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Lauren Hogan
English 1050
Professor Briggs
May 2, 2013
Final Reflection Essay
What is it about our human existence that makes us crave to belong and be
loved? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to feel loved and accepted because of our differences
as opposed to in spite of our differences? This, of course, is a perfect idea not fit for our
imperfect world just yet. Diversity affects all of us in different aspects of our lives. I know
I have learned more from interacting with different people than by people similar to me.
The world is bigger than us all, and there are many complex issues that stem from
diversity. We can resolve these issues if we all understand, accept, and love one
another. The current diversity issue I have chosen to touch on concerns gender and
race. These issues, unfortunately, have been present as far back as history dates, but
continue to be current issues that bread hatred, fear, and prejudice.
Gender influences our perception of the world around us. It is instrumental in how
we choose to communicate with others, react to social situations, and the perception of
how we see the world. If we are a man, the world is a competitive playground in almost
every aspect. The man’s ego is attached to everything he does and drives his decision
making process. He has the upper hand over women in most aspects of life and if not
careful, can develop an unnecessary feeling of power over anyone he comes across. If
we are a woman, the world is a place to feel that we will never be good enough. Most of
our importance is placed on our youth, beauty, and the way we fulfill our innate tender
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roles. We are expected to nurture, care for, and provide support to our men, but at the
same time having that quiet strength. Because of the way our world has changed
economically, we are also now held to the same standard as a man in the business
world, while expected to look fabulous all the while. There is so much pressure on both
genders now days, I believe more than ever before.
In Reading the Gaze, the author states, “Much discussion over the years has
drawn the public’s attention to the image of women in advertising, and yet men have
also been objectified in popular advertising” (206 Trimbur). This statement puts men
and women on equal playing field as far as becoming the object of a picture. In my
opinion this is the exception to the rule. Usually women are the objects, men the
onlookers. Berger’s point of view of gender suggests, “This unequal relationship is so
deeply embedded in our culture that is still structures the consciousness of many
women. They do to themselves what men do to them. They survey, like men, their own
femininity” (200 Berger). This quote is a perfect example of the author stating the
inequality present when addressing the influence that being a man or woman has on
one’s point of view. Continuing with the gender concern, Kincaid recalls, “We were used
to this in ladylike recreation--walks, chats about the novels and poems we were reading,
showing each other the new embroidery stitches we had learned to master in home
class, or something just as seemly. Instead, some of the girls would play a game of
cricket or rounders or stones but most of us would go to the far end of the school
grounds and play band. In this game, which teachers and parents disapproved and
which was sometimes absolutely forbidden, we would place our arms around each
other’s waist or shoulders, forming lines of ten or so girls, and then we would dance
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from one end of the school grounds to the other” (Kincaid 500-501). These pieces relate
to each other because of the similarities they both portray about the “right” way to act
and the “wrong” way to act depending on your gender. It is apparent that girls or women
know what is expected of them from a very young age, but that sometimes they want to
do what they feel like as opposed to what is the proper way. I know that I have felt this
way many times, being a woman myself.
Race is the other current diversity issue that infuriates me. It is amazing after so
long that we still harbor the same feelings we did in the past concerning this complex
problem. “It isn’t that Miller didn’t ‘see’ the black men, in a literal sense, any more than
it’s the case that when he looked back he didn’t ‘see’ the Indians, in the sense of not
realizing they were there. Rather, it’s that neither the Indians nor the blacks counted for
him, in a fundamental way. (Tompkins 442). This statement sums up the hatred and
discriminating behavior that we still currently have towards Native Americans and
African Americans. “Is it an accident that ways of describing cultural strength and
weakness coincide with gender stereotypes--active/passive, and so on? Why is one
culture said to ‘penetrate’ the other? Why is the ‘other’ described in terms of lack”
(Tompkins 443). Again an example of how white people view themselves above the rest
of the world. When will white people decide that they are not better than the other races
based on the color of their skin? Another example coming from Odede referring to his
experience with a white woman, “I was 16 when I first saw a slum tour. I was outside my
100-square-foot house washing dishes, looking at the utensils with longing because I
hadn’t eaten in two days. Suddenly a white woman was taking my picture. I felt like a
tiger in a cage. Before I could say anything, she had moved on” (Odede 519). This kind
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of behavior from white people is humiliating to the rest of the world. This has helped me
also to reflect on how I need to act differently and realize that just because I am white,
does not make me better in any way than another race. In 2008, Barack Obama, also
an African American supports Douglass by saying, “A lack of opportunity among black
men, and the shame and frustration that came from not being able to provide for one’s
family, contributes to the erosion of black families” (Obama 479). These pieces correlate
to one another in the most unfortunate way. These helped me realize that racism is
alive and well today and is not a concern of the past. This issue needs constant
retraining if we are going to create a future land of equal opportunity for our children.
Reading and reflecting on these pieces, has helped me realize that we are all
experiencing similar dilemmas. The right to be treated solely as an individual, in spite of
our gender, is near impossible. The change starts with me. This is the most important
value I have taken away from these current diversity issues. I can control myself only
and can bring attention to the issue with my circle of influence. I have to lead through
example and convey that people are to be judged according to their actions and nothing
else. I admire the authors in these pieces because of the passion that comes through in
their message. Although the approaches are different from each author using images,
language, and argument techniques, the clarity of the message is the same. We all feel
pain when we are treated unequally.
After taking this course, I feel like a changed, more aware person with a renewed
purpose. I am much more educated about the complex and deeply rooted issues we
face as a society concerning gender and race. I know what my part is in changing this
belief system and hope to stand as an example to those I will touch in my life. I have
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thought critically and analytically about the representations of diversity, examined the
effects of our culture on individuals and groups, realized that social structures can
dominate groups, and have accounted for my own beliefs and attitudes as they relate to
diverse cultures. I realize how small my own life is in the big picture and that there is
always someone who has it worse than I do. I am more grateful for what I have in my
own life and hope to spread that joy to the world. One day, we will have a perfect
society, in the meantime I am committed to what I can, to progress my own life and in
turn influence others positively.
Works Cited
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Berger, John. "Ways of Seeing." Reading Culture: Contexts for Critical Reading and
Writing. 8th Edition. Boston: Pearson, 2012. (193-194). Print.
George, Diana, and John Trimbur. "Reading the Gaze: Gender Roles in Advertising.”
Reading Culture: Contexts for Critical Reading and Writing. 8th Edition. Boston:
Pearson, 2011. (206-210). Print.
Kincaid, Jamaica. “Columbus in Chains.” Reading Culture: Contexts for Critical Reading and
Writing. 8th Edition. Boston: Pearson, 2012. (498-503). Print.
Obama, Barack. “A More Perfect Union.” Reading Culture: Contexts for Critical Reading and
Writing. Diana George and John Trimbur. New York: Longman, 2012. (476-483). Print
Odede, Kennedy. “Slumdog Tourism.” Reading Culture: Contexts for Critical Reading
Writing. 8th Edition. Boston: Pearson, 2012. (518-519). Print.
Tompkins, Jane. “‘Indians’: Textualism, Morality, and the Problem of History.” Reading
Culture: Contexts for Critical Reading and Writing. 8th Edition. Boston: Pearson,
2012. (439-451). Print.
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