970’s, the vast majority of LGBT people lived their lives hiding
As I reflect on the chapter reading, this reader will share the interpretation and personal familiarity concerning the topics. Intersectionality can be complex in terms of identifying individuals who are distinguished by a combination of identities; however, some may encounter various degrees of disadvantage or advantage as a result of their combination. Among many of the identities, social class plays a major part in identity and progression in our society. Often times, individuals from higher social classes are likely to obtain privileges and opportunities at work, schools, or day to day life that individuals from a low to middle class family will never acquire. Despite the meritocracy one may have in a higher social class, inequalities still exist.
I am choosing to differentiate between the two diversity meanings the same way the author did, which is through italics for the second modern meaning.
Contemporary privileged American society is largely idealistic in its attitudes towards racial relations; many Americans believe that the United States is a place where hard work and dedication will lead to success, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, or other perceived difference. In this idealistic mindset, the only thing keeping you down is yourself. However, this ignores the very real disadvantages that some members of society experience based on their identities. Ignoring problems such as racial discrimination may be an example of “ignorance is bliss” for some but only if they have the privilege and means to achieve bliss, for the remainder, it means that these problems go on being ignored in order to ease the public’s mind.
We live in a society where people come from different countries, they belong to different cultural, religion, ethnic groups, and races. All these factors come together and contributes to differences that make us unique from each other. Hence, a multicultural country with huge diversity. This reflection journal will cover what “human race” is and what role it plays in ones’ personal life and in a nursing profession. Moreover, what bias, assumptions and judgements are, and how to avoid them. Lastly, what caring is and what role does it play in nursing.