social science exam 2

I learned that a lot of factors of someone’s identity can ultimately lead to how a person is able to live their life. Since the game had characters that exhibited multiple qualities, across different social barriers, it really emphasized how these aspects can function together and often times against each other. This resulted in the ultimate unfair realities we saw in the game.

Recall the intersectionality game. What did you learn from this experience? How did this relate to the topic of social intersectionality?

• personal

• individual / relational

• institutional

• organizational

• structural

• societal

What are the different levels of power?

personal power

one’s agency or control over one’s outcomes

choosing to do or not do your homework, resulting in the corresponding consequence

What is an example of personal power?

individual/relational power

power that one has over another in a direct interaction, often thought to be deliberate, unintentional, or unconscious

a stereotype that can prohibit a parent from listening to a child because “a child doesn’t know any better”

What is an example of individual power?

institutional power

power that operates beyond a single interpersonal interaction

organizational power

power that an individual organization has over an individual

rules, policies and practices within a school that prohibit undocumented immigrants from attending (height and weight requirements)

what are some examples of organizational power?

structural power

power that comes from the way that social systems and institutions are arranged, shaping people’s opportunities and outcomes

US dollar

What is an example of structural power?

societal power

broader norms, stereotypes, assumptions, and cultural beliefs that advantage or disadvantage people based on social identities

“women are more emotional than men” - leads to men not taking women in power seriously

What is an example of societal power?

intersectionality

the idea that social identities and social structures shape one another

1. social identities being interdependent

2. identities are experienced simultaneously

3. power and privilege matter

4. social structures matter

What are the four principles of intersectionality?

the meaning and experience of one identity is shaped by the others a person holds

What does it mean for social identities to be interdependent?

false - race, gender, class, and sexuality are experienced simultaneously

true or false - we can only experience race, gender, sex, class, etc. one at a time. each identity only shows up at one time

privilege, power, disadvantage, marginalization

identities are associated with different forms of ________, ________, ____________, and ___________-

institutions, systems, policies, and social norms

what shapes experiences other than identity?

priviledge - Mcintosh definition

an invisible weightless knapsack that holds valuable tools for every day life in society; an invisible package of unearned assets which can be counted on being used daily, but at the same time, one is not supposed to notice this advantage

intersectionality, example of black woman in midwest who claimed company was racist, but company was able to say we hire black men so cannot be racist and white women so cannot be sexist

how do multiple identities with multiple systems of power shape a person’s experience?

miller reading - permanent inequality is often equipped to stay relevant in society for some time, includes dominant and subordinate roles in which the dominant has power over subordinate and subordinate is viewed as complimentary to dominant

temporary inequality is one in which the ultimate goal is to end the inequality, a time in which a relationship has an imbalance of power because the inferior is unable to or not an expert in what the superior is offering

describe the difference between permanent and temporary inequality. what reading is this concept found in?

The consideration of “difference”: reveals that there is a type of power struggle between individuals who are set into domination and subordination. The differences between power and status in these two groups is a part of a broader sense of inequality in multiple different areas of life between the dominant and subordinate groups. 

According to Jean Baker Miller, what does consideration of “difference” in the abstract sense reveal about domination and subordination?

By “depersonalizing” the power plays in society between men and women, it can often allow people to speak more freely about the topic. SInce, for example, men will feel more targeted when saying “men have more power in society over women” rather than “there are systems at play that clearly establish a domination and subordination in society”, this allows the man to speak more freely and less defensively about the systems and positions that create power indifferences in men and women. 

While Miller is careful to note that “flesh and blood women and men” are at the core of her discussion on domination and subordination, she also suggests that abstractions allow for other insights. Briefly explain her approach.

The paramount goal in this discussion is to end the relationship in a relationship that is built on temporary inequality. The challenges of this goal can include: 

• institutions and parents often give more time and benefit to the “superior” group instead of focusing on the goal to teach or “bring up” the lesser group.

• The “lesser” group instead grows into the role of being “lesser” instead of actively seeking out the skills to join the “superior” group. (not fostering a movement from unequal to equal)

• No agreeance or idea on how many rights the “lesser” party should have; how unequal they should be (not good at viewing the inferior as much of a person with intrinsic worth as superior) 

What is the “paramount goal” in Miller’s discussion of social relationships and temporary

inequality? What are the challenges of this goal?

the dominant group is the one to set the terms. Normally, conflict would be covert since they are not one that likes conflict. According to Miller, conflict is only overt when subordinates choose to stand up to the normal subordination they are under in society. Conflict is fought once it is acknowledged that there is a power imbalance, and it continues to be fought once there is an urgent need to fight for freedoms for the subordinate group in order to be an equal to the dominant group. According to Miller, conflict is not inherently bad, because she argues that it is inevitable, and is used to highlight the indifferences and inequality the subordinates face.

Review Miller’s essay and then briefly respond to the closing questions: “Who defines the

conflict? Who sets the terms? When is conflict overt or covert? On what issues is the conflict

fought? Can anyone win? Is conflict ‘bad,’ by definition? If not, what makes for productive or

destructive conflict?”

the “invisible knapsack” is an analogy that McIntosh uses to explain the existence and use of privilege in society. She explains that the knapsack contains tools that allow the person holding it to draw from, and benefit, when using them in society. This represents the invisible use of privilege, and how it gives others opportunities that some might not have, similar to the tools.

According to McIntosh, what is the “invisible knapsack”? How does it work?

McIntosh’s goal in this essay is to highlight and breakdown how privilege works in society. By exposing the inner workings of the “knapsack”, or, unearned invisible privilege, she hopes that others will begin to notice it in their lives, too, and help to use it to uplift others instead of continue the norm of it being invisible.

What is McIntosh’s overall goal in this essay?

i agree with McIntosh’s understanding of white privilege, however, i would not say it is an absolute certainty that these things would be awarded to a white person anywhere. I think from the perspective that McIntosh is coming from, in the United States, is often true in high-traffic areas that are predominantly white. However, I think in the upcoming years, more and more people are calling out white privilege and are starting to treat white people the opposite of what she is describing if they are not white themselves.

Reread the list of “daily effects of white privilege” in McIntosh’s life. Do you agree or disagree

with her understanding of white privilege? Can you expand or modify any?

i think this is a very true statement. i think often times white people forget that at the end of the day, they can still be stereotyped, judged, discriminated against, and so on because of their skin color. I don’t think it is to the same extent as minority groups, that is, i don’t think it puts the white person at the same drastic disadvantage in extreme cases compared to minority groups, but it still exists

Near the end of her essay, McIntosh states: “Many, perhaps most, of our white students in the

U.S. think that racism doesn’t affect them because they are not people of color; they do not see

‘whiteness’ as a racial identity.” Discuss your own experiences in the context of this statement

and briefly discuss its significance.

The pattern of assumptions are the ways of thinking that McIntosh has inherited in regards to how her whiteness equates to her power balances in society. She explains how she finds herself thinking she deserves to be in places of power, and taking up more space in society than others.

What is the pattern of assumptions that McIntosh says she has inherited?

central elements of organizational discrimination are tradition, and acceptance of the way things are and how they should be. organizational discrimination occurs by protecting the status quo, and by existing throughout the entirety of the organization from rules to regulations to admissions

Discuss the central elements of organizational discrimination. Where and how does

organizational discrimination occur?

in structural discrimination, the classic cycle affects individuals between organizations and institutions. For example, if an individual does not have access to good education because the quality educator businesses require a certain minimum salary, then the poor education will prevent that individual from getting good credentials to gain access to better education. Same goes for employment. if there are restrictions on who can work at a factory, like height or weight, and that person then cannot afford good housing, the individual will then be restricted in housing.

Describe the “classic cycle” of structural discrimination. Offer two specific examples from the

text.

the birdcage metaphor compares the composition of birdcage to the systemic oppression faced by women. if you look only at the individual wires in the birdcage, or in other words, single isolated events in the realm of oppression, it is very easy to believe that birds, or women, should be able to just fly around it. But, once you look at the whole bird cage in its entirety, or the whole system of oppression, it becomes increasingly difficult to ignore the hardships birds and women face.

explain the “bird cage” metaphor explored by Fyre

implicit gender bias

seemingly minor disadvantages that accumulate over time to create large disparities

false - most biases are unintentional

true or false - biases are often a choice, and occur consciously

true - they are automatically applied without intention or awareness

true or false - stereotypes are almost habits of mind

false - no one is immune from implicit bias

true or false - implicit bias can only affect minority groups

false - good intentions cannot on their own

true or false - good intentions on their own can prevent the passing of implicit bias

moral panic

when a group, person, behavior, or condition becomes defined as a threat to societal values and interests

1. concern

2. suitable enemy / hostility

3. consensus

4. disproportionality

5. volatility

what are the 5 elements of a moral panic?

concern

an increased level of worry over the behavior of a certain group or category and the consequences that the behavior presumably causes for one or more sectors of society

hostility / suitable enemy

an increased level of harm or aggressive behavior toward the group or category regarded as engaging in the behavior or causing the condition in question

the respectable society will view these individuals who practice increased hostility as an enemy, since their behavior is seen as harmful or threatening to the values, interests, existence of society

explain the social attitude toward the suitable enemy when the society is considered respectable

hostility / suitable enemy

in what stage of a moral panic is the “Other” group, or “folk devils” created?

consensus

the third stage in a moral panic in which there must be a substantial or widespread agreement that the threat is real, serious, and caused by the wrongdoing group members and their behaviors

disproportion

the implicit assumption committed by a majority of society that there is a more sizeable number of individuals engaged in the behavior in question than there actually are, and that the threat is far more substantial

volatility

the fairly sudden eruption of the moral panic, also the fairly sudden subsiding of the panic

witches, post 9/11 Muslim - rhetoric, the lavender scare

what are some examples of a moral panic?

visibility theory

the extent to which someone or something is recognized and regarded accurately and contrasts with being rendered invisible or hyper visible; associated with access to power and resources

hypervisibility

being overly visible; for example minority groups being perceived as deviant, and viewed only in terms of stereotypes about their group

invisibility

the lack of recognition, the relative absence of being centered

the devaluing of a person, group, or object

what does invisibility reflect?

it can promote us to apply implicit bias to situations, like the stereotype that women aren’t as dedicated of workers in an office as men, causes admissions counselors to evaluate women at a lower level than men with the same stats

how do stereotypes affect how we process information?

Strangio means that people were only able to see her for her trans identity. Meaning, that when she was in public, people were only able to see her with the stereotypes that are associated with trans individuals.

What does Strangio mean when he says that being transgender makes him hyper-visible?

whiteness

masculinity

What are some of the shields from systemic violence that Strangio can access?

The author means that when a status quo is at risk of losing cultural power. When there is an uprising behavior, group, etc that is threatening the existing power dynamic, usually that group will be targeted and some of their behaviors etc are deemed a moral panic

What does the author mean when they say that moral panics are often driven by underlying

cultural threat and/or social stress?

-the media

-the public at large

-the legal/political system

-social movement activists

What spheres express moral panics or actors who express them? (See Summary for the answer

to this question)

• overt

• implicit

What are the two types of individual racism?

overt / old-fashioned racism

implicit / modern racism

individual level racism - implicit racism

outwardly acting unprejudiced while inwardly maintaining prejudiced attitudes; manifests as unconscious beliefs and feelings and can often happen subconsciously

institutional racism

established laws, customs, and practices that systematically reflect and produce racial inequities in a society

true

true or false - institutional and cultural practices can perpetuate race inequality without relying on racist actors

active racism

blatant, intentional acts of racial bigotry and discrimination

passive racism

a more subtle approach that can be seen in crude humor, ignorance of policies, etc.

walking on the conveyor belt in the airport

active racist behavior is equivalent to what in the conveyor belt analogy?

not walking on the conveyor belt, but moving with it. gets to same destination as active racism

passive racism is equivalent to what in the conveyor belt analogy?

anti racism

the task of interrupting active and passive racism intentionally and deliberately

walking backwards on the conveyor belt

what is the comparison of active antiracism to the conveyor belt analogy?

prejudice

a preconceived judgement or opinion, usually based on limited information. a thought pattern that can be committed by anybody

ableism

a system of beliefs, attitudes, practices, and policies that privileges certain bodies and minds while devaluing or disadvantaging people with disabilities

disability - Americans with Disabilities Act definition

have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities

1. moral/religious model

2. medical model

3. social model

What are the modes of disability?

moral/religious model of disability

a mode that places blame on the individual punished by God for wrong-doing, using just world beliefs. holds the goal of displaying disability as shameful and something to hide

medical model of disability

focuses on the individual’s impairment, diagnosis, or limitations and asks the question “What is wrong with the person?” the goal of this model is to cure and rehabilitate a person’s individual problem

social model of disability

focuses on barriers created by environments, institutions, and social attitudes to describe disability as a result from the interaction of people’s diverse bodies and minds with the physical and social environment. they are seen as diversity and civil rights issues. the goal of this model is to identify the physical and social barriers that obstruct individuals with impairments

invisible disability

a physical, mental, neurological, or sensory condition that is not immediately obvious to an onlooker, but can still affect a person’s daily life

Attitudes - affective reactions like pity, discomfort, fear, admiration, or resentment

Behavior - discrimination like exclusionary actions, practices, policies, & institutional barriers

Cognitions - beliefs & stereotypes like assumptions about competence, independence, productivity, sexuality, & human worth

What are the ABC’s of ableism?

ableism is used to reinforce inequality for these groups by convincing minorities that they are less due to a lack of comparison to the status quo. for example, women being convinced that they are less intellectual than men being the reason why they were kept under men for so long. by putting these groups down for so long, they convinced people that treating people different based off of ability was okay, which reinforces ableism

In the examples of women’s suffrage, African American freedom and civil rights, and the restriction of immigration, how is ableism used to reinforce inequality for these groups? how does inequality for these groups, in turn, reinforce ableism?

discrimination

actions, policies, or practices that unfairly disadvantage people because of their membership in a particular social group. Can happen at individual, institutional, or structural levels and can create or maintain inequality between groups

1. antilocution

2. avoidance

3. discrimination

4. physical attack

5. extermination

What are Allport’s 5 levels of discrimination?

antilocution

verbal prejudice and images

avoidance

complete avoidance or increased social space

discrimination

taking action to exclude all members of a social group

extermination

lynching, massacres, genocide

classism

a system of attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors, and institutional practices that assigns greater value, status, and opportunities to people from higher socioeconomic classes while stigmatizing, marginalizing and disadvantaging poor and working-class people and their cultures

• how losing income affects individuals differently based on class - someone who is high class (a CEO) will not be affected nearly as much as a waitress (low class), causing them to decrease in economics while CEO stays up

• job polarization - idea that the only jobs available are high paying or low paying, resulting in a decrease of the middle class

• generational poverty

• metriocracy

What are some explanations as to why economic inequality is increasing?

meritocracy

a system that rewards merit, ability & effort with success

fundamental attribution error

the tendency to explain people’s behavior based on their personality or choices rather than their circumstances

“belief in a just world”

the belief that the world is fair and people get what they deserve

people think the wealth inequality is less than what it is in reality, more than the ideal.

explain the general trends of wealth in America. what do people think of the wealth inequality? what do people think the ideal is? What is the reality?

it is the idea that there are multitudes of immigrants coming into the United States via the Mexico/Cali border, and that it is up to the tax payer dollar to sustain the lives of these immigrants. That these immigrants are part of a “they” group, and thus are different and don’t deserve to be a part of the “us” group

Summarize the “They Keep Coming” myth that Lee explores in her essay.

Benjamin Franklin is coined as the father of the “they keep coming” myth

Which historical figure does Lee identify as the inventor of the “They Keep Coming” myth?

This term, “dangerous unarmed invasion”, focused on Chinese immigrants. This was an ironic analysis, since America had drawn Chinese immigrants to the country via factories and railroads. This discrimination ended up resulting in the Chinese Exclusion Act.

The California State Senate in 1876 warned of a “dangerous unarmed invasion” focusing on

which group? Why was this an ironic analysis, and which legislation did it lead to?

Lee talks about the Chinese Immigrants. This group became a target of the “they keep coming” myth, because there was a narrative that the Chinese would eventually take over the Pacific Coast, and insisted that parts of the United States would become a Chinese colony. This rhetoric resulted in the discrimination and avoidance of Chinese immigration, making them a part of the “they keep coming” myth.

Select one group that Lee identifies, and briefly summarize how that group became the

target of the “They Keep Coming” myth.

pro argument - tuition free community college is a good idea because it can increase education rates, which can ultimately help the economy by having more jobs given out. It can also reduce inequality and create more equal opportunities due to reduced financial burden

anti argument - opposes tuition free community college because it would cause an increase on taxes, which could be better allocated to services like roads and public school education. also, due to free tuition, community colleges will have to administer an application process which defeats the point of community college and open admission. as seen with medical school

pro rebuttal - free college is not going to necessarily entice everyone, as quality of education might be different. people who can afford schools that offer more than a community college can will do so

anti rebuttal - free tuition doesn’t alleviate financial burden, as tuition is only around 3k out of a 16k bill at community college. not even majority of bill would be covered through tuition free community college, so is the implication of this system void?

What were the pro and anti sides of the Tuition - Free Community College debates? Give two points for each side and a point from each side’s rebuttal.