Mobile home residents are not the only stigmatized group who establish their decency by distancing themselves from others.
Who else does this?
The homeless also apply distancing as a method of establishing decency in a society full of all forms of discrimination.
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How do they do it?
The homeless apply unity amongst themselves as the only source of their fight against stigmatization. They perceive themselves as stronger when united. Their unison act as a fence that keeps stigmatization from the general populace at bay.
Why do they do this rather than approaching others with empathy?
Stigmatization is a prerequisite of depression. Since people have a negative perception of the homeless people, they are aware of the situation and avoid seeking empathy from the people who are reluctant to provide any available help.
How does this approach reproduce inequality?
Empathy shows the inequality between the economically privileged and financially unfortunate members of society (Part VIII). Since the society view homeless as financially unfortunate, seeking empathy among the privileged shows the rise of economic inequality.
Watch the trailer and read the description of “The Blind Side,” the dramatization of football player Michael Oher’s success, which earned over $255 million at the box office and earned Sandra Bullock an Oscar for Best Leading Actress ( The Blind Side - Trailer (Links to an external site.) and (Links to an external site.) IMDb- The Blind Side Plot Summary (Links to an external site.) ).
What emotions dominated while you watched?
I experienced mixed emotions from sadness to excitement. Helping a poor black homeless kid to achieve his dreams is an unusual approach in a society where racial discrimination is the most prevalent social problem.
What strategies did the director and actors use to conjure those different feelings?
John Lee Hancock uses the images of a disparaged, black homeless poor fat African American to evict sad emotions on the type of life the homeless people live. The fact that Michael Oher receives a warm welcome in the house of Leigh Anne Touhy denounces the negative perception towards white people’s relationship with African Americans (Hancock, 2009). Michael Oher succeeds under the care of white Americans explaining the happiness and excitement that the director evokes.
Now consider the racial undertones of the movie or read some racial critiques- The Blind Side: What Would Black People Do Without Nice White Folks? (Links to an external site.)
How do you think most white individuals feel when watching this movie?
The white Individual will feel a sense of pride and honor in elevating the poor and homeless African American from a poor state to one of the most respected footballers in the United States of America. They will feel an urge to stop discrimination and perceive everybody regardless of the racial difference as vital and have the potential to apply a positive transition.
What about African Americans?
African American will develop a mixed feeling since the movie denounces their abilities to succeed without the help of white Americans and portray them as people who cannot maintain stable families.
To what extent are these portrayals conscious on the part of the moviemakers?
Moviemakers are aware of the trend in movies where young African Americans receive aid in any form from white Americans to succeed. The movie, therefore, shows that moviemakers are fully aware of the plot these kinds of movies take.
Does thinking about racial content change your emotional experience? Why or why not?
Thinking about racial content changes emotional experience since viewing inhuman acts arising from racial differences such as racial wars and arrests of African Americans, unlawfully leads to negative perception towards white Americans.
Where else do we see racial portrayals that are designed to evoke particular emotional responses?
The police brutality in the United States of American from poor neighborhoods, more so to African Americans, Hispanics evoke mixed feelings among people.
Read the National Association of Black Social Workers’- Transracial Adoption Statement. (Links to an external site.) What is their position? Why?
The National Association of Black Social Workers ‘position is to prevent black children from working in white American homes (National Association of Black Social Workers’, 1972). Black children suffer psychologically, physically, culturally, contributing to the need to maintain their position of positive change.
Generate a list of the social identities most important to you. Then organize the list according to their salience to you and label each section of the chart.
Social Identities
Religion. ……………………………………….Most Important
Social class…………………………………….Important
Gender……………………………………….....Important
Race…………………………………………….Important
Sexual Orientation…………………………….Important
Looking at the list, which social identity is most important to you?
Religion is an essential social identity due to the various benefits and teachings it contains.
What kinds of benefits do you get from this identity? If you suddenly could no longer claim this identity, how would you feel?
Religion aids in unity and perception of people as equal regardless of the differences of any sort. It also teaches humanity to apply moral values and live in unity in society. Religion contributes to the need for the realization of social solidarity, a feat that creates equality in society. I would feel dejected if I could not be associated with any religion.
What relationships and resources would you lose? Would you lose other social benefits?
I would lose the connection and financial help from people who do not believe in moral supplications and adherence to religious doctrines.
Think of a behavior or two that is repugnant to people within that group. What social conditions could compel you to act that way? Do you know people who have engaged in that behavior?
Poverty can lead to depression due to the lack of satisfaction of the basic needs and corruption. Poverty shows increased cases of inequality and corrupt church leaders. Since religion teaches people to apply social solidarity, true believers in religion should uplift one another to prevent cases of poverty and corrupt practices. Martin Luther once revolted against Catholic churches that received bribes to exempt sinners from God’s punishment.
How did they reconcile the conflict between their identity and their actions?
They reconciled through a positive transformation of their ways, such as respect to the clergies, churches, and religious doctrines.
What sort of vocabularies of motive did they—or could you—use to convince themselves and others to act in that way?
I would use the words orthodox, supplication, and devout to prove to the corrupt church leaders that the mentioned keywords define religion, and people must adhere to them to be regarded as members of a specific religious identity.
