Discussion Board Post.
One Reading: Margaret L. Andersen and Patricia Hill Collins Article, “Race, Gender, and Class: An Anthology.
Margaret L. Andersen and Patricia Hill Collins article, “Race, Gender, Class: An Anthology, 6th Ed,” gives a clear comparison on how sex, race, and gender shapes people’s lives. To give a clear meaning to their discussion, Margaret and Collins try to attach these issues to certain controversial elements in the society. Specifically, they discuss these elements alongside issue like Muslim life in the United States of America, Incarceration, the working poor and affirmative action. The article is clearly organized into four distinct parts, perhaps to give a clear and more vivid synopsis of how race, gender, and class affect communities in the American society. The four parts are, “Why Race, Class, and Gender still Matter,” “Systems of Power and Inequality,” “The Structure of Social Institutions,” and “Social Change and Sites of Change.”
The first part, “Why Race, Class, and Gender still Matter,” basically gives a framework or rather a glimpse into the race, class, and gender. The articles do not make assumptions of any nature and kind; it is entirely based on real life experiences. This section gives clear scenarios and instances on how gender, race, and class affects people’s lives, specifically, it points out to the issue of the poor working and affirmative action. Furthermore, the issue of race is captured through an address of the Muslim life in the American society. According to Margaret and Collins, all these aspects affect human life either partially or wholly. The impacts are conspicuously evident as far as the article is concerned. The second section, “Systems of Power and Inequality,” is primarily concerned with providing a conceptual framework for understanding the perceived linkage between race, gender, and class. The third section, “The Structure of Social Institutions,” entirely dwells on the structure of social institutions and the intersection of class, race, and gender from an institutionalized point of view. It encompasses on cultures, families, work and state. Lastly, there is the “Social Change and Sites of Change,” a section that examines change.
Two Additional Readings: Lawrence R. Jacobs and James A. Morone, “Health and Wealth: Our Appalling Health Inequality” and Martha C. Ward and Monica Edelstein’s Article, “A World Full of Women.”
James and Lawrence’s article, “Health and Wealth: Our Appalling Health Inequality,” it is very clear that gender, class, and race has an adverse effect on people’s health. They attribute this to different life expectancy. According to these authors, people at higher social class are likely to live longer, due to a better life, access to proper medication and a good living environment. Nonetheless, other races are known to live longer, for example, the Japanese. Likewise, according to Martha’s and Monica’s article, “A World Full of Women,” it is evident that both psychological and social issues play a critical role in women’s health. Unfortunately, these factors make them sick while the women are the major victims. They endure both cultural and emotional torture.
Just as illustrated in the documentary, “Unnatural Cause,” and Martha’s and Monica’s Article, “A World Full of Women,” it is quite clear that psychological and social factors have a role in people’s health. Apparently, these psychological and social factors do not affect people’s health in any other way but making them sick. It is quite unfortunate that women have to endure both social and psychological torture in such a way that their health is significantly deteriorated. Furthermore, the article, “A World Full of Women,” makes an in-depth analysis on women’s issues and lifetime experiences, unfortunately, women fall victim of cultural affiliations to an extent that they are sent into emotional torture. Nonetheless, it further reveals that women’s life are marred with social dogmas and violence. Elsewhere, the documentary, “Unnatural Cause,” clearly shows how social classes shape the opportunities to have good health or simply access proper medication. According to the documentary, individuals who are highly placed in the social ladder have a better experience as far as health is concerned. As a matter of fact, they have the best opportunities to access power and resources, therefore, they out rightly have the best health. However, those at the lower part of the social class are struggling for better health; their lives are dominated by unpaid bills, poor living conditions, low paying jobs, and exposure to environmental hazards. It is an undeniable fact that women are worst affected. Due to the hardships presented by social classes, women resort to traditional medicines and healing rituals, a fact that can be attributed to world’s religions to address women’s issues. But this kind of trend and women’s suffrage cannot be blamed on medical facilities or doctors; it is only that the social class has made medication out of women’s reach.
The Global Burden of Diseases is a reputable organization that studies life expectancy and other related data. Over the years, the organization has been publishing life expectancy details in regards to the burdens that diseases inflict on human health. A critical look at the data succinctly reveals that Japan is atop the list. According to the data, the organization published in May 2016, Japan’s life expectancy was the highest in the world, standing at an index of 83.7 years for both male and female. A break down into the data further reveals that Japan’s males were expected to live for 80.5 years while the female were slightly above the males at 86.8 years. Switzerland followed closely at an index of 83.4 years for both sexes; a breakdown reveals that the males were expected to live for 81.3 years while the females at 85.3 years. Following on the list is Singapore, Australia, Spain, Iceland, Italy, Israel, Sweden, and France respectively, all these countries are the highest ten countries regarding life expectancy. Iceland and Italy are at position six globally, same to France and Sweden that ties number nine. The lowest life expectancy is conspicuously evident in African countries particularly those marred with conflicts. Angola and Sierra Leone are found below the list respectively. The combined life expectancy for Sierra Leone stands at an index of 50.1 years; the females are expected to live for 50.8 years while the males’ expectancy stands at 49.3 years. The United States of America is ranked at position 31; the combined life expectancy is 79.3 years. The males are expected to live for 76.9 years while the females stand at 81.6 years. The United States’ male life expectancy stands at number 33 slightly above that of the female’s that stands at 32 globally.
According to Article 15, James and Lawrence’s article, “Health and Wealth: Our Appalling Health Inequality,” it is very clear that gender, class, and race have an adverse effect on people’s health. To be precise, the article points out that the life expectancy for American female babies is ranked at position 19th globally contrary to the male’s that is ranked at position 31st. The disparity is quite significant; therefore, it is right to deduce that females are likely to live longer as compared to the women. As to the race, the article reveals that an American boy born in an average social class is likely to live three and half years less than his Japanese counterpart even though the Japanese are known to be adamant smokers of cigarette. Moreover, studies reveal that falling behind race has a dire consequence on an individual’s health; one is likely to suffer psychologically. Psychological torture leads to stress, trauma, hypertension, depression, and other types of illnesses that are likely to lead individuals to premature deaths. According to James and Lawrence’s article, “Health and Wealth: Our Appalling Health Inequality,” social class is a great determinant to one’s life expectancy. From an ordinary view, poverty brings social troubles like high rates of crime, food insecurity, hunger, poor health care, poor schools, low paying and other forms of social evils. Poverty in its very nature attracts individuals to smoking of tobacco as well as drinking alcohol besides it directs people to fast foods. All these in one way or another reduces people’s lifespan.
It is quite clear that people tend to compensate for differences in their identities and cultures by being stereotypical, it is something that has been evident over the years, unfortunately, and it is ongoing and never seems to stop. Indeed, it would be tough or rather impossible to change people perceptions on certain identities; it is something that is already here and will continue to live with us forever. Taking a look at Rosalind’s article, “An Intersectional Analysis of 'Six packs, ' 'Midriffs' and Hot Lesbians' in Advertising," it is clear that people’s different perception of particular identities entirely leads to stereotypes. Rosalind believes that sexualization of advertising significantly promotes heteronormativity, which is not the case, it is just but a mere stereotype. The “Midriffs,” desire to achieve what they want sexually is what is perceived the wrong way; they are believed to be lesbians who have chosen to be sexual objects. According to Judith Ortiz Cofer’s article, “The Myth of the Latin Woman: I Just Met a Girl Named Maria,” it is evident that stereotypes are mutable. The fact that the difference in American and the Puerto Rican culture is something that is almost automatic sufficiently proves that stereotypes are mutable. As Cofer would put it, it is not astonishing that stereotypical nature of the American’s against the Puerto Ricans culture would be passed from one generation to another. This is further confirmed by Christine Williams’ article, “Racism in Toyland.”
Stereotyping is something I had once encountered in a real life situation. Being an American of black descent, I undergone a stereotypical ordeal based on racial difference. White Americans tend to believe that Americans of black descent are lazy, immoral and thieves for that matter. Apparently, a white teenager after having understood what was probably being said accosted me, his argument was quite simple, he was wondering whether I was going to deliver in my newfound job since he knew that back Americans were lazy. I was greatly challenged and had to work extra hard to disapprove him.
Judith Ortiz Cofer in her article, “The Myth of the Latin Woman: I Just Met a Girl Named Maria,” tried to address the misconception that the mainstream Americans have over the Puerto Ricans. She single-handedly pointed out on the fact that mainstream Americans believe that Puerto Ricans dress in a vibrant and flashy manner. Nonetheless, American have believed what they see in the movies; owing to that fact, they relate what they see in the movies and cinemas to the Puerto Rican and Latin American women; unfortunately that is not the case. Furthermore, Rosalind in her article, “An Intersectional Analysis of 'Six packs, ' 'Midriffs' and Hot Lesbians' in Advertising," proves how sexual advertising is attributed to lesbianism. Meanwhile, Christine Williams, “Racism in Toyland,” comically reveals the wrong perception held that toys are racial based, that is, an individual from a given race is likely to buy a toy that conforms to his or her race.
