So today in Engineering seminar, we learned about Diversity.
Of course the topic stayed mostly on racial issues (This is Arkansas btw), and I think it would've been interesting to see if there would have been any changes between the way it was held (moderated by a black woman professor), or if Ms. Gigi had held it (an asian woman) or Ms. Schneider (a white woman), or Dr. Cassady (a white man).
there was very little discussion on economic and gender issues, and as I was walking away from class, I kept thinking of stereotypes I would have liked to discuss.
Things like 'Girls should talk on phones and chase boys' and 'Girls should not concern themselves with computing', or 'People who live in trailers are white trash and are addicts (to drugs, cigarettes, alcohol etc)'. This one got touched on a bit-- 'Black girls are good for nothing but their genitals and rear end'
The question was raised 'What sub-group of people do most people consider 'Privileged'?' and my first answer was 'the rich', but after thinking that over for a while, I decided a better answer, which happens to include 'the rich' as a factor almost 100% of the time (see my poem in the Writer's Corner :]) would be "Politicians". Merely being rich did not stop Paris Hilton from spending time in jail, but who was the last politician jailed?
I'd like to know more stereotypes that you find applicable to you (as in, they would be applied but would be wrong), or that bother you that they exist still in society?
Also, do you consider yourself Privileged?
When that was asked in seminar, I felt compelled to raise my hand and say yes. My family is fairly set as 'Upper lower class' (I'm not sure what the actual economical thresholds on these terms are. Can someone provide me a link?), but that's by American standards. And just as our waistlines and egos are engorged, so are our standards of living. I mean, I'm typing this on a $1500 laptop attending a $12000 a year school. There are definitely billions of people in the world that can't afford the $100 'OLPC' computer, nor their governments afford (or care enough?) to send them to a public secondary or elementary school. Also, I'm free to wear what I like the same as any man does (with the sole exception being I must cover my breasts in public), which is a privilege some women do not enjoy; I can have my air conditioned or blown with an electric fan, or scented. (I can't have it heated though, thanks to fire hazards;]). I have a free ride up the hill to my classes if I hurry in time to catch it every 13 minutes from 7 to 6.
I could even vote for president or run for president one day (when I reach a certain age). Used to women could do neither. (but immigrant tax-payers still can't)
How are you guys privileged?