There are many layers that a person has. These layers can reveal so many different things. When you read this, what first comes to your mind? These layers consist of race, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability. However, with these multiple layers comes social injustice and unfair treatment for some. I know for my own self I am very privileged and lucky to have multiple layers that are dominant. But for some who identify with the layer that is pressed it can be a very hard and challenging life. There are many examples that can show just how much these layers interfere with daily tasks or the simplest things we might not ever think of. In this writing I will discuss many occasions where these layers have produced an inequity in someone’s life. Lately, I have been reading and researching about mass shootings and the shooter. I have noticed that if the shooter was white, a male, and identified as heterosexual they associated the word “mental health” a lot to the shooter. Rather if the shooter was an African-American male the word associated with him were “criminal.” This is a great representation of just how two small differences can portray the same crime in such a different and more harsh way. Another example is everyday we are hearing about innocent African American males killed and the major riots that are happening because of that. Most of us are even able to identify a few names of the males who were murdered. I know when I see the title , “Innocent African American Killed” I do not think of a female at first. My first thought is it is a male African American. But in reality there are many innocent African American women getting murdered and we do not even hear about it. Why? Because the layer that identifies them as female is not looked at as important as the layer of the male. The last example is today many of those who are facing homelessness face a lot of discrimination and stigma. They are looked at as lazy, and taking the easy way out. But that is far from the truth. There are many layers that someone who is facing homelessness has. These layers may consist of someone who lost a job, or someone who was disowned because their gender identity or sexual orientation. You cannot just think someone is poor because they are born poor. Many who have privileges fail to recognize that those facing homelessness are just like them. Once we start recognizing the many layers to one person and just how that may affect the situation they are in that can change our whole prospective. I know once I realized that someone facing homelessness was once living the lifestyle I lived I started to recognize the many layers that went to that person and the bias was gone. Once many others start to realize these layers we will able to be our true selves without any fear of judgement or bias.
Sources
Crenshaw, K. (n.d.). The urgency of intersectionality. Retrieved February 26, 2018, from https://www.ted.com/talks/kimberle_crenshaw_the_urgency_of_intersectionality
Birdsong, M. (n.d.). The story we tell about poverty isn't true. Retrieved February 26, 2018, from https://www.ted.com/talks/mia_birdsong_the_story_we_tell_about_poverty_isn_t_true
Hi Alyssa!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your post this week and I think you did a good job at uncovering the definition of layers each person has a long with their identity. Each example you explained gave me insight and helped me understand the pros and cons of each layer and the affect they might have. For example, with the shootings, because of the shooters race, the media completely differently identifies the incidents. We are not blind to the fact that this happens though, after these tragedies I see multiple people who are seeing what we see and how they are being labeled. I think the difference is that there are complaints but there is no action. Many people will retweet something but how many will go out of their way to make change about it. Another layer that you explained was the difference on gender, although victims of police shootings are both African American, males tend to get more media attention than woman just because they are males. After watching the TED talk with Crenshaw, I was surprised to even see just how many women I didn’t even know about that were victims to this horrific violence. Also, your explanation on homelessness and the many layers they have was interesting as well. I liked your quote from your post “I know once I realized that someone facing homelessness was once living the lifestyle I lived I started to recognize the many layers that went to that person and the bias was gone”.