Racist, Sexist, and Class Oppressive Societies are Created Over Many Years

Racism is not defined as "individual acts of meanness."  All "-isms" are defined as a SYSTEM which advantages one group over another (sometimes this "advantage" is defined as "power").  Just as sexism advantages men over women and classism advantanges those "who have more than enough" over "those who do not have enough," racism advantages people of white European descent over people of color.  The term "people of color" is a political phrase grouping folks based on such categories as marginalization in society, ethnic minority status, and lack of power in the larger social structure of laws, politics, land owning, corporations, etc., not actual skin color, or actual "numbers" as the word "minority" might imply.

These ADVANTAGES or "privileges" are best defined by Peggy McIntosh in her paper , "White Privilege:  Unpacking the Inivisible Knapsack." http://www.nymbp.org/reference/WhitePrivilege.pdf  They are not asked for, often unknown, and notoriously not noticed, however, they DO EXIST.  Power and privilege is created within a societal system.  Those that have it, don't typically notice unless it is pointed out.  Those that do not have it, know all too well what it looks like and what they can and cannot do or have access to.

A SYSTEM is when cultural norms benefit one group over another, as when Christian observances are marked on a calendar (or officially taken as a day off), but the same benefit (privilege) is not given to Jewish observances.

A SYSTEM is when laws (or rules) directly benefit one group, and not another.  Laws are particularly problematic because their impact can continue for generations.  For example, if your ancestors were taken from their land (African), or their land was taken from them (Native American), or they were not allowed to buy land (people of color) because of "red lining," then the advantages of owning land, building equity, using that equity to create a business or send a child to college, were not available.  The impact of land owning (or lack of it) trickles down from generation to generation.  

This video has an excellent summary of some legislation that advantaged people of white European descent, while disadvantaging people of color - and land owning is only a small part.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFjKQVZLk1g

Sweatshops

Women's work" THEN (garment factories)…

And NOW (Rana Plaza, Bangladesh)…

QUESTIONS:

• What is "fair trade"?
• What laws were put into place to protect workers after Triangle Shirtwaist Company fire?
• Where are factories located now (there are NONE in the U.S.)?
• How much were people paid (or not paid) in the past and now?
• What is made at the Bangladesh factory (Gap jeans was a major company)?
• Which companies were involved in Bangladesh (Walmart wouldn't increase pay to 35 cents!)?
• What can YOU do?

(Nudity) A model's response - BUY AMERICAN
http://www.elephantjournal.com/2014/03/topless-american-apparel-ad-goes-after-sweatshop-labor-nudity/

Feminism

This video made me cry.  It's the perfect song - We ARE the Champions!  The meaning behind it is priceless.

 

Here's another video (same company).  

 

Here's what a friend of mine said about the video.  

Hmmm. I really like that she is making engineering toys for girls, but really, why not just simply engineering toys? I hate that she says she is busting the stereotype, and still making these pink, and princess and girly. As a little girl I spent a lot of time constructing houses and castles out of blocks and Lincoln logs. I made furniture for my barbies with real hammers and wood and nails. My best friend and I made ourselves a little table and a couple stools out of wood scraps using my Dad's tools. I needed access to the tools, I didn't need them to be pink. Don't "pink" our girls, give them the real stuff, the same stuff you give the boys! This makes me sad.  My daughter used my tools, and her grandfathers' tools, and now she has designed and built sets for dance and theater productions. That's the real stuff!

She has a point.  And now remember that very young BOYS get plastic (not real) tools.  I gave my five children all the toys, no matter what their gender, and the girls still wanted to play house and pull dolls in a wagon, while the boys dumped it over and spun the wheels.  

I like that the "engineering toys" for girls come in attractive colors and with books, because the reasoning is sound in this society.  It may not be genetic, but social pressure, images, and other factors play into girls not being interested in engineering and having certain play practice - and here is a toy that uses research to draw girls in!  

Um, sorry, that sounded snarky, and that's not how I meant it. It's good that she is getting these toys into the hands of little girls who might not get them otherwise. I know there are Moms and Dads out there who feel like little girls must be frilly princesses. It just makes me sad that this might be the only way that some kids will get to experience the joy of creating something with their imagination, solving the puzzle of how to achieve it using only the materials at hand.

And now think about all those parents (and kids) who don't expose girls to and "real" tools.  Then view the video above again, and look for tools.

Look What Companies Support Gay Rights!

Yes, please boycott Oreo for their support of Gay Rights. While you’re at it, please also throw away your iPod, iPhone, and iPad since Apple supports as well. Hopefully you have lots of clothes, because you’ll need to ditch your Levi’s and Nike’s too. Perhaps you bought them at ... JC Penney’s or Sears? You’ll have to take them back. Flying somewhere soon? Better not be on American, Delta, Southwest, or United…you’ll need a new ticket. Airline wasn’t mentioned? Just be sure your jet isn’t Boeing made. Don’t sleep at Marriott or Hilton (or any of their family brands) because you might catch the gay rights they support. That morning coffee from Starbucks will have to go as well, go ahead replace it with a McCafe…oh wait, McDonald’s supports gay rights too. Hmm, do you clean with Tide, Gain, or Bounty? Use Duracell batteries, shave with Gillette, or use Fixodent? Brush with Crest, use Pantene, Scope, Tampax, Venus, or Old Spice products? Those are all gone too. Proctor & Gamble supports Gay rights. Darn, you’re using Internet Explorer or Chrome to see Facebook and read this status? Download something else, Microsoft and Google show their Pride as well. Ah, but your drinks are safe. Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Budweiser are on your side … if your side is on the right side of history since all three also support Gay Rights. Hopefully, you or your lawyer will never need in-depth research. Both LexisNexis and West-law, who together control the market, support Gay Rights. Drive that big, manly, Ford F350? It’s a "Friend of Dorothy" too, as it’s company Ford and General Motors also support the rights of all. So, do us all a favor, don’t take it all out on a festive cookie … just stay home and boycott everything.

Social Activism

Young Adult Social Activists:  http://www.visualnews.com/2012/03/26/young-adults-the-future-of-social-activism/?utm_source=VisualNews&utm_campaign=ba8e3ce5c5-RSS_EMAIL&utm_medium=email

* 7 in 10 American young adults are social activists.
* 1 in 2 donate time to support the causes he or she cares about.
* 1 in 3 boycotts or supports a business based on the causes he or she cares about.
* 1 in 5 participates in a rally or meeting, or contacts their local representative.
* 3 in 5 are female, and 3 of 5 of all activists are educated and working.

It can also be said that this group are activist consumers. They’re more likely to purchase from a company that supports a cause they care about (if price and quality were equal), and they want companies to take action. They believe corporations should create economic value for society by addressing its needs. If a corporation is able to take the wants of this group to heart, not only will they think more highly of a company that supports a social cause, but they would also be more apt to seek employment with a company that does so.

Group Work is Important

A cool video (pun, pun, pun!) to show the importance of cooperation, community, and teamwork!

How to change organizational culture?  This is interesting - about changing the culture of the workplace/business, but applicable to other venues as well.  Click on link to see all the details (I've only summarized here).

1. Become aware of the culture. Pay attention to shared values, the way people express themselves (particularly their language), and the stories they tell about their success and failures.
2. Assess your current culture. Start by creating three lists:
   • What should stay?
   • What should go?
   • What is missing?
3. Envision a new culture.  Rather than simply complain about what is, begin to image what could be.
4. Share the vision with everyone. Culture will not change unless you cast a vision for something new.
5. Get alignment from your leadership team.  Get buy in.
6. Model the culture you want to create. The culture of a company is the behavior of its leaders. If you change their attitudes, their values, their beliefs, their behaviors, you will change your culture. If you don’t, you will fail.