Gender, Race, and Class Studies in
Communication has been a very eye-opening class and experience. Growing up a middle-class white kid, we talked about inequalities in the world, and people shouldn’t
be treated badly just because they are different. A lot of times we can turn a
blind eye or not realize some of the disparities or discrimination in the world
regarding gender, race, and class. The time is this class has helped me to look
at situations and inequalities in a different light and intersectional lens. Someone
is not poor because they choose to be poor, their race, sexuality, livening
situation, history, etc. Are all factors in how they came to be where they are
in life. Marginal communities and inaccurate
stereotypes feed into discrimination and class inequalities that can further
divide us as a country. Every single persons’ factors that we use to label them
are intertwined and complex. To look at one aspect of someone’s life and judge
them or discriminate against them is an uneducated, close-minded, and hurtful
way of thinking.
In this portfolio for my communication
330 class, I have tried to address course concepts in an intersectional lens so
we can try to see and understand the full complexity of situations and
individuals (or groups/communities) lives. While selecting links and material to
use as examples or supporting material, I tried to use a fair amount from media
and recent news stories. Connecting with media forms a sense of camaraderie and
most of us can relate with content and we enjoy such as movies, TV shows, etc.
There is a wide variety of concepts I
chose to talk about, but all have to be considered with an intersectional way
of thinking. My first few blog posts are a little more straight forward with concepts
like bringing attention to using correct pronouns for people who identify as
trans or non-binary or racial profiling and negative stereotypes that pressure
minorities. Moving forward, we discuss discrimination towards names that can suggest
race and how equal opportunities do not exist when people automatically judge names
by stereotypes of race and gender. I tie emotional labor to parents during the
current pandemic feeling like they always have to be “on” to adequately care
for their children while worrying about financial struggles and safety.
Using the ever-popular show, The Bachelor,
we see first-hand slut-shaming and how women who have lower social and
socioeconomic status are more likely to be shamed. We consume a lot of media every
day and it is filled with pervasive stereotypes and controlling images. Using
the Netflix show, Master of None as an example, I discuss stereotypical images
of Indians we often see and how prejudice can stem from these controlling
images. Along with controlling images in the media, we look at how Native Americans
are seen as costumes and mascots and how dangerous those stereotypes are to the
Native American Community. We look at modern families and discuss the model minority
myth that masks the ever-growing income inequality that Asians face. Lastly, we
discuss how class inequalities are negatively affecting students that have been
displaced by COVID-19.
There is still so much injustice in the
world that my little blog hasn’t come close to covering. Through my work here, however, it has really opened my eyes to many different perspectives and struggles
around me. I want to keep an open mind and advocate when I can in the future.
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