-ISMS

I have a midterm due in one of my labor studies classes. It's called Race, Class, Gender, and Work. I love this class, and I have no idea why I'm having so much trouble with the single essay midterm. I understand the concepts well. It's an online course, and I've had a lot to say in every forum. I'm using this forum just to regroup my thoughts I suppose. Plus educating others gives me a better sense of what's important.

I won't bother you with my actual essay question. I'll just vent a little, and hopefully come up with something to write that I can send to my professor.

I don't think most people even realize the way this society functions, even when it is against his or her own race, class, or gender, and if they do, they don't realize what caused it. I truly believe most of the problem lies in the government by the elite, and media does an injustice in not reporting things as they really are. Instead, they report in ways to divide people.

I'll start with some of the terms. "Other" is a broad term of individuals that don't fit the status quo- usually upper middle to upper class whites with systems of oppression that marginalize, exclude, subordinate certain groups. Invisibility is the denial that "others" exist, to put it simply, but really, certain people can spend their lives without thought of "others". It's only when "others" are in their realm that they notice, and then it's more of a sense of "What are THEY doing here?" Missing person/people is related to that- an absence of certain "others" in larger institutions. Invisible histories is that of "others" that the general population doesn't know about, which is why I'm a huge supporter of any kind of educational festival or MONTH that teaches these. Silencing is a way to keep people, especially different groups of "others" apart. I believe media does that a lot.

The hierarchies of society have been here since the country was a country. The racial hierarchy starts with whites. I've seen several different ideas of the order of the other races, but somehow Asians (seen as the "model minority" possibly?) are usually next, and African Americans are usually at the bottom. The gender, class, and sexual orientation hierarchies are pretty obvious. Most people aren't looked at as one particular trait. So where does a poor white heterosexual girl fit in? A lower middle class homosexual Japanese man? A rich heterosexual black man?

I think our government has always been in "divide and conquer" mode. Our nation always has to have an enemy, not only militarily, but socially. We love scapegoats. It goes right along with our lack of taking responsibility for anything. The fear for the government is for all people to unite and demand a true democracy- one by the people for the people, not for the rich, for the corporations. Our wealth gap is heading toward the likes of Mexico. How long until we have to move to Canada to find jobs? I'm thinking about it- that universal health care sounds pretty good. Media pushes their own agenda. Unity is not one of them. Who owns the media?

It's not part of the essay, but I have to ask... How do you break down stereotypes? How do you get people to UNLEARN hate? Is there a way to mass educate people about the "others"? Would that be enough to end the -isms of the nation?