CGS SS 81692 | Course Paper

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“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.

According to Weston, to assert that straight people naturally have access to family,

while gay people are destined to move toward a life of solitude and loneliness, is to:

a. tie kinship closely to procreation.

b. tie destiny closely to procreation and to treat gay and lesbians as heterosexuals.

c. believe that gays and lesbians are enemies of the family, especially children.

d. ignore the fact that gay couples can procreate

“Are Asian Americans Becoming “White”?” Min Zhou

Zhou discusses the way that, officially and unofficially, Asian Americans are more and

more often being combined with Whites as having similar experiences. Unofficially

they are considered the “model minority”, with some achieving successes consistent

with the American Dream, and officially the fact that the two groups are combined

when it comes to equal opportunity programs. Zhou first criticizes this for the fact that

Asian American is a designation that includes people from a multitude of different

countries of origin, each having different experiences both in the past and during their

time in the United States. The “model minority” label is seen as being problematic for

reinforcing the stereotype that racism no longer exists: that any other racial or ethnic

group should be able to achieve the same. It also ignores the fact that different Asian

American groups have achieved different levels of assimilation and social class

standing, and are not a heterogeneous group that can be described with a singular label.

Zhou describes that most Asian Americans are not seeing to become “White”, but see

that as the standard norm for American society, and their own identity is more

nationalistic (American) than racial. However, the perspective that Asian Americans

would be able to achieve “Whiteness” would also minimize and ignore the impact of

anti-Asian discrimination and racism that is still present in American society.

The term “Asian American” was created in the

a. Early 1940s

b. Late 1950s

c. Late 1960s

d. Early 1970s

“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.

Current policies often result in the problematic fact that __________ are the ones

enforcing immigration policy.

a. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

b. Border Patrol

c. Federal Bureau of Investigation

d. Local Law Enforcement

“Unspeakable Offenses: Untangling Race and Disability in Discourses of

Intersectionality,” Nirmala Erevelles and Andrea Minear

Erevelles and Minear argue that while intersectionality scholars focusing on the

connection between race and gender is important, that another factor; disability, should

also be considered. Disability specifically as related to education is examined, focusing

on the significantly higher rates that students of color are labeled and tracked into

“special needs” programs. They also argue that the way in which disability is often seen

as exclusively a biological, rather than social condition causes it to not receive the

consideration that it should.

Black children constitute ____ percent of total school enrolment, but ___ of those

labeled “mentally retarded”

a. 12%/25%

b. 14%/26%

c. 17%/33%

d. 19%/39%

“Media Magic: Making Class Invisible,” Gregory Mantsios

Gregory Mantsios examines the way media misrepresents social class by creating an

illusion of an egalitarian society and thereby hiding social and economic inequalities.

Mantsios argues that the media creates a false sense of universal membership in the

middle class. He claims that the working and middle classes come to fear and hold the

poor responsible for their hardships while remaining blind to the damage the upper

class inflicts on society.

_______________ distinctions operate in virtually every aspect of our lives,

determining the

nature of our work, the quality of our schooling, and the health and safety of our loved

ones.

a. Class

b. Gender

c. Race

d. Work

“The Myth of the Latin Woman: I Just Met a Girl Named Maria,” Judith Ortiz

Cofer

In her essay,Judith Ortiz Cofer offers her experience as a Puerto Rican woman. She

discusses how cultural differences have singled her out as a target of stereotypes,

disapproval, and inappropriate treatment by members of mainstream society. Cofer

recognizes the voice her education has given her, and she uses it to open others up to

her culture and experiences.

According to Judith Ortiz Cofer, _______________have perpetuated certain

stereotypes; for example, that of the of the Hispanic woman as the “Hot Tamale” or

sexual firebrand.

a. mixed cultural signals

b. clear cultural signals

c. the absence of cultural signals

d. women

“Seeing in 3D,” Margaret L. Andersen

Margaret L. Andersen argues that the economy is not a neutral force, as it is portrayed

in the media. Economic downturns do not hit all citizens equally. Specific groups

experience economic change in different ways. Asking, “what would we see differently

were we to view the economic recession with women and people of color in mind,”

Andersen demonstrates the varying effects on economic standing influenced by the

intersections of race, class and gender.

There is a general absence of _______________in most of the reports being issued on

the impact of the recent recession.

a. women

b. White men

c. men

d. white collar workers

“Unspeakable Offenses: Untangling Race and Disability in Discourses of

Intersectionality,” Nirmala Erevelles and Andrea Minear

Erevelles and Minear argue that while intersectionality scholars focusing on the

connection between race and gender is important, that another factor; disability, should

also be considered. Disability specifically as related to education is examined, focusing

on the significantly higher rates that students of color are labeled and tracked into

“special needs” programs. They also argue that the way in which disability is often seen

as exclusively a biological, rather than social condition causes it to not receive the

consideration that it should.

Both Critical Race Theorists and disability scholars work from the assumption that race

and disability are

a. biological conditions

b. static labels

c. social constructs

d. none of these choices are correct

“Is Capitalism Gendered and Racialized?” Joan Acker

Capitalism has been dominated by white males and built by a subordinated gender and

race segregated labor force. It has been buttressed by a largely unpaid force of

caregivers who are primarily female. These gender and race divisions of labor still exist

and are global in scope. Furthermore, capitalist endeavors are gendered in that

hegemonic masculinities define dominant values in the norms of corporate conduct.

Masculinity is:

a. toughness

b. strength

c. violent

d. a contested term

“Closing the Wealth Gap: A Review of Racial and Ethnic Inequalities in

Homeownership,” Meghan Kuebler

The American Dream of wealth has been historically closely linked to the ability to own

a home. Kuebler discusses how owning a home (and yard or associated property) has

long been the symbol of achieving the American Dream in society and as a symbol of

success. The benefits, including investment in tangible wealth, text breaks, and a chance

for assimilation for minorities have been touted for a number of years. The reality is,

however, that minorities have had fewer opportunities to become homeowners. The

effect of “White flight” on what property is owned by Blacks has a detrimental effect on

homeownership, receiving less of the benefits that Whites receive. Hispanic

homeownership differs from group to group, but is still subject to discrimination as far

as ability to receive mortgages, and thus their level of home ownership is low. Asian

Americans have higher rates of homeownership than other ethnic and racial groups

(though still less than Whites), but up to 20 percent of them reported suffering from

discrimination when attempting to purchase a home.

While _______ have higher incomes than Whites, they are less likely to own their own

homes.

a. Asians

b. Blacks

c. Hispanics

d. None of these choices are correct

“Affirming Identity in an Era of School Desegregation,” Beverly Tatum

Tatum examines the unintended side effects of school desegregation in the United

States, with an emphasis on the differences in identity between Black students and

White teachers. With the growth of affirmative action programs, Black college students

saw the education field as dwindling in opportunities and began to focus more on

business administration programs, resulting in a low number of Black school teachers.

The effect is most pronounced in urban schools, with White female teachers comprising

between 65 and 76 percent, while students of color total around 76 percent. Tatum

expresses concern at the disconnect between the two groups, and fears that resentment

and mistrust between them severely undermines both education and allowing students

to maintain their identity. At the same time, Tatum discusses that White children with

largely White teachers are unable to gain a deeper understanding of students of color.

Besides a more diverse workforce, she suggests better training to develop a richer

understanding of the students of color they will work with.

According to Kohl’s quote in the text, learning from a stranger that does not respect a

student’s integrity results in a loss of

a. educational merit

b. self

c. interest

d. rapport

“Straight: The Surprisingly Short History of Heterosexuality,” Hanne Blank

Blank draws upon personal experience regarding the topic of being labeled “straight”

based upon her own definition, having a male-appearing partner who has Klienfelter’s

Syndrome, a chromosomal makeup that includes an additional X chromosome. The role

that genetics, as well as biology (in the form of being able to reproduce) have been used

to define what is male and female are addressed as being non-binary, while our

definitions of sexuality usually is based on those simple assumptions (heterosexual,

homosexual, bisexual). The fact that “heterosexual” and “homosexual” are terms of

relatively recent origin, and have been tied more closely to legal issues than anything

related to personal perception or identity.

The identity (and label) “heterosexual” has, according to Blank, only existed since

a. 1845

b. 1869

c. 1921

d. 1944

“Gender, Race, and Urban Policing: The Experience of African American

Youths,” Rod K. Brunson and Jody Miller

Brunson and Miller turn their focus to the experiences of young Black women in the

inner city, as opposed to the focus usually placed on young Black men. In general,

young women face more criminal justice contacts for minor infractions compared to

young men, but also punitive treatment than young White women experience. Research

shows that urban communities with poverty and racial segregation are more often the

target of police misconduct, aggressive strategies, and under-responsive policing, which

builds a sense of resentment and cynicism to the legal system. Brunson and Miller

surveyed and interviewed a total of 35 young African American women and 40 young

African American men with regard to their experience with law enforcement. Males

overall reported more harassment when not participating in any delinquent behavior,

while women were more often stopped and questioned for minor curfew infractions.

Physical violence was more prevalent with young men than young women.

What was the most common complaint about the experience young Black women had

with the police?

a. being stopped for curfew violations

b. antagonistic language

c. invasive physical searches

d. excessive force

“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.

In color-blind thinking, race is reduced to:

a. cultural symbols

b. products for sale

c. differences in style

d. structural inequalities

“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.

Intersectional frameworks benefit from understanding ___________, which is not the

same as __________

a. sameness, commonalities

b. commonalities, sameness

c. differences, dichotomies

d. dichotomies, differences

“Health and Wealth: Our Appalling Health Inequality Reflects and Reinforces

Society’s Other Gaps,” Lawrence R. Jacobs and James A. Morone

Jacobs and Morone address the relatively low ranking of the United States relative to

other countries on issues influencing life chances, particularly those relevant to health

and longevity. They note disparities within the United States based on wealth, and

identify three causes of health woes including poverty, inequality, and the organization

of the health care system. They conclude that while other countries have followed

“three paths to good health” the United States has supported public policies that

compromise the health of most of its citizens.

No other industrial nation tolerates _______ according to Jacobs and Morone.

a. wide gaps in health insurance coverage

b. universal health insurance

c. high taxes to cover health costs

d. a welfare state