Thesis on "Controlling Images Representations of Women"

Thesis 7 pages (2352 words) Sources: 4 Style: MLA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Controlling Images: Representations of Women

Women have been portrayed in various ways throughout time. How race, class, and gender stereotypes impact the representation of women is a very important consideration, and it has changed over the course of history. One thing has not changed, however, and that is the concern that these generalizations inevitably involve false assumptions that reflect and reinforce male dominance. In other words, it is still a male-dominated society, and being female -- especially minority female -- is putting women at a disadvantage that they are finding difficult to overcome (Espiritu, 2007). There is an argument that racism is no longer present in this country, and many people point to the current President as an example that America has overcome any racist tendencies. Despite the progress that has been made, though, there are still many minority individuals -- most notably women -- who are stereotyped and discriminated against-based mostly on the color of their skin or the slant of their eyes (Espiritu, 2007).

In order to help these women lead fuller lives and avoid much of the discrimination that they have been subjected to in the past, it is very important that the message of how they are treated makes it to society, and that society sees it as being important enough to focus on and do something about (Gimlin, 2005). These are both important considerations, and if they are not taking place there will not be any progress made. How best to make that progress and get that message out to more people who will take it seriously is up for debate. First, however, it is important to look at cultural factors and stereotypes so that the how and why of the treatment of these women can be better and more clearly understood. This is not always an easy subject to discuss, because racism brings with it a lot of tension (Gimlin, 2005). Feminism and women's liberation also bring tension to most discussions, but there are issues at work here that need to be addressed, regardless.

Nature and Effects of Racism and Stereotypes

The nature and effects of racism, prejudice, and discrimination in society impact mental health in African-American women. It has been found that less attention is paid to the experience of racism among those who are the target of it. For example, it is not generally uncommon for experiences of racism to be questioned or challenged by other people (Gimlin, 2005). Such requests for proof create a my-perception-against-your-perception dilemma that can include accusations of paranoia, hostility, oversensitivity, manipulations, or self-serving motives -- none of which open up a dialogue and help address the true problem of racist and controlling behaviors where minority women are concerned (Gimlin, 2005).

Recent research also suggests that people's perceptions of personal and group discrimination are usually very accurate (Gimlin, 2005). Some degree of denial can be helpful in avoiding feelings of powerlessness and vulnerability, and conserving emotional energy. However, this short-term projection can also be harmful to the development of long-term coping skills (Gimlin, 2005). From a nature vs. nurture standpoint, the environment affects how an individual functions, and the behavior of people also contributes to environmental demands. For women of color or women who fall into another minority category, life stresses can also include considerations of experiences that are related to unique person-environment transactions involving race, culture, gender, or another 'marker' (Gimlin, 2005).

These stressors are often described as innocuous, preconscious or unconscious degradations or put-downs. For example, a black woman being mistaken for someone who serves other people, such as a maid, or being ignored or overlooked while waiting in line for something, can be a cause of stress in women of color (Hook, 1998). Intentional or unintentional daily racism or gender-obvious stressors can also be perceived as not serious enough for a lot of people to confront. Most such stressors are allowed to pass in order to protect one's time, energy, sanity, or integrity. Repeated contact with racial or gender slights and prejudices, including small stressors, can produce a condition of "psychological invisibility" in a woman of color, or in a woman who is looked-down-upon or slighted for a perceived other reason, such as age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or simply gender (Hook, 1998).

African-American women are often impacted by stressors such as chronic contextual stress and collective experiences (Collins, 1998; Hook, 1998). Chronic contextual stress is unequal distribution of resources and limitations on the opportunities for black women that influence quality of life for these individuals and their families. Having liquor stores primarily on most corner in black neighborhoods, and having out-of-date textbooks in urban schools are examples of chronic contextual stressors, but there are also stressors like this that belong just to women of color or women who fall into other minority groups. Most of these revolve around the way men traditionally think of these women -- either as 'nannies,' or as throw-away women that are not as valuable or worthwhile as their white counterparts (Collins, 1998; Hook, 1998; Gimlin, 2005).

Collective experiences are another stressor, and these exist in the absence of any kind of political representation. Racism has a profound impact on the mental health of African-American women, and it is even more upsetting when both race and gender work together to cause problems for these women (Collins, 1998). A lot of these women find that they are judged as less-than because of the fact that they are female, and when it is realized that they belong to a minority race they are seen as even less valuable. Of course, this is not always the case and there are many people who really do not care about a person's race of gender -- but there are many who still do, and it is these people who minority women often struggle with.

Discrimination and Justice

The American justice system says that it prides itself for being color blind, yet more than one-half of the prisoners incarcerated today are black men or women, and they account for more than one million people in prison. African-Americans make up fourteen percent of all of the drug users in America, but they constitute more than thirty-five percent of all of the drug arrests, fifty-five percent of the drug convictions, and nearly seventy-five percent of all of the drug admissions for drug offences. Statistically, at least eight out of ten African-Americans men will be arrested at some point.

This pattern of racial bias in statistics has been confirmed by research done by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, but most black women face a different kind of racism. While they are not arrested and jailed nearly as often as their male counterparts, they are often assumed to have no husband, a lot of children, and live on welfare (Hook, 1998). They are assumed to be unintelligent and 'only good for one thing.' It is this kind of racism from society -- and often from male members of their own race, as well -- that black women must face every day (Collins, 1998; Hook, 1998). How difficult is it to remain feeling valuable when members of their own race turn against you for who and what they are?

True Prejudice and Black Women

The most common definition of prejudice that is used in academic circles is: "thinking ill of others without sufficient warrant." Webster's Dictionary states that prejudice is an opinion formed without a fair examination of the facts. Literally, the word means that someone is prejudging people or not liking them because they are different in some way, and that takes place without personally knowing anything about these people. Two terms that are closely related are discrimination and racism, both of which can also be applied to what is taking place in the lives of black women today. Discrimination means acting and behaving in a negative way toward members of a distinct group, the only reason being that they belong to that group.

It can be racial, but it can also be used to discuss gender, sexual preference, or other characteristics. This can include refusing to hire someone for a job or refusing to rent them an apartment because of the color of their skin, where they come from, or some other characteristic -- real or perceived -- that a person does not feel comfortable with, and that brands the other person as part of a particular group of people. Most people think of racial groups, but there are many others, including nationality, orientation, or religion. For example, an atheist businessman who refuses to hire a worker solely on the basis of the fact that the worker is Christian would be guilty of discrimination based on a protected social class. Black women cannot legally be discriminated against, either, but they often still are.

Racism involves holding beliefs that people from a distinct group are somehow superior to people in another group. In this inequality, effects of racism and discrimination on the minority group only reinforce the problem. For example,… READ MORE

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