I just wanted to go more into my thoughts on diversity education, with Hogan's article in mind.
Hogan mentions in his abstract that "diversity courses in higher education were effective in improving students' intergroup tolerance". I agree and disagree with this. I am currently enrolled in Multiculturalism and its Critics. It is for an analysis of values gen ed. It may be because it is a political science course and I have no interest in political theories and views whatsoever, but with no exaggeration it has been my least favorite class at Wesleyan thus far. Hogan mentions implementing multicultural curriculum requirements. If that class was one of the requirements, I would hate the topic. If I was not simultaneously enrolled in this course, I would probably completely loathe the topic. The readings and books he chooses are not very appealing to me, and how the class is structured, only 2 or 3 students, who are political science majors, talk and discuss. While they may be getting a great experience, it hinders it for everyone else because not everyone has as much background knowledge in poli-sci as they do. Diversity and multi-culturalism is a very touchy subject, and in order to have a positive effect, the classes need to be structured in such a way. I am not the only person with this opinion in the class, I have talked to 5 or 6 other students and they find it just as awful as I do. I do believe that diversity education is a good thing and could have huge effects, but I think it would take a lot of work, screening of classes and content, and teaching style of certain professors to have a positive accomplisment.
In class we mentioned how business majors lack diversity education for this major. During the break I had a short discussion with Sandy about this and wanted to expand further. After this semester, there is only one more class I need to take to complete my business major, so I feel I can legitimately talk about the lack of diveristy in business education. I think that it should be stressed more since most business fields, such as retail, will have a rather diverse workforce. If I had not taken this class, the only thing I would know about it is one chapter's worth in my organization and management class, which is a total of 21 pages, consisting of a lot of pictures and diagrams. I did not get the full effect or learn anything memorable in that chapter. The only other thing I recall was racism in terms of Human Resources Management and company policies. Brittany did mention that there is a diversity in the workforce class that exists here, but from everytime I looked at business courses to take, I do not recall seeing it offered, because I know I would have wanted to take it. That still does not discuss diversity in the workforce including peers or subordinates. I think everyone should experience it first hand and that it is not something you can learn from a textbook.
Education majors have to observe classroom settings. I think that the same should be done in businesses. Over the past 2 summers I have been a supervisor at Chicago Special Events (street and music festivals in the city). I was the supervisor of up to 50 temporary workers picking up some extra cash in the summer. Temp positions pull a VERY diverse amount of people. I really appreciated that experience and I firmly believe it will help me in the future while working in management positions.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
State of Dialogue
I just wanted to add some further comments to our state of dialogue on campus now that I have heard further input from other students.
I think one big factor that hinders this is the greek life. In my opinion, having greek life on such a small campus is asking for cliques. Freshman year before Rush, I had a very diversified experience through titan orientation and other people that lived on my floor and building. I got to know a great new body of people. Even if the campus was mainly white, I did converse with a few people of color. Everyone just kind of hung out together and talked and it was a great experience. However, this quickly changed after everyone pledge for their respective greek houses. Everyone then became segregated. They mainly just hung out with the people in their sorority or fraternity houses. Friendships started floating away since I chose not to join the greek life on campus. I feel as if having greek housing sets a border or boundary. In my opinion, I believe that the state of dialogue would be much higher if there was no greek life.
I have a friend who goes to St. Ambrose in Iowa. The school is a similar size to IWU, yet there is no greek life. I've visited there a few times and the atmosphere is completely different. They do not have as many cliques and it seemed that everyone knew each other. I enjoyed my experiences there and wish IWU was more similar to that.
I think one big factor that hinders this is the greek life. In my opinion, having greek life on such a small campus is asking for cliques. Freshman year before Rush, I had a very diversified experience through titan orientation and other people that lived on my floor and building. I got to know a great new body of people. Even if the campus was mainly white, I did converse with a few people of color. Everyone just kind of hung out together and talked and it was a great experience. However, this quickly changed after everyone pledge for their respective greek houses. Everyone then became segregated. They mainly just hung out with the people in their sorority or fraternity houses. Friendships started floating away since I chose not to join the greek life on campus. I feel as if having greek housing sets a border or boundary. In my opinion, I believe that the state of dialogue would be much higher if there was no greek life.
I have a friend who goes to St. Ambrose in Iowa. The school is a similar size to IWU, yet there is no greek life. I've visited there a few times and the atmosphere is completely different. They do not have as many cliques and it seemed that everyone knew each other. I enjoyed my experiences there and wish IWU was more similar to that.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
More Disney
I am spending Spring Break in Disney World. After the Disney analysis, I decided to see if the rides and shows at the parks had aspects of racism in them as well.
A lot of rides have you watch a short video clip before you enter, including Tower of Terror, Dinosaur, Rock N' Roller Coaster, or the American Idol Experience. Of all these short video clips, there was only one person of color (the mom from The Cosby Show is in the opening clip of Dinosaur).
In rides such as Figment's Imagination, Escape from Earth, and Honey I shrunk the Audience, all of the figurines and people in the ride are white. The only ride I recall there being people of color was Pirates of Carribbean, which is obviously not a very good depiction of them.
I have come to the conclusion that the only diversity that exists in Disney World is at Epcot, in their tour around the world. They have different countries. However, in all of the countries there is only one ride, and the tour around the world is not appealing to small children. So many parents do not bring their children there and they do not get a diversified experience. The tour of the countries is also not depicted as very child-friendly anymore. There are beer tents everywhere and it mainly consists of an atmosphere of adults walking around and drinking. Parents may not want to bring their child into this atmosphere as well. However, it is very cool to go into all the countries and is a very unique experience, and I believe more people, including children, should be able to enjoy it.
A lot of rides have you watch a short video clip before you enter, including Tower of Terror, Dinosaur, Rock N' Roller Coaster, or the American Idol Experience. Of all these short video clips, there was only one person of color (the mom from The Cosby Show is in the opening clip of Dinosaur).
In rides such as Figment's Imagination, Escape from Earth, and Honey I shrunk the Audience, all of the figurines and people in the ride are white. The only ride I recall there being people of color was Pirates of Carribbean, which is obviously not a very good depiction of them.
I have come to the conclusion that the only diversity that exists in Disney World is at Epcot, in their tour around the world. They have different countries. However, in all of the countries there is only one ride, and the tour around the world is not appealing to small children. So many parents do not bring their children there and they do not get a diversified experience. The tour of the countries is also not depicted as very child-friendly anymore. There are beer tents everywhere and it mainly consists of an atmosphere of adults walking around and drinking. Parents may not want to bring their child into this atmosphere as well. However, it is very cool to go into all the countries and is a very unique experience, and I believe more people, including children, should be able to enjoy it.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Racism in the Media
After seeing all the media presentations this week, I began to analyze my favorite shows more in depth. Shows I didn't really think had aspects of racism in them before, but do now.
I have been on a CSI:Las Vegas binge all semester. There is one African American actor on it, whose character was Warrick Brown. In the first season, his character had a gambling addiction. He did not follow the rules at work, and was doing side jobs in return for favors from the judge. None of the other character developments had any issues in the season. Also, in later seasons, their technical investigator in the lab is Asian. He did all of the computer work and analyzing for the crimes. All of the heads in the department are white.
In season 8, Warrick Brown was killed in the show, leaving an all white cast. Halfway through season nine, a new actor was brought on the show who is African American.
Also, we discussed Celebrity dating shows. I began to think of Rock of Love Tour Bus currently on TV right now. There was one black female. The whole time she was on the show though, all of the girls targeted her, calling her a man and thinking she was a transvestite for the whole show. A large part of one episode was based on the other girls thoughts on this. The only other person of color on the show has her cheeks pierced and tattoos all down her arms. The only 2 people of color on the show are not presented in a very appealing way.
Last, another show I have been watching is NCIS. The entire main cast is white. This show is based on solving crimes involving the marines or the navy. I have been paying attention while watching the seasons and only recall them showing 3 or 4 Marines of color.
After the media lesson I have been looking and analyzing shows very differently.
I have been on a CSI:Las Vegas binge all semester. There is one African American actor on it, whose character was Warrick Brown. In the first season, his character had a gambling addiction. He did not follow the rules at work, and was doing side jobs in return for favors from the judge. None of the other character developments had any issues in the season. Also, in later seasons, their technical investigator in the lab is Asian. He did all of the computer work and analyzing for the crimes. All of the heads in the department are white.
In season 8, Warrick Brown was killed in the show, leaving an all white cast. Halfway through season nine, a new actor was brought on the show who is African American.
Also, we discussed Celebrity dating shows. I began to think of Rock of Love Tour Bus currently on TV right now. There was one black female. The whole time she was on the show though, all of the girls targeted her, calling her a man and thinking she was a transvestite for the whole show. A large part of one episode was based on the other girls thoughts on this. The only other person of color on the show has her cheeks pierced and tattoos all down her arms. The only 2 people of color on the show are not presented in a very appealing way.
Last, another show I have been watching is NCIS. The entire main cast is white. This show is based on solving crimes involving the marines or the navy. I have been paying attention while watching the seasons and only recall them showing 3 or 4 Marines of color.
After the media lesson I have been looking and analyzing shows very differently.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
FML
I've blogged about a similar thing story on this site before. Fmylife.com. I came across this story:
Today, my mother was re-enrolling me in school so she was required to fill out some paper work. Later, she asks me, "What does Caucasian mean?". I ask, "Why?". Apparently she didn't recognize the word so she checked "other" and wrote in "white". FML
I remember us talking about this in class. I distinctly remember taking a standardized test in elementary school where we had to fill out that information. "white" was not on there and since there was maybe only 1 or 2 people of color, pretty much all of the 2nd graders did not know what to put. The teacher had to announce to put "caucasian". I only know of that word and use it in terms of standardized testing. Even though this web site is meant to be taken as humorous, I think it shows the ignorance that still exists today.
Today, my mother was re-enrolling me in school so she was required to fill out some paper work. Later, she asks me, "What does Caucasian mean?". I ask, "Why?". Apparently she didn't recognize the word so she checked "other" and wrote in "white". FML
I remember us talking about this in class. I distinctly remember taking a standardized test in elementary school where we had to fill out that information. "white" was not on there and since there was maybe only 1 or 2 people of color, pretty much all of the 2nd graders did not know what to put. The teacher had to announce to put "caucasian". I only know of that word and use it in terms of standardized testing. Even though this web site is meant to be taken as humorous, I think it shows the ignorance that still exists today.
Racist Bugs Bunny clips
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVuR-F1fQRc
Thats the link to the video I was talking about today in class in my presentation. Watching it, my jaw completely dropped. I could not believe anything like that could be created, and a cartoon character that depicted such wrong things is still so well known in our society today. I made my room mate watch it and she had the same reaction. Let me know if you watch it and what your initial reaction was :)
Thats the link to the video I was talking about today in class in my presentation. Watching it, my jaw completely dropped. I could not believe anything like that could be created, and a cartoon character that depicted such wrong things is still so well known in our society today. I made my room mate watch it and she had the same reaction. Let me know if you watch it and what your initial reaction was :)
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