November Blog Post

November Blog Post

Jessika Ruggles

The statement that stood out to me immediately in Cross-Culture Diversity, was “Time tends to be viewed of as a commodity in North America, something valuable that must be well used and not wasted.” Many problems may arise from culture to culture, seeing how every culture sees time differently. People in North American culture tend to want to achieve results faster and may neglect the time to build relationships. I even see this is my everyday life with class work and some teachers. Teachers tend to be so concerned with the results and speed of their students versus the students taking the time to learn and grow at their own rate, that the student may be jeopardizing their own education.

This opens my eyes to the way I would rather have my life structured as opposed to the way is it now. I’ve never truly noticed that we tend to not “waste” and time and “maximise productivity” (140)  rather than enjoy life for what it is. Not having every second planned out and filled with something would promote a more relaxing and healthy lifestyle. The article was also discussing how North Americans typically are very present oriented and don’t tend to focus on building relationships. We are a very individualistic culture and can sometimes get wrapped up into our daily routine that we forget others exist around us. I recently had an experience that opened my eyes to the endless opportunities of helping others.

Sunday at the grocery store I was asked by this older woman for some help. She was staying at the VA for PTSD from being a nurse in the army. She didn’t have a car while staying here for care. This woman had asked me for a ride back to the VA as her bags were heavier than she had expected. At first I was hesitant to say yes, however something was drawing this women and I together. I think that this world needs people to be more compassionate and caring and more away from skepticism. I said that I would love to give this woman a ride. I am very glad that I did and it was an amazing, eye opening experience for me. This women taught me more than I think she knows. She taught me that I needed to get out of my bubble of safety and open myself up to more opportunities. She also taught me, that in this busy, self- centered world, there is always time to help others. I have been humbled by this experience and believe that I choose to live this way, I will lead a more full filled life.

This article correlates with our class because it  goes to show that everyone has a different way of doing things. One isn’t better than the other, but we can certainly learn from the successes of others. The link that I have attached is from Harvard Business Review that discusses different cultures and how time is perceived and less of a strict schedule, but a guideline for when things will happen. Each society has a set way of doing things and it is very interesting to learn about the correlations and the similarities.

https://hbr.org/2016/05/different-cultures-see-deadlines-differently

November Blog Post

I believe now more than ever it is important to be an ally. This was true even before Trump became the president elect. With him winning the presidency though, this proves that our nation is okay with turning a blind eye to bigotry and the hatred of minorities. Minority groups need to know that there are people who they can turn to, people who are willing to listen to their voice. Allies can truly never understand the pain, because as an ally we are not members. As an ally though we can open our arms and welcome those who feel rejected. We can support those who fighting a just and valid cause in our nation to be thought of as equals.

It is hard for me to believe that their are people who chose to be an ally for fame. I know that people will do anything for the attention. It saddens me though that people don't do the work and are okay to take all the credit. The thing I have to blame for such selfish behavior is social media. Social media makes it so easy to appear one way, but in reality be the complete opposite. I think it is important for us as members of this society to weed out those people. Don't call them out point blank, because who are we to do that if even we haven't made mention to the cause? What we can do though is start taking action. If you see something that is truly upsetting you speak up, act out, and get involved. I know that at first I was a little hesitant to stand next to my friend when she decided to go into to drag. I lived in Idaho, one of the most conservative places in the world (at least it feels like it). I knew though that I cared deeply for Shaun. I wanted to support him, so I got out there I helped him with some of her first looks, and I walked him in marches. It took me out of my comfort zone completely, but I knew I was standing up for something I knew was right. Doing that made me feel empowered, made me feel happy. I was supporting someone I knew I cared about, and knew that my support meant the world to him. He didn't have to stand alone anymore, and he was so much more outgoing having his little support group with him.

It's important to make people feel like they are not alone. We shouldn't just want to do it for what rewards may come our way if we stand up. We should want to do it for those we love, for the future, and those who have sacrificed a lot before us. As an ally we should never lose the passion that ignited our fight. I know when Shaun moved away I stopped going to a lot of events. I know that I am not as active in the community as when I first started, but I know I still have the passion to fight and stand with the LGBTQ+  community. I think that's what is most important, that as allies we stay passionate and we are always welcoming to those who feel threatened and rejected because of who they are.

November Post, Brent Houston

It was fascinating hearing Judith Butler's views on family.  Referring to a chosen family as "fictive" it might seem that Butler is calling a chosen family less legitimate than a real family.  However, when you couple this idea with Butler's idea that gender is performative, you realize the truth about her views: EVERYTHING IS PERFORMATIVE.

It can be so easy as part of a culture to not realize that a certain viewpoint or practice isn't universal. Culture is an incredibly powerful and often stealthy force in the formation of identity and worldview.  We use our cultural perspective to create our own space to fit in.  Even when we are purposefully in opposition to the cultural constructs around us, we are letting the existence of that construct define us.

Calling something, such as family or gender, performative isn't a way to minimize its importance.  It is a way of understanding our own agency with society.   Through realizing that culture (or counter-culture) is a performance, we then realize the difference between the inherent scientific properties of the universe and those properties of society that arise because we are attempting to create a semblance of order.

The truth of the matter is that every individual has the ability to perform in the manner that best suits him or herself.  To borrow some ideas from Sartre: when life is a choice, when radical freedom is embraced- we take responsibility for our own actions and make the best of them.  The constructs in your culture may or may not suit you, but realize that whatever performance you choose is only made possible through their existence.

November Blog – Stereotypes

“Stereotypes-easy conclusions about people that reduce them from unique individuals to predictable types – can be both pervasive and persuasive.” (Warren & Fassett, 2011)

            Stereotyping is something that everyone does. Most of the time it is not out of malus but, to save our brains form being overworked by all of the information that bombards us on a daily basis. Unfortunately, this can have negative repercussions on the people around us. We can get to comfortable generalizing information for our lazy brains that it can transfer over to over generalizing people. Like this quote says, we take a unique person and make them fit into a box that does not accommodate them.

            Psychology Today has an article called “Where Bias Begins: The Truth About Stereotypes”.  It talks about how everyone has bias and even if you believe you view people equally, you don’t. These are unconscious reactions that have been studied for years and supported by science. There is very little we are able to do about this unconscious categorization until we learn where it comes from. There are other studies that are being done on this topic.

            Until we know how to stop stereotyping, we can make a conscious chose to not always trust our first judgment when it comes to people. It is difficult to make it and think about how you feel when most of your identity is striped from you so that you can be grouped in a nice little box.

            Our book covers this subject in two or three different sections. We also have several discussions throughout the semester that relate to our own stereotyping.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/199805/where-bias-begins-the-truth-about-stereotypes

November Blog Post- Kambri Smith

      

 Examining our Relationship Influence Within Culture

        The focus of the connection between identity and perception was one of the main topics presented in Christina Ivey’s COMM 160 class. In the beginning of the lecture, we watched a video called "Monkey Business Illusion" where we were told to count how many white shirted people came into view. The main point of this video is not what we saw, but what we didn’t see. When I was counting how many white shirted people there were, I missed the changing colored curtains in the background and a giant gorilla jumping around on the screen. Professor Ivey’s main point was that people focus on one thing and end up missing everything else in the picture, based on there perception. Bringing this idea full circle, back to perception, we tend to miss elements in relationships we have with one another. Just focusing on one thing about a person can narrow the view that we see of that person in our minds. Now, treating a person like a jar, there is a certain way we start to get to know them. We first learn about the “big rocks”, things that are defining values and beliefs. From then on, small rocks represent smaller big items and then you fill the jar with sand. The sand represents all the small details when you get to know that person further. Ivey quoted Martin Buber, who is pictured below, in the 4 reasons to study relationships and understanding important aspects of them. When we begin to understand how relationships work, we can begin to understand there effect in culture.

      
      Buber’s 4 Reasons to Study Relationships:

          1. “Something unique and important in…relationships.”

          2. “Fluid and unpredictable.” (IDENTITY isn’t SOLID)

          3. “Ethic responsibility.”

          4. “We must meet the other person.”

        Each of these ideas helps us begin to understand that person more by really diving deep, using critical thinking especially to really dissect these ideas. Every relationship is different but there are aspects of understanding how a well-developed relationship looks like that we can really apply to our daily lives. Learning specifically about being open vs closed off, and the purpose of self-disclosure, are effects that I can contribute to a relationship that can make a difference in interactions. For myself, every relationship so is extremely unique with unpredictable behavior from that other person. Even with people I have known my entire life, they still surprise me. To become close to someone, one must show themselves trustworthy and show a genuine care for that other person. In the second photo, this is a photo showing a level of connection that take part in the physical connection between two people. This is the type of relationship that goes beyond the big and smaller rocks.

     Taking this a step further, I truly believe the relationship that you have with another human being can affect culture. Growing up, you are taught how to work in a group and how to develop friendships on the playground. Those skills we take and expand as we grow in life but those interactions affect the way we work with others. Relationships with family members, friends, schoolmates, people from outside functions are the main stepping stones of creating a web of relationships. You can cause a chain reaction through those people which have webs of their own. As they affect others, the web of connection and communication widens.

     The main point is this; relationships are beautiful in their own way, each unique. Although different, aspect of these relationships are the same and by knowing how to navigate this harsh terrain can broaden the level of connection we can have with another person. The difference  we can make in the world by getting closer to one another, especially in a technology dominated world, can start to brighten the world we live in. We all can create a chain reaction by how we choose to interact!

November post - Hobby Aljohar

My favorite reading this month is “So You Call Yourself an Ally: 10 Things All ‘Allies’ Need to Know.”, by Jamie Utt. One of the most powerful lines for me is, tip nine; “When Criticized or Called Out, Allies Listen, Apologize, Act Accountably, and Act Differently Going Forward.”.

I think that this advice is so important, so many “allies” argue, as Utt demonstrated earlier in the piece, about how they aren’t really racist, or how it’s okay because, or to lay off, etc. But when someone feels oppression all day every day, each micro-aggression is important, maybe not to the *eye-roll, self -ally, but to the person who has to endure endless oppression, it is a big deal. And if one identifies as an ally, then said person should be doing their damnedest, not only to not add to that stress, but to fight oppression as well.

The fact that Utt is a white man, and I would guess cys and possibly straight, as well as able-bodied, and writing this piece is interesting to me. Partially because he is the embodiment of privilege, writing about being an ally, there is some irony here. But also, this information sadly has to come from a privileged mouth in order for so called “allies” to hear it, rather than to dismiss it; as allies often do, when criticism comes from those who they are supposed to be hearing.

Back home, in Saudi I am the one who holds privilege.  I am male, and Sunni Muslim, I come from a two parent home, I do not engage in same sex relations, and my body is able. I see oppression in Saudi every day, and I never imagined that someday I would be on the other end. Here in America, yes I am a man, and my body is still able, but I’m also Arab, I’m also not a Christian, whether I choose to strictly practice Islam or not; the way I am perceived does not change.

I have had to adjust, to learn and to unlearn. I have had to educate myself, and I am not perfect in my new role, but I am trying.

Here, I am treated differently, not by everybody, but by many, strangers especially. And I do have “ally” friends, who I hear say racist things, and who also get very defensive when called on it. It’s exhausting having to point out each and every micro-aggression, (check out; "I Recorded The Racist Things People Said & Did To Me For 2 Weeks.” By Jacobsen). Everyday Feminism and sometimes feels as if it is not worth the fight, but, the status quo will never change, unless we never quit fighting.

Works Cited:

Utt, Jamie. "So You Call Yourself an Ally: 10 Things All 'Allies' Need to Know." Everyday Feminism. N.p., 01 July 2014. Web. 01 Dec. 2016.

Jacobsen, Margaret E. "I Recorded The Racist Things People Said & Did To Me For 2 Weeks." Romper. N.p., 19 Dec. 2015. Web. 01 Dec. 2016.

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November Blog  Racial Discrimination in Organizations:

During this month our readings included a Case Study article written by Patricia S. Parker about the Coca Cola organization and a racial discrimination lawsuit that was filed against this Coca Cola a massive corporation known around the world that has been in business since the end of the civil war based in Atlanta Georgia.  The article discusses the racial discrimination was taking place within the company, the attempts by Coca Cola company to resolve the racial discrimination complaints and avoid ruining its good reputation, and the results of the discrimination lawsuit and the follow up requirements placed on Coca Cola to  change the corporate culture.and end racial discrimination. It is my opinion Coca Cola could have avoided this lawsuit if they had been listening to the employees withing their organization of all races.
Coca Cola organization failed to actively listen to the employees who were complaining of racial discrimination or other racial insults and ignored the culture that was developing or continuing in the company. It caused me to think back about the chapter we studied  in the class about active and critical listening and the 4 ethical pitfalls that were pointed out by Dwight Conquergood (1985).  Coca Cola was initially formed in  the south an area of the country where a culture of discrimination against African Americans or Blacks was the norm and therefore many racial discrimination practices went unrecognized. However, as a corporation that was growing developing and moving into all parts of a racially diverse world and selling its product to people of all races they failed to pay attention to the internal racial struggles that were taking place inside Coca Cola.
  They may have fallen into one or more of Conquergood's(1985) ethical pitfalls. For example, their selfish pursuit of financial gain may have prevented them from having meaningful communications about racial problems described by Conquergood as Custodian Rip Off, or perhaps they only heard what they wanted to hear and believed that because they had at least one black executive they had no racial discrimination issues, described by Conquergood as Enthusial Infatuation. It is possible that they failed to recognize the similarities between the employees and the need for equal treatment and instead focused on the differences in employees and sensationalized the culture which Conquergood described as Curators Exhibitionism but I think they most likely engaged in what Conquergood identified as  Skeptics Cop Out believing and accepting cultural beliefs about different races and simply ignoring the problems and refusing to engage in any meaningful discussions or analysis of the racial issues that existed in their corporation and it ultimately caused them to pay big in this lawsuit.
Reference

Conquergood, D. (1985). Performing as a moral act: Ethical dimensions of the ethnography of performance. Literature in Performance, 2(5), 1-13.

November Blog Post

A lot of times we do or say simple things without putting a lot of thought into them. One of those things is claiming to be an ally of a group. This is not something that I had previously put much consideration into, but after reading Jamie Utt’s, So You Call Yourself an Ally: 10 Things All ‘Allies’ Need to Know, I definitely put a second thought into what being an ally really means. The quote from this piece that stood out to me the most was, “The moment that we decide ‘I am an ally’, we’re in trouble”.

            The most important thing I learned from this article is that being an ally is not about a title, it is about your actions. In order to be a good ally, it is important that you are not putting yourself first. Additionally, allies should not choose to align with a group to be recognized as anything, but simply to be supportive and there when people need you. The article also explains that the actions of an ally are measured and recognized in a specific moment, and that allies are not defined by their past actions even if they were positive. For this reason, consistency is one of the most important qualities in an ally.

            Although this article focuses on allies of the LGBT community, there are definitely other places in life that individuals can be allies of a group. One place I see this type of relationship is in sports fans. It is definitely a very different idea from the article, but I think a lot of things match up. Thousands of people claim themselves as fans, but thousands of people also claim themselves as a member of a team which is where the problem lies. For example, many people claim, “I’m a Seahawk” in referring to the idea that they are a fan of the Seattle Seahawks. Even though this is something I am extremely guilty of doing, I think it is definitely a claim that we should be more mindful of using.

Individuals who claim themselves as a member of these teams are not giving credit where credit is due, and sometimes attempt to claim the successes of others. Just like being an ally depends on showing your actions, being a fan relies on actions as well. Fans who stick with a team through and through can definitely identify themselves as loyal, but we all know the many people who only stick with a group through fair weather.

I think this trend is definitely seen in the LGBT ally community as well. When a group works so hard toward a goal but experiences a failure or a roadblock, it is not often that the entire group sticks with it. Those who do would be considered great allies, and those who choose to leave probably would not.

Collectively, it is a lot more difficult to be an ally than we often imagine. Allies have to be okay with giving a lot and taking nothing. They also have to be willing to commit to a group through thick and thin and exemplify actions in each situation and each moment. We don’t have to be an active member of the LGBT community, and we don’t have to be a die hard sports fan to be supportive, but we do need to consider our actions before we claim ourselves as an ally of either.