Talking Points #4

Christenson "Unlearning the Myths that Blind Us"

1. "When we read children's books, we aren't just reading cute little stories, we are discovering the tools with which a young society is manipulated." (126)

- This statement stood out in my mind primarily because of the author's word choice. The idea of a "young society" being manipulated really targets the main concepts outlined in this article and also brings our attention to the severity of the impact these manipulations can have over the course of a child's lifetime. Aside from having racial implications, such fairy tales and children's lore can impact their gender identity and concept of self-image. Another quote from the article that I really feel illuminates a key theme in most fairy tales is "Happiness means getting a man, and transformation from wretched conditions can be achieved through consumption" (133).

2. "They noted the absence of mothers, the wickedness of stepparents." (131)

- My first thought when reading this sentence was "Brother's Grimm!" The Brother's Grimm wrote many of the most popular fairy tales that were later remade by Disney including Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Rapunzel, Cinderella, Rumpelstiltskin, Hansel and Gretel, and The Frog Prince. Several common factors that unite these tales include large families, women represented as heads of the household (usually in the absence of a biological mother - as a stepmother), and some form of a "prince charming." The Brother's Grimm wrote from personal experience, having been raised by only their mother and being members of a large, predominantly male family.

3. "Have you ever seen a black person, an Asian, a Hispanic in a cartoon? Did they have a leading role or were they a servant? What do you think this is doing to your child's mind?" (131)

- I have mixed feelings about this concept. While popular media and fairy tales definitely play an important role and make a statement about racism, I don't entirely agree with the statement about people of color never having a leading role. I'm not trying to imply that Disney is exempt from manipulating our youth, however I do feel that they did a fair job in representing various cultures in positions of power. They have princesses in several ethnicities including French, Chinese, Arabian, English, Native American, Dutch and African American. I feel like one of the main issues in Disney literature is the isolation of difference and culture (for example, all of the characters in "Mulan" are Chinese, all of the characters in "Beauty and the Beast" are mainly French...) as well as their tendency to imply that women need a man in order to live "Happily ever after."

Talking Points #3

Carlson "Gayness, Multiculturalism and Community"

1. "Thus, the words "homosexual," "gay," "lesbian," and "queer" have histories we have to consider when we invoke them. Homosexual is an ostensibly neutral category, one designed by scientists; and yet its usage may involve a scientific distancing from the homosexual object of study and a refusal to see the political and cultural elements of sexual identity. "Gay" and Lesbian" or "gay men" and "lesbians" are the most "politically correct" labels, although their usage tends to further divide and separate men and women when in fact homophobia and oppression are directed against homosexuals as a group." (235)

- When I first read this passage it reminded me about Johnson's article about power and difference, particularly his argument about using the correct terminology. I had no prior knowledge of the history suggested by the various terms used to describe the LGBT community. I use the terms "homosexual," "gay," and "lesbian" interchangeably without a second thought and with no consideration for the separation and divisions they imply. This is particularly because these terms don't apply to myself personally, so I do not experience their effects and rarely do I ever have the opportunity to witness them. I was particularly interested in Carlson's statement about how the terms "gay" and "lesbian," while politically correct, further divide men and women.

2. "To the extent that gayness is recognized in the curriculum, it is likely to be in the health curriculum, where it is associated with disease." (237)

- Last weekend I saw RIC's mainstage production of Angels in America. Before I even had the opportunity to read this article I was reminded of this class because of the play's content dealing with issues of diversity and prejudice against homosexuals. Clearly connecting homosexuality with the AIDs epidemic, the play takes place during the Regan campaign and criticizes his disengagement and ignorance of the spread and effect of AIDs. This quote from Carlson lead me to wonder what damage was done by the governmental ignorance of the AIDs epidemic and its promotion as a disease restricted to homosexuals, Haitians, and intravenous drug users.

3. "The official policy in most school districts is in fact identical to that of the U.S. military, namely: "Don't ask, don't tell." Interestingly, while the policy is being challenged by gays in the military, it has not been forcefully challenged by gay teachers in public schools yet, perhaps because they feel (probably rightly so) they could not win if they pushed their case."

- I don't understand the logic in the military's "don't ask, don't tell policy." What harm can come to the military if a homosexual man or woman decide to join their ranks? While the nature of such a policy, unfortunately, protects homosexuals in the long run I find it to be ridiculous and counter effective to the progress of acceptance of multiculturalism. However, homosexuals are inadvertently protected from the aggression of their heterogeneous peers. Also, the same applies to the idea of gay school teachers. I hadn't considered that very few if any of my f the former teachers were openly gay. I wonder if it would have made a significant difference in the attitudes and respect of their students and peers. While this doesn't apply to all school systems, I feel like my high school would have been accepting of any homosexual faculty and staff members.

Talking Points #2

Rodriguez "Aria"

1. I found this aticle to be really interesting because it discussd issues of bilingualism that I've often wondered about. Things like how your knowledge of the public language benefits your education and to what extent. However I never considered the conflict established between the private and public identities. I wonder how many people I know have these communication rifts between themselves and their parents because of a language barrier, especially one that their parents encouraged. How does this affect their behavior (in private and public)?
2. As the article progressed in its discussion about private and public identities, I came to wonder which one is more important. Obviously both identities are imporant and there will be differing opinions based on pesonal experience, but for the majority which one do people tend to identify with? Richard is reminiscent and sad over his dimishing private identity, but towards the end stresses the importance of his newly established public one (which I found interesting).
3. I felt like this article made me realize how people who are from English speaking households differ in the way they think from those where English is not their primary language. I use myself as an example in explaining this, because language isn't a basis on which I consider my private/public identity. Also, I almost take my English fluency for granted sometimes and often I wish to enhance my public idntity by learning and associating myself with another language such as Italian. I wonder if there is a difference between my desire to obtain fluency in this language and Richard'sneed to obtain fluency in English and what exactly the difference is (on the basis of identity, not for the ease of learning)?

Talking Points #1

McIntosh "White Privilege Knapsack"

1. I find the concept that one racial group having privilege means another is disadvantaged difficult to understand sometimes. I completely understand the concept but I think the way in which the various authors we have read phrase this idea sets me back a little. I've always been taught to work hard in life and you will be rewarded, never anything about the benefits I get simply for being white, middle class, straight, etc. Is this a part of what Peggy McIntosh sad when she mentioned that we are taught to see racism as it puts others at a disadvantage but never ourselves as the advantage?
2. One of Peggy's points that I found interesting was number five which stated that she can turn on the television and seeing her race widly represented. This makes me wonder about television series and sitcoms that focus on families of color. What is it that causes these shows to be popular or to get shut down? Is there success based on how similar they can act to a white family if people can't actually watch them as a white family? And what do people have to say about Disney's new princess of color?
3. Peggy lists twenty-six privileges she can attribute to her race, most of which I had never even considered before. As I was reading them I had to wonder how many of these directly affect and speak of my life and my privilege? Things like flesh toned bandages and easily finding a hair salon that people don't even think twice about.

About little 'ol me... :)

I wrote a little bit about myself in the 'About Me' secton of myprofile, but I'll elaborate more here!

I am a musical theatre and english double major, and am in my second year at RIC. I have been on the competitive team for my dance studio for three years now, taking lessons in ballet, hiphop, acro, jazz, lyrical/contemporary, and finally going en pointe this past spring! My last competition was the Miss Olympic Nationals in New Hampshire in July, and unfortunately I don't think I'll have the chance to compete this year because of my busy schedule.

I also love literature, reading, and writing. I want to teach english primarily but I have no idea what age group is best for me and how I should go about doing this. I feel like I would work best with either very young children or college level students. I really enjoy literary analysis which is probably what I would get my next degree in.

The most exciting and time consuming thing for me this year however is a sorority which I cofounded last spring. The sorority is named Lambda Chi and our philanthropy is animal rights and welfare. I spend all of my free time getting rooms reserved for meetings, tracking down my advisor, planning events, setting up volunteer work, registering for walks, and staying up until midnight covering the Student Union quad with sidewalk chalk!

When I'm not dancing or in school or running around for the sorority then I'm either working at Babies R Us or talking to my boyfriend of four years who recently moved to Philadelphia for school.