The Other And Otherness Analysis

W.E.B. Du Bois has contributed greatly to contemporary sociological thinking because he began a conversation of what it means to be “other” in this American Society. In his conversation of what it means to be other he constructed and included three major concepts that continue to resonate till this day. His concepts include “the color-line”, “the veil”, and the “double consciousness” (Appelrouth and Edles, 269). Together, these concepts not only described past experiences of blacks in American society (e.g., slavery) but also continue to remind us that the relation of whites and people of color remains complex. In Du Bois’s own words, “the Nation has not yet found peace from its sins” (273).

Society is constructed over different opinions and translations that individuals have over each other. The academic reading, “The Social Construction of Difference”, points out two different views that a group of people may have over another. In the academic reading the author, Allan G. Johnson, defines two different kinds of approaches that are known as privilege and oppression. Privilege is commonly defined as a group of certain people having more value from those who are not consider like one of them. Oppression is defined as privilege groups of people feeling superior in which leads to taking control over those who don’t share common identities with them. Based on the academic reading, “The Social Construction of difference”, the reality of social construction is based upon privilege and oppression.

To begin, the construct of social reality in a capitalist system reinforces systems of inequality and privilege. This is done mainly through the creation of dominant culture. Within our society, members are identified, classified and categorized by social characteristics. This stems from the social construction of reality. Johnson explains this concept through sociologist’s diversity wheel. It examines ones’ race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, abilities, age, religion, relationships, education and much more to create a generic identity for a person based on what society deems as reality and significant (14). An example of this is the construct of Irish immigrant’s identity in society. Although their physical characteristic was of fair skin, the social reality deemed and identified them as non-white through the construct

Race and gender are two facets that inherently dominate individuals everyday lives. A person’s social environment, work environment, and educational environment is congruent to their race and gender. From birth, it has been set up that everyone is assigned to a label. A pink or blue blanket is swaddled around a newborn child and a box is checked signifying that child’s place in society. These two actions ultimately define how a child is to be viewed and treated. As children grow into young adults they either decide to stick with their original assignment, while others decide to deviate from it. These individuals deviation results in many of them being viewed harshly and looked down upon because they strayed from their social norms. This constant cycle of being classified and labeled from birth is the social institution of gender and race. These social institutions aid in the inequality that is present in society, and race and gender are shaped by this. However, if these social institutions were removed, race and gender could dissipate. This is due to the fact that race and gender are not real, but are socially constructed concepts used to organize the power, or dominance, within our society to one social group over the other groups.

The apparent dominance of White-Europeans in America results in a common set of values, beliefs, and norms that are endorsed by Whites, leading to an America whose vision is filtered through the lens of the White-European perspective. This established vision and power creates the social construct of the ethnic “other.” As an ethnic “other” in America, my analysis incorporates my personal experiences and the experiences of those around me. In a nation that has a population so diverse in personal and collective identities, problems regarding morality and culture can arise. In the America of the past and present, the norm by which all are measured against is that of a heterosexual White-European. This norm creates a conflict with the marginalized groups who wish to gain acceptance by and into the dominant culture, but are not allowed to do so due to their

The essay “Being an Other” was written by Melissa Algranati. She is a graduate of the State University of New York at Birmingham and has a master’s degree from Colombia University. The reason as to why she wrote this particular essay was to discuss and describe her experiences of not fitting easily into any particular identity group. Her intended audience are those individuals who seem to have difficulties feeling part of a group. The text was originally published in Thomas Dublin’s “Becoming American, Becoming Ethnic: College Students Explore Their Roots.” Algranati’s identity crisis led her to publish this essay and more importantly show what it was like to be mistaken for another ethnic background. She goes on to make the noteworthy argument,

Few people are going to openly admit to being prejudice against people of other races, gender, and religions. However that doesn’t stop many of us from having unintentional racist thoughts. In 1979, Henri Tajfel, a social psychologist, proposed that “the groups which people belonged to are an important source of pride and self-esteem. Groups give us a sense of social identity: a sense of belonging to the social world.” This ideal of categorizing and subconsciously labeling ourselves is better known as “Social Identity Theory”. Tajfel continues by saying “In order to increase our self-image we enhance the status of the group to which we belong. For example, England is the best country in the world! We can also increase our self-image by discriminating and holding prejudice views against the out group (the group we don’t belong to). For example, the Americans, French etc. are a bunch of losers! Therefore, we divided the world into “them” and “us” based through a process of social categorization (i.e. we put people into social groups). This is known as in-group (us) and out-group (them). Social identity theory states that the in-group will discriminate against the out-group to enhance their self-image.” We all unintentionally discriminate against others that are in the “out-group”, and by doing this we are excluding ourselves from certain religions, cultures, races, and even genders. This ideal of labeling ourselves can be traced back to childhood and factors such as where we

Many, if not most, of the people in today's generation are constantly judged by others and even themselves based on what their identity comprises of. The concept of racial injustice and inequality among ethnic minorities constantly fills the media. Women's rights issues seem to arise rapidly whenever a single female is mistreated in the slightest way. The debate on homosexuality is also an enormous topic in our social lives today, with millions of supporters for it, but also millions against it. This internal segregation within our own human population is nothing new, since it has been continuing ever since verbal and written communication with each other has existed. All these components, and many more, are a huge part of what identifies a

Thandie Newton tells her personal story of finding her “otherness” as a child in two different cultures, and then she grows up as a teen actor playing many different selves. In addition, she adds that acting and dancing saved her life, giving her an atmosphere of whom she was and a place where she could fit herself.

It is no lie that the United States has diversity—but that does not stop those at the top from trying to stomp any exhibition of that diversity out. Since the beginning, America has been driven by an innate sense of superiority that we have the right to do what we want to do as long as it furthers our democracy. Regrettably, the reality behind this notion is malevolent. In the past, Anglos “conquered” those from cultures who they saw as inferior for what they saw as the “greater good”; even today, we prosecute those from different cultures simply for being different and not conforming to the American norm. Sadly, with this goal of furthering the majority, the U.S. has forgotten the

In Anderson and Collins’, chapter on “Why race, class, and gender still maters” encourage readers to think about the world in their framework of race, class, and gender. They argued that even though society has change and there is a wide range of diversity; race, class and gender still matters. Anderson and Collins stated, “Race, class, and gender matter because they remain the foundation for system of power and inequality that, despite our nation’s diversity, continue to be among the most significant social facts of peoples lives.” (Anderson and Collins, 2010) When I was a little girl, I never knew that people were classified in to groups such as race, class, gender. I knew there were people that had a different color of skin than

The Other is a term that is appointed by people to those with different ideas of race, sexual orientation, social class, origin, and other classifications. There are numerous amounts of people who could be characterized as the Other with American history having much relation to cruel forlorn phenomenon. The Other’s in history are those who are also considered the outsiders, and the ones who were left without a voice in society. A few examples of the Other that can be discovered throughout this week’s literature would be individuals who have obtained contrasting views on women, Native Americans, and different political ideologies. The Other is one of the common figures that are prevalent throughout all of American literature, and may be defined as a whole part of society, a community within a society, or even an individual group or class within a clique or gang.

Nohemi Perea Task2/LCT1 8/01/2012 An individual labeled as the Other is different and does not fit in. The Other is “perceived as lacking essential characteristics possessed by the group, the Other is almost always seen as lesser or inferior being and is treated accordingly” (The Other, 2009). A group sets guidelines and if a person does not meet them they will not be accepted as “normal”. Otherness to a group represents awkwardness. Although each person does have its own unique characteristics to prevent from being labeled as the Other you must possess common characteristics within a group. I read “This Is What It Means To Say Phoenix, Arizona” written by Sherman Alexie. It is about a boy named Victor who lives on an Indian Reservation

Minority groups in society have faced prejudice and discrimination throughout history and they continue to face it today. Religion and government have immense power to dictate what is seen as “correct behavior” in society. Furthermore, it is when minority groups infringe on these beliefs, that they can face this extreme prejudice and discrimination. Minority groups who have faced these adversities include First Nations and LGBTQ+ groups. Two stories that show the adversities that these groups face are A Word From the Nearly Distant Past by David Levithan and Totem by Thomas King.

Having discussed the issue of inequality and its interrelationship with both discrimination and oppression, the essay will, at this point, focus on what factors actually influence these matters. Society, of course, holds a key role in promoting and not abolishing unfair treatments through constant marginalization, disloyal competition and social comparison. Socialisation is another process that influences the way we conduct ourselves towards certain groups of people and reinforces stereotypes – for instance, some raised in a religious environment that does not agree with or recognises homosexuality, might develop a prejudice against gay people. The “rules”, the norms and the values that shape us since childhood, set the background for social inequality and lead to a