Author: clarke.364

Text Review: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

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The boy in the striped pajamas. This book has brought me through a wave of emotions. I found myself on the edge of my seat at times, yelling at my screen, and even crying. This film is nearly a masterpiece in my eyes. Bruno, a young naive boy, son to his Nazi father, Ralf, befriended a young Jewish boy in his father’s concentration camp named Shmuel. Through out the movie, the two young boys grow close. Bruno sneaks off to the camp to see his new friend, Shmuel, without his parents knowing, which evidently led to his death. Bruno and Shmuel both sadly died in the gas chamber, holding hands, not knowing what was going on. Before the two died, Bruno told Shmuel that they were only in the gas chamber to take a shower. This ending was unexpected. As I had believed that this would end with the two growing up together, it sadly took a more saddening route. 

In The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, there is both a large gap in injustice and in power. For power, the Nazi’s held all of the power in this siutation. They abused their power by forcing the Jewish into concentration camps, forcing them to become servants, and even killing them just because of their religion. During this time period, Adolf Hitler was the leader of the Nazi party. Convencing many young men and women to kill anyone that was not a Nazi. But, they treated Jewish worse than they treated anyone else. Secondly, Injustice was major because again, Nazis treated Jewish horrible. Almost treating them as if they were old toys destructible  rather than real people. 

I believe that the producer wanted us to understand the importance of how children are born without the idea of injustice and power. Bruno saw Schmuel as just another young boy, but behind a fence. 

Yo, is this Homophobic?

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Homophobia In Society Today

Homophobia is a huge issue that is still occurring in our society. Not only does it occur in America but it is actually happening all over the world. It is seen that “Those in Western Europe are generally more accepting of homosexuality than are those in Eastern Europe, Russia, Ukraine, the Middle-East, and Sub-Saharan Africa”. Many people forget that homophobia still exists and just push it to the back and ignore the fact. With the non-acceptence of gay rights, marriage, etc it only divides our society more. 

 

Effects of Homophobia in Our Society

Many people do not realize what they are doing to others when they are being homophobic. People may feel as if they do not fit in because their peers make them feel different for loving who they choose. It has such a negative effect that people who are homosexual may not even be able to focus or maintain any sort of relationship. Bullying someone about their sexual desires may lead to severe mental illness in many people. It is important to realize when you are saying the wrong thing and acknowledge the effect it has on other people and the consequences you may face. If you experience this kind of discrimination at such a young age it is prone to hurt you even more later in life. These years are crucial to your brain development and the effects of this are endless. 

 

Examples of Homophobia in Our Society

Over the years there have been events that have been held to promote and celebrate gay pride. These events have brought much light to our society and tried to change the world around us. However, there are still many examples out there of homophobia in our society. A few examples of this are common use of slurs. There are many people out there who completely disregard others and think it is okay to use words that would have a negative effect on homosexuals. Another example would be religious agenda against homosexuals. No matter your religion, everyone is an equal person in the world we live in. Not accepting someone based on who they choose to love is a very disgusting reality in our world. 

 

How the Media Can Help the Issue

In most cases the media is not a very good source and can have a negative impact on people. However, the media and internet can actually have positives and negatives with this. The media can be used to spread awareness and make people feel as though they are not alone. There can be groups such as Facebook where people can connect with one another who can relate to them and share their feelings as well. However, social media can lead to cyberbullying. This can have a detrimental effect on a person and it may not leave them feeling even more alone. People can also use social media to show their pride and let everyone know they are happy loving who they love.

 

Homophobia in the Workplace 

For decades, members of the LGBTQ community in the United States have been discriminated against and treated poorly solely for their sexual orientation. This discrimination can exist in all facets of their life, and often in their place of work. People are supposed to feel safe at work, they are supposed to feel as though they are a part of a team working towards a common goal. However, for members of the LGBTQ community, the workplace can often feel like the complete opposite, it can be an environment of hate and discrimination. In the U.S. today, nearly 6% of adults identify as LGBTQ, which is more than ever recorded (Gatusso). However, the constant discrimination, and the fluidity of different people’s experiences of sexuality and gender can make coming out feel like a very difficult process full of meticulous navigation.  In the United States, 90% of transgender people have reported either experiencing workplace discrimination or hiding their identity to avoid it (Gatusso). 

   

In 2013, Gerald Bostock, who worked as a child advocate in Clayton, Georgia, was fired from his job shortly after joining a gay softball league. Bostock lost his source of income and his medical insurance at a time when he was battling prostate cancer. This is a clear act of systemic injustice, Bostick was fired from a job he loved and was good at due to his sexuality. In 2016, Bostick rightfully sued his former employer, a case that would eventually make its way to the supreme court. Thanks to the strength and courage of Bostock and many others who went through similar injustices like his, change was legally made. On June 15th, 2020, the U.S. supreme court ruled that the 1964 Civil Rights Act protects gay, lesbian, and transgender employees from discrimination based on sex. This case is a monumental win for the LGBTQ community as it offers legal protection to any person who is fired for being gay, lesbian, or transgender. 

Although the Supreme Court ruling was an amazing step in the right direction, there is still so much more to be done. It is still very important to fight for equality in smaller-scale battles, including your own workplace. There are a large number of things a company or organization can do to make a workplace more LGBTQ-friendly. Policies such as flexible hours and paid family leave can be extremely beneficial to members of the LGBTQ family, especially to those caring for extended family or parenting solo. It is also extremely important for individual businesses to create employer policies against discrimination to make serve as a basis and to make employs feel more comfortable. Most importantly, straight employees need to create allyship with their fellow LGBTQ colleagues, together they can demand for fair wages and an inclusive and respectful enviornment for LGBTQ employees. The fight against homophobia and for equality is one that does not just involve members of the LGBTQ community, but members of all communities across the nation. In order to achieve equality and put an end to injustice, everyone needs to unite and fight together.  

 

Stereotypes of a Gay Man and Women

    A woman is feminine. They wear dresses and always do their makeup. Men are masculine. They do not wear makeup and they do not cry. Heterosexual men are tough and manly, and gay men are girly and weak. All of these things are obviously incorrect. Men can wear makeup, and women can wear whatever they want. But, today, we will be discussing the gay stereotypes such as gay men are feminine, speak with a higher voice, and are weak, while gay women are masculine and tough. 

    Again, these stereotypes are not true for everyone. Yes, there are gay men and women that perceive themselves to be feminine and masculine, but that is not true for everyone. In fact, a gay person is just like any other heterosexual man or women on earth. There are the obvious feminine heterosexual women that enjoy doing their makeup, singing to “Single Ladies-Beyoncé”, and dancing in the mirror. There are also heterosexual women that enjoy playing video games, weight lifting, and cars. There are heterosexual men that enjoy makeup, and heterosexual men who do not. Stereotypes do not define who a person is, nor does it define the ability that they have.    

 

Stereotypes of Gay Men and Women in the Workplace

Also, we will discuss some of the jobs that may seem to be “stereotypical to both the gays and the lesbians. In many movies, books, and sometimes people assume, many gay men are assumed to be a hairstylist/fashion designer, flight attended, a nurse practictioner, and a producer/director. While on the other hand, gay women are known to be truck drivers, psychologist, adoption case worker, correctional officers, mechanics, and sociologist. Thought, in actuality, both gay men and women have a higher percentage in leaning more towards being a therapist for gender and sexuality, event planner/organizers, civil rights lawyers, and communication specialist. These jobs are much different than the stereotypical arts gay male sterotype and the labor worker gay women. These are jobs meant to better the community they live in. 

In addition to the work environment gay men and women must tolerate, they also sometimes have to concealed their sexuality for the sake of their safety. More often in male dominated jobs, men are found to be more hostile towards gay men. This is because they believe that befriending or being close to a gay male is a threat to their own toxicity. Being friends with a gay male may show people that they, themselves, are gay, which is not true at all. Only a person themselves can determine their own sexuality. But, because many men fear the idea of being “gay”, they sterotype specific people and even bully people that identify as gay in fear of being labeled something they are not. 

Gay men and gay women are stereotypes quite harshly. They can be verbally bullied or physically harmed because of the sexuality that they are. Stereotypes are generally harmful and categorizes people into a group which is typically incorrect. Each person is their own self, not one sexuality, gender, race, sex, religiones view is the same. 

 

References:

 

Fitzsimons, Tim. “Supreme Court Sent ‘Clear Message’ With LGBTQ Ruling, Plaintiff Gerald      aaaaaaBostock Says” NBC, 16 June 2020 supreme-court-sent-clear-message-lgbtq-ruling-plaintiff-gerald-bostock-n1231190

 

Gatusso, Reina. “The Risks of Coming Out at Work.” BBC,

    1 June 2021. 20210526-the-risks-of-coming-out-at-work

 

Poushter, J., & Kent, N. (2020, October 27). Views of homosexuality around the world. Pew Research Center’s Global Attitudes Project. Retrieved November 20, 2021, from https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2020/06/25/global-divide-on-homosexuality-persists/. 

Clancy, Rosamund, and Helena Vieira. “There May Be Some Truth to the ‘Gay Jobs’ Stereotype.” LSE Business Review, July 1, 2021. https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/businessreview/2016/01/18/there-may-be-some-truth-to-the-gay-jobs-stereotype/. 

Collins, Gary M. “ThinkIR: The University of Louisville’s Institutional …” Accessed November 20, 2021. https://ir.library.louisville.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1264&context=etd. 

Doyle, Alison. “What Are the Top 10 Jobs in the LGBTQ Community?” The Balance Careers. The Balance Careers, February 13, 2020. https://www.thebalancecareers.com/top-lgbtq-jobs-2059651. 

Klysing, Amanda, Anna Lindqvist, and Fredrik Björklund. “Stereotype Content at the Intersection of Gender and Sexual Orientation.” Frontiers. Frontiers, January 1, 1AD. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.713839/full.

 

Diary of Systemic Injustice Showcase

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Umi Sushi located in Atlanta, Georgia, had sparked controversy in November of 2020. A black couple had decided to go out and get sushi together only to have been kicked out of the restaurant for wearing sneakers in the fine dining establishment. The restaurant has a dress code; no sneakers, no ball caps, no athletic wear, no sports jersey, no shorts, no flip-flops, no tank tops. Although the couple was aware of the dress code rules, they noticed that another (white) couple a few tables down had sneakers on. The black couple only assumed that because the other couple wore sneakers, so could them. 

But, once sitting down, Johnson (the black male wearing the sneaker) was turned down service and was asked to leave by the staff members. Johnson and his wife were upset. The lady a few tables down from them wore white sneakers, yet they were still given service. The staff members completely ignored the statement and persisted in making the black couple leave the restaurant. Johnson and his wife claimed that this was an issue of racism. Because they had purposely ignored the white couple, allowing them to eat, they had been kicked out only 10 minutes after entering the facility for wearing tennis shoes, just like the white women. 

The impact that this situation has is that dress codes for restaurants have been looked at more intently. There are many things that dress codes do not allow that may be discriminating against another race or culture. Also, because the dress code was mandated “whenever the staff members deem it necessary”, this shows that they are choosing who they want to mandate which can possibly be racially motivated. This can be an example of Master-Slave dialect. This is because the “master”, service, had complete control over the “slave”, customer, in this situation. The dress code at this “fine dining” facility lacks cultural diversity. Wearing things like sneakers, hats, and etc. are generally things that most people of color would wear. What had caused this to be systemic racism is the fact that the staff members had only mandated this dress code with the black couple and ignored that the white couple had worn sneakers as well. In order for this wrong to be corrected, I believe that there are two things that can be done in this situation. They can be less strict on the clothing mandate with all guest as they were with the white couple, or they can be strict with each customer that walks in as they were with the black couple. There is not in between when making rules. If a rule is made, all people should have to follow the rule or the rule should be erased entirely. 

 

Letter from Birmingham Jail

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Martin Luther King Jr. ‘s,” Letter from Birmingham Jail” is a touching letter expressing his reasoning for the march he participated in leading to his arrest in Birmingham. He begins his letter by addressing the clergymen as individuals of “genuine goodwill” and appreciating their sincerity, establishing a tone of fair discussion. These people stated that what he had participated in was “unwise and untimely”. King disagrees with the accusations and rebutes them with justifications. During this time period there were many cases of segregation, police brutality, and injustices practiced all across America. In order to grab the attention of people across America, Martin Luther King Jr. and many other participants marched in Birmingham. Martin Luther King Jr. had been invited by an affiliate of his church located in Birmingham to join the nonviolent march.  

 

King knew that there was a lot of injustice going on in Birmingham and he wanted to help out because no one would. Martin Luther King Jr. then expresses his criticism to the white leaders of churches. He emphasizes that he asked many predominantly white churches to help the black community. Also many people, including himself, went to speak directly to government officials about their concerns of the injustices circulating all across America. He found that speaking to these people had done nothing to help the Black Community. Churches decided to comply with segregation, regardless of how many people went to them, and government officials blatantly denied any request the Black Community had. They ignore their pleas and cries for help and change. 

 

Martin Luther King Jr. and the black churches planned the march for months. The march had been postponed several times due to crucial dates approaching, but following the election, they decided to go forward with it. Martin Luther King Jr. ends his letter by emphasizing that he believes that soon the Black Community will get the freedom and justice they deserve. 

 

King, M. L. (1969, August). Letter from Birmingham.

LitCharts. (n.d.). Letter from birmingham jail summary. LitCharts. Retrieved September 10, 2021, from https://www.litcharts.com/lit/letter-from-birmingham-jail/summary.