...Stephanie COM 242 Book Analysis: My Forbidden Face One distinctive theme of this Communication Culture course is the balance between oppression and privilege. These very opposite concepts are seen in almost all of our course readings, films, and discussion board assignments. According to the Fabric of Oppression Theory, privilege is when an individual experiences certain advantages that are based on their race, class, sex, religion, sexual orientation, and able-bodiness (FOOT handout). “The privileged groups have opportunities not provided to other groups because of the current social system in place and may not recognize that they ‘benefit’ from the system” (FOOT handout). Oppression is on the other end of the spectrum and involves an individual lacking the same opportunities as someone who is privileged because of the same sub categories of race, class, sex, religion, sexual orientation, and able-bodiness. Latifa’s novel My Forbidden Face is one that shows many strong examples of oppression for Latifa and her family. Not only do we see disadvantages in her life based on her sex and religion, but the Taliban goes even further to control the people of Kabul by providing restrictions on the media and their everyday routines. Throughout My Forbidden Face, we see the main character of Latifa being oppressed from the very beginning, especially because of her female sex. Outlined by FOOT, we see several “isms” that could be taken out on a person, or group of people. One...
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...The importance of this topic cannot be overlooked; it has been almost 150 years since slavery was abolished and 81 years since the first Hispanic- American man was elected to the U.S Senate and yet minorities and specific groups continue to be under represented and recognized when it comes to equal political and social rights. Women are one of these groups. Women on average make only 79 cents for every dollar a man makes. That is a 21% wage gap difference. Women are not the only group exploited and over looked - animals are hugely perceived as “economic commodities,” able to be used and taken advantage of, for any conceivable reason that results in economic benefit for the oppressor. Our society has succumbed to the westernized customs of...
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...2013 Oppression, Sexual Violence and Their Effects on Native American Women Isabella J. Baxter '15 Gettysburg College, baxtis01@gettysburg.edu Follow this and additional works at: http://cupola.gettysburg.edu/student_scholarship Part of the Native American Studies Commons, and the Women's Studies Commons Baxter, Isabella J. '15, "Oppression, Sexual Violence and Their Effects on Native American Women" (2013). Student Publications. Paper 87. http://cupola.gettysburg.edu/student_scholarship/87 This is the author's version of the work. This publication appears in Gettysburg College's institutional repository by permission of the copyright owner for personal use, not for redistribution. Cupola permanent link: http://cupola.gettysburg.edu/student_scholarship/ 87 This open access student research paper is brought to you by The Cupola: Scholarship at Gettysburg College. It has been accepted for inclusion by an authorized administrator of The Cupola. For more information, please contact cupola@gettysburg.edu. Oppression, Sexual Violence and Their Effects on Native American Women Keywords Native American Women, Sexual Violence, Oppression, Colonization, White Feminism Abstract This paper is a response to the chapter “Sexual Violence as a Tool of Genocide” in Andrea Smith’s book Conquest: Sexual Violence and American Indian Genocide. Smith argues that U.S. colonial culture strategically uses sexual violence against Native women as a weapon to ensure the oppression and...
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...recognition of humanity should be the central focus of human existence. • Within a historical context both humanization and dehumanization are possible realities. • The very attempt to deny our humanity, through the process of dehumanization, reaffirms our humanity. • Humanization is characterized in terms of: o Yearning for freedom and justice o Struggle to recover humanity o Emancipation of labor o Overcoming of alienation o Affirmation of the individual • Dehumanization is characterized in terms of: o Injustice o Exploitation o Oppression o Violence o Those robbed of their humanity o Those who have robbed others of their humanity • Struggle: is defined in terms of one’s attempt to overcome one’s oppression. o Limitation of Struggle: 1 Cannot seek to oppress the oppressor as a consequence of one’s attempt at liberation. 1 • Task of the Oppressed: o Liberate themselves o Liberate the oppressor • Liberation: o Both the oppressed and the oppressor require liberation 1 The assumption that only the oppressed require liberation is incorrect. 2 o Only arises from the those oppressed 3 o Cannot be attained by chance or circumstance 4 o Can only be attained through a fight for liberation. 5 The fight is actually an act of love. 6 • False Generosity: only meaningful insofar as injustice is still perpetrated. AKA “lovelessness”. 7 o False Charity: seek...
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...Racial oppression is putting a restraint on specific races that are the minority, this is through brutal and unjust treatment. Racial separation began around the 18/19th century when the majority started to view themselves as superior over the minority and that the minority should not obtain the same rights as them. Christians face this cultural issue that often end up with several different opinions on how one should deal with racial oppression. Sojourner Truth spoke of the racial controversy through the eyes of a Christian that is facing racial indifferences. Vibia Perpetua and Bartolomé de Las Casas both display the importance of being a Christian during challenging times. Being a Christian entails considerably difficult cultural issues that need to be solved with correct evidence and actions. In 1797, Sojourner...
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...of Gustavo Gutierrez who has been judged against the orthodoxy of his theology in light of the documents “Instruction on Certain Aspects of the ‘Theology of Liberation’” and “Libertatis Conscientia.” It is important to understand that although these documents by cardinal Ratzinger raise various eyebrows towards some of the practices of modern liberation theology, these are in no way a condemnation of liberation theology, or of Gutierrez’ theology for that matter. The issues however that each of these documents discuss are the following; the tendency to act towards Marxist actions, the lack of prioritization of the ultimate purpose of liberation, the tendency to call about violence for change, and the failure to address the new forms of oppression that are created. Throughout his various books, Gustavo Gutierrez addresses these issues and leaves no way for misinterpretation against the orthodoxy of his theology; in reality, his teachings are deeply rooted in Christian doctrine, however they are misinterpreted if not analyzed thoroughly. One of the biggest issues that is compared to Gutierrez’s teachings is the idea that he promotes a Marxist and communist approach/analysis to life. What this implies is that we get rid of the class struggles that exist and that everyone work together through a single class (the working class). Specifically, the idea that we must act (praxis) in order to liberate others around us is one that stems from a similar idea of action that is rooted in...
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...“I do not wish [women] to have power over men; but over themselves” (Wollstonecraft, Poston). This quote, which Mary Wollstonecraft eloquently stated in A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, portrays the exact feelings of Offred, the main character in Margaret Atwood’s novel The Handmaid’s Tale. Taking place in a dystopian future, The Handmaid’s Tale depicts a totalitarian government under which women are harshly subjugated. Instead of accepting her current position as a handmaid. Offred longs to return to her previous life; however, in the Republic of Gilead, gender-based oppression is commonplace and often prevents Offred from achieving both her short and long-term aspirations. Similar to the painting Fair Rosamund by Arthur Hughes, Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale examines how sexual oppression leads to the loss of identity, shaming of...
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...way of life or being. My social location is easily identifiable as a white female however, due to the dominance of white supremacy, I am not judged by my racial background much like a woman of “color” may be. These distortions on sexism provide awareness, that oppression is not only in terms of sex and in our patriarchal power system, white privilege is a benefit. Social Identity Although sexism is a problem in society, I do not suffer the same oppression faced by women of color. Lorde (1990), discusses the impacts of this built-in-privilege of whiteness and how it forces women of color to become an outsider. As a Catholic woman, I am faced with a similar power relation by identifying as a lesbian in my community, which is neither considered the societal norm nor accepted by the church. This disadvantage I face allows me to be socially aware of the impacts oppression has in society and agree with Mullaly (2002) who states that oppression “assumes a ‘fixed identity’ on the part of both oppressors and oppressed – that the world is divided into two groups and people belong in either one, but never to both” (p. 27). I am aware of the marginality I experience between social groups and the disadvantages of homophobic oppression, that has taught me how to be more racially and ethnically diverse, so that as identifying as a white female, I can understand the implications of what it means to unlearn oppressive behavior. Recently coming out as a lesbian has been difficult for me in my...
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...Marxists believe that religions main role is to dull the pain of oppression. They believe that religions act is the opium of the masses, and acts as a drug to ‘dull the pain of oppression’. Religion dumbs the pain of oppression by the promise of paradise in the next life. This shown by the Hindu Caste system where the poor believe that they will be rewarded in their next life. Religion also justifies social order. For example the hymn All things bright and beautiful demonstrates class equalities as ‘The Rich Man in his castle, the poor man at his gate; god made them high or lowly and ordered their estate’. Religion prevents people from attempting change, so the dominant groups can retain their power. Religion is used by the ruling class to justify their position. Marxist believes religion is a tool of class exploitation and oppression. Since religion disguises and legitimates the exploitative relationships of society by implying the world is shaped by god's will, which is therefore unchangeable. Due to religion people don’t attempt to change ‘gods will’ as they are promised rewards in the afterlife which will ease their pain of exploitation. Althusser argues that religion is a conservative force as religion, which prevents change so maintains being an ideological state apparatus, which distorts people’s perception of reality to serve the interests of the ruling class. For example the poor will contain to obey the ruling class, as they believe it is Gods will. He believes...
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...himself and his environment. Although both “Borders” and “A Mountain Legend” demonstrate the importance of preserving cultural heritage by emphasizing the resilience of Indigenous identity when facing challenges, King focuses on fighting for cultural recognition while Wheeler concentrates on individual acceptance. By portraying a Blackfoot mother and her resilience to stand against the oppression of her cultural identity, “Borders” demonstrates the importance of fighting for cultural recognition. The Mother teaches her son that something as personal as one’s cultural identity is worth more than “a legal technicality” (King 136). Her loyalty and devotion to her Indigenous identity, however, influence her resiliency in preserving cultural heritage, especially in the face of political oppression. These factors represent how even when everyone is against her, like the border patrol who asks, “Canadian side or American side?” the Mother proclaims “Blackfoot side” (King 136), as she stands her ground taking pride in her nationality. The Mother is aware of the issues she causes her and her son, leading them to be stranded between two borders while knowing she can easily cross the border if she claims national citizenship. By defiantly asserting her affiliation with Blackfoot rather than associating with Canada or the United States, the Mother demonstrates her resilience against the oppression of her cultural identity. Thus teaching her son the concept of pride and fighting for recognition...
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...Intersectionality has been lauded by some as the “new orthodoxy” (Grewal & Kaplan, 507) but what does a statement like that mean and how should we critically analyze such a claim? Intersectionality emerged as a way to engage with the intersections between an individual’s multiple identities and the complimentary and interlocking oppressions that result from the product of these identities working in conjunction. Race, class, gender, and sexuality merge together to create a unique experience for individuals affected by multiple oppressed identities at once. In Harriet Jacobs’ retelling of her experiences, she succinctly explains in a short anecdote the reason that intersectionality emerged: “the fair child scarcely [had] one day of her life...
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...With the rise of civilization also came the rise of patriarchy-based societies and the slow decline of the importance of women in society. For the longest time the history of the world has been written by men who have been the head of the patriarchy and have forgotten the role of women in history. It is important to realize that women do in fact have a place at the table with men when it comes to importance in history, and are not just the ones cooking and serving the meal. It is women who tasked with raising the next generation. By looking at women of the past, people of the future can learn and evolve to fight oppression and gain their own power. Come up with a good thesis that doesn’t suck. While women hold different experiences with power,...
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...aim to explain how privilege and oppression intersect to shape my perspectives, values, expectations, and beliefs. First, my racial identity as a white person gave me many privileges I didn't realize.. Growing up in a predominantly white community, I was shielded from many of the harsh realities of racial inequality. My family and peers instilled in me the idea...
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...Womens Liberation Movement Why did the Women’s Liberation Movement Emerge in the late 1960’s? Discuss with reference to Britain and the United States of America. In a decade where the whole world was experiencing revolutions due to social discontent, this increased the desire, of women, in the late 1960’s to ‘confront existing structures of oppression,’ giving the impetus for the emergence of the Women’s Liberation Movement. Caine argues the emergence of the movement bought a ‘new tone,’ when discussing women’s oppression. Rather than focusing directly on women’s suffrage, this was a political movement demanding ‘rapid and radical change,’ in an ever increasing ambience of liberalisation. Upon inception, it is vital to highlight one can account different reasons for the emergence of the movement in Britain and America, as different domestic situations led to different reasons for the emergence of a more radical form of feminism. This essay, together with a multiplicity of historians, will consider the importance of World War II and the Civil Rights Movement, and the impact they had on the emergence of the Women’s Liberation Movement. Linked to this is the ever apparent discrimination women faced and increasing desires to change this, coupled with developments of new opportunities, demonstrated by the aforementioned world events. Additionally, the impact of literature such as Betty Friedan’s, The Feminine Mystique, needs to be considered. Whilst all the factors play an...
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...Freedom is one of the most vulnerable things in human’s life. Since the beginning of life, mankind has tried to become free. When we look at the dusty pages of history, it is obvious that, roughly all wars and struggles in history stem from passion of freedom. The importance and necessity of freedom is indisputable and M.Roshwald (2000) emphasized the importance of freedom with these words; ‘’Give me liberty, or give me death’’ (p.1). However, in today’s world, freedom is limited by dictators or majorities. J.S.Mill (1859), claims that, majority, which means the most active part of the society, may desire to oppress minorities and precautions are needed against this abuse of power. Mill raised awareness and warned against tyranny of majority. Social tyranny is more formidable than political oppressions, because tyranny of majority limits freedom of thought, prevents social progress, which is the beginning of all corruptions, and it is more difficult to escape and severer to endure than oppressive political regimes. First of all, majority’s opinions, values and norms determine all society’s values and point of views. Tyranny of majority can manipulates and suppresses minority’s thoughts and opinions. One step further, social tyranny may limit freedom of thought. According to K.Stone (2008), ‘’ Social tyranny penetrates even more deeply into everyday life, into the soul itself’’ (p.1). Starting from this point of view, tyranny of majority has a great power hence; it can manipulate...
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