Stereotypes, Media, and Identity

The community that I currently find myself identifying with is that of female and daughter. My role in this community is to become educated, get married, have children, and achieve as much as possible. My behaviors have been influenced by gender roles and Catholic school. At first I was brought up on fairy tell stories, where every girl dreams of her wedding and being a princess. Then when I went to an all-female college preparatory, I was taught that women can achieve, become educated, and have the family and the job. All of this has made me want family but want success also.

Images are crucial in society because they can either portray the truth of a group or individual, or that image can portray a stereotype. In _Perspectives on Justice_ by Doris Marie Provine (2010) there is an article called “The Power of Images” by Majorie S. Zatz and Coramae Richey Mann. Zatz and Mann state that:

“The media play very important roles in portraying members of some groups as normal and others as Other. In particular, films and television programs use the power of visual images to create and reinforce stereotypic imagesof Others as scary or different”(Provine; p. 139).

Gender can often be that “Other” that Zatz describes. As “Sexual Stereotypes in the Media” states gender stereotypes in the media goal may not be to wound the gender it is stereotyping, but often can make people feel like they are different and not the same as the norm. Often women are stereotyped as someone who needs to be saved or only gratifies other through selfless devotion or sexually.

My image would be one that does not portray stereotypes but that of what is often untold: the normal mixed, woman, educated, successful, dressed professional, and leading a business meeting among attorneys at her firm. I would hope young women would see this image and know that they do not have to seek attention with sex, as the media portrays, or that they do not have to only be the housewife and mother.

Culture also plays a huge role in media stereotyping. “Fertile Matters: The Politics of Mexican-Origin Women’s Reproduction” by Elenea R. Gutierrez pointed out the difference among images and cultures. I never thought about how different stereotypes are associated with different countries. While the American stereotype is often one of the women house wife that has many children; the Mexican stereotype is something completely different. Gutierrez expresses that woman in Mexico stand against the “overpopulation stereotype”. Many are forced or talked into being sterilized. Gutierrez explored this idea of overpopulation to American stereotype, “On the one side we have a culture concerned with overpopulation. On the other is a culture that ‘highly values a woman’s ability to procreate a family’” (Provine; p. 152).

When exploring the concept of social identity, I found it both bitter yet sweet. I thought about stereotypes that fall on these communities, communities fight for rights, and privileges gained from communities. For example the article “Assistance and Treatment” by Jaquline Vaugn Switzer we find that stereotypes such as “pathetic”, “evil”, “criminal”, “his or her own worst enemy” are often portrayed to the handicap by the media (Provine; p. 155). The media, stereotypes, and the lack of appropriate policies can be tormenting to social identity. But then I look at movements, groups, and the fight for change, and realize the importance of social identity. There is importance in knowing that there are people out there like you, and that can fight for change and acceptance along-side of you. The other day I watched an episode of “Home Makeover” where a handicapped man in a wheel chair was featured. They portrayed the handicap as strong, athletic, and kind. The man had even won a medal in the Olympics. I also watch a family member who has Down syndrome and has won many medals in his bowling league. These things have shown me that there are also certain benefits to being part of a group, and being able to identify with a social identity.

Power is important because it gives people a voice that is heard. We often hear that there is ‘power in numbers’ and it is true. When people come together and form an organization, or a group they are able to fight for change, or relate to each other through circumstance; often giving each other strength and confidence.




REFERENCES

Provine, D, Chapple, R, Gray, K, Sefiha, O, & Walker, M. (2010). Perspectives on justice. Dubuque: Kendall Hunt Publishing Company.

Sexual Stereotypes in the Media. Films Media Group, 0. Films On Demand. Web. 27 February 2011. .

IMAGE REFERENCES

Alley mcbeal. [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.listal.com/viewimage/35795

Disney, . (Artist). Disney princess. [Web]. Retrieved from http://fliiby.com/file/16393/6pi622qp1a.html

Johnson, L. (Producer). (2011). American mothers inc arizona association. [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.azmothers.com/

Silvia, . (Photographer). (2009). Women’s glib. [Web]. Retrieved from http://womensglib.wordpress.com/2009/02/09/feminist-and-latina-no-way/

Uncle , F. (Designer). (2011). Catholic girls: are they bad girls. [Web]. Retrieved from http://unclefrank69.blogspot.com/

Human Rights

“Constitutional rights” are rights that are given to you at birth by birthplace. “Human rights” are legal rights that allow people to have essential human worth and security. Humans are given these rights just by being born a human being. Our readings for week four described “human rights” differing from many others in the fact that the rights hold four main features: “inherent”, “universal”, “inalienable”, and “indivisible”. In having these main features these rights prove that they are rights of all born human despite religion, creed, or sex that human is. “Constitutional rights” instead are the rights that pertain to the rights given to a citizen. These rights are defined in the Constitution. Though someone’s race and sex cannot take away their constitutional rights, someone’s citizenship can. These two ideas intersect by giving people birth given rights and protection under the law.

After playing the victim of human rights violations “Against All Odds” I feel like there need to be more protections in place. More laws and alliances may help protect citizens of country’s who are violating “human rights”. Right now the UN often helps in human rights violations of universal law. The laws are stated in the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights”. Our protections are not effective because when there are human right violations it often goes unreported. Human rights violations often produce fear which can be another thing to overcome when reporting. An additional reason that makes it difficult to find human rights violations and stop them is that it is not the UN’s responsibility to uphold these rights. As week four readings state, “[t]he obligation to protect, promote and ensure the enjoyment of human rights is the prime responsibility of States, thereby”.

To assure peoples’ protection against human rights violations, there needs to be more ways to handle such violations. There need to be more people working on the inside, and giving information to the UN and peace keepers. It is also important that there is an understanding of human needs and interest, without this we will not know what the people need, in order to feel like their needs are met. We already have assemblies where leaders come and make treaties, and promise peace. We need more truth in these peace treaties, and more responsibility taken when peace is not accomplished and human rights are ignored.

The “human rights” game I played was a lot like the “road to citizenship” game played whereas both faced many difficulties that they had to surpass. Having to escape from persecution was difficult, and then having to come here as an outsider was even harder. The citizenship game was much the same when fighting for citizenship. I often did not know the answers too many of the questions, besides someone seeking citizenship, and hoping for a better life. In “Against All Odds” I had to get beaten, escape from being imprisoned, give up my rights, leave behind possessions, leave behind family, leave friends, pay for my deportation out of the country, and enter a country where I was labeled an outsider”.

Yes, it is a fair criticism to state that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is culture-bound and limited to the time of year in which it was written because as Doris Marie Provine (2010) states in _Perspectives on Justice_ the definition of human rights has changed over time. Therefore, it is not helpful to the people if these laws and declarations do not also evolve. Rights to having a job, a home, and to have a family do not define human rights to many anymore. What many define as human rights are now called “individual rights” (p. 66).

In my opinion a lot can be done to raise awareness for the issues dealing with injustices. Provine (2010) explains ways to raise awareness through “civil disobedience” and “using moral example to make a point” (p. 67). Often, through disobedience (as Rosa Park showed through sitting on a bus and refusing to be removed) the need for human rights protection can be pointed out. When people act out with non-violence they can point to atrocities, and can lead in awareness without violence.

REFERENCE
Provine, D, Chapple, R, Gray, K, Sefiha, O, & Walker, M. (2010). Perspectives on justice. Dubuque: Kendall Hunt Publishing Company.

IMAGE REFERENCE
Rhymes for rights. (2008). [Web]. Retrieved from http://wiki.provisionslibrary.org/blog/index.php/category/call-for-entries/