The Effects Of Gender, Race, And Class

Good Times and The Jefferson’s are well known sitcoms that premiered in the 1970s focusing on African American families living in poverty, while offering a comedic twist. The 1970s was in the heart of the civil rights movement, and these shows were based on the lives of blacks during this time (Deane, 2004). Both shows aired during the same timeframe, and it was evident that Good Times and The Jefferson’s aligned with the traditional stigma that society had of African Americans (there were often offensive stereotypical aspects present, such as mammy and sambo characters).

Race and gender are two important terms in society that define us. However, they lead to inequality among individuals. "Race is a socially defined category based on real or perceived biological differences between groups of people" (Ferris and Stein 216). It is based off our biological makeup that distinct us from others (Ferris and Stein). Many people do not know the actual term of race, how deeply rooted it is, or where it derived from, but it all works in one form. Race goes a long way from how you may appear to someone. Just because someone looks a certain race does not mean they will not have inevitably biological material from other races. It is very diverse between many different populations. Race does not identify who you are but what social category you are from. Gender is how you physically appear in society. "Gender is the physical, behavior, and personality traits that a group considers to be normal, natural, right, and good for its male and female members" (Ferris and Stein 243). It is the identity of masculine and feminine. Gender identifies who we are and it reflects deeply on a person's personality. They normally change over time from the assigned sex given at birth. Society has its way of discriminating between race and gender and it shows differences distributed among individuals.

Leslie B. Inniss and Joe R. Feagin. The Cosby Show: The View from the Black Middle Class. Journal of Black Studies. Jul, 1995.

Through the positive portrayal of the Huxtable family, depicted as respected and wealthy middle class folk, “The Cosby Show” challenged dominant cultures understanding of blackness. The family sitcom managed to dispel old stereotypes of blacks, while providing a more respected and realistic portrayal of typical black families. Bill Cosby’s attempts to be educational while subtly addressing issues such as black male stereotypes, discrimination, and other socially relevant topics. The show was perceived differently by blacks and non-blacks.

1. Describe the difference between race and ethnicity. What roles do race and social class continue to play in the United States?

Since its start, the television industry has been criticized for perpetuating myths and stereotypes about African-Americans through characterizations, story lines, and plots. The situation comedy has been the area that has seemed to draw the most criticism, analysis, and disapproval for stereotyping. From Sanford and Son and The Jefferson’s in the 1970s to The Cosby Show (1984) and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in the 1990s, sitcoms featuring black casts and characters have always been controversial. However, their significance upon our American culture cannot be disregarded. During the 1950s and 1960s, 97% of the families were Caucasian. In the first five years of the

‘Black Family Imagery and Interactions on Television’ shows that during the period from 1980 to 1985, there are investigation the images and interactions of black family dawn on television to examine changes caused by black TV family. In 1980, ‘Gordon Berry’ shows frequent representations of black, minority, and lower class lifestyle appearing, but these are changed. There are three comedies to compare the black family during 1985-1986. ‘The Cosby Show,’‘227,’ and ‘Charlie & Company’ split by role significance, dress, occupational status, competence, and wealth. In the shows, the character’s roles are important, and dress is not poorly, and occupational status, competence, and wealth are good. These indicated that a more positive portrayal

How did race, gender or class evolve in America in economic and social terms? Was race or class most important in shaping Colonial America and how do they interact today? Has the very idea of 'Class ' become almost synonymous with race (or ethnicity)?

“Modern Family” premiered on ABC in September of 2009 which shows family life of modern day and their experiences. The main cast is overall white while there are two characters of Latin descent and one of Asian. After reviewing the show, I found there was a sense of racism covered up by a satirical approach throughout the plot. One of the examples I noticed was the Latina main character, Gloria, portrayed by Sophia Vergara, was a very stereotypical spitfire, Latina woman. The show had her character talk in a very think Colombian accent and had her dress in a very sexualized manner with cleavage bearing shirts, tight pants and dresses with loud colors. She even has some lines mentioning her home country of Colombia and representing the country in a negative way. The show portrays Gloria out to be an immigrant, gold-digger that in ways shows that she is naive, lazy and incompetent let alone being extremely sexist. The only thing that is not discriminatory about this show is that they feature a gay couple but they have this gay couple make remarks about their adopted asian daughter being the “only under-achieving Asian baby in America”. Overall, I

Race, gender and class defines our experience. Studies have shown that, even though, these three aspects define who we are, they are interwoven. Each of these three aspects affects our decisions which could be either positive or negative. Class, race and gender as an individual is determined by our parents and If any of these changes, it would automatically change every aspect of the individual.

Race, ethnicity, religion, class, sexual orientation, ability, and gender have all impacted my life in ways beyond my total comprehension. However, I can begin to identify some of the notable interactions and effects and discuss the ways in which they might present themselves in my teaching practices. I am a White, European American, Christian, and heterosexual female without a medically ascribed disability. I can say that ultimately (and unfortunately) my cultural and physical identity is considered normative within the United States and has placed me on a path of privilege and power. Throughout my life, though, I have been fortunate to encounter other cultural groups in very meaningful ways. My international, religious, and family experiences have shaped my worldview most notably.

I will now examine how gender and ethnic contributed to our crisis event. In addition, I can conclude that ethnicity and gender roles had a great impact on my family. Gender roles not only divide individuals into two dominant categories but grants roles that are taught to be manageable. Both gender are provide guidelines that must be followed.

Mr. Lindner is sent by his community to convince the family not to move into the neighborhood. He even goes as far as to offer to buy back the house at twice the cost. Mr. Lindner refers to the Youngers’ as “you people” several times and mentions “some of the instances that have happened in various parts of the city when colored people have moved into certain areas” (1984-1986). Beneatha claims that Mr. Lindner is talking “Brother Hood” and saying “how everybody ought to learn how to sit down and hate each other with good Christian fellowship” (1987). If a white family had bought the house and were meeting with Mr. Lindner for the first time, his choice of words and the tone of the evening would have been very different because blacks were not socially accepted by society during this era. Mr. Lindner tells Walter specifically that he is not being racist when he says “I want you to believe me when I tell you that race prejudice simply does not enter into it” and “That our Negro families are happier when they live in their own communities”, which sounds very racist (1986). Some would say that the way the character is talking is just the way that people talked in the 1950s, and others might say that Mr. Lindner is making racial comments.

How you do in school, your social ability, and your awareness of others are all guided by how you identify. Identification in one’s gender, race, religion, social class, and ethnicity are all driving forces behind your future self. Identity is a crucial part of who you are, and in recent studies and experimentation researchers have been trying to identify new, untested factors that influence behavior in people. Although, in the past there hasn’t been a strong focus on the positive and negative effects of race and ethnicity, the conversation is now shifting to align itself with the current times. With America becoming increasingly more ethnically and racially diverse, we must take the time to see how certain factors, specifically race and ethnicity, impact a person’s development and behavior.

Lorraine Hansberry develops the theme that racial discrimination makes it hard to obtain the American Dream through the use of setting. The play takes place in Southside Chicago 1950. During this time the south was segregated by racist Jim Crow Laws. Jim Crow Laws were laws requiring the separation of whites from persons of color. Many African Americans faced unofficial racial barriers in the North. Black and white communities were even segregated from each other. Black and white communities were very different. Buying a house in a black community was different from buying a house in a white community. Black communities were more expensive and were less well-kept, in contrast to white communities being cheaper, very clean, and well-kept. Linder states, “I want you to believe me when I tell you that race prejudice simply doesn’t enter into it. It is a matter of the people of Clybourne Park believing, rightly or wrongly, as I say, that for the happiness of all concerned that our Negro families are happier when they live in their own communities.” Linder is trying to say that they are not trying to be racist but clearly are because they are telling the Younger’s that they can not live there because it is an all white community and blacks have their own communities. Linder offers money for the Younger’s to leave just so that they don’t have any blacks in their all white community. Galens states, “Mama Younger has the money to pay for a house she wants, but people attempt to