The show 13 Reasons Why is about a girl named Hannah Baker who had committed suicide and her reasoning behind it. The show moves through every detail that she had given in the tapes she left behind. In season three there is a new character introduced who is throw into the middle of what is happening at Liberty High School. Ani, the new character, brings a new identity into the mix since she is from Britain and a transfer student. She is accepted at Liberty High School yet is judged with who she hangs out with. This is because the school has been divided every since Hannah Baker’s death and the truth that came from her tapes. There are many different characters within the show, many of them believing to hold power over others. Throughout the whole show many of the characters struggle at finding who they truly are. This idea can allow may of the viewers to sympathize with the characters since the general audience of 13 Reasons Why is teenagers. Another idea that is depicted in the show is power. The high school was shown to be run by the jocks who also had power against Hannah. The jocks held many secrets against the whole school, including the administration, which gave them power. This power was used in the wrong ways against many of the students including Hannah Baker. The power that was held against Hannah Baker continued on even after court trials in season 2 since the person did not get the right punishment. Power is depicted in 13 Reasons Why by the secrets held by the students. The secrets they all hold carry power to ruin each others futures. The main reason why so many characters have these secrets is because there mostly likely is a secret about them that could ruin their future. So, for their own good and own future, they hold other peoples secrets and expects others to keep theirs. I believe that the creators of 13 Reasons Why wants viewers to understand that rumors and secrets can hurt others more than someone may think. The creators also wanted to start a conversation about how having power can ruin your future if you use it against other people. I think the 3rd season of 13 Reasons Why inspires a conversation around identity, power, and injustice because these ideas are shown many times throughout the show. Each episode has many points that contribute to all of these ideas that can spark a conversation. Overall I think there are many different parts of the show that can inspire a conversation about identity, power, or injustice to occur.
Cadyn: Okay, it is recording. So we are good on that part! Hi, I’m Cadyn.
Sam: I’m Sam!
C: Okay and today we’re talking about uh marriage and equality in um disabilities.
S: Basically, a disabled person has a harder time to get married to someone who is an able bodied person because they fear that they may lose their healthcare benefits.
C: They also risk losing like their social security benefits, which is like really unfortunate because obviously for the people that are unable to work, that’s like their monthly income up what they have to survive off of. Which is also usually a really low amount of money as it is. So like when that’s their only amount of income. Um It’s really like unfortunate because even if, like the person that they’re married to has like a decent job. I’m sure you know how like expensive health care is and just day to day living. So, to depend on your partner to have to provide for you in those ways is like really scary thought and even people with good jobs would have a hard time being able to pay off like health care bills. When there’s like therapy or like testing, surgeries, and medications and things like that.
C: Unfortunately, usually in cases like that, even if they get married, and like um, there’s not like a for sure law or anything that says like when someone gets married like they lose those things. But it still is like very likely is so even if someone were to get married, thinking that they’ll be okay like they could be sent mail that like says that they’re losing all their benefits by like this date, which can result in them having to actually get like a divorce with their partner for that reason because they can’t live without those benefits and that health care. That um keep them alive and help make their life easier. And there’s even cases like they have like a date had to move out because their income is still combined, like when they’re living in the same household.
S: So like these people are forced to decide whether to keep their health care benefits or getting married to their spouse.
C: I could imagine like how that would feel because like you wouldn’t be able to, like you watch, like obviously not everyone wants to get married, but like for those that do like you watch the people around you like your family and friends and stuff I get married or even like in TV shows and movies and like the thought of like thinking about not being able to have that because of like your health issues and like things you can’t control. Because obviously like a disability is already like stressful and like hard enough alone. So like thinking about not being able to just like settle down and have a family or something if like if that’s what you want to do in your future. I feel like everyone should have the opportunity to be able to do that regardless.
S: Holding them from being able to do what they want to do just because they need these benefits to survive. But if they choose to get married, then they may lose these benefits and are forced to live off of like basically the one income.
C: Yeah, it’s like, so if that person, like their partner had a job, then like if they lost the benefits that like, they wouldn’t get like any help or they could get even like reduced health care. So like they could get like told well they’re not allowed to be on like Medicaid or Medicare anymore because like they don’t qualify. And I’m not sure how much like you know about like, insurance companies but those are like two that provide the most healthcare like coverage. So, most disabled people are on those rather than like private health insurances because they don’t cover as much. It’s like they could be told like oh you’re losing this but like you can sign up for a different type of insurance like a different type of health care, but it doesn’t cover as much which still leaves you having to come up with that money to pay out of pocket. And obviously if only one person in the house is working, then like, you know, that’s bill money, that’s food money or just everyday living. Especially if there was like children involved, like, having to provide for them I cannot even imagine.
S: Mhm. If people wanted to start a family they would have their money to provide for them. Since they’re having to pay and cover these medical bills, basically out of pocket.
C: Yeah. And there’s even like medications that cost like hundreds of dollars like per month. Because, aren’t you going into like pharmaceuticals or something?
S: I am, yeah.
C: So yeah, you know all about that!
S: They can cost like thousands! It’s insane and just to be able to live. And that’s just medication that’s not in treatment, that’s not like doctor’s appointments, that’s not like surgeries or anything that like that someone may need.
C: Yeah, or even like any random testing like if they’re unsure of what that person has. Because I know that blood tests can like just like the cost of that can just pile up like insane amounts
S: It’s crazy.
C: I can’t even like believe that it’s just something that like people have to worry about, like, as I mentioned earlier, having a disability is already hard enough. Like having health issues, constant doctors appointments, like different medications, like just the stress of that alone and being disabled, coming from a disabled person. I can say that there’s already that disconnect in the world of like feeling like the ‘other’ like how we talked about earlier and like in class. Just feeling like in situation, you’re not accommodated to, or you know like things aren’t made for you or you know your able bodied people in your life like your friends and family. They want to support you, of course, but like they’ll never understand at the end of the day like the hardships that you face. So like, there’s already the ‘othering’ in that way of just feeling like you don’t fit into a society that is made for able bodied people because that’s just what it is at the end of the day.
S: Yeah, it’s just so easy for like two able bodied people to get married and if you’re like a disabled person it’s like you’re in this other group of like [inaduible] I’m not 100% sure of how that works but they’re-
C: I’m sorry, you cut out. [laughs] What was the last part?
S: They’re like- I don’t know much about like marriage.
C: No, go ahead!
S: Do they get like certified or whatever? Like I assume that they like have to go through like a different group like if it’s like someone that’s disabled that’s getting married. For like all of their like um like the combining of their like-
C: Yeah, their income and like their assets. Assets!
S: Yeah! Yeah, they’re like set aside.
C: Yeah, it’s definitely a different process because a disabled person that’s like registered for these things is going to have a really different amount of assets than someone that’s able bodied that has been working that like has gone to school and things like that. So, I can imagine that like the combining of that process is like super confusing.
S: So this could be seen as like othering since if two able bodied people want to get married, they wouldn’t have really like the same like healthcare problems but with the combining of all of their benefits. When you take one disabled person and one able body and who wants to get married. They have like problems, and it’s like, could be seen as, other things and two able bodied people can get married and just easily and not have to worry and stress about like having health care coverage or like medication, treatment, appointments, and testing
and all that. Yet, a disabled person and able body person when they try to get married, they have this struggle, and like disadvantage. And then if you go to like two disabled people trying to get married, that just is like even further and what kind of like health care coverage they could receive and like social security that they could receive every month.
C: I feel like something else about that is just the fact that like it’s, as I said earlier, like it’s not even like one solid law that’s like you lose your benefits but it’s very well known in the community, I guess you could call it that. It’s like very possible. And so, like, the stress of even trying to like figure that out of like, oh, like can I get married? Like because it doesn’t affect everyone like it’s not every case so there’s like no basis to play it off of. You have to do so much research, like research to like, find that kind of stuff. And like if you talk with so many people. And I definitely feel like that’s like a sense of othering because everyone should have the ability to get married regardless of anything whether it’s their sexuality, you know, race, able bodied, disabled, just of any sort. So I feel like when marriage equality is talked about a lot, a lot of people aren’t aware that like disabled people are at risk for losing these things, because obviously it’s a great thing that we talk about marriage equality for like the LGBTQ+ community like that is so important to talk about.
C: But I think when we talk about marriage equality it needs to be stressed, more than it’s not only that community that’s affected by it, because of course we know like, there’s been you know laws and like trying to make it where they can get married or that they can’t adopt children. And I feel like it needs to be broadcasted more even from able bodied people to be more like informative but so they’re able to speak on it because I feel like something else that is exhausting, as like a disabled person is like just constantly having to advocate for yourself in every situation. You constantly have to be the one that reaches out to people to let them know that like you need accommodations or you’re not getting the resources that you need, which could be a lot on anyone so I feel like, in this case, it’s like really important that more people are aware that like this is something that’s going on and like we’re in 2021, and like, there’s such a high chance of people still losing these things that like literally keep them alive and they’re stuck choosing between like being able to live comfortably or like having a partner, and it’s just, it’s such a messed up thing to even think about that someone have to choose between those things.
S: And they’re already like disabled people are already othered in their day to day life. Like from what you said, having to advocate for themselves for like accommodations and, like, even just like living like people see them differently, which they shouldn’t. That’s like a whole different thing but like, and then it’s just like further other into like wanting to get married. Like, they really catch no break. It’s like they are othered in almost every situation ever. For something that they didn’t choose to have.
C: So there’s just like so many social situations where I don’t think it’s talked about enough for like accommodations. And, of course, like with disabled people that’s like our main topic, but even there’s like other accommodations for like people that have like really bad like social anxiety or, you know, like mental disorders, and stuff where they like. Just need like special resources and accommodations like those people constantly have to advocate for themselves.
S: Like, a lot of people are people with like disabilities like any disability like mental, physical or whatever. They are just always advocating for themselves. Because no one else really like advocates for them. But, like I feel like recently like more people have been like advocating for, like, mental illness like that’s become a big topic in today’s world, but not many people are like, advocating for people who are disabled, who need help and accommodations and not every place like provides those accommodations for those people.
C: I couldn’t agree more with that. And obviously not every person that’s disabled, like, can’t work, that’s not the case. But I find that something that also needs to be talked about is that like I feel like when people look at disabled people, they put them in that other in group as you mentioned earlier, like it’s that other group like they just see them as like people who aren’t able to function in society and that’s like not the case. Like, I myself like I have physical issues but I still have been like an all quote unquote, I want to call them normal classes but how society looks at them. I feel like a lot of people think that people who need accommodations are always put into like a certain type of like class where people like them are all the people in class but that is not the case at all. There’s a lot of people that need accommodations everywhere in the world.
S: Like speaking on jobs like when there’s someone who was disabled and their doctor okay-d them to get a certain type of job. Often when they apply like the employer most likely is not going to actually further look into their like application if they like see that they’re disabled person, which is creating yet again another disadvantage.
C: Yes, and it’s just one after another of, yeah, that idea of these people being like not equal to, able bodied people because mostly because it’s just a society made for able bodied people in general.
C: But yeah, so I feel like we kind of talked about everything.
S: Yeah!
C: All of our points. Yeah, it was a good conversation.
I recently read an article about racial injustice that has happened in the past in America. This article, written by the public affairs at Berkeley news, discusses how police will investigate anything an African American, especially a male, is doing if they deem it suspicious(Public). It is known that “systemic racism is the very foundation of America”(Public). America was debatably grown on racism which has caused it to be a deeply rooted problem in America’s history. The article then talked about how the “death of George Floyd has once again sparked public outrage toward systemic racism”(Public). His death raised a lot of new awareness; mainly of those who did not pay attention before. The article also stated that America “has yet to fully reconcile with its racist past”(Public).
(Ruobing Su, Business Insider)
This article goes into detail about how America has not fully redeemed themselves from their past or changed their ways. There is still a strong standpoint of racism in America’s justice system from their very racist past. I personally do not know exactly how to fully fix this problem since it varies greatly throughout the country as well as people of different ages. However, I do think something needs to be done, especially for how long this systemic racism has lasted. This article is a great example of explaining just how long the systemic injustice of racism has stayed in America’s government and population. Thankfully more and more people are becoming aware of this and are calling others out, but a great deal of work still needs to be done.
The racial injustice within America’s government and policing could be seen as an example of “othering” or even making a subaltern since African Americans’ voices are shut down. The government does not allow them to speak their opinions or let their opinions take action. Last year this all changed with the Black Lives Matter movement. This movement opened the eyes of many Americans to realize just how bad systemic racism is in America. Many people realized that African Americans’ voices were not being heard and realized how police pay more attention to black males when policing. This causes African Americans to become the “other” since their voice is not heard and are punished more harshly if they speak up.
(Devin Allen, TIME)
Works Cited
Gal, Shayanne, and Andy Kiersz. “26 Simple Charts to Show Friends and Family Who Aren’t Convinced Racism Is Still a Problem in America.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 8 July 2020, www.businessinsider.com/us-systemic-racism-in-charts-graphs-data-2020-6#black-prisoners-are-overrepresented-in-the-us-prison-population-compared-to-their-share-of-the-total-us-population-20.
Public Affairs. September 22, 2020 September 25, and Public Affairs. “Racial Justice in America: A Deeper Look.” Berkeley News, 25 Sept. 2020, news.berkeley.edu/2020/09/22/racial-justice-in-america-a-deeper-look/.
Worland, Justin. “America’s Long Overdue Awakening on Systemic Racism.” Time, Time, 11 June 2020, time.com/5851855/systemic-racism-america/.
Nigeria is a country in West Africa and was colonized by the British in 1884 during a slave trade(Alme). The Portuguese sold slaves as a way to “obtain spices and weapons in other areas”(Alme). However, it is thought that the Nigerians themselves were providing the slaves(Alme). After the Portuguese had spent many years working through slave trade, the British had taken over and became the new leaders of slave trade in Nigeria(Alme). At the start of their colonization, the British defeated many different leaders in order to obtain new trading goods(Alme). The way that the British held their control over Nigeria was by an indirect rule that “meant the local leaders would govern the area under orders of the British”(Alme).
The colonization in Nigeria was a way that both the Portuguese and British were trying to show that they held power against Nigeria. When the Portuguese first came in they tried to show the Nigerians that they held power over them by starting a slave trade. The interesting part is that some people believe that the Nigerians were putting themselves up for slavery. Perhaps they thought that it was better and easier to sell other Nigerians as a way of income than doing other work. Then later the British came over and took the power from the Portuguese to try and show that they hold even more power than them. I believe that this was all a way to try and show who has more power as well as a way to get more land and trading goods.
After colonization “political activities focused primarily on ways to end the British rule” (Udo). Their main focus was to “liberate black people from racism and European domination” which they did end up doing(Udo). They were able to create a more diverse and inclusive colonial system although they were still terrified of discrimination from a future government that could be based on the ethnic groups in majority(Udo). Overall, the colonization of Nigeria was a very intimidating event for Nigerians but they are now fully ruled by their own government.
Works Cited:
Alme, Kaitlyn. Colonial History of Nigeria: Slave Trade, Resource Extraction, and the Invention of a National Territory. 6 June 2016, scalar.usc.edu/works/niger-delta-black-gold-blues/12-colonial-subjugation-of-people-land-and-nature-slave-trade-resource-extraction-palm-oil-and-the-invention-of-a-national-territory-kaitlyn.
Udo, Reuben Kenrick , Ajayi, J.F. Ade , Falola, Toyin O. and Kirk-Greene, Anthony Hamilton Millard. “Nigeria”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 Dec. 2020, https://www.britannica.com/place/Nigeria. Accessed 24 September 2021.
