SC255 Final
What are the four things they suggest you should do?
1. Increase your tolerance for making mistakes. 2. Appreciate the statuses you occupy. 3. Learn to "sit in the fire." 4. Be an ally. Appreciate your allies.
Slum conditions of overcrowding were caused by what?
"Segregated Housing, Segregated Schools, Richard Rothstein" discusses the concept of social and economic disadvantages lowering students' performances and how school segregation only makes this issue worse. They discuss the fact that racial minorities such as African Americans suffer from neighborhood segregation through a system that prevents them from moving into nicer suburbs or neighborhoods. This appears to be due to white homeowners fearing that the African Americans would bring their "slum conditions" with them when they move into their neighborhood. However, the author discusses that these "slum conditions" were created by overcrowding caused almost entirely by government refusal to permit African Americans to expand their housing supply and by municipalities' discriminatory denial of public services. For instance, in these segregated communities, garbage is picked up less frequently, and their neighborhoods are often rezoned for toxic use. Instead of viewing their communities as a result of the discriminatory system, white homeowners often view the negative qualities as characteristics of the community living there.
Difference between a stereotype and a description?
A stereotype is a "prediction that members of a group will behave in certain ways"—for example, that black men will have athletic ability or that Asian American students will excel in the sciences. Description offers no prediction; it can be tested for accuracy and rejected when wrong. Description also encourages explanation and a consideration of historical variability.
What does Amartya Sen refer to as high-tech sexism?
Amartya Sen refers to high-tech sexism as part of the natality inequality phenomenon. In so many male-dominated societies, parents prefer a male child rather than a female. While this used to just be a simple wish or hope of some parents, with new modern techniques that are able to determine the gender of a fetus, sex-selective abortion has become increasingly common in so many of these countries. Most particularly, this is prevalent in East-Asia, China, and South Korea. However, it is becoming a larger phenomenon in so many other countries such as India and parts of South Asia.
What is aversive racism?
Aversive racism is when individuals are being prejudice or racist however, it is not intended. These individuals often see themselves as liberal and without racial bias but they have subconscious aversions; unrecognized prejudices that affect behavior
How were intelligence tests misused?
Binet did not equate intelligence with the score produced by his test, arguing that intelligence was too complex a factor to be reduced to a simple number. Nor did he construe his test as measuring inborn, permanent, or inherited limitations. Binet's hesitations regarding the significance of the test, however, were ignored by the emerging field of American psychology, which used intelligence as a way to explain social hierarchies. For example, intelligence was described as a capacity like the capacity of a jug to hold a certain amount of milk. A pint jug could not be expected to hold a quart of milk; similarly, it was pointless to waste "too much" education on someone whose capacity was supposedly limited. Intelligence Quotient (IQ) tests were used to assess mental defi ciency, including the newly developed catego-ries of idiots, imbeciles, and morons. Morons were judged the highest of the "mental defectives," with the potential to be trained to function in society. None-theless, Goddard recommended that they be "institutionalized, carefully regulated, made happy by catering to their limits, . . . prevented from breeding" 38 and not allowed into the country as immigrants. Toward that end, intelligence tests were used to identify the "mental defectives" as they landed at Ellis Island In the early decades of the 20th century, the eugenics movement, a form of social Darwinism, spearheaded the use of forced sterilization to limit the growth of "defective" populations. Eugenicists lobbied for state laws endorsing the ster-ilization of the "feebleminded, insane, criminalistic, epileptic, inebriate, diseased, blind, deaf, deformed, and dependent."
What does it mean that racial segregation is today de jure as compared with de facto?
De jure means according the to reading that it is a racially motivated public policy. De facto according the the article is the accident of economic circumstance, personal preference, and private discrimination. The reading talks about how back in the day white homeowners resisted having black neighbors because they were worried that the black neighbors would being slim conditions to the neighborhoods. Now even though this history is in the past and these policies of segregation are no longer put to use, segregation persists mostly because few black people were able to afford to live in middle class neighborhoods. Except the federal government also contributed with a discriminatory labor market. Government does have an effect on segregation because of how segregated private sector unions were seen as being discriminatory.
What was the point of the minstrel shows?
In all, minstrel shows offered an ideology about slavery constructed by and in the interests of those with power. They ridiculed antislavery activists and legitimatized the status quo. Minstrel shows asserted that blacks did not mind being held as slaves and that they did not suffer loss and pain in the same way whites did. The minstrel show was not the only source of this ideology, but as a form of popular entertainment, it was a very effective means of disseminating such beliefs. The shows traveled to all parts of the country, with a hostile racial mes-sage masked as mere entertainment.
Within the household, what causes inequality?
Even if there are no "anti-female" bias in the households, there are still unequal terms of sharing housework and child care. It has been seen that it is common that women can only really work outside the home if they combine that work with unequally shared household duties. While on the other hand in most societies it is seen as natural for men to work outside of home. There are usually unequal relations in the family, as well as inequality in employment because of these inequalities.
What is the first step to bridging difference?
First, "What I finally decided, after three or four years of reading and studying and trying to figure this thing out, was that the way to do something was to start doing it and learn from it." And second, " People learn from each other. You don't need to know the answer."
What does it mean that our attitudes operate on two levels?
Gladwell stated that our attitudes operate on two levels; he explains that we operate on conscious attitudes which are based on what we choose to believe. These are stated values and they directly affect our behavior. We also operate on unconsciousness which is our immediate, automatic associations that come to mind before we even have time to think about it. Gladwell states that "We don't deliberately choose our unconscious attitudes. And... we may not even be aware of them" (Gladwell, 393).
What is homohysteria, how is it different that homophobia, and how is it damaging?
Homohysteria is the fear of being thought of as gay/homosexual because of behavior that is typically considered gender atypical. In societies plagued by homohysteria, it is often seen as less desirable to be gay than to be straight. A homohysteric culture necessitates three factors: (1) Widespread awareness that homosexuality exists as a static sexual orientation within a given culture (2) Cultural disapproval towards homosexuality (homonegativity) (3) Disapproval of men's femininity due to association with homosexuality. In order to make the disctinction between homophobia and homohysteria, the author looks to the Middle East. The author brought attention to how many Arabic men are able to hold hands platonically with each other without fear of being labeled as gay. Although homophobia itself is rampant in the Middle East, these men can hold hands because they do not believe there is a prominent gay population in their society. Comparing Western/European and Middle Eastern societies, most Arabic cultures are homophobic but not homohysteric.
In the last 60 years the LGBTQ community has fought for equality, what were some of the early successes (in the 1970s) of this community to gain rights and what were some of the setbacks?
In the 1970s there were many successes that helped the LGBTQ community gain support. In 1973 the American Psychological Association eliminated homosexuality as a mental illness. Also a few cities passed ordinances banning discrimination against lesbian and gay people throughout the 70s. There was a start of annual pride parades in big and small cities making LGBT lives visible to audiences, and they began to become more publicized on televisions and newspapers. Throughout the 1970-80s, however, U.S. attitudes toward homosexuality were generally negative and people judged them very harshly. A survey stated that 85% of people indicated that same sex marriages were morally wrong. During the 70s, opponents formed countermovements to roll back many of the small LGBT victories. During the 1980s, the HIV crisis decimated the gay community and took many lives of numerous activists.
The authors, Levine-Rasky and Ghaffar-Siddiqui, make note of representation needed in various sectors. What data did they point to that demonstrates the lack of representation of Black citizens in various organizations and why is representation important?
In the article, the authors note how there is low representation of BIPOC in positions of power. They specifically mention how 10.5% of the members of the U.S. Congress are Black, with a majority of them being a part of the democratic party. When it comes to the presidential cabinet, the greatest number of BIPOC who were appointed to those positions was 4 out of 15; this occurred during Bill Clinton's first term in office and during Barack Obama's second term. More than 1/3 of America's top 100 cities are governed by African Americans.13% of active judges in the United States are Black compared to the 80% who are White. 8% of all college presidents are Black. Although representation does not guarantee systematic change and sometimes having Black people in positions of power can lead to tokenism, representation is vital in the creation of anti-racism policies that would lead the systematic changes necessary to reduce discrimination. This is a need not only apparent in our government, but in higher education and other organizations as well. Without more BIPOC representation in leadership positions which will aid in implementing vital reformatory policies, we will be stuck in the same position we are currently in.
World wide - are there more men or more women?
It is sometimes presumed that there are more women than men in the world, since that is well-known to be the case in Europe and North America, which have a female to male ratio of 1.05 or so, on the average (that is, about 105 women per 100 men). But women do not outnumber men in the world as a whole; indeed there are only about 98 women per 100 men on the globe. This "shortfall" of women is most acute in Asia and North Africa. For example, the number of females per 100 males in the total population is 97 in Egypt and Iran, 95 in Bangladesh and Turkey, 94 in China, 93 in India and Pakistan, and 84 in Saudi Arabia (though the last ratio is considerably reduced by the presence of male migrant workers from elsewhere who come to Saudi Arabia).
According to the article women still experience inequality in the personal realm, what evidence for this does she present.
It is still men who usually ask women on dates, and sexual behavior is generally initiated by men (England, Shafer, and Fogarty 2008). Sexual permissiveness has increased, making it more acceptable for both heterosexual men and women to have sex outside committed relationships. But the gendered part of this—the double standard—persists stubbornly; women are judged much more harshly than men for casual sex The double standard of aging prevails, making women's chances of marriage decrease with age much more than men's (England and McClintock 2009). Men are still expected to propose marriage (Sassler and Miller 2007). Upon marriage, the vast majority of women take their husband's surname. The number of women keeping their own name in-creased in the 1970s and 1980s but little thereafter, never exceeding about 25 percent even for college graduates (who have higher rates than other women) (Goldin and Shim 2004). Children are usually given their father's surname; a recent survey found that even in cases where the mother is not married to the father, 92 percent of babies are given the father's last name (McLanahan forthcoming).
What does he say about social systems? What is meant by "time constancy"?
Johnson states that oppressive systems give a look of stability, primarily because of the control they constantly exert. These systems stand the test of time because they function through fear and oppression. These systems last not because they're effective, but because the threat of punishment for defying the oppressive system is not worth the risk. What can be also said is that an oppressive system cannot be fixed in a day, it often takes decades to disassemble it in a way that won't crumble the society. Trying to fix the issues quickly often leads to an unstable, short-lived result. With a long-term approach, we can give people the opportunity to adjust and educate themselves. By not forcing the agenda, we ensure that people decide to go along of their own volition, and not just because they are being pressured to do so. We can see this with issues of race because these issues have existed for a long time and progress is slow. Many want immediate change because they are tired of being at risk and want equality, which is justified, but oftentimes that isn't possible when you want to make changes that will endure the test of time. Johnson also discussed how people often want immediate change that they can see in their lifetime, which he says is an unrealistic goal in matters like these. Racism and discrimination are built into our society, which is why we can't just do away with them in a day or a year. Despite the fact that many of the oppressive parts of our society are outdated, we can't just get rid of them because we have checks and balances, along with other stipulations. This represents the idea of time constancy, which is that people often don't see progress or growth, so they don't think there is any. We see examples of this in many forms, oftentimes with representation.
What accounts for most of the job desegregation? In what areas of work have we not seen a growth in women?
Middle-class jobs showed dramatic desegregation, although the trend lessened its pace after 1990 By contrast, working-class jobs are almost as segregated as they were in 1950! Women have integrated the previously male strong-holds of management, law, medicine, and academia in large numbers. But women have hardly gained a foothold in blue-collar, male-dominated jobs such as plumbing, construction, truck driving, welding, and assembly in durable manufacturing industries such as auto and steel
What is natural law language? What are the assumptions with regard to natural law language? What are the consequences of natural law language?
Natural-law language describes the idea that some things are natural, inevitable, or outside of human control. Thus, the idea is that people do not choose to discriminate because "it is only natural." By using natural-law language, people oftentimes dismiss discrimination and prejudice. Someone saying that racism is only a natural human experience and that people like to be with their "own kind" would be an example of the natural-law ideology. The authors of the book use the example of societies discriminating against women. The idea is that if all societies adopt sexist ideologies and practices, it is acceptable because it is outside of human control. Natural-law language treats prejudiced behavior as if it is predetermined or inevitable. The natural-law language makes it incredibly difficult to combat discrimination in our society because this type of language is used as an excuse, like saying, "this is just the way things have always been, it is only natural to feel this way about people who are different from us."
How are refugees different than other immigrants?
One reason is that refugees are often already different in their home countries: whether because of religion, race or ethnicity, social background, or political opinions. Refugees are rarely typical representatives of the countries from which they come. That is why they have to leave. One consequence is that, unlike other immigrants, most refugees have limited opportunity for planning their migration. They must seize opportunities to flee on quick notice, must navigate complex geographical and political mazes, and must usually make such a sharp break with their home country that they cannot return. They thus tend to lack the social resources of kin and community on which most immigrants can rely, either by having those resources with them in the United States or at least being able to utilize them at a distance through visits and easy communication. Refugees, for example, often lack the three factors that a vast body of research indicates are crucial for finding work in America: English competence (and refugees sometimes lack literacy in any language); education (often limited and almost certainly interrupted for most refugees); and occupational skills (particularly a problem for refugees coming from agricultural backgrounds). So refugees are different not simply in a general cultural sense but also by often being rather poorly prepared to be new immigrants to America.
How many refugees do we take in each year, according to this article?
Since 2000, the number of refugee admissions has averaged about 50,000 per year. (The first of those other numbers involves immigrants who are admitted because they have family connections in the United States. Since 2000, the number of family-related immigrants has averaged about 650,000 per year. That figure is high enough to permit the generalization that new Americans are largely people who are already connected to other Americans; The second crucial number involves the undocumented. The Department of Homeland Security estimates that since 2000 the annual net entry of undocumented immigrants has been about 390,000 per year—although the effects of the recession on the undocumented population are still in dispute; The third crucial number involves asylees. Dur-ing that same period since 2000, the number of new asylees has averaged nearly 30,000 per year (com-pared to the roughly 50,000 refugee admissions per year) )
Looking at the General Social Survey Data that is presented, what pattern has emerged in terms of U.S. attitudes towards this community?
So the general pattern of attitudes is that we are gaining more of a positive outlook on lesbian and gay people as a whole. In terms of social attitude when it comes to lesbian and gay people there has been a much more dramatic turn around than any other group who experiences discrimination.
What is Gandhi's great advice?
The Gandhi paradox basically says that while we don't have the power to change absolutely everything, we have the power to change smaller things. Reading 56: "What Can We Do? Becoming Part of the Solution" dives deeper into the Gandhi paradox by saying, "Gandhi once said that nothing we do as individuals matters, but that it's vitally important to do it anyway." Basically, if you think that nothing you do matters in the large scope of things, you're right. At the same time, if everyone in society had that same thought, society would fall apart and no progress would be made. However, if you believed that you could make big change in society through small processes and everyone in society had that same belief, society would be able to make big change. Reading 56 used the analogy of a tree and its leaves. "No individual leaf on the tree matters; whether it lives or dies has no effect on much of anything. But collectively, the leaves are essential to the whole tree because they photosynthesize the sugar that feeds it. Without leaves, the tree dies." The tree symbolizes society and the leaves symbolize individuals beliefs and actions.
Since the great recession, huge losses in wealth can be attributed to what?
The Great Recession was driven by the foreclosures that hit minority communities particularly hard and wealth stripping increased during the economic crisis with wealth losses due largely to home foreclosures and lost equity. While those who's homes were foreclosed upon directly experienced wealth loss, surrounding neighborhoods where foreclosures were concentrated indirectly experienced wealth loss as well. There were distressed home sales that brought down adjacent home prices, improperly maintained vacant and abandoned properties caused home prices in the communities to collapse. Decreases in property tax revenue resulted because of falling property values, which can negatively affect local schools and other social services. A great number of foreclosures also caused a lack of community cohesion and stability because families would lose their homes and have to relocate to other neighborhoods. Additionally, many foreclosures lead to increases in crime associated with vacant and abandoned properties. "But the Great Recession—driven by the foreclosures that hit minority communities especially hard—demands a broader examination of the issue to include ways in which the failure to impose or enforce consumer protection and anti-discrimination laws can lead to even greater harms. This broader perspective is essential if we are to understand and address the unique hurdles faced by low- and moderate-income households and people of color, who are disproportionately affected by these problems. In a separate report, the Pew Research Center estimates that Latinos, Asians, and African Americans have experienced wealth losses of 66 percent, 54 percent, and 53 percent respectively, compared to 13 percent for whites. These losses are largely due to home foreclosures and lost equity"
What is the IAT and what does it measure?
The IAT is the implicit association test. The test was created to test our unconscious or implicit beliefs. The IAT showed that our minds make connections quickly between words that are already connected within our minds. For example, when presented with a list of names, if someone was asked to separate based on gender, individuals were almost guaranteed to assign the name Lisa with female and the name Bob with male.
What kinds of changes have been made as a result of BLM activism and how has the involvement of non-black people in this movement helped to make these changes?
The article mentioned that the BLM movement has triggered a newfound need for social justice in the world today. Calls for police reform and police defunding have been significantly increasing, resulting in several officials to go through with said demands. Other US state lawmakers have also placed a ban on police chokeholds and have been looking into more cases of police misconduct. Other cities have also taken action against police brutality and the use of lethal force. These changes inspired by the BLM movement have gone further than just in police departments. Companies and corporations have also recently issued anti-racism statements, posts, and slogans. Different marketing brands have placed an emphasis on racial inequality and anti-racism. Changes in leadership positions have also occurred recently with there being a slight increase of BIPOC in power holding positions. These changes and movements have been followed and supported by non-black people as well. The article touched on how recently white people have become critical of white privilege and power. Non-black people have raised their own rally against racism and have shown their increasing support for the BLM movement and anti-racism organizations.
What was a solution proposed to helping end segregation?
The author writes that we can create more integrated neighborhoods and schools by educating one another about these issues and on the history that got us here. The author also suggests that we can integrate our communities and neighborhoods through inclusionary zoning laws, scattered public and private housing for low and moderate income families, and removal of tax subsidies for property in communities that lack integration.
What is the difference between a refugee and an asylum seeker? What does this reading suggest is the reason behind so few refugees being accepted into the US today?
The difference between a refugee and an asylum seeker: an asylum seeker is a person who has left their country and is fleeing persecution and serious human rights violations in another country but who hasn't been legally recognized as a refugee, they have a longer and harder process to go through. A refugee is a person flee their homes because of the fear of war or being persecuted because of national origin, race, and religious or political affiliation. Part of the reason behind so few refugees being accepted into the US today is in part due to 9/11. After 9/11 they cut the number by more than half the number of refugees accepted in the US. Another reason is that refugees are often already different in their home country so they are rarely typical representatives of the countries from which they came from. Another reason is economic consequences.
What do the authors point out that universities and courses generally advocate?
The emphasis in higher education is more on "understanding" than "doing." Most university coursework stresses detached, value-neutral reasoning, not passionate advocacy for social change.
What is the issue raised around meritocracy?
The idea that people are rewarded on the basis of their merit is an example of an ideology. It is an idea promoted by those with power—for example, teachers and supervisors—and many opportunities are created for the expression of the belief. Report cards, award banquets, and merit raises are all occasions for the expression of the belief that people are rewarded on the basis of their merit. But certainly, most of us recognize this idea is not really true: as Stephen McNamee and Robert Miller illustrate in Reading 13, people are not rewarded only, or even primarily, on the basis of their individual merit. The idea that merit is rewarded is only partly true and reflects only some people's experiences. The frequent repetition of the idea, however, has the potential to overwhelm contrary experience. Even those who have not generally experienced people being rewarded on merit are likely to subscribe to this philosophy, because they hear it so often. In any event, there are few safe opportunities to describe beliefs to the contrary or have those beliefs widely disseminated. Thus, the idea that people are rewarded on the basis of merit is an ideology. It is a belief that reflects primarily the experiences of those with power, but it is presented as universally valid. The idea overwhelms and silences the voices of those who are outside its production. In effect, ideologies ask us to discount our own experience.
How did the model minority myth impact undocumented students? Did they report having familial support to pursue their education?
The model minority label does fit when it comes to this undocumented group and has not had a good impact to those who are exposed to it. The model minority myth refers to a minority group that is viewed in a stereotypical more positive or successful way than another group or individual. The model minority label creates a sense of pressure upon these undocumented groups of students by reinforcing these so called "positive" stereotypes. The model minority works to render these individuals as invisible and instead place them all into one marginalized group without any regard for their concern. Asian Americans-both undocumented and not- have especially had significant experience with this label and the depiction of this group that comes with it. Those who have been victim to this, have voiced their frustrations of how this has impacted them in a negative manner more so than a positive one. This has been seen especially when students are faced with the unrealistic expectations that pertain to academic, financial, and other successes and in social settings.
What was the significance of the Highlander Folk School in Tennessee?
The significance of the Highlander Folk School in Tennessee is that it offered racially integrated adult education and taught things such as history, government, and leadership. This school was founded by Myles Horton and was founded during the time of American racial segregation. The students of this school were the rural poor and working-class residents of the Cumberland Mountains community. Horton stated that his aim with this school was to, "use education as one of the instruments for bringing about a new social order" (484). The school is best known for its contribution to the civil rights movement as within the school, methods of nonviolence were taught. African Americans were taught how to read and write so then they would be able to vote and understand the ballot and pass the literacy tests that were put in place to deter African Americans from being able to vote. Rosa parks was a student of this school and she is very well known throughout history and the Civil Rights Movement as the woman who refused to move to the back of the bus and sparked a bus boycott during the Movement.
What is the Janus-faced?
The term janus-faced is based on the Roman God Janus who symbolized the past and the future, beginnings and ends, and change and transition. Sociologist Peter Berger used an image of Janus where there are two faces in opposite directions which sums up the meaning of it all. The sociological term Janus-faced is defined as, "individuals are rarely wholly powerful, neither are they wholly powerless (pg. 483). What Berger means by this is that the people of society are not completely to blame for society's issues because they do not have all control over what happens. But at the same time, people play a large role in societal trends and changes. Berger uses the analogy that we are both the authors and the victims. Essentially the idea that there are always two ends to that spectrum.
What do they think we need to do more of?
There is probably nothing more fundamental to social change than learning who you are; finding and honoring that authentic self; recognizing that it is multifaceted, complex, and evolving—and then making sure that the social change methods you use are consistent with that self. If you are going to pursue something as important as social change, it might as well be you who is doing it, not your impersonation of someone else. In general, they seem to advocate for the idea that the world needs more action
What does his study find in terms of younger generations and their degree of intimacy among male friends?
This reading provides substantial evidence to suggest that young men in this generation may be changing the way they express masculinity. Anderson interviews a number of boys for his study and most notably we are introduced to a young boy named Jake. Jake alone demonstrates what can be considered a new wave of masculinity. While society traditionally views masculinity as one's ability to appear physically strong, unemotional, and rowdy, Jake challenges these ideas by showcasing the softness and empathy young boys possess. Jake and his best friend Tom, sleep in the same bed, openly express their love for each other, spend ample quality time together, all whilst Jake is in a heterosexual relationship. In many cultures, how Tom and Jake express their adoration for each other would be seen as "gay". However, as Tom and Jake demonstrate, boys are able to be kind and vulnerable with each other without having to be homosexual. In other accounts, 40% of heterosexual, male youth have kissed each other on the lips and in addition to this, we have seen an increase in male bonding over more than just girls or sports. Men have begun shopping together, dressing more gender neutral, and even looking down on violence and fighting.
What is the mortal disadvantage of women?
This type of gender inequality need not entail any conscious homicide, and it would be a mistake to try to explain this large phenomenon by invoking the occasional cases of female infanticide that are reported from China or India; these are truly dreadful events when they occur, but they are relatively rare. Rather, the mortality disadvantage of women works mainly through a widespread neglect of health, nutrition and other interests of women that influence survival.
What was the common experience of the undocumented students interviewed for this article?
Undocumented Asian students experience social isolation, mixed support and pressure from family, and the model minority stereotype. As undocumented Asian students progress through school, they can experience social isolation through friends and even family. There were several students that explained that they felt support from other undocumented students but they received some negative feedback from other students who were documented. There were also many students who didn't figure out their undocumented status until planning for college. These students also experienced mixed support and pressure from their families. There was a student that received very little emotional and financial support from their parents while another student received a lot of emotional and financial support from their parents. All of the students were exposed to the model minority stereotype. A lot of the students said that they felt academic pressure, comparison with peers, and self-expectations paired with not meeting the expectations placed upon themselves.
According to the author what do we have today--de facto or de jure? What evidence does he provide to support this statement?
We have de jure discrimination. The federal government led in establishing metropolitan residential segregation. From its New Deal inception, federally funded public housing was explicitly segregated by government. Nation-wide (not only in the South), projects were officially designated either for whites or blacks. Once white families left the projects for the suburbs, most public housing was purposely placed only in black neighborhoods. Federal and state bank regulators approved and encouraged "redlining" policies, banning loans to black families in white suburbs and even, in most cases, to black families in black neighborhoods, leading to those neighborhoods' deterioration and ghettoization. The Internal Revenue Service unconstitutionally extended tax favoritism to universities, churches, and other nonprofits that enforced racial segregation. Urban renewal programs of the mid-20th century often had undisguised purposes of forcing low-income black residents away from universities, hospital complexes, or business districts and into new ghettos. Real estate is highly regulated, but state authorities never punished brokers for racial discrimination, and rarely do so even today when discriminatory practices remain. Public police and prosecutorial power enforced racial boundaries: North, South, East, and West, in thousands of incidents police stood by as mobs firebombed and stoned homes purchased by blacks in white neighborhoods, while prosecutors refused to charge easily identifiable arsonists.
What does the IAT find regarding attitudes of people (like the author)?
What it means is that our attitudes toward things like race or gender operate on two levels. First of all, we have our conscious attitudes. This is what we choose to believe. These are our stated values, which we use to direct our behavior deliberately. The apartheid policies of South Africa or the laws in the American South that made it difficult for African Americans to vote are manifestations of conscious discrimination, and when we talk about racism or the fight for civil rights, this is the kind of discrimination that we usually refer to. But the IAT measures something else. It measures our second level of attitude, our racial attitude on an unconscious level—the immediate, automatic associations that tumble out before we've even had time to think. We don't deliberately choose our unconscious attitudes. And . . . we may not even be aware of them. The giant computer that is our unconscious silently crunches all the data it can from the experiences we've had, the people we've met, the lessons we've learned, the books we've read, the movies we've seen, and so on, and it forms an opinion. That's what is coming out in the IAT. The disturbing thing about the test is that it shows that our unconscious attitudes may be utterly incompatible with our stated conscious values.
What are some of the strategies in Framework Essay 4 for dealing with the anger of others and managing your own anger?
When it's someone else's anger, listen carefully so that you can understand it. Don't stop listening because you don't like the message or the way it is packaged. Don't take an expression of anger personally unless you are told it actually is about you. Try not to let some-one else's anger trigger your own, because that will distract you from listening. Recognize that you can withstand someone's anger. When you are the one who is angry, try not to let it overwhelm you. Try to distinguish between a setting in which you are under attack and one populated by friends, or potential friends, who are trying to learn about your experience. Try to distinguish people who are malevolent from those who are misguided, or simply awkward in their efforts to help. Try to avoid self-righteousness. Your having been injured doesn't mean that you have not also inflicted injury. Remember that "every person is important, even those who belong to majority groups that have historically oppressed other groups.
Who are the cool kids he refers to and to what does he recommend they give money?
Wimsatt defines these cool kids as the young people who have inherited a lot of money from their family or are wealthy and want to take small but significant actions in donating money to grassroots organizations. These cool kids are asking their parents to teach them about money, helping their families make responsible decisions about investments, and they are introducing each other to grassroots people to break the isolation of wealth. They want to spread their wealth. Wimsatt suggest that the cool kids should be donating to grassroots organizations because most charity money does not go to help poor children help themselves. The vast majority of money goes to big churches, colleges, hospitals, arts and social service organizations which either directly cater to privileged people, or which treat the symptoms of social ills without ever addressing the root causes. Wimsatt's Cool Rich Kids Movement encourages these wealthy young people to actually donate to grassroots organizations that actually are putting the money back into the local or regional community.
In what fields have we seen an increase in women?
Women have also recently increased their representation in formerly male-dominated professional degrees, getting MDs, MBAs, and law degrees in large numbers. Women were 6 percent of those getting MDs in 1960, 23 percent in 1980, 43 percent in 2000, and 49 percent in 2007; the analogous numbers for law degrees (JDs) were 3, 30, 46, and 47 percent, and for MBAs (and other management first- professional degrees), 4, 22, 39, and 44 percent (National Center for Education Statistics 2004-2008). There was no marked increase in the proportion of men in female-dominated graduate professional programs such as library science, social work, or nursing (National Center for Education Statistics 2009). As women have increasingly trained for previously male-dominated fields, they have also integrated previously male-dominated occupations in management and the professions in large numbers
Who is an ally?
an ally is sim-ply someone committed to eliminating stigma and the ill-treatment of those in stigmatized statuses.
How does Carr suggest we address bad credit reports in response to subprime lending practices?
credit reports should distinguish whether poor credit repayment behavior is the result of a mainstream or predatory financial product. Such a distinction would permit many subprime mortgage borrowers—whose default was due to deceptive loan products, not their unwillingness to pay—to obtain credit cards or other consumer credit, as well as to secure employment opportunities.
What does wealth stripping refer to?
the contemporary use of the term wealth stripping has generally referred to financial products and services like payday lenders, rent-to-own stores, and the like that exploit the lack of financial sophistication among economically disadvantaged populations
