- What memory do you have of an incident when you experienced bias, prejudice, and/or oppression, or witnessed someone else as the target of bias, prejudice, and/or oppression? Keep in mind that one can encounter such incidents in real contexts, including online environments, as well as in fictional ones, such as movies, books, television shows
- The movie: The Color Purple has been one that clearly represented oppression and prejudice. This movie forever changed the way I view racism and oppression in the early to mid 1900's. It provided an eye opening insight into a young black woman's struggle for her personal identity in a cruel and oppressive world. I recommend this movie to absolutely anyone seeking insight into a world they are not a part of.
-
- In what way(s) did the specific bias, prejudice and/or oppression in that incident diminish equity?
- This movie takes place in rural Georgia and focuses on female black life during the 1930s in the south. It addresses the numerous issues including African American's exceedingly low position in American social culture during this time. It also addresses female rights and oppression, blurred gender traits, insecure sexuality and the cyclical nature of racism and sexism.
-
- What feelings did this incident bring up for you?
- This movie brought me to tears several times, created rage and anger, and in the end, I mourned for the characters that this movie represented in actual life.
- What and/or who would have to change in order to turn this incident into an opportunity for greater equity?
- This movie can be used as a very powerful teaching tool on oppression, racism, sexism and so much more. We cannot erase the past, but we can learn from it. Being born after the civil rights movement, I ave not experienced racism on this level, however, learning about it is a crucial step in not repeating it.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression
Exploring the concept that personal biases as well as institutional prejudices are sources of inequities and oppression, and that bias and prejudice themselves are learned...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Amy:
ReplyDeleteJust as media, literature, and popular culture can perpetuate bias, it can also educate us on the experience of others. It provides an opportunity to start a conversation with a larger audience. It can inspire us through by showing us the potential of human nature or spur us to demand change by bringing injustices out of the shadows.
Thank you for sharing your insights,
LouAnn
Amy,
ReplyDeleteI am fond of telling my children that history often repeats itself. Your thoughts about "The Color Purple" are similar to mine when I think of Alex Hailey's book, "Roots". If society can take heed of the lessons learned during the civil rights movement, we can prevent ourselves from repeating our mistakes. Every human being deserves a just and bright existence.
Thank you for reminding me of the importance of literature and media in my own quest for understanding!
Teri
Amy,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the name of the movie with us. The most important thing is never to be depressed and to feel down of who we are, but instead to turn the challenges and tensions that we face because of our race or family culture into opportunities for professional and personal growth.
Amy,
ReplyDeleteThis movie is a great example of oppression, sexism, and more. I have seen it and it definitely portrays harsh realities, some of which still exist. Thank you for bringing it to the attention to any of our classmates who are unfamiliar with it.
Caitlyn
Anger... That use to be my typical attitude to dress my oppression and inferiority complex. Today I work on my self-esteem, and I take everything in a different way. Also, is not in my mind is in others. Do not forget that!
ReplyDelete