Following the American Psychological Association’s Guidelines
23. Make a list of “isms” we deal with in North American society and give a brief description. How do you think any of the “isms” affect or impact on how people feel about themselves? Provide examples.
Many ‘isms’ have become a part of North American society. One could argue that parts of North America are built on these ‘isms.’ The United States was built largely with slavery, which bred racism that is still alive today, according to “Isms and Ologies: All the Movements, Ideologies and Doctrines That Have Shaped Our World .” Ageism is another that impacts North American society, again largely based in the U.S. Aging individuals are seen as a drain on resources, primarily because funds for Medicaid and Social Security are swiftly running out, with no backup plan in place. Modern medicine has allowed people to live longer than the program anticipated. Sexism affects individuals in North America, as well as all over the world. Women are largely at a disadvantage to men, while men are often marginalized as individuals who should not show emotion, or who are easily aggressive and dangerous. Sexism, led to feminism, which affects larger portions of society in North America than individuals realize. Feminism is often misconstrued, both by those who are against it and those who are for it, but the general message has always been that feminism is for equality between the genders.
Example: While feminism is easily deconstructed from the outside looking in, it is sometimes more difficult to assess how this “ism” makes people feel about themselves. “Gender and Agency: Reconfiguring the Subject of Feminist and Social Theory,” states practicing feminists often feel empowered and in control of their lives, which is easy to deduce . It can often be confusing to practicing feminists when other women do not take up the “ism’s” cause. The reason probably is, McNay points out, that these women are made to feel inferior by the movement. Feminism is typically displayed in aggression and anger, almost in an effort to expunge the subservience women were forced into for so long. Many women may not be ready for it and may repel or hid. McNay also offers that they may simply disagree. There are many sides for and against whether the patriarchy as infiltrated society so deeply that women have been brainwashed. Regardless, some women simply believe men are doing what is right; feminism, in turn, makes them angry . That leaves men, and how feminism makes them feel. Typically, men feel threatened by feminism. While the movement is essentially about equality for both genders, this topic does not come up often. The conversation is normally centralized around what women have been deprived and what needs to change for women. While a lot needs to change for women, it makes men feel as though everything that will change for them will be for the worst. Men get paid more, receive more respect as a social standard, can act as they please sexually with little societal repercussion, nothing is expected of them when a child is conceived, and even in North America they are more favorable than girls to parents. Men do not want to lose any of these things, but they do not understand feminism also means they will not be jeered at if they express themselves emotionally or find they want to take up dancing as a hobby. If they want to be a stay-at-home dad that will be okay, and if they like baking, that will be okay too. The lack of communication has made men feel threatened, and as if women are attempting a hostile takeover, which has enforced more control.
References
Goldwag, A. (2014). 'Isms & 'Ologies: All the movements, ideologies and doctrines that have shaped our world. New York City: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.
McNay, L. (2013). Gender and Agency: Reconfiguring the Subject in Feminist and Social Theory. Chicago: John Wiley & Sons.
