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“The Color of Justice,” Michelle Alexander

Michelle Alexander examines the racial disparities in our criminal justice system,

finding that

“rates and patterns of drug crime do not explain” the fact that “although the majority of

illegal drug users and dealers nationwide are White, three-fourths of all people

imprisoned for drug offenses are Black or Latino.” Alexander identifies two stages in a

structural process that results in the unjust disparities she finds in the system of

“racialized social control” that passes itself off as criminal justice.

The majority of drug users and dealers nationwide are:

a. in prison

b. Black

c. Latino

d. White

“The First Americans: Americans Indians,” Matthew Snipp

Matthew Snipp presents a historical summary of the United States’ treatment of

American Indians: removal, assimilation, the Indian New Deal, termination and

relocation, and self determination. In the early 1800s removal of American Indians was

the goal of the United States. Increased population and newly acquired land encouraged

the push of American Indians westward, first through negotiated treaties and ultimately

through forced removal. These actions resulted in severe hardship for American Indians

physically and culturally. At the end of the 1800s the government policy regarding

American Indians shifted to assimilation, or rather “humane extinction.” The goal of the

government, Snipp points out was to “civilize” American Indians through religion,

education, ownership of property, and agricultural careers. The effect of assimilation on

American Indians was the loss and disorganization of land, the impact of which is still

being felt today.

In the early 1930s the government encompassed American Indians in the New Deal

programs. This shift in treatment demonstrated a new respect for American Indian

culture and land. Economic and infrastructure support was granted to American Indian

reservations, and tribal governance was allowed. American Indian policy took a

different shift after WWII with the goals of termination and relocation. The United

States government sought to terminate their dealing with American Indians and relocate

American Indians to urban areas. In the era of the Civil Rights movement, yet another

shift in United States and American Indian relations occurred. “Self-determination,” the

goal of American Indian autonomy, became the focus resulting in greater control of

tribal governments and the end to termination policies. Snipp concludes with a

discussion of the current status of American Indians. Population growth among

American Indians has increased on reservations and in Urban areas. Snipp points out

that both of these segments of the American Indian population face economic hardship.

Urban American Indians also face the struggle of maintaining their culture away from

reservations. Pan-Indianism has served to unite American Indian tribes in their fight for

survival.

Which of the following does not reflect the treatment of American Indians by the

United States government?

a. termination and relocation

b. assimilation

c. statehood

d. removal

“Seeing Privilege Where It Isn”t: Marginalized Masculinities and the

Intersectionality of Privilege”, Bethany M. Coston and Michael Kimmel

Coston and Kimmel take a different approach to studying intersectionality and

privilege, in this case the way in which a class with privilege (males) intersects with

one without (disabled, gay, and working class). They theorize that the reason for this

intersectional marginalization is that all three classes remove some element of

masculinity: physical prowess for the disabled, the dominant role in sexuality for gay

men, and expendability in the case of working class men. The primary focus becomes

that privilege too is not a dichotomous, black and white issue, but also one subject to

intersectionality.

The pathologicalization of homosexuality during which century closely aligned it with

demasculinization.

a. 18th Century

b. 19th Century

c. 20th Century

d. 21st Century

“Living “Illegal”: The Human Face of Unauthorized Immigration”, Marie

Friedmann Marquardt, Timothy J. Steigenga, Philip J. Williams, and Manuel A.

Vsquez

Marquardt, Steigenga, Williams and Vsquez focus on the way “illegal aliens” were

portrayed during the 2010 midterm elections. The focus on perceived dangerousness

and claims of social security benefits and economic perks that these groups receive was

used to build public opinion against them. Four broad claims are outlined that are made

regarding unauthorized immigration: they flood across the U.S./Mexico border to take

advantage of public benefits, they are a burden on the economy, they are closely

connected with crime and drugs, and they cannot be integrated into our society. The

concern of local law enforcement often being at the front lines of enforcing immigration

policy is also discussed, focusing how this is a problem in an increasingly privately run

penal system.

Which of the following claims are often made to criticize “unauthorized immigrants”?

a. They largely come from Mexico to take advantage of social services

b. They are a burden on the US economy

c. They are closely associated with criminal behavior and violence

d. All of these choices are correct

“Racism in Toyland,” Christine Williams

Williams examines the social organization of shopping and uncovers labor, advertising

and other practices that perpetuate racial (as well as gender and class) injustice and

inequality. She identifies problems in retail policies such as selective advertising;

opposition to public bus service to malls; job segregation; and racial profiling by clerks

and security guards. Williams views the raising of awareness as a first step in creating a

better alternative.

Racial inequality is perpetuated in the social organization of shopping by:

a. job segregation

b. opposition to public bus service to malls

c. racial profiling by clerks and security guards

d. all of these answers are correct

“The Invention of Heterosexuality,” Jonathan Ned Katz

The author documents the history and invention of the term heterosexuality as a means

of categorizing sexual relationships. The author emphasizes how sexuality has been

closely linked to structural power and the means of production within a society

throughout history. He argues that an ahistorical approach to studying sexuality

continues to privilege “normal” and “natural” sexual expression.

During 1892-1900, the ideas of heterosexual and homosexual were initially formulated

by:

a. U.S. doctors

b. British monarchs

c. religious authorities

d. newspaper journalists

“Color-Blind Privilege: The Social and Political Functions of Erasing the

Color Line in Post Race America,” Charles A. Gallagher

Gallagher argues that a new form of racist thinking, an ideology called color-blind

racism, has become dominant among whites in America. Media and popular culture

have created an illusion of equality by reducing race to cultural symbols that are

marketed to everyone. Symbols of racial equality are embodied in the images of

successful personalities in politics and sports, as well as in commodities as diverse as

music, clothing, condiments, and cars. This focus on race as merely symbolic allows a

majority of whites to believe that racial harmony prevails, institutional racism has been

eliminated, and race no longer shapes life chances. This myth buttresses the deeply held

belief that America is a meritocracy and that therefore any advantages that whites have

now relative to racial minorities are earned advantages, achieved through individual

effort. White privilege is thus rendered invisible, and support for programs that address

problems caused by institutional racism is undermined.

Watching television is a form of ____ between whites and people of color that

encourages whites to believe that little, if any, socio-economic difference exists now

between races:

a. passive interaction

b. active exchange

c. education

d. illustration

“Straight is to Gay as Family is to No Family,” Kath Weston

This essay presents a distinct dichotomy that depicts the establishment and maintenance

of family and extended kin in the gay and straight world. Weston delineates a path of

rejection, isolation and loneliness from straight families as gay persons attempt to

establish individual identities. In addressing misperceptions surrounding gay life, this

essay also introduces alternative approaches to the establishment and cultivation of

family life.

Weston reveals that gay or chosen families might incorporate:

a. co-workers, extended family, friends.

b. biological family, extended family, neighbors.

c. friends, lovers or children.

d. co-workers, supervisors, friends.

“White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack,” Peggy McIntosh

Peggy McIntosh explores the invisibility of racial privilege. She argues that Whites tend

to be unaware of the privilege they have as members of the dominant group. To

illustrate this point she compares her own experiences with denied male privilege to her

own limited perception of the privilege she enjoys because she is White. In an effort to

challenge this lack of awareness, she lists forty-six examples of the invisible privilege

she experiences in her everyday life that people of color do not. She points out that

these daily benefits of being white make her life easier. For example, the ability to shop

without being followed, to count on her skin color not causing suspicion of her financial

reliability, or even the ability to find blemish cover to match her skin tone reflects her

white privilege. She argues that for Whites these occurrences are largely taken for

granted. They are expected, assumed to be the normal experiences of everyday life. For

people of color, however, they are constant reminders of the struggle involved in all

aspects of life when one’s position in society is reflected as outside of the norm.

McIntosh identifies positive and negative aspects of privilege; unearned advantage and

conferred dominance. The advantage experienced by the privileged group can be

unearned, merely as a consequence of their position, or it can be created through

dominance yielded because of their position. Both aspects challenge the notion that

one’s experience in society is based solely on one’s merit, and recognizing this

challenges the denial surrounding systems of privilege and oppression. McIntosh

contends that once the privileged can no longer deny the benefits intrinsic to their

position, they must then decide to either destroy or maintain the system from which

they benefit.

McIntosh argues that for White people:

a. sexual identity is the only area where a system of advantage can be found.

b. gender is the only area where a system of advantage can be found.

c. race is the only area where a system of advantage can be found.

d. systems of advantage can be found in several aspects of one’s life.

“Gender Norms in the TwilightSeries,” Rebecca Hayes-Smith

Hayes-Smith examines the popular young adult book (and film) series about vampires

and werewolves, pointing out some major concerns with regard to the way in which

gender and race are portrayed. The main character, Bella, is portrayed as a weak,

passive woman who experiences conflict with other women and is portrayed as a

caretaker to her family. The male characters, Edward and Jacob, also stick to the

predominant male gender traits of violence, aggression, and treating women like

property; a “prize” to be won. More subtle is the portrayal of race and class: Jacob, the

werewolf, is Native American, of lower socioeconomic status, and is often insulted with

otherwise racialized insults.

In the Twilight series, women are mostly portrayed as

a. strong and independent

b. whiny and unassertive

c. radical and boundary challenging

d. self-assured

“Movement Intersectionality: The Case of Race, Gender, Disability, and Genetic

Technologies,” Dorothy Roberts and Sujatha Jesudason

Roberts and Jesudason shift the issue of intersectionality to examine issues of genetics

and reproductive technologies. They do this by examining the work of Generations

Ahead, a social justice organization that protects human rights as related to reproductive

justice. Their perspective is that differences between people should be acknowledged

and respected, not to separate but to recognize the heterogeneity that exists in society

amongst marginalized groups. The concern that reproductive technologies, as well as

genetic screenings, may be implemented in ways that punish some groups more than

others, such as the perception of Black and Latina women as being hypersexual and

hyperfertile. They conclude that reproductive autonomy should apply to anyone looking

to have children, including children who may have disabilities. Policy advocacy should

also be focused upon providing support to all women, families, and communities, and

not argue about when life begins or who can become a parent.

What new addition does Roberts and Jesudason make to the categories of

intersectionality that are discussed?

a. race

b. disability

c. gender

d. reproductive justice

“Globalization and Its (Mal)econtents: The Gendered Moral and Political

Economy of Terrorism,” Michael S. Kimmel

This article by Michael S. Kimmel examines the heavily gendered nature of terrorist

groups of varying locations and ideologies. The role of globalization and its associated

egalitarianism is cited as a major motivator for American right wing extremist groups

such as White Aryan Resistance. Leaders create and spread propaganda to target

disenfranchised young males who feel their opportunities have been restricted by the

growth of immigration and women entering the workforce. According to them, this is

perpetrated both by the feminist emasculation of men, and the control of the Jews. This

emphasis on anti-Semitism and masculinity is seen in Scandinavian extremist groups as

well, with the addition of a fear of homosexuality growing to undermine masculinity.

The attention shifts to Al Qaida and the Taliban, Islamic extremists who recruit

significantly amongst young men who have dwindling career opportunities. The rigid

gender politics of the Taliban are theorized to be the result of women entering the

workforce and to counteract they use a literal interpretation of the Quran to

remasculinize men (hence the mandatory growth of beards), and the refeminization of

women (removing them from the public sphere). The so-called “mastermind” of the

9/11 hijackings, Mohammad Atta, is presented as a man who failed at attaining

employment, which was more disturbing to him next to his sisters, one of whom is a

professor and the other a doctor, and thus attracted to this fundamentalism as a way to

counteract his shortcomings.

Connell calls the seemingly contradictory pairing of stereotypical male norms and an

untraditional respect for women seen amongst extremist groups as

a. intersectional masculinity

b. protest masculinity

c. conflict masculinity

d. extremist groups hold traditional views towards women