Structured Inequality

[gem2niki]

Does anyone (including RL friends) mind being interviewed or have the time to be interviewed on structured inequality? I have to write a paper due next week...

I'm not sure who to ask, and it's supposed to be someone from a "diverse group".
Basically I'll be interviewing about these:

1) State you ethnic/culture (this could be also on sexual orientation, gender, social class, education, age, etc)
2) origin and nature of inequality
3) historical, social, political, economic process involved
4) stress involved as a result of inequality
5) what is being done to reduce stress
6) actions that could have been done

So yeah...if you feel you could answer these questions, please leave a comment.
Thanks.

Comments

[kixies.livejournal.com]

*huggles* Good luck on your project! I'd answer, but I don't think there have been any status problems. Being an asian in California isn't that difficult. If anything, just people saying asian women can't drive... but that's true ;D

[gem2niki.livejournal.com]

Yea true~~I can't think of my own inequality since I've grown up in such accepting diversity T_T;;

[gem2niki.livejournal.com]

Ouu *O* I'll look through this a bit more and yea, e-mail if needed. Thanks Pati~!

It's Susan!

[dreigen.livejournal.com]

Sure, I'll help out! I'm waiting for Tony to wake up anyway (lazy head=P) so we can go out for lunch.

1) State your ethnic/culture
Chinese, Straight, Female, Middle-Class, Graduate Degree, 25 years, Female, CANADIAN!!!!!

2) origin and nature of inequality and
3) historical, social, political, economic process involved
I think "inequality" is a modern term that's only been around for the last few centuries. I think before, it was always seen as something that was just the natural order of things. For example, England HAD to conquer other civilivations or they would conquer her. The Rich had to keep the Poor in order because otherwise "the poor would not know how to survive". Feudal lords had to watch over their serfs because "they couldn't know how to take care of themselves". Servants and Slaves worked their ass off because if they didn't, they would starve, get beatened, and die.

I think Capitalism is one reason why there is such a focus on equality now a days. "If I just work a little harder, a little smarter, I can be as happy/successful as my neighbour" "If I can just make my invention succeed or make my new business succeed, I can be as happy/successful/rich as Trump" "If I'm not asian or a woman, maybe I can make more money than the white guy next door. Wait a second, why does that have to be?? That's not right!! We should do something about this. Everyone should be equal" etc.

Capitalism makes us equate the pursuit of happiness with being compared favorably to other groups of people because "if I'm doing well, that must mean someone else is not doing well but so be it, I would rather he do worse than me." I think Capitalism and the way society is structured makes us have to win at all cost because if you're not the winner, then you are the loser and there is no middle ground. What does that mean? That you try to keep the 'losers' down. Racism, Sexism, Making fun of your sexuality, that's all ways to try to make you feel better about yourself because that's what this society urges us to do.

4) stress involved as a result of inequality
The feeling of being inadequate or not being worthy and can't change anything about it. I studied a lot of 20th century english literature in school and one of the common themes was the feeling of being 'fractured' of trying to be someone you're not and the theme of an unattainable goals...of always trying and trying to get that one thing that will make you happy but never ever reaching it. HEh. A lot of folks died at the end of these novels because they couldn't stand it. Worse, a lot of these books had no ending without even a death because there was no hope of things ever being resolved.

5) what is being done to reduce stress
You mean on a personal level? Just be happy with the moment. Moving to CA was a big shock because there were SO many spanish people and not as many asians. I felt out of place. I have no income so am a housewife to speak. I just had to get out of the house and do my own things. I guess working with cats is very stress reducing because there's no inequality with animals =P I also work in a homeless kitchen two times a month which helps too because you give a little something back so others can find a bit of humanity in themselves. They get shelter, food, and folks who don't look down on them.

This is also another way to reduce stress if you look at it from the societal level: just having shelters and giving folks a place to stay and feel good about themselves reduces their stress so they can move on and hopefully not need the shelter anymore. Volunteerism I think goes a long way because it is not included in the capitalist framework.

6) actions that could have been done
You mean legislations? I think eventually, there will be so many legislations that everyone will be equal on paper no problem. The things is, we as humans cannot live like this. So somewhere out there, someone will be a racist or a homophobe. The only thing to change their perspective is to have someone work with them one-on-one and show them that, for example, asians or african americans aren't who they think they are. I love the 30 Day show. I wish there were more episodes.

My goodness, I typed a lot!!!!! I'd better stop now. TONY WOKE UP!!!