Chapter five of Lynn Webber’s book emphasizes on the effects of politics, education, economy and ideology on the social aspects such as; class, sexuality, gender and race. The author clearly illustrates the way people in the United States have been stereotyped into making weird assumptions about other people basing on race, class, gender and their sexuality. The author explains how the people of other races, apart from whites, are thought to be assumed to be poor, less educated and are of low class. The chapter also talks about how these race victims tend to believe in the stereotypes and act as it is thought of them. The color race individuals who are brought up under positive and ideological environments however, are not affected by these stereotypes. This shows that people are affected by public expectations and opinions in how they behave and live.
In the chapter, the author brings out the relationship between class, gender, race and sexuality in the image of the public and also about themselves. The poor, the color races, the women and men and the homosexuals and the heterosexuals all have certain characteristics. These characters are forged into them by both themselves and the public opinions. However, these groups can avoid being oppressed and escape suffering by deciding their own destinies and fighting for their rights. Chapter five is important because it shows how these affected groups of people can find their way to success and recognition irrespective of the society’s view.
The author’s arguments are realistic and convincing because the ideas presented are drawn from real life situations and the statistics are also provided. This illustrates how the society is affected by sexuality, gender, race and class. The chapter is credible since the author gives the problems, shows the effects and the extent to which they have affected the society and then provides practical and possible solutions to these problems.
However the author makes the assumptions that people live in segregated environments where people judge others based on class, race, sexuality and gender, which is not true in reality. However the author’s claims are supported by the fact that there is segregation in real life based on these social aspects.
Section B
1. What is the relationship between gender, class, sexuality and race in real life?
2. What is the gender problem faced by women in today’s economic environment?
3. How can segregation based on class, race, gender and sexuality be dealt with in the 21st century?
Terms and concepts
1. Macro-level of society- The society as a unit
2. Micro-level of society- The individual.
3. Social systems- Classification of people based on their class, gender, sexuality or race.
Works Cited
Weber, Lynn. Understanding Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality: A Conceptual Framework. 2, illustrated. London: Oxford University Press, 2009.
