Interview
Interview
The aspects of cultural privileges and stereotypes come in when discussing the differences between the subordinate and the majority people in the society. In the United States, for instance, several aspects act as differentiating factors between two different categories of individuals, for example, the physically challenged and persons with no disabilities, the whites and the people of colour among others. Hence, after findings found from interviewing Jordan Gallacher, a blind United States citizen, differences arose between these two different parties. The society tends to categorize its population due to the cultural stereotypes which are the beliefs that control the judgment in the society hence these people do not have access to the same privileges as the majority in the community.
Some of the cultural opportunities that the physically challenged people who are part of the minority in the society lack in their day to day lives are the easy access to employment. Gallacher points out that the hardships they encounter in the job market are due to the belief that their level of input does not qualify for most of the companies. Therefore, most of them are unemployed, and the few who get jobs receive very low salaries. Secondly, as noted by Honeycutt, Thompkins, Bardos, and Stern (2015), they require the social security administration advantage which the citizens with no disabilities enjoy. The social security administration specifies that for an employee to receive a better pay they ought to engage in a gainful activity (Honeycutt, Thompkins, Bardos, & Stern, 2015). But due to the discrimination they face regarding social security privileges, such as job promotions bypass them. Thirdly, the people with no disabilities enjoy easier access to educational facilities and insurance opportunities (Eisenberg, Rimmer, Mehta, & Fox, 2015).
Experienced Stereotypes
There lies a stereotype that the individuals with no disabilities ought to perform activities better. I experienced a scenario whereby a physically impaired person could make drawings better that anyone else in the neighbourhood. Due to the added advantage that the man got, that is selling these pictures for income; then it was a challenge for the individuals with no disabilities based on the stereotype that they should perform better in all activities. Moreover, most of the privileged persons use the physically challenged as metaphors of alienation (Harris, Owen, Jones, & Caldwell, 2013). That is, in the attempt by the society to explain separation, they use the minority in the community to illustrate this concept. Conversely, as noted by Gallacher, the people with no physical or psychological complications find themselves associated with the superior part of society.
Health Care Privileges
According to Siordia (2014), some of the obstacles the physically challenged face includes the lack affordances such as health services and transportation services to medical facilities. Besides, they face the problem of communicating with the health workers hence most of their health needs end up not met. In some circumstances, some experience denial of care and treatment. Moreover, the majority of the low population in the United States face the barrier of limited services due to physical barriers such as uneven access to medical facilities, poor signage, and internal steps (Siordia, 2014). Besides, Gallacher adds that they also lack adequate washroom facilities.
Therefore, cultural privileges and stereotypes clearly explain the differences that exist between the subordinate and the dominant people. In my opinion, my experiences in health care have been very different from those of my interviewee. Due to our differing identities, Gallacher usually often finds herself lacking some privileges readily available to the members of the dominant character. More often than not, they receive health care that is not on the same level as for the rest of the society members. Some of them cannot express themselves clearly to the health care providers leading to less productive care. All in all, according to the feedback, it is clear that the gap between the dominant and subordinate groups emanates from cultural perceptions and stereotypes.
References
An interview: Interviewee; Jordan Gallacher, a graduate of Louisiana Tech University with a bachelor’s degree in Management and Entrepreneurship.
Eisenberg, Y., Rimmer, J. H., Mehta, T., & Fox, M. H. (2015). Development of a community health inclusion index: an evaluation tool for improving inclusion of people with disabilities in community health initiatives. BMC Public Health, 15(1), 1050-1060. doi:10.1186/s12889-015-2381-2
Harris, S. P., Owen, R., Jones, R., & Caldwell, K. (2013). Does workfare policy in the United States promote the rights of people with disabilities?.Journal Of Vocational Rehabilitation, 39(1), 61-73. doi:10.3233/JVR-130642
Honeycutt, T., Thompkins, A., Bardos, M., & Stern, S. (2015). State differences in the vocational rehabilitation experiences of transition-age youth with disabilities. Journal Of Vocational Rehabilitation, 42(1), 17-30. doi:10.3233/JVR-140721
Siordia, C. (2014). Number of People in the United States Experiencing Ambulatory and Independent Living Difficulties. Journal Of Social Work In Disability & Rehabilitation, 13(3), 261-277. doi:10.1080/1536710X.2014.912187
