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From: mjm@ahimsa.intel.COM (Marjorie Panditji)
Newsgroups: soc.feminism
Subject: racism/sexism in all of us
Message-ID: <m0jVYI7-00006sC@intelhf.hf.intel.com>
Date: 24 Apr 91 16:19:48 GMT
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Hillel posts this quote and asks for reactions:

> Becky Thompson, a sociology and women's studies professor, in a
> teaching manual distributed by the American Sociological Association
> writes: "I begin my course with the basic principle that in a racist,
> classist and sexist society we have all swallowed oppressive ways of
> being, whether intentionally or not.  Specifically, this means that it
> is not open to debate whether a white student is racist or a male
> student is sexist.  He/she simply is."  -- From the April issue of
> "Forbes"

I would agree with this quote.  I think that as I white, I am racist
at some times.  I have to consciously work against this subconscious
bias.  As a woman, I am sexist at some times.  I have seen instances
in myself where racist or sexist attitudes came out in my actions, and
sometimes I have not seen them myself, but had others point them out
to me.

I think that we all are sexist and racist to some degree.  I believe
that we should work proactively to fight against these stereotypes.

Did anyone ever see that movie where a writer poses as a Jew?  (forgot
the name, it was made in the 30s or 40s, I think) It has some of the
same parallels in it.  He comments that it is not just the "bad
people" who discriminate against Jews.

I can only remember a couple incidents from the movie.  In one, child
was accused of being a Jew.  The mother comforted her son and said,
no, it wasn't true, without ever questioning the underlying concept
that being a Jew was somehow inferior.  The character in the movie
pointed out that not questioning this concept was some evidence of the
person's biases.  In another scene, someone comments that they wish
they were not a Jew.  Again, this buys into the assumption that being
a Jew is not desireable.

I know I am not doing justice to this movie at all, but if someone can
post the name of it, I would recommend it.  Not all the parallels hold
to racist and sexist attitudes, but overall it is a very good analogy.

I also would suggest classes in cross-cultural communication.  Until
you have experienced some of your own racist/sexist stereotypes, you
will never believe that you are in any way racist/sexist.  But just
because we may have some of these stereotypes does not mean that we
cannot overcome them, we just should be aware of them and work to
counter them.

--
Marjorie Panditji, Intel Corporation, (503) 696-2197
mjm@ahimsa.intel.com  -or-  uunet!intelhf!ahimsa!mjm