Importance of Language in Racial and Gender Inequality

It is a great start for anyone to take a class which focuses or discusses on gender inequality and race relations; however, it is crucial that the class is taught correctly. The conversations in these types of classes can sometimes go in and out of a student’s head. These conversations can also have no meaning for a student. This is why studying language at the same time is extremely important, because it allows the student to reflect back on the way they talk, if they do talk in a bias. Talking in a bias happens to everyone, which is why there must be a greater focus on language rather than only in the discussion of the actual problem at hand. Many people are victims of speaking in such biases, for example saying “he,” when the subject is unidentified. Speaking in this way is only natural; however, incorrect, and can be improved on.

Studying language while discussing race relations is also useful in a sense that allows people to use the correct terms for what they are trying to express. For example, the media often uses the word “jihad” when they are referring to the muslim “holy war”. This term; however, is incorrect, because it actually means a struggle against oneself. Since the term “jihad” has been used for so long by the media, and consequently a large part of the country, it has gained a negative connotation that does not accurately portray the real meaning behind that word that is a positive word in the Islam religion. Studying language will help pick-up on misused terms such as this one.

Racism, Present in Many Different Forms

Racism, Present in Many Different Forms

    Before I watched Ethnic Notions, I had always been under the impression that racism came in one form, and it was easy to spot. I thought that to be racist, somebody must have an open hatred towards another race and must treat all members of the other race unequally compared to members of his/her own race. However, this film taught me that there are many ways to be racist, and some racist actions are so subtle, one might not even pick up on them. In the film, racism was shown in laughable cartoons, job inequality, exaggerated pictures, children books, and in outright violence. There were many different tactics that white Americans used in order to be racist. However, although some of the forms of racism may be less harmful than others, they all lead to the enormous problem that is still present to this day.

    Another massive problem that this film addressed is that people back in the 19th and early 20th century thought it was completely fine to be racist. In fact, people thought they were morally obligated to enslave African Americans. I had always thought that people knew what they were doing was racist and unjust, but that they did not care as long as they were making a profit or were being entertained. However, I learned that these white Americans actually thought that the African Americans back then were comparable to animals. White Americans also thought that they deserved the treatment they had been receiving. In addition to this, supporters of the abolition of slavery were still racist even though they thought they were advocates for African Americans. This was clear in the North, where there would be racist shows, caricatures, T.V., and pictures. I had previously thought that these racial stereotypes were only present in the South, but as I learned, they were and are present everywhere.