Racism, sexism, and classism in contemporary American society

Racism, Sexism, Classism

Racism

Archibold, R.C. & Steinhauer, J. (2010). Welcome to Arizona, outpost of contradictions. The New York Times. 28 April 2010. Retrieved April 30, 2010 from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/29/us/29arizona.html?src=me&ref=homepage

The state of Arizona recently passed a controversial anti-immigration law. The law authorizes law enforcement personnel to stop anyone suspected of being an illegal immigrant, and makes being an illegal immigrant an actual crime. Given that one-third of the state's residents are Hispanic, the law will most certainly lead to racial profiling. Most of the Latino residents of the state will not be able to drive down the street without the security of knowing they will not be stopped by a police officer. It is highly unlikely that an African-American or a blonde-haired blue-eyed Caucasian would be suspected of being an illegal immigrant.

Stanton, J. (2010). A Jewish Voice Against the Burqa Ban. Huffington Post. April 23, 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2010 from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joshua-stanton/a-jewish-voice-against-th_b_546666.html

The author of this article lived in France, where he experienced discrimination simply because he wore a beard and therefore looked Muslim. The author criticizes the ban against the burqa because he views the garb as a symbol of Muslim culture. To ban the burqa is to stigmatize and discriminate against all Muslims, regardless of what the covering means in terms of women's rights.

3. Wainwright, M. (2010). Teenager convicted of ultra rightwing terror plot. Guardian. April 30, 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2010 from http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/apr/30/teenager-rightwing-nazi-terror-plot

A nineteen-year-old young man was convicted on three charges of terrorism today, for his participation in Aryan Task Force. The Aryan Task Force is a neo-nazi group that espouses the use of violence to promote a white supremacist agenda.

4. Ice T. "Cop Killer." Song lyrics

The lyrics to Ice T's song "Cop Killer" addresses the ways minorities are unfairly targeted by police. Minorities are prejudged to be criminals, whereas cops provide less protection to neighborhoods with a large proportion of non-white residents. The anger in the song is directed not just at law enforcement officers but at the whole system that supports racism.

Hetero-Sexism

1. Oliver, C. (2010). Lesbian teacher claims she was fired from elite Vancouver Catholic girls' school. The Province. 29 April 2010. Retrieved April 30, 2010 from http://www.theprovince.com/life/Lesbian+teacher+claims+fired+from+elite+Vancouver+Catholic+girls+school/2961810/story.html

Because a school teacher started a family with her lesbian partner, she was fired from her job at a private Catholic school. The story raises questions about whether a private religious academy can operate under different laws than a public school. On the one hand, the school should obliged to practice the same anti-discrimination practices as public schools but on the other hand, the school is private and funded by paying parents. This situation reveals the belief that homosexuality is somehow immoral -- and shows how ingrained homophobia is in some religious circles.

2. Faramarzi, S. (2010). Iranian homosexuals carve out a refuge in Turkey. Associated Press. 25 April 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2010 from http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gBGg_RE5LHIWjuSo4MmXDpxBiaGgD9FA6E2G0

In Iran, homosexuality is punishable by death. This extreme example of heterosexism proves how far homophobia can be taken in a society. Some Iranian men flee to Turkey to live freely as gay males. Others undergo sex change operations just to live with the person they love.

3. Gilbert, K. (2010). Military Chaplains Urge Obama to Maintain Ban on Open Homosexuals in Military. LifeSiteNews. Retrieved April 30, 2010 from http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/apr/10042811.html

Heterosexism is institutionalized in the United States, especially in the military where gays cannot serve their country and be honest about their sexual orientation. President Obama has been under pressure from both human rights groups that want the ban on gays in the military to be lifted and also from anti-gay establishments -- usually religious organizations. The "don't ask don't tell" policy is one of the most overt examples of heterosexism and homophobia in the United States.

4. Chumbawumba. "Homophobia." Song lyrics.

Chumbawamba's song addresses homophobia directly and with explicit lyrics about gay-bashing. Heterosexism is the imposition of heterosexual values on a society, and gay bashing is the most extreme manifestation of heterosexism. Therefore, homophobia is described as "the worst disease," by disallowing people to love who they please.

5. Advertisement: Armani Exchange, featuring Ambrose Olsen.

This advertisement featuring male model Ambrose Olsen depicts two finely chiseled men in the water. One is shown from the next down and only his torso and behind is showing. His swimming trunks expose part of his crack, and Olsen looks at it. The advertisement is homoerotic and shows that heterosexism is not necessarily a universal form of bigotry. Moreover, homoeroticism is used to sell clothes.

Classism

1. Leopold, L. (2010). Why do we save billionaires, not teachers? Huffington Post. April 30, 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2010 from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/les-leopold/why-do-we-save-billionair_b_558213.html

In a recent article in the Huffington Post, Les Leopold asks, "Why do we save billionaires, but not teachers?" The bailout of Wall Street is a prime example of how classism is reinforced via the law. It has become acceptable to allow the super-rich to prosper at the expense of the working poor. Fear of socialism has gripped the United States so badly that the inefficiency of classist laws are not even discussed in a reasonable manner. The priorities of the nation are skewed because the super-rich are valued more than working class Americans.

2. Isensee, L. (2010). Union leaders protest Hialeah layoffs. Miami Herald. April 29, 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2010 from http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/04/29/1605454/union-leaders-protest-hialeah.html

Labor unions are not strong in the United States, but they still support the rights of workers. When workers are laid off, unions often create media attention such as this instance in Hialeah, Florida. Instead of re-evaluating the budget of the city, it is contributing to the problem of poverty.

3. "Hillary Swank had lonely childhood." The Times of India. April 9, 2010. Retrieved April 30, 2010 from http://toi.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-interviews/Hillary-Swank-had-lonely-childhood/articleshow/5776828.cms

Actress Hillary Swank grew up in a poor household, and experienced discrimination as a result. Parents did not want their children playing with her because she was poor. She talks frankly about her personal experiences with classism to the Times of India.

4. Tupac. "Changes." Song lyrics.

In "Changes," Tupac raps about racism and classism, connecting the two social ills. He states, "I'm tired of bein' poor & even worse I'm black." Tupac laments the lack of social progress he witnesses in poor and predominantly black urban communities. The connection between class and race reveals the power differentials in American society, and how income disparity is especially apparent among minorities.

5. Bruce Springsteen. "Factory."

In "Factory," Bruce Springsteen sings about growing up in blue collar America. A boy's father goes to work each day at the factory, which is described as a "mansion of pain." The struggles of the working class include poor working conditions for very little pay. Springsteen calls it "The working, the working, just the working life."