Dominant and Subordinate

    In reading the book: Readings for Diversity and Social Justice, Chapter 1- 7.

The chapters started off with the idea of identity and how we identify ourselves. Which one would automatically state what it is who makes them, them.For me, I'm a hard worker, loyal, persistent....etc.  But to know that the way we see ourselves could be completely different than the way  society sees us or tells us we are, it is unjust  but yet very real. Our identity allows us to be grouped in a dominate and or subordinate group.  After said that, my whole identity changes to: women, hispanic, and  working class.In regards to this chart that is on page 11 I am only privileged by being heterosexual, christian and young, which is pretty sad. I never use those 3 things that make me dominant when identifying myself, simply because I don't see them as important. I digress,I just thought of a funny movie I seen called Down to Earth, where a black men dies but comes back to be in a body of a white man who is rich but yet still acts the way he always had as a black men. Reminds me of the whole notion of identity:   (Just a little bit of humor to lighten up this very serious topic).

  (Back on track)These dominate and subordinate groups allow room for one group to  be privileged. Being privilege in whatever category it may be, just brings the opportunity for oppression. Oppression which happens because a dominate group possesses  power, power that we as a society has assigned. I think society focuses so much on identifying what makes us different than what makes us alike.  I like what the the author says and quotes from Baldwin,it reads: “ There is no hierarchy of oppression.”The thread and threat of violence runs through all of the isms".

  Genocide, poverty, slavery, hate crimes and so many other things have been a result of oppression.  For being something so small as identity , it has had such a great effect on many people.

I seen this documentary last semester in my sociology violence class and thought it was very interesting and a form of oppression based upon race/ethnicity. It's called Torturing Democracy. 

 


A "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."-M.L.K

Seek Justice!

  I've found the article: Social Justice and Social Work by Pelton to be very intriguing. I thought he made many interesting points as to how social work students should be getting taught about nondiscrimination. To be taught about it only because this is a problem that  social workers encounter out in the field. For us as students to recognize when discrimination is happening is vital and this article brought light onto this subject for me. 
  Its a very sad thing that many companies hinder social workers from really doing what they are suppose to do, just because of policies. Which leads me to believe that it will be a challenge to honor the ethics and value code of conduct as a social worker. Pelton clarifies what social justice and community means, which I think are two words that many individuals need to be reminded of.  For that matter not just individuals but companies too need to be reminded. Ive seen many companies or programs that defeat the purpose of providing help for others due to all their assessments and or criteria to receive aid. So I can see why many people would rather not work because its easier to receive help than it is if you have income.(Being raised in a low income community I saw this all the time) 
  I like the way Pelton compared  welfare reform as being selectively applied to programs for needy children and mother but fail to recognize that veterans, elderly and disabled need it to, which is not any different than dividing the less fortunate into black and white people. So discrimination is discrimination regardless of how its done.
  To seek justice and empower people is what a social worker seeks out to do but nothing in life is easy. Discrimination is our enemy and to be aware of our capability as a human race to be discriminate is helpful in recognizing when we or anybody else does it.
  Despite any obstacle  that could hinder me as a social worker from helping someone to the fullest(like policies), I still look forward to helping as many lives a possible and willing to take that challenge.

 I thought this scripture was perfect for this topic: Isaiah 1:17- Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.