Lorene Cary doesn't have a choice but to focus on race. She has to look through the lens of what it means to be black, because to be black is to be a member of a non-dominant group and as such, she is not granted the same power and privilege that is would otherwise be assumed as a member of the dominant group. Having been assigned a "position" by the dominant group, which is often reinforced by stereotypes, race is more apparent; Cary consciously sees, lives, and breathes it every day. It defines her, though again, she did not choose for this to be the case. Her daily experience constantly reinforces this point, as informed by the culture of power. She didn’t make the rules, but is forced to live by them.
People in dominant groups, on the other hand, don’t have to look through the lens of what it means to be dominant, to have power, to have privilege. All of this is assumed, implied, and especially so if they were born into this power and privilege. They know nothing else. They are less inclined to "see, live, and breathe” their position and the greater implications of it because it is constantly reinforced—whether consciously or not!—by those around them, most of whom are also members of the dominant group. They "made" the rules and have the choice to break them, ignore them, or as is too often the case, pretend they don't even exist.
I welcome your thoughts.
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3 comments:
Hola. I just wanted to add that just because you're part of the 'dominant group' doesn't mean you fulfill all the stereotypes and are using your "power" for evil. (Example: Not all whites are straight, affluent, intelligent, rich, snobby, arrogant males. Some may not even fit into two of those stereotypes.)
They are inclined to see through their lens, but I think that not all of them choose do so, or recognize they have a different "lens" on the world than other people or "groups." It's not fair to group people and assume certain traits are true of that "group." People are people.
Nuff said.
Question: Are you implying that all whites makes rules, but are so 'high and mighty' that they can choose to break or ignore them?
Shaina,
I appreciate your thoughts. You're right, being part of the dominant group doesn't automatically mean you fit the stereotype. My thoughts reflect mostly the white dominant group. The straight dominant group would have other implications, as it would if I said straight, white, and male.
As a white male and therefore a member of two dominant groups (white and male), I'd like to think that I do not use my "power" (that is, the privileges of being both a member of the white dominant group, the male dominant group, and what the two of them combined means) for evil. There are plenty of examples of people who do, though they are actually (ironically enough) a "minority" of those members of the dominant group. (For instance, white supremacists.) Even though I do not intentionally use my privileges for evil, I still benefit from them in ways that, say, a person of color does not. This doesn't make me a bad person or racist, it simply makes me a white male. And because the "system" is stacked against those who are not of the dominant group, that is, those who are not white, people of color are painfully reminded of that everyday, whereas I take it for granted and often don't think about it. Because I don't have to. I have the choice not to, which is a privilege in and of itself. Further, the system is stacked against those who are not of the dominant group in large part because the system was made by and for the dominant group, that is, by and for whites. To demonstrate, think of how many people of color serve in positions of authority. (Politics, law, etc.) Research would show that a disproportionate number of people of color serve in positions of authority. (You could make a similar case for women, for instance, more women serve as teachers than men, and yet more men than women serve as principals and superintendents.)
Lastly, no, I am not suggesting that white are "so high and mighty" that they can choose to break or ignore rules, but rather, (and perhaps more clearly stated than in the original post) the rules often don't apply to whites or are systematically bent in their favor. Interestingly enough, today's news mentioned the "Gena 6," which is a prime example of much of what has been said here. I encourage everyone to do some research on this current event and let me know of any illuminations.
Thanks again, Shaina. I look forward to more of your thoughts, as well as that of others.
Patrick.
Thanks for clarifying Mr. Patrick! I'm making more sense of what you said during the original post. Have a sweet weekend!
-S.Rud
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