While reading this article I immediately thought about my good friend who is Korean. His real name is Suk-Wu Lee and was given the Americanized name of Brian when his parents sent him and his brother to the United States. My point is that having an Asian freind has truly shown me that they are one of the most stereotyped races in the United STates. So to hear about the stereotypes during the Oj Simspon case was nothing new. I think the fact that Asians are easy visible by their apperance along with the history of Pearl Harbor has made them an easy target. WHen I saw OJ's sketchings I was stunned. His derogatory pictures were ridiculous and I have no idea how they actually got published. Simpson was a black male who faces many stereotypes himself, so it was interesting to see him turn the tables on another race, when he should have felt their pain.
This huge trial brought out so many issues to the general public and yet the Asian American racism should have been a bigger issue. The judge was Asian. One of the lead forensics scientists who is one fo the best was Asian. Asians have a hgie population in the world and ane ver growing population in the United States and yet they were left out at first and just ignored. This article was extremely revealing and interesting as it helped to bring that issue to the forefront of the public. The fact that D'Amato went on a radio show as a politician and was disgustingly racist is a huge deal. No politician or person has the right to do that. He made fun of an honorable judge, a whole race and thought itwas funny. In his apology he gave a Goffman esque disclaimer which was just unacceptable. He didn't think he did anything wrong, but possibly offended a couple people.
THe attack on Asians brought back the history of Pearl Harbor and internment camps. THis reminds me of 9/11 and how Muslims were automatically looked down upon, as everyone was scared of them and thought they were terrorists. This shows how our country is based on race and people's differences. Whether its an accent thats' made fun of or someone's ethnic appearance, something has to be said. Simpsons sketches may be funny, but they can hurt just as the Dancing Itos or skits that involve race. People may claim it doesn't matter, but you should know better and realize that race is a very sensitive subject.
As we can see from the defense' teams many mistakes involving race and gender, this is a big issue. Cochran and SHapiro both poked fun at Asians too, while the Dream Team didn't even have any women. They were hitting rock bottom with criticism and couldn't seem to do anything right, except take care of OJ. That was their concern as race and gender were thrown under the bus. As Cochran made racism towards Oj a major issue of the case, his team and lawyers were racist themselves. It's ridiculous.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
TV News Hyper Coverage
It is evident that this article compeltely focuses on the point I was trying to make about this murder trial in the first place. As ALderman explores the fact that news and entertainment are very related and real in this society. More people were viewing this case, more money was spent covering this case and millions of Americans enjoyed it. EVery day you would check in the OJ case and see what the new piece of the trial was evident.
In my opinion this is just like a soap opera. A sitcom. The news stations were longer trying to report the news. They wanted more viewers. They wanted to make money. SO this race battle was exploited in every single way. Millions of dollars were spent and more anchors and shows covered these mid 90s events than anybody could ahve guessed. This was the most popular issue in a long time and everyone took advantage of it.
Is this what our society has come to? This shouldn't have been a race issue, yet it was turned into one. The different opinions different races had were exploited as well. People were made to think they were outcasts if they didn't back up their race. There was turmoil between whites in blacks, as described in both articles. That's again why I wished I was older during the time. I want to really understand the impact and these articles help with that.
The "way" that these pieces of information were shared is what fuedl the fire. ALderman says that it is also a matter of what is not said. As he points out the data of course is important, but the way it was manipulated is even more important. The media coverage is more important. The geography is important. This is what everyone forgets. Depending on where you were, what station you were watching and what your background was the media could paint a complete different picture for you.
In my opinion this is just like a soap opera. A sitcom. The news stations were longer trying to report the news. They wanted more viewers. They wanted to make money. SO this race battle was exploited in every single way. Millions of dollars were spent and more anchors and shows covered these mid 90s events than anybody could ahve guessed. This was the most popular issue in a long time and everyone took advantage of it.
Is this what our society has come to? This shouldn't have been a race issue, yet it was turned into one. The different opinions different races had were exploited as well. People were made to think they were outcasts if they didn't back up their race. There was turmoil between whites in blacks, as described in both articles. That's again why I wished I was older during the time. I want to really understand the impact and these articles help with that.
The "way" that these pieces of information were shared is what fuedl the fire. ALderman says that it is also a matter of what is not said. As he points out the data of course is important, but the way it was manipulated is even more important. The media coverage is more important. The geography is important. This is what everyone forgets. Depending on where you were, what station you were watching and what your background was the media could paint a complete different picture for you.
Reaffirming Race
After reading this article I wish I was a college student in the mid 1990s during this trial and event. From everything I have heard about it reveals that it was a much bigger deal than anyone could have thought. When the record tv audiences were being discussed by Hunt in this article I could remember seeing the black reaction of people on tv. All media outlets took advantage of this race war and fueled it in a very negative way. Whether it was when Time blackened OJ's face on the cover, NBC covering the white bronco police chase or CNN showing black women jumping all over the place when SImpson was delcared innocent, it was a raucous.
I found the facts about the opinion polls interesting too, as I knew it would lean that way. The framework of the poll, the deception and jolt of the media and even the lawyers and defendants turned this into more than just a murder trial. It was a race war. EVery single news outlet had their own poll and own reuslts and something new to try to get more viewers. It is kind of disgusting. Here are people mourning over the death of murder victims and the whole scenario was turned into a circus.
The contemporary events int he article where each defintiion is given of parts of the trial was extrmemely insightful. It proved to me that this trial did have everything that you could imagine mixed in between. It turned into a money making scheme for the networks and a fight between races in the real world. The impact of this trial was bigger than anything of the 90s. That really shouldn't be the case.
The fire that was lit under this trial and the misconceptions that came with it are ridiculous. This raced way of thinking Hunt explores should have never been available. But it is. THis article proves the differences of how people thought, but that's about it. There may have been a clear dividing line like Hunt states, but in my opinion it was forced. The UNited States of America turned into a battleground.
I found the facts about the opinion polls interesting too, as I knew it would lean that way. The framework of the poll, the deception and jolt of the media and even the lawyers and defendants turned this into more than just a murder trial. It was a race war. EVery single news outlet had their own poll and own reuslts and something new to try to get more viewers. It is kind of disgusting. Here are people mourning over the death of murder victims and the whole scenario was turned into a circus.
The contemporary events int he article where each defintiion is given of parts of the trial was extrmemely insightful. It proved to me that this trial did have everything that you could imagine mixed in between. It turned into a money making scheme for the networks and a fight between races in the real world. The impact of this trial was bigger than anything of the 90s. That really shouldn't be the case.
The fire that was lit under this trial and the misconceptions that came with it are ridiculous. This raced way of thinking Hunt explores should have never been available. But it is. THis article proves the differences of how people thought, but that's about it. There may have been a clear dividing line like Hunt states, but in my opinion it was forced. The UNited States of America turned into a battleground.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Core Values, Value Conflict and Citizens' Ambivalence...
This article was a lot more interesting and relevant in my eyes. It explores a telephone survey done in Florida on how people feel about homosexuals and their rights. Whether its numbers about what people think is wrong about being gay and how they would feel about their children being gay, there is a lot in this article about people's responses.
I continue to think about seeing the Sport, Sexuality and Culture conference at IC a couple weeks ago featuring John Amaechi. He spoke of how there has been progress, but not change. He talked about all the martyrs who have died because they were gay. He went on to say that enough people have died and still people have the same responses. His message was that people need to be aware and change their views. This article links the point of view question and how we really need to figure out how people feel, to attack accordingly for gay rights.
THis survey was both enlightening, full of stigma and disheartening at the same time. I was surprised at some statistics for what people really thought and confused with others. There were things that I thought would be higher like discomfort in having gay teachers or people being ashamed of their children for being gay. Then there were things that were really upsetting on how many people are just ignorant. This article really showed me how stupid some people are and that gay rights still needs prgression. I would have liked to see how my home state or other states would have reacted as well.
I continue to think about seeing the Sport, Sexuality and Culture conference at IC a couple weeks ago featuring John Amaechi. He spoke of how there has been progress, but not change. He talked about all the martyrs who have died because they were gay. He went on to say that enough people have died and still people have the same responses. His message was that people need to be aware and change their views. This article links the point of view question and how we really need to figure out how people feel, to attack accordingly for gay rights.
THis survey was both enlightening, full of stigma and disheartening at the same time. I was surprised at some statistics for what people really thought and confused with others. There were things that I thought would be higher like discomfort in having gay teachers or people being ashamed of their children for being gay. Then there were things that were really upsetting on how many people are just ignorant. This article really showed me how stupid some people are and that gay rights still needs prgression. I would have liked to see how my home state or other states would have reacted as well.
Experiences of Family Law Attorneys....
Although this article was kind of dry for me, I still got a couple of concepts from it that I found somewhat interesting. This article tackles family law issues from child relocations to attorney behaavior and including gender bias in the court system. Now these issues might seem intriguing, but the study and way the National COuncil on Family Relations framed their views were not "new, interesting and provocative." In all honesty the stats and numbers and graphs took away from the reading for me. This study was so small and full of discrepanices I wanted to stop reading. The captive audience was misleading as well.
One point I found interesting in this reading had to do with the lawyer behavior and influence section. I remembered watching cnn frontline about plea bargains and how much advantages the lawyers hold in court. They tell the plaintiff or defendant what to expect, how to think, react and what will come enxt. The lawyer is usually more important than any person or witness. THeir behavior towards the case and attitude about court features will directly relay right to their client. Just as the article says, thsi affects what deals and bargains will be made by the defendant. IF their lawyer advises them to take a money amount, settle or fight the battle usually the indivudal will listen. It has to do with how the court and power system is set up. The lawyers are repeat players and know the system, so not to listen in family court would be a mistake.
I can understand all the commotion over child relocation and the sensitive issue of divorce cases, due to the fact that its family. As Dr. Dre raps, "if you really wanna take it there we can, just remember that your fucking with a family man. i got a lot more to lose, remember that." What Dr. Dre realizes is that everyone becomes more serious and intent when family is involved. It triggers something in mothers, fathers and other fgamily members heads that they must protect.
As far as child relocation goes, i think that it deserves to be the kid's decision where to go. The study took random percentages of where the child would end up and with what parent, but that is irrelevant. As we realize, family law is even more difficult than normal law. Everyone has something at stake, even if they aren't involved in the case. Children become bystanders in court wars behind parents and it can get ugly.
One point I found interesting in this reading had to do with the lawyer behavior and influence section. I remembered watching cnn frontline about plea bargains and how much advantages the lawyers hold in court. They tell the plaintiff or defendant what to expect, how to think, react and what will come enxt. The lawyer is usually more important than any person or witness. THeir behavior towards the case and attitude about court features will directly relay right to their client. Just as the article says, thsi affects what deals and bargains will be made by the defendant. IF their lawyer advises them to take a money amount, settle or fight the battle usually the indivudal will listen. It has to do with how the court and power system is set up. The lawyers are repeat players and know the system, so not to listen in family court would be a mistake.
I can understand all the commotion over child relocation and the sensitive issue of divorce cases, due to the fact that its family. As Dr. Dre raps, "if you really wanna take it there we can, just remember that your fucking with a family man. i got a lot more to lose, remember that." What Dr. Dre realizes is that everyone becomes more serious and intent when family is involved. It triggers something in mothers, fathers and other fgamily members heads that they must protect.
As far as child relocation goes, i think that it deserves to be the kid's decision where to go. The study took random percentages of where the child would end up and with what parent, but that is irrelevant. As we realize, family law is even more difficult than normal law. Everyone has something at stake, even if they aren't involved in the case. Children become bystanders in court wars behind parents and it can get ugly.
Monday, April 6, 2009
The Locker rRoom and the Dorm Room...
This was another great article, that I really enjoyed reading. A lot of the issues brought up by Delliner and Williams were addressed the other week at the Sport, Sexuality and Culture Conference. This reading gave a great insight into different situations that look at sex and sexual harrassment completely different.
At the beginning of the article I was a little upset with how it took shape. There was a lot of information that continued to say that women got harrassed way more than men all the time, and that they are only the victim. Although I do agree that women are sexually harrassed a lot more, some of it has to do with how they behave individually. GIrls these days wear the most ridiculous outfits, make up and styles. Of course men are going to be more attracted and sexual when they witness that. It is human nature to be sexual and horny and I think goes for both genders.
The article then went on to describe how many women enjoy the sexual aspect of their job just as much as men. GIrls who work at Hooters, strip clubs, sex shows and as prostitutes really have a more confusing sexual harrassment line. When is it too much for them? Can women of these statuses actually be considered legit when their whole job is meant to take money from horny men. I just find it hard to be responsible for one thing and not the other.
Another concept that relates to this article has to do witht he idea of institutionalization. How can we blame the girls that copy movie stars and commercials or the guys that just behave like their idols? Both genders have to be included in this talk and then race comes up too. There becomes even thinner lines for race and sexuality and from male to female discrimination. The television tells kids how to act, while advertisements even have a subconscious effect ona dults. It just has to do with how our society is.
The compariosns of Womyn vs. Gentleman's Sohpistication were astounding as well. I had no diea some work environments were so open and fre.e. I think those companies have a good start of taking away much of the stigma attached with sexuality. Of course one is a porn mag and the other is a feminist magazine, but I really think it's a step in the right direction. The desensitization is much like how Europe looks at seuxlaity. If more people could embrace it, then take advanatge of it, we'd all be much better off.
At the beginning of the article I was a little upset with how it took shape. There was a lot of information that continued to say that women got harrassed way more than men all the time, and that they are only the victim. Although I do agree that women are sexually harrassed a lot more, some of it has to do with how they behave individually. GIrls these days wear the most ridiculous outfits, make up and styles. Of course men are going to be more attracted and sexual when they witness that. It is human nature to be sexual and horny and I think goes for both genders.
The article then went on to describe how many women enjoy the sexual aspect of their job just as much as men. GIrls who work at Hooters, strip clubs, sex shows and as prostitutes really have a more confusing sexual harrassment line. When is it too much for them? Can women of these statuses actually be considered legit when their whole job is meant to take money from horny men. I just find it hard to be responsible for one thing and not the other.
Another concept that relates to this article has to do witht he idea of institutionalization. How can we blame the girls that copy movie stars and commercials or the guys that just behave like their idols? Both genders have to be included in this talk and then race comes up too. There becomes even thinner lines for race and sexuality and from male to female discrimination. The television tells kids how to act, while advertisements even have a subconscious effect ona dults. It just has to do with how our society is.
The compariosns of Womyn vs. Gentleman's Sohpistication were astounding as well. I had no diea some work environments were so open and fre.e. I think those companies have a good start of taking away much of the stigma attached with sexuality. Of course one is a porn mag and the other is a feminist magazine, but I really think it's a step in the right direction. The desensitization is much like how Europe looks at seuxlaity. If more people could embrace it, then take advanatge of it, we'd all be much better off.
The Influence of Race and Gender on Student Self Reports of Sexual Harrassment by College Professors
This was my first article I read and I was most excited to read about. I had heard of incidents of college professors witht heir students, saw these kind of related stories in movies and on television but had never seen any hard data whichw as supplied in this article.
The problem I had with this article was that I felt like the asnwers may not completely honest within the study. I thought of a movie we watched in Definition of Normality where children were coerced into their witness accounts. Friedman was being investigated for child molestation and many of the children's stories were differing, because of the police and community influence on their answers. In this article, I felt that the study was being forced into college students in a way that made them come with exaggerated answers and classifications of sexual harrassment. If someone kept asking and interviewing you about a topic, couldn't you concede and give an answer that they wanted?
I found the points about the men and women very intersting and agreed with the assessment that these answers may not completley accurate. SOme men may brush off instances, while others may lie and some women could exagerate or misremember some accounts. The study did its beast to find percentages of race and gender who have been harrassed by college professors, but it isn't foolproof.
The enxt part of the article that was very ifnroming spoke about the stereotypes associated with sexual harrassment. If someone is not only attacked about their sexuality, but their specific race related features, then their accounts may be misrepresented as well. The extremity of the situation could be doubled, just by having a racist comment be woven into a sexist one.
The last point I have about the article is closer to the end, but still seen throughout the body of the article. I felt that there were way too many numbers for such a objective study. A lot of opinion and bias goes into the answers for both men and women. There are so many factors, some which were represented int he article. I thought of the knicks sexual harrassment case where a women was awarded millions of dollars for claiming the organization was at fault and disgusting and a slum. If I remember correctly there was no hard evidence that Isiah Thomas, Stephon Marbury or the Knicks did anything wrong, yet they still settled to make the woman be quiet. The publicity was already bad enough and the token word "sexual" made this even more complicated. Sexual harrassment is no doubt a huge problem in our society, whether it is taken advantage of or a legit concern.
The problem I had with this article was that I felt like the asnwers may not completely honest within the study. I thought of a movie we watched in Definition of Normality where children were coerced into their witness accounts. Friedman was being investigated for child molestation and many of the children's stories were differing, because of the police and community influence on their answers. In this article, I felt that the study was being forced into college students in a way that made them come with exaggerated answers and classifications of sexual harrassment. If someone kept asking and interviewing you about a topic, couldn't you concede and give an answer that they wanted?
I found the points about the men and women very intersting and agreed with the assessment that these answers may not completley accurate. SOme men may brush off instances, while others may lie and some women could exagerate or misremember some accounts. The study did its beast to find percentages of race and gender who have been harrassed by college professors, but it isn't foolproof.
The enxt part of the article that was very ifnroming spoke about the stereotypes associated with sexual harrassment. If someone is not only attacked about their sexuality, but their specific race related features, then their accounts may be misrepresented as well. The extremity of the situation could be doubled, just by having a racist comment be woven into a sexist one.
The last point I have about the article is closer to the end, but still seen throughout the body of the article. I felt that there were way too many numbers for such a objective study. A lot of opinion and bias goes into the answers for both men and women. There are so many factors, some which were represented int he article. I thought of the knicks sexual harrassment case where a women was awarded millions of dollars for claiming the organization was at fault and disgusting and a slum. If I remember correctly there was no hard evidence that Isiah Thomas, Stephon Marbury or the Knicks did anything wrong, yet they still settled to make the woman be quiet. The publicity was already bad enough and the token word "sexual" made this even more complicated. Sexual harrassment is no doubt a huge problem in our society, whether it is taken advantage of or a legit concern.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
