"Sexism, Strength, and Dominance: Masculinity in Disney Films"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CWMCt35oFY

I found this video called “Sexism, Strength, and Dominance: Masculinity in Disney Films,” under a search for sexism in Disney movies on YouTube. I thought it was a good example of sexism in our media today, setting an example for both children and adults.

This YouTube video explains how Disney movies portray a message that men are strong and protective and women are weak and submissive. The creator of this clip highlights the fact that in almost all Disney movies, there are tough men fighting over delicate women who are depicted as weak. It is explained that, “Often, the message to boys, both implicitly and explicitly, is that men should view women as objects of pleasure, or servants to please them.” The clip also explains how boys are to grow up into good-looking men with chiseled abs and rock-hard chests, along with huge arms. Also, it is mentioned that in Mulan, the main character (Mulan) is thought of as a man only because of her great strength and courage. In addition, often the ending battle of Disney movies involves two men, fighting for the love of a woman’s heart. The author also explains the message that is put across to children form these movies, that boys should hold characteristics of sexism, strength, and dominance to be considered a real man.

This video related to class because it involves the idea of sexism and the portrayal of men and women in the media. First of all, it relates to the article we read in class, “Why I Hate Abercrombie and Fitch” by Dwight McBride. The article explains how Abercrombie and Fitch ads and pictures depict men as the controlling, classy, white man protecting the girl model. In most of the pictures, the girls look submissive and protected, just as they are portrayed in many Disney movies, including Beauty and the Beast. Another example from class material that ties in with subjects brought up in the YouTube video, “Sexism, Strength, and Dominance: Masculinity in Disney Films,” is that of “Privilege, Oppression, and Difference.” Johnson states that, “Men can usually assume that national heroes, success models, and other figures held up for general admiration will be men.” This is the same case as in Disney movies, where all the role models and heroes seem to be of male gender. It is expected that the man will have the powerful role and in the end, save the day.

I think that this video is great in that it details many occurrences of sexism in Disney movies. I find it interesting that these movies are created for children and to convey good messages to them. However, they are actually doing the opposite, as boys see what they should grow up to be like, and if not, they fail in becoming a strong, dependable man. The movies portray that women should be protected and not have to fend for themselves, when we all know that in the real world, this isn’t quite the case anymore. Instead of showing a common image of what a man and woman should aim to be, the movies should instead convey the message that it is okay to be different and lead a courageous life.

"Racism Sucks"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGOk3_P2w8o

I chose this “YouTube” video entitled Racism Sucks because it explains the ignorance some people have to this day that promotes the idea of racism is our everyday lives.

This clip depicts a man holding a sign that says “White Power,” and a dog in front of him questioning why he is supporting racism. The man holding the white power sign immediately tries to defend himself and the reason he is holding the sign. He says that he can “Stop being racist anytime he wants.” However, when the dog asks him, “How about right now,” he responds by saying, “Next week is better.” The dog then declares his disappointment and walks away, after which he pees on a flag displaying a Swastika. This action represents the dog’s disagreement with racism and all forms of discriminations, including that of which the Nazi’s practiced. The man’s actions in this short video depict the thoughts of many in America and of their ignorance of the true meaning of mankind and its rights.

This video relates to class material because it represents the idea that racist people know that they are wrong in their actions and choose to continue them anyways. “Why I Hate Abercrombie & Fitch” by Dwight McBride brings up this point briefly when he states that, “…careful consideration for the harm that it does to our ways of thinking about and imagining our current racial realities in this country.” This goes to show how people like the man in this cartoon choose to be hateful despite them knowing how their actions affect our country. “What it All Has to Do With Us” by Allan G. Johnson also reflects the YouTube video, “Racism Sucks.” The man in the video is practicing individualistic thinking as described in Johnson’s article. Johnson states, “Individualistic thinking, however, assumes that everything has only to do with individuals and nothing to do with social categories,” reflecting the thoughts of the man in the video. He thinks that he can choose to stop being racist at any time without any problems, denying the effect on those he is surrounded with that agree with his racist stances. The social category he is involved in makes it even harder for him to stop being racist.

I think that this video is a great representation of the ideas of many racist people in America and elsewhere. There are people who know that they are racist, aren’t afraid to admit it, and will stand up for it no matter who the audience. They may be aware of the fact that they are able to change their ways, but at the same time, they refuse to do so. This may be because they are just so involved in actions supporting racism or for the mere reason of it being a part of their lives everyday. Either way, it is sad to think that even though a person knows that what he or she believes in is wrong, he or she will still practice these thoughts despite the consequences on others.

"KKK"

I found this picture under a Google search for racism in America and chose it because it is a strong depiction of what some believe America is all about in the past and today.

This picture describes what some believe America represents. Being that the KKK represents black hatred, some feel that blacks do not belong in America whatsoever. The picture represents a sense of hatred against African Americans and their ways of life, merely because of the color of their skin. The fact that the man in uniform is holding an American flag put an even stronger meaning behind the picture. It is as if he is saying that because he is holding an American flag, he believes that all of America should follow his values and beliefs pertaining to detesting all minority groups.

This picture strongly ties in with the discussions we have had in class so far this semester. For example, it relates to the topics discussed in Marvin Harris’s “How Our Skins Got Their Color.” This picture actually contradicts what Harris states that, “White was beautiful because white was healthy.” This contradicts the intentions and thoughts of the KKK and the reasons they hate whites. They are ignorant to the fact that in the past white was only preferred because of its apparent signs of good health in humans compared to black skin. This picture also relates to the article, “A People’s History of the United States,” that explains how slavery came about and how the government drove the force behind the idea of slavery. Such practices then drove forth the actions of such hate groups as the KKK represented in this picture.

I think that this picture is disgusting and incredibly wrong that anyone could stand for the ideas that it represents. The hatred of a group of people with the only reason being that they do not like the color of their skin is horrible. It is scary to think that despite all of the changes that have been made since the past and the days of slavery, people still believe this way. Who knows what a person could do to defend their beliefs in a hate group. Many incidents have already occurred, such as the Jena-6, that are repercussions of such violent thoughts.

"African Americans Receive More College Degrees: 1981 vs. 1991"

http://0-proquest.umi.com.maurice.bgsu.edu/pqdweb?index=0&did=483023491&SrchMode=1&sid=3&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1194825635&clientId=3340

I chose to write about “African Americans Receive More College Degrees: 1981 vs. 1991” in the Precinct Reporter in my media portfolio because it explains how there are improvements being made in the ability of African Americans to succeed in education and careers as prejudices are decreased from the past.

This article summarizes the statistics of African Americans earning college degrees between the years of 1981 to 1991. The studies show that bachelor’s degrees earned by African Americans rose by 8% and the number of first professional degrees rose by 22%. In addition, it was African American women who showed the greatest improvement in degree completion over the course of the study, while African American men showed only modest gains. However, this information also explains how the degree completions by African Americans are not steady with their enrollment completion. So, while there are improvements in the degree-earning area for African Americans, they still lag behind the general population for various reasons, some of which include low family income as well as attending college only part time.

“African Americans Receive More College Degrees: 1981 vs. 1991” is relevant to issues discussed in class because it discusses topics that are based on discrimination and prejudices about black people. As described in “Getting Off the Hook: Denial and Resistance,” another reason that blacks aren’t encouraged to pursue college degrees as much as they should be is because of the ignorance to the problem in the first place. Allan G. Johnson explains that, “Another reason for the sick and tired complaint is that life is hard for everyone,” and that we all have problems of our own to worry about, let alone worrying about the success rate of African Americans. This coincides with what was shown in the video we watched in class, “Ethnic Notions”. In this video, like “African Americans Receive More College Degrees: 1981 vs. 1991,” African Americans are looked at as dumb and not capable of handling such a task as earning a college degree or a decent job, when in fact, they could be better than whites themselves.

I believe that “African Americans Receive More College Degrees: 1981 vs. 1991” is an interesting article because it describes the advancements of African Americans in colleges and universities in a span of about ten years. It also included statistics on how they compared with the average white American and that they still are behind in comparison. However, the article could have explained more about the reasons why so many African Americans are not receiving degrees or dropping out of enrollment. I would be interested to know some of the details of the reasons that are affecting their ability or desire to earn degrees.

"Racial and Gender Report Card; Minorities, Women Losing Ground in Sports"

http://0-proquest.umi.com.maurice.bgsu.edu/pqdweb?index=13&did=481104371&SrchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1194825200&clientId=3340

I chose “Racial and Gender Report Card; Minorities, Women Losing Ground in Sports” by Robert Johnson because it explains how the trend of women and minorities in the sports-related workplace that was increasing has not improved as much as many people thought it would over the years.

This article explains how a study was held that found, “Every professional sport had lower averages for employing women compared with the last Racial and Gender Report Card two years ago, and minority hiring slipped in pro and college sports.” Minorities have lost ground in important management positions in the world of college and pro sports. Some of these positions include that of athletic directors, team vice presidents, and general managers. An example of such is that in the NHL, as of 2002, there were only three minority head coaches in the league, which was an all-time low since the 1991 season. In addition, as of the 2002 season, there were only 16 minority players in the league. The writer comments that the world of sports has to keep adding minorities and women to their executive positions to make the trend more common so that the organization becomes more diversified.

“Racial and Gender Report Card; Minorities, Women Losing Ground in Sports” relates to class material in that it discusses the role of minorities in the workplace. In relation, according to Allan G. Johnson in “Privilege, Oppression, and Difference,” the idea of privilege exists when, “One group has something of value that is denied to others simply because of the groups they belong to, rather than because of anything they’ve done or failed to do.” This is the case in “Racial and Gender Report Card; Minorities, Women Losing Ground in Sports” because the women and minorities are denied the rights and opportunities that white men receive in the industry merely because they are not of the same ethnic group or of the same sex. In addition, this article can be related to another we read in class by Allan G. Johnson, entitled, “Capitalism, Class, and the Matrix of Domination.” Johnson explains that, “Capitalism also shapes and makes use of gender inequality. The cultural devaluing of women, for example, has long been used as an excuse to pay them less and exploit them as a source of cheap labor.” He goes on to say that, “Women’s supposed inferiority has also been used as a basis for the belief that much of the work that women do isn’t work at all and therefore isn’t worthy of anything more than emotional compensation.” These thoughts trigger those in the sports-related workplaces to not long to employ women in such important positions due to the belief of the inability to handle such pressure.

I think that “Racial and Gender Report Card; Minorities, Women Losing Ground in Sports” is a commendable article because it discusses the lack of importance that women and minorities have in the job fields related to college and professional sports teams. They could do just as well of a job as any white male in the industry could do, but yet are not allowed to prove themselves. This is the case in many other workplaces as well and should be changed before their roles become too scarce. However, it is plausible that the author of the article explained that they are trying to rebuild the roles of women minorities in the sports area to create more diversity.

Workplace Discrimination

http://0proquest.umi.com.maurice.bgsu.edu/pqdweb?index=0&did=482844891&SrchMode=1&sid=1&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1194824169&clientId=3340

I chose “New Book Shows Major Advances for Minorities in Professions Marred by Persistent Discrimination” found in the New York Voice off of the Ethnic Newswatch resource because of the ongoing presence of discrimination in the workplace, both of different races and different sexes.

This article explains how women and minorities are occupying more jobs in the work place, both managerially and officially. However, some still believe that “women and minorities are not contributing as much as white men in the workplace.” It is shown that, despite the popular belief that women and minorities are making a comeback and gaining ground in the executive workplace as the expense of men, the case is not so. "In corporate positions, white women and minorities are almost absent from the very highest levels and when represented at the middle level, are most typically in segregated or `racialized' positions that are not avenues to the higher level." Black women are always shown to be in the least-favorable positions and Hispanics and Asians are often underestimated compared to their abilities.

This article relates to topics discussed in class in more cases than one. For example, it reflects the points made in the article, “Getting Off the Hook: Denial and Resistance.” This article explains how people use the excuse of men being the “breadwinners” historically to back up the strength of men in the workplace and that these traditions should just continue. Some feel that “Male superiority is a natural arrangement dictated by genes and other biological imperatives,” so it is only fair that they hold the more rewarding positions in jobs. In addition, “New Book Shows Major Advances for Minorities in Professions Marred by Persistent Discrimination” reflects a point in “Privilege, Oppression, and Difference” by Allan G. Johnson when he states that many popular (and proven) thoughts of society include that “Whites don’t find themselves slotted into occupations identified with their race, as blacks are often slotted into support positions or Asians into technical jobs.” Whites often get the better jobs due to their “destiny” of succeeding and their natural right to have a better life.

I find it sad that, despite the belief of many that minorities and women are improving their positions in the workplace, the actual case is the opposite. It is shown that more men, especially white, hold the higher positions in the office and get the better rewards. Either by monetary rewards for plausible work on the job or by reward of promotion, white men are rewarded the most. Those of minority groups are still looked at as being incapable of holding high positions in companies, therefore the scarce appearance of them in important workplaces. It seems as if, no matter how many improvements are made or steps are taken to better these qualities, discrimination will always be present in the workplace.

"Dave Chappelle - American Indians"

This YouTube video was found under a search for Native American comedy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrWtntXtLRg

This excerpt in from an episode of the Dave Chappelle Show, hosted by Dave Chappelle, a standup comedian. Chappelle tells the audience that he thought all Indians were dead, but that they really are not. He says he knows this because he found a “gathering of them” the other day, and that the gathering was at a Wal Mart store, in the hunting department. He states that they were all looking at bows and arrows with which to hunt. He went on to tell how he met one of them from the Navajo tribe and asked to have a “peace pot-smoking ritual” with him and his chief and other Indians. At this meeting, he tells that the Indians brought weed to the beat of drums, after which they gave him a teepee to sleep in for the night.

This racist episode of the Dave Chappelle Show relates to the ideas brought up in class about Native American Indians, and how we assume and make fun of their ways. Chappelle’s remarks remind me of the image we saw in class of the Cleveland Indians’ mascot and the misconceptions of the Native Americans that we often make. The Indians’ mascot is shown to be “happy-go-lucky” with feathers on his head dress and red skin. These assumptions, as well as those made my Dave Chappelle, are often made about Indians based on the thoughts of the English and those of the past. In addition, this related to our class material because as stated in A People’s History of the United States, “If you were a colonist, you knew that your technology was superior to the Indians.’ You knew that you were civilized, and they were savages…” Chapelle’s words mock this, especially when he says all the Indians were gathered at Wal Mart (saying they are not civilized enough to shop elsewhere), when he mocks the way they talk, and when he talks of how they smoke marijuana and worship spirits as savages would. By all of these comments, Chappelle is hinting to the fast that they are of a lower class and their ways of surviving and worshiping are weird compared to those of normal Americans. In addition, viewers of this show as well as Chappelle himself believe that these comments are not racist and merely out of good fun. They are clearly practicing the denial that is explained in “Getting Off the Hook: Denial and Resistance,” that racism does not occur in the first place, that it is all a matter of making light of a different ethnic group.

I find it difficult to believe that Dave Chappelle made those comments about Indians without any intent of them being racist comments. He was indirectly belittling Native Americans and any of them that were watching could very well be offended by his remarks. Just because the audience and himself believed the remarks to be funny does not mean that others did not take them to heart. It is sad to see so many examples of this in the media, of people making false claims of the Indian way of life as well as mocking the habits of Native Americans, without taking into account how it may affect them and the thoughts of their ancestors.