Invisible Privilege

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1. Privilege is a hard concept for many people to grasp. This is because they were born into well-to-do families and never had to come to terms with it. Or perhaps they labored hard for their success but eventually forgot how far they had come. Without a doubt, the most privileged type of people are caucasians, specifically white males. Throughout history they have cemented themselves as the dominant group, both in the gender and race arenas. They are not exclusive to this group; also included would be anyone born into riches or given many opportunities to succeed over others. They can often go their whole life without ever realizing the tremendous edge they have over everyone else.
Privilege is always recognized,envied, desired, and hated most by those who have the misfortune of not having experienced it as richly as others. Whether they be Black, female, gay it is inevitable that they will be less privileged in some way from the so called “more acceptable” people. These are the people who can appreciate seeing their hard work pay off and watching their privileges rise with that success. They know what it’s like to be deprived of that status and they have an honest desire to acchieve the same as those they see who enjoy it, though most likely in complete and total oblivion.

2. Andrea seemed to be uncomfortable in Jewel’s house for several reasons. She was apparently overwhelmed by the interactions between Jewel’s family members. Though not in another country, Andrea was experiencing minor culture shock because she had never witnessed people talking to each other in that manner in her own culture. She expected conversation to follow a pattern she was used to and became uncomfortable when it didn’t match her expectations. Andrea was also distressed by how dark the house was because her privileged life she was unfamiliar with having to be conscious about saving electricity. She was shocked by the second toilet in Jewel’s basement, which she had to use in the dark. She was so used to her standard of living that she couldn’t get past the differences in her friend’s house and just have a good time.

I believe that people can overcome these social differences. Though the differences might be shocking and hard to deal with at first, it’s important to remember that we are all people no matter what color or class we are from. I feel like Andrea should have focused more on being Jewel’s friend and catching up on lost time than being concerned and even frightened by the new environment. Paula S. Rosenberg blamed three hundred years of race, class and various other differences as the reason why her daughter couldn’t maintain a friendship with Jewel but it was really more simple than that. Two eight year old girls don’t care about those issues as much as adults do. Andrea simply couldn’t look past her friend’s lack of privilege.

3. I have become more aware of my privileged life the older I get and the more people I encounter. I have my own place to live, a car to drive, two jobs and I go to school. I’m a white male which automatically gets me further than other people could attain in certain situations. I’ve been made very aware of these points especially since my girlfriend is African American. I had never grown up with racism directed toward me. I had never been openly judged because of my skin color. As my relationship has progressed with my girlfriend I’ve had many multicultural experiences where I have experienced a life style that is far different than mine. Though other people may have less privilege than that of myself, I have never let that affect my view of that person. I’m aware of my so called “edge” over other people but I try my best not to let it get in the way of being their friend.

Commentary on “Invisible Priviledge”

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The article by Paula S. Rothenberg poses the questions of “why is priviledge often invisible” and “what categories of people are more or less likely to be aware of it?” The story centers around a white mother (Paula) and her daughter (Andrea) and a black mother (Carol) and her daughter (Jewel). The two little girls had been friends since kindergarten and it wasn’t discovered until the girls were mid-way through third grade that Jewel’s mother had falsified her address to get Jewel into a good school. Carol did this for three reasons. First of all she, like most parents, wanted her child to
have a  quality education and, second and lastly, she was black and poor. So, the issues seem to hinge mainly on the disparity of class, race and economics, at first glance. The point Ms. Rothenberg is
trying to make is that, if we look deeper, we see a system that is set up to keep this division in place and make it more difficult for non-whites to improve their status in society. Blacks and hispanics,
according to the article, work just as hard if not harder than whites yet make 45% less per anum. Non-whites have a harder time finding better jobs or affording better housing, schools or medical care.
This condition has been going on for so long that it has become the “norm” in our society. Even today, whites (the dominant culture) have easier and better access to higher paying jobs, better schools and more affordable housing, and we (whites) take all this for
granted. Those who struggle against this well established form of oppression have been aware of this predjudice for generations.

The first and only time Andrea went to Jewels house, she experienced a
type of “culture shock” that left her not only uncomfortable, but also unable to relate or interact in any way she was familiar with. To Andrea, the environment, customs, mannerisms and ways of
communicating were completely alien. Sadly, their friendship ended that day. If Andrea had continued to see her friend Jewel, she would have become familiar with those customs and mannerisms and gained a whole new understanding of Jewel’s culture.

Invisible Priviledge is not a new concept. Whether you view the word priviledge
as a special advantage, permission, right or benefit, it has always been a part of our society. Everything in our world has a hierarchy. Everything has a polarity. It is our nature to catagorize things and put them in some sort of order. The prevailing culture, and the subcultures within that society will assign values to those catagories and treat them accordingly.

“Invisible Privilege Chapter 21″

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“Invisible Privilege”

Privilege is often invisible because we don’t realize we have it until we see those who are not as lucky to have it. I don’t know if there is one category of people who have privilege, most other races think it is the whites who have the privilege life but are there not other counties were blacks and Hispanics would have a privilege life? In all areas of culture there are those who are privileged no matter the color of their skin or whether their woman or a man. Privilege is something that is earned or you are born into it.

Andrea was probably very uncomfortable with the surroundings because this was all new to her. This was the first time she was out of her element of comfort. Not only were there a lot of new faces but they were also a different race and there cultural back ground was different, so as the article says she probably heard things that she had never heard before. Plus it sounds as though the place was run down and not very user friendly which may have waded in on her being uncomfortable. I believe Andrea could overcome her fears and discomfort if she were to spend more time with Jewels family and get to learn their culture and attitudes.

In my own life I’m not sure what elements of privilege I have, I live in a nice house, have a good job, have a loving and caring wife and have three great children. I don’t believe that these are privileges; these are things that I worked hard to get and to maintain. Has this affected my relationships with others; I don’t believe it has because anyone who knows me knows I have worked hard to get what I posses.
Chip

Women and the Birth of Sociology

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“Written out” does not mean that you haven’t being seen. It means that you were seen once but now your name has been erased. That happened with fifteen women, whose names were once recognized and well-known by the public and now forgotten. I believe that the reason for all this is because “men” ruled the world back then. Women were only to do laundry, take care of the house, children and being there whenever their husband needed it. Men to work and bring the money into the house to raise the family.

All of these women had the same idea and knew each others work. But each had their own style. All these women were well known and were friends with many of their contemporaries. They all knew that they were part of a larger movement to create a science of society. The women vary in terms of the particular inequality focused on: gender, class, race, and more. Although on that moment those women were just writing, and showing their potential, work and love for sociology.

It is important that we recognize women sociology because they worked hard to be forgotten out of nowhere. Of course that we will  never be compare as men because they are stronger than us, but we are just trying to work as hard as them, to get our independency. Now those women have to be remembered, because they made great changes in the early days, and because of that it is important for us to recognize their job.

By: D

Thinness =)

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Twenty four million of today’s U.S. citizens suffer from some form of an eating disorder. An eating disorder is defined as an unhealthy relationship between food and weight that interferes with many areas of one’s life. Eating disorders account for the majority of all metal health related deaths.  Sociologists study the effects of social forces upon this illness.

There are three theoretical models that sociologists attribute to the explanation and treatment of eating disorders. The Biomedical Model focuses on only the biological factors that affected the sufferer‘s everyday life, searching purely for an organic cause. The faults of this model are failing to recognize socioeconomic standing, psychological and environmental factors. The Psychological Model focuses on a possible psychological origin of the eating disorder. This model fails to address the vast expanse of gender disparity, the social patterns and high incidence rate of eating disorders. Lastly, the Cultural Model explains how a powerful cultural influence can affect eating disorders. Some cultures believe thinness to be attributed to beauty. This model fails to account for why people exposed to the same influence, do not acquire an eating disorder, but does account for the gender gap.

Between one third and two thirds of women who have been sexually assaulted in so way, whether it be a family member or a stranger. When a person is abused, troubles are sure to ensue. Factors stemming from abuse consist of low self-esteem, feelings of inadequacy, lack of control, depression, anxiety, and difficulties expressing emotions. Sociologists have proven that abuse undergone as a child may indirectly affect psychological processes that can predispose children to developing problems in the developmental stages of food pathology, causing a food aversion or need for food. Sexual abuse is the most common trauma associated with the origins of eating disorders.  The most common form of eating disorders is binging. Binging helps to aestheticize their feelings of loneliness, anxiety, blocking painful feelings. Some people are not even conscious while binging, showing how deeply rooted the disorder is. Abuse most commonly causes a sense of no control over one’s own life.  Women who have bulimia and extensive dieting believe they were abused because of their weight, thinking that if they were smaller, thinner, they would have never been hurt. The disorder is partyl due to the guilt and shame they feel for the occasions they were abused.  Some say when dieting there is a split between body and soul; this is to protect the soul from the pain the body has caused. Bulimia and dieting are a person’s logical response to attempt to protect oneself by being a size and shape they do not think will be vulnerable to assault.

Many social forces could have potentially helped cause an eating disorder, racial classification and socioeconomic standing, are two of the major players. Studies have shown that the added pressures of racism have attributed to the need to be accepted, the need to be thin. Eating disorder victims feel they have no control over their lives so they obsess over the one thing they can control, their weight. Many people, back in the day and even today believed lighter skin was more beautiful causing them to strive to be perfect in any other way they can. Socioeconomic standing has inflicted upon society a weight limit for each given class. Studies show a higher rate of eating disorder associated with a higher class standing. Society believes that the women and men of the middle or upper class range should be more elegant, thinner. Whereas, if you are from a working class family, you are supposed to be plump to prove to everybody that the family was doing okay economically.

By Casey

Thinness

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Thinness
Eating disorders is defined as unhealthy and extreme concerns with
weight,bodysize,food and eating habits.According to the American Anorexial
Bulimia Association,7 million women and 1 million men,ages ten to early
twenties,suffer from eating disorders.These eating problems maybe a response to
poverty,sexual abuse,racism,heterosexism,social class inequality and
accularation.
There are three theoretical models used to explain and treat eating
disorders.These include the biomedical model,psychological model and feminists
models.The biomedical model offers important scientific research about possible
physiological causes of eating disorders.This model adopts medical treatment
methods that traumatizes and disempower women.
The psychological model identifies eating disorders as “multidimensional
disorders”that are influence by biological,psychological and cultural
factors.This model like the biomedical one,tends to neglect women of
color,lesbians and working class women.
The feminist approach is the last model.This model talks about eating
problems as gendered.It explains why women experience eating disorders the
most.Sexism and gender socialization are amongst the factors that contribute to
eating disorders in women because according to these factors women have to be
thin in order to be pretty.
Sexual abuse is the most common reason women develop eating
disorders.According to the National Eating Disorder Information Centre,recent
research has shown that 65% of people with eating disorders have experienced
some sort of abuse,including physical,emotional or sexual abuse.Sexual abuse can
be devastating to a persons body image.A victim of sexual abuse often
experiences extreme discomfort with their body because it is a reminder of the
horrible experience.The blacklash of sexual abuse is that survivors may turn to
food as a means to cope.In a desperate attempt to gain control over their bodies
some victims will turn to food and restriction.They may attempt to control their
body shape,becoming overweight or under weight,in order to push people away to
prevent further abuse,or so that the abuse will stop.This resort to food gives
them a sense of security thet they feel they cannot find anywhere.
Racism and class standing also contribute to eating disorders.Body image is
seen different in every race.In the African culture,thick and curvy is
considered pretty and sexy.If you are from Africa and you are very skinny,you
will resort to overeating in order to fit in and this goes a long way to affect
you.Likewise if you are from country where everyone is skinny and you are fat
you will go on diets and starvation in order to fit in.These pressures for the
perfect body image makes women do the extreme in order to be accepted and to fit
in.
In order to prevent
this,first women must learn to appreciate themselves,their body and have self
esteem.If you are confident in yourself you will never resort to food to satisfy
you emotionally and internally.Secondly all the models used together hand in
hand can help prevent eating disorders.One thing we all should know is that true
beauty comes from within and there is nothng like a perfect body.

Women and the birth of sociology

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The female gender was seen as the weak gender for many centuries, and decades, and even now, it’s still happening in some countries due to masculinism.

Masculinism took over all around the world, especially in poor countries where the justice system was weak, meaning there were laws but they were corrupted or ignored, especially against women. Therefore, women had to agree with any kind of law that was opposed to them. Which most of the time were unfair and their gender was ignored in this laws ( ex. The right to vote, work, drive and others.). Until the 18th century through early 20th century. Women from the upper class started a movement. They were the only ones that had a slight chance to do something about it. Poor women had NO chance at all to speak for themselves or to start a feminist movement.  These poor women still suffer from reproductive rights, domestic violence, maternity leave, equal pay, women’s suffrage, sexual harassment and sexual violence, which sounds absurd because it’s been happening for centuries.

 Sociology’s women founders have in common many ideas. But the main one is gender equality. All the ideas from the founder of the feminist movement and the ones that are still fighting against this global issue have contributed to the  achievement of laws of equality that were impossible back then.

Women & the Birth of Sociology

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To say women have been written out of sociology’s history suggests that although women played an important role in the development of the field, their contributions aren’t recognized or appreciated as much as the male founders of the generation. This period of time far preceded the Women’s Rights Movement and the early female “movers and shakers” in any field weren’t valued as much as their male counterparts.

These founding women had several common ideas including helping others, promoting equality, and being an active part in the study of people and their surroundings. Marianne Weber was a leading figure in the German feminist movement helping women to attain equality, Wells-Barnett headed national anti-lynching campaigns, and Jane Addams established the Hull House. Some even later collaborated to plan cooperative housing for working women. Each of these figures was focused on studying some aspect of the human situation and was a part of the movement that brought the study of sociology to where it is today.

These influential women were instrumental in the development of sociological ideas—such as sex is a social force, viewpoint is important, and the relevance of sympathetic knowledge to name a few. Sex continues to be a strong social force today with women’s salaries still falling short of a man’s with a similar position. The feminist viewpoint continues to be strongly considered in reference to society. Sympathetic knowledge and its relevance are still used today. It is even employed as a research method. Though at one point these contributions were strongly undervalued, even the existence of this particular text in chapter three of this book shows that today these contributions are strongly embraced.

 

Kate

Women and the Birth of Sociology

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Women And The Birth OF Sociology

            After reading the excerpt from, “Women and the Birth of Sociology” by Patricia Madoo Lengermann and Jill Niebrugge-Brantley, we know that the fifteen women were all well known public figures in their lifetime. They contributed to the creation of social theory and were recognized by their male counterparts as significant social analyst. The article says that these women were erased from sociology that means that they were once recognized and then forgot about. All the women in the history of sociology have in common that they all knew each other and knew each others work. It seems that all these women were published authors. They all were involved with the hull house in Chicago. At the time the women were writing sociology as much as the men they were just forgot about. It is important to recognize the contribution of women in sociology because without them we would never have seen the importance of social inequality.

By Jason

Eating Disorders

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Sociology
“Compare and contrast the three theoretical models used to explain and treat eating disorders”
1) All three theoretical models help to explain why people have eating disorders and try and curve or cure these disorders by using different methods. These models look at the physiological reason along with the biological and cultural factors that contribute to eating disorders. But all three models fail to fully understand some of the underlying reasons why people have eating disorders and fail to look at the whole picture. They fail to look at race, class, and sexuality and woman of color. It seems as though not all eating disorders fall into a nice neat package and can be diagnosed so easily.
2) Eating disorders caused by sexual abuse was a way for the women, who were children at the time to cope with their abuse and something they were in control of. Three of the subjects would use eating as a way to try and control the circumstances they were in, they thought because of their size that men were attracted to them so they tried threw different means to get smaller. These poor girls thought they caused the abuse and it was not their fault at all it was the sick male predators who should be castrated and put in a deep hole and left for dead.
3) It seems as though some people think the higher up you are in society the thinner you should be. In this account of two woman of different ethnic back grounds who both approached by their family members and asked to slim down is contradiction of terms you are who are. In this article I did not see the connection between racism and weight loses. The article seemed to be more of a family conflict over different perceptions of how someone should carry their selves and how they should appear. It did not seem to bring to the surface a true hate for a certain ethnicity or gender it did not seem to be racially motivated at all.

Chip