One of the most important things I've realized this week is that we as a society still have so far to go when it comes to eliminating inequalities. It's not that I didn't know this earlier, however, in light of the readings, my own research on the Clarence Thomas case, and the on-going Trayvon Martin case it has become more evident to me. We, as Americans, are often so quick to criticize other societies for being backward yet we continue to struggle with racial and gender disparities in our society. While we should do our part to help other nations with their struggles, it is imperative that we look at our own problems as well. I'll being by talking a little bit about sexism.
Chapter 70 of Adams's book really resonated with me. We supposedly live in a society where equal opportunity exists yet it doesn't seem this way at times. Many women would agree that despite the strides society has made, double standards and discrimination in the workplace still exist. A few of the most hard-hitting examples in this chapter are: "HE's having a baby: He'll need a raise---SHE's having a baby: She'll cost the company money in maternity benefits," "HE's firm---SHE's stubborn," "HE loses his temper---SHE's bitchy," and "HE exercises authority---SHE's tyrannical." Although women are much more liberated than they used to be, there are still many hurdles we have to overcome. One of my classmates eloquently stated that it seems like as women, we can never win. If we abide by traditional gender roles, we are weak. If we are confident and in control, we're bitches. The examples in this Adams chapter demonstrate how the same behavior that put women in a negative light put men in a positive light.
Another one of the chapters I found interesting was Chapter 65, "Violence against Women is a Men's Issue." The author makes a strong case when he states that since 99 percent of rape is perpetrated by men, it is in fact a men's issue. I also agree with his statement that we must work toward chaning sexist norms throughout all areas of society, "from the elementary school playground to the common room in retirement communities---and every locker room, pool hall, and boardroom in between. The sad truth is that women have also been socialized into thinking sexist behavior is acceptable. If everything from ancient traditions to modern day pop culture is encouraging you to abide by certain norms, it's very hard to go against society. We, as Americans, talk about the likes of the Middle East and Africa as very oppressive societies (which they are in some ways), however, it's almost as if we fail to notice the disparities that take place here at home. If you ask me, it's pretty backward if women can't go out at night without the fear of getting raped or attacked.
After Professor G briefly mentioned Clarence Thomas and Anita Hill, I was interested in learning more about the case. I understood that it related to sexual harrasment and came about around the time I was born, however, I never knew the details of the situation. As I read more about Anita Hill's allegations, some of the responses she recieved were shocking. So many people were quick to blame her and accuse her of lying. Some even suggested that she was delusional and that Clarence Thomas wasn't capable of such behavior. I personally find it very courageous of her to stand up in public and speak out against someone's wrongdoing. Society expects women to brush these issues under the rug, even if they are very serious.
There's no doubt in my mind that Anita Hill was speaking the truth. Why would someone lie about something so serious? The fact that other women also recognized his inappropriate behavior is proof that she wasn't the only one who felt uncomfortable. I was disgusted as I read through the allegations. In addition to asking her out multiple times, he brought up sex during work, discussed women and animals having sex, described his own "sexual prowess," and made comments about his anatomy. My first thought upon reading this was, "Creep." It's unfortunate that the court ruled in favor of him by such a narrow margin. However, on a more positive note, this led to the "Year of the Woman." Many women upset by the treatment of Ms.Hill felt that the 98% male Senate didn't take her complaints seriously. This sense of frustration ultimately led to greater empowerment and a record increase in female political participation. In the House of Representatives, 24 women won new seats.
I have a serious problem with this "blaming the victim" attitude present in our society. Whether it is Ms. Hill or Trayvon Martin, some people are so quick to accuse the victim or doubt them. Wouldn't a better way to end racism or sexism be to actually direct our anger toward the perpetrators? It disgusted me to read that some politicians dismissed Ms. Hill as crazy and unstable. It also infuriates me when people say that Trayvon wouldn't have been shot if he wasn't wearing a hoodie. Really? Our nation is supposed to be a free country that protects people regardless of their gender, skin color, sexual orientation, or religious affiliation. Obviously our society isn't as progressive as we think it is if so many people are still treated like second-class citizens.
Now the question is, what are we going to do about it? This class has really helped me think more about the "how" in addition to the "what." I really like Professor's G's idea about using writing as a a tool to advocate for certain causes. The written word is more powerful than many people think. My dad was telling me recently about an experience he had when he was a student at UT in the late 80s. At that time, someone had written a very racist editorial about Aparatheid, justifying the South African government's treatment of people of color. The editorial was apparently very condescending and portrayed minorities as unintelligent. In his anger, my dad wrote a response to that editorial and sent it to the Daily Texan. His response ended up getting published and thanks to his efforts, many people were able read about a different point of view. When he was at UT, there wasn't much ethnic, religious, and cultural diversity. The fact that he got his word out in an eloquent, educated manner let bigoted people know that there are others who aren't ok with racism and will speak out against it.
I personally feel that part of being a good social worker involves passionately advocating for important causes. Part of the journey involves reading books and taking classes, however, the other part includes putting the knowledge into action. This involves educating the community about social issues, attending rallies and meetings, and being involved in the political process. I realize that I alone can't eliminate oppression. However, if I take a stand and encourage others to follow my example, we can change the world.
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