We have been speaking since we came out of the womb, from baby babble to the real words of the English language. We have nice words to describe people like nice, handsome, kind, compassionate, etc. But, we also have not so nice words like bitch, slut, dick, etc. And lastly we have words that we just throw around like “gay” and “retarded”. The word I choose for this blog post is “retarded”.
I chose the word retarded because I throw it around a lot. I sometimes say to my family when they are being slow or being even funny, I will say “you’re retarded” or “you’re being retarded”. I have never used it in a bad way or used it to put someone down. I also do not call people I don’t know these words. My mother and I have called each other retards since I was in my teens. Neither one of us take offense to it, it is just a joking around type of thing. I even call myself retarded sometimes. If I do something wrong or if I know something but I cannot think of it and then when I do I would be like “I feel retarded.”
It was not until I got with my fiancée` that I have been trying to not say this word so much. He has a younger sister that as Retts Syndrome and really is mentally retarded. He does not take offense to the word when it is used, but his other younger sister does, and I also feel bad saying that word now that I really know someone that is that word. It changes everything when it is a “hit home” kind of thing.
The definition of retarded is “slow or limited in intellectual or emotional development or academic progress” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). The word retarded is from Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin. The first known use of the word was in the 15th century (Merriam-Webster Dictionary).
The word retarded went from a clinical description to a hateful derogatory word. When the word was first introduced, it was introduced as “mentally retarded” or “mental retardation” and it was a medical term that had a specific clinical connotation. Now the words “retard” and “retarded” are thrown around in today’s society to insult people. Also, when people without disabilities use the word to replace “stupid” and “dumb” it only “reinforces painful stereotypes of people with intellectual disabilities being less valued members of humanity” (r-word.org). It is like we have talked about in class these last few weeks about dehumanizing people and this is a great way that we of society do that, with just a simple word like retard.
I feel the people that are most likely to throw the word retarded or retard around is our generation and mostly the generation after us. I think teens from like the age of twelve to age of sixteen or seventeen are the most likely to use these words.
The communities that are impacted by this word the most is the “mentally retarded” community. They are being dehumanized each time everyone outside that community used the words retarded and retard to dehumanize someone else. This word is not acceptable by really anyone. I think whether you are “mentally retarded” or not I do not think it is acceptable to use.
Yes, there are people that want us to stop using the word in the way we do. The whole reason of r-word.org is for a pledge not to say the word.
I think you can relate this to when we read about the labeling theory. Howard S. Becker says in his labeling theory that “Social groups create deviance by making the rules whose infraction constitutes deviance and by applying those rules to particular people and labeling them as outsiders” (Howard S. Becker, as in the book Readings in Deviant Behavior). We label mentally retarded people as the outsiders; therefore we make the mentally retarded have the label of deviant.
I also think that calling people retards or retarded and dehumanizing them also relates to the movie that we watch in class called “Murderball” staring Mark Zupan. The movie talked about how people in wheelchairs are dehumanized and looked at like they are less than people that have an able body. That is similar to people that are mentally retarded, they are looked at as less than people who are not mentally retarded.
We read a blog about the good cripple and the supercrip. Lastly, being mentally retarded would not fall into the good cripple or the supercrip, I don’t think so at least. I do feel that we feel bad for these people and always wish they were more like us.
Being mentally retarded is hard enough for people but I think we could make it a little easier if we didn’t throw the word retard or retarded around like we do in today’s society. So next time you go to say “your retarded” or something similar, maybe take a second look at that!
Word Count: 840
Becker, Howard S. "Labeling Theory." Readings in Deviant Behavior. 6th ed. Boston: Pearson Education, 2010. 39-41. Print.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retarded
http://www.r-word.org/r-word-why-pledge.aspx
http://bitchmagazine.org/post/the-transcontinental-disability-choir-disability-archetypes-the-good-cripple
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Friday, February 24, 2012
Murderball Film Review 2
The main thesis of the film Murderball is that people that are disabled are able to do just as much as able bodies are if not more. I am an able bodied person and I do not think I would be able to, let alone have the guts to, play wheelchair rugby.
The main argument of the film is that disabled people are just as good as people that do not have a disability. For example people with disabilities are tired of getting looked down on, felt sorry for, etc. Like when Mark Zupan was explaining his situation at the bar. When the guy felt sorry for him and Zupan was like "Fucking hit me, I'll hit you back." He just wants to be treated equal. He wants equal opportunity with everything like we as able bodied people have. If you wanna pick a fight with someone in a wheelchair, pick it, they can probably kick your ass! And second another thing that is looked down on is if people in wheelchairs can have sexual intercourse. And as the movie goes into great detail about, you can still have sexual intercourse.
The main thesis of the film relates to the course materials because we have been talking about deviant bodies and how they are portrayed in society. And as we have discussed in class be disabled is being deviant. You are looked at differently.
The point I found most interesting was that when people just get into their wheelchair for the first time and for the next couple years they are really hopeful that they will be able to walk again. It takes some major adjusting to the wheelchair and the lifestyle. But after a few years they get the attitude of "okay I am never going to walk again, so lets make this the best". I feel that Zupan and the other characters in the film do that and they really show it, that just because you are in a wheelchair does not mean life cannot be great. You would think that Strain Theory would play a role here. Strain Theory is "how some social structures exert a definite pressure upon certain persons in the society to engage in nonconforming rather than conforming conduct" (Merton, as stated in Alex, Thomas, and Addrain, 2010). I would think they would have some strain at things. And they may, but they do not show it at least. The found a sport they can play and they are darn good at it. They embrace it!
There was not a point in the film that was not least convincing or anything. I really liked the film and I thought it was a great thing to show us. It was good information because there are a lot of people, and i was one at one time, that just feel sorry for people in wheelchairs and think they are helpless, but they are not.
Something I would like to look more into is how other people in wheelchairs feel about things. Talk to people that just got into their accident and then talk to them 5 or more years later. And also talk to different types of people, women, children, different races, etc. The film only showed white males that played wheelchair rugby really. Like what we read in the Bitch Magazine blog about "Supercrip." Its interesting how we portray the disabled and how they portray themselves.
http://bitchmagazine.org/post/the-transcontinental-disability-choir-disability-archetypes-supercrip
Merton, Robert K. "Strain Theory." Readings in Deviant Behavior. 6th ed. Boston: Pearson Education, 2010. 21-26. Print.
The main argument of the film is that disabled people are just as good as people that do not have a disability. For example people with disabilities are tired of getting looked down on, felt sorry for, etc. Like when Mark Zupan was explaining his situation at the bar. When the guy felt sorry for him and Zupan was like "Fucking hit me, I'll hit you back." He just wants to be treated equal. He wants equal opportunity with everything like we as able bodied people have. If you wanna pick a fight with someone in a wheelchair, pick it, they can probably kick your ass! And second another thing that is looked down on is if people in wheelchairs can have sexual intercourse. And as the movie goes into great detail about, you can still have sexual intercourse.
The main thesis of the film relates to the course materials because we have been talking about deviant bodies and how they are portrayed in society. And as we have discussed in class be disabled is being deviant. You are looked at differently.
The point I found most interesting was that when people just get into their wheelchair for the first time and for the next couple years they are really hopeful that they will be able to walk again. It takes some major adjusting to the wheelchair and the lifestyle. But after a few years they get the attitude of "okay I am never going to walk again, so lets make this the best". I feel that Zupan and the other characters in the film do that and they really show it, that just because you are in a wheelchair does not mean life cannot be great. You would think that Strain Theory would play a role here. Strain Theory is "how some social structures exert a definite pressure upon certain persons in the society to engage in nonconforming rather than conforming conduct" (Merton, as stated in Alex, Thomas, and Addrain, 2010). I would think they would have some strain at things. And they may, but they do not show it at least. The found a sport they can play and they are darn good at it. They embrace it!
There was not a point in the film that was not least convincing or anything. I really liked the film and I thought it was a great thing to show us. It was good information because there are a lot of people, and i was one at one time, that just feel sorry for people in wheelchairs and think they are helpless, but they are not.
Something I would like to look more into is how other people in wheelchairs feel about things. Talk to people that just got into their accident and then talk to them 5 or more years later. And also talk to different types of people, women, children, different races, etc. The film only showed white males that played wheelchair rugby really. Like what we read in the Bitch Magazine blog about "Supercrip." Its interesting how we portray the disabled and how they portray themselves.
http://bitchmagazine.org/post/the-transcontinental-disability-choir-disability-archetypes-supercrip
Merton, Robert K. "Strain Theory." Readings in Deviant Behavior. 6th ed. Boston: Pearson Education, 2010. 21-26. Print.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Middle Sexes Film Review
What is the main thesis of this film?
I think that main thesis of the film, "Middle Sexes" is for the society to acknowledge the "inner sexes." And not only acknowledge them but accept them for who they are. Society is stuck on all the norms and not being different, and when you are different "we" as society doesn't accept that.
What were the main arguments in support of this thesis?
I think the main argument of the film is when they talk about when everything is formed in the womb. The fact that we all start out with the same parts until hormones kick in and form us differently. And also that the private parts are formed as early as like 12 weeks but the brain inst formed until months after that.
How does the thesis of this film relate to the course?
The thesis relates to this course because this entire semester we are going to be talking about being deviant. Being "inner sexed" is definitely deviant, it doesn't fit into our norm. Nor does anything else around that topic either, homosexual, transgenders, or those born with man parts but is a women and vice versa. This also relates to the class because we "label" these people and we just got done talking about labeling theory. Howard S. Becker says in the labeling theory that "the central fact about deviance: it is created by society." So as society, if we would not label these kind of people as deviant, then they would not be different then all of the others that follow the correct "norms." Also if we didn't label us as just male or female, we would not run into so many problems either. The Intersex Roadshow
Which arguments or points did you find most convincing?
I really liked the point when they were talking about being Transgendered has nothing to do with your sexual orientation. Just because a women becomes a man doesn't mean she is going to like women.
I also really liked Noah's story. The way everyone reacted to him and the questions the film person was asking the family really got me thinking, "what if my daughter decides to like women? What am I going to do?"
Which arguments/points did you find the least convincing?
I liked every single argument in this film. I did not think there was anything that was least convincing then something else.
Choose one argument, point or question that most stands out for you from the film. How would you study this point? Briefly design a research study around that point.
I would like to research more into the Hindu thing. I don't recall exactly what its called or how they are referenced. But I would like to research it more. Research what is better, to take the hormones, to have surgery, or to not do anything but dress and look like a women.
Word Count: 487
References:
Becker, Howard S. "Chapter 7:Labeling Theory." Readings in Deviant Behavior. 6th ed. Boston: Pearson Education, 2010. 39-41. Print.
I think that main thesis of the film, "Middle Sexes" is for the society to acknowledge the "inner sexes." And not only acknowledge them but accept them for who they are. Society is stuck on all the norms and not being different, and when you are different "we" as society doesn't accept that.
What were the main arguments in support of this thesis?
I think the main argument of the film is when they talk about when everything is formed in the womb. The fact that we all start out with the same parts until hormones kick in and form us differently. And also that the private parts are formed as early as like 12 weeks but the brain inst formed until months after that.
How does the thesis of this film relate to the course?
The thesis relates to this course because this entire semester we are going to be talking about being deviant. Being "inner sexed" is definitely deviant, it doesn't fit into our norm. Nor does anything else around that topic either, homosexual, transgenders, or those born with man parts but is a women and vice versa. This also relates to the class because we "label" these people and we just got done talking about labeling theory. Howard S. Becker says in the labeling theory that "the central fact about deviance: it is created by society." So as society, if we would not label these kind of people as deviant, then they would not be different then all of the others that follow the correct "norms." Also if we didn't label us as just male or female, we would not run into so many problems either. The Intersex Roadshow
Which arguments or points did you find most convincing?
I really liked the point when they were talking about being Transgendered has nothing to do with your sexual orientation. Just because a women becomes a man doesn't mean she is going to like women.
I also really liked Noah's story. The way everyone reacted to him and the questions the film person was asking the family really got me thinking, "what if my daughter decides to like women? What am I going to do?"
Which arguments/points did you find the least convincing?
I liked every single argument in this film. I did not think there was anything that was least convincing then something else.
Choose one argument, point or question that most stands out for you from the film. How would you study this point? Briefly design a research study around that point.
I would like to research more into the Hindu thing. I don't recall exactly what its called or how they are referenced. But I would like to research it more. Research what is better, to take the hormones, to have surgery, or to not do anything but dress and look like a women.
Word Count: 487
References:
Becker, Howard S. "Chapter 7:Labeling Theory." Readings in Deviant Behavior. 6th ed. Boston: Pearson Education, 2010. 39-41. Print.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Being Deviant
How am I deviant? The biggest way I am a deviant is the way I drive. I have a record of speeding. Howard S. Becker explains in the labeling theory that society labels me as deviant because I exceed the speed limit. As a society we have had the norm of that we are to go the speed limit that is posted on those white and black signs on the right side of the road. Well, I decide not to sometimes, and I get caught. Robert K. Merton explains in strain theory that there could be a stress or burden on someone and that is why they are deviant or do deviant acts. I normally have the strain of being late to something and that is why I speed. I try my hardest to leave in enough time to get to my destination without speeding, but it is a challenge sometimes. (1)
Also, another way I am labeled deviant, by society, is I have a little fluff on my body. I am not a size 0 or anything. Actually by the numbers of the scale and doctors, I am considered obese. I don’t think I look obese, but according to society that is how they label me. That puts strain on me sometimes because it makes me want to lose weight more. I stress about it sometimes and wonder why I can’t be the size that society wants me to be. I really like the article we read called “My Gay Lifestyle” by Scudera because being fat is a similar thing. (2) I live a normal life and do normal things like shower, drive, have normal relationships, but since I am considered obese it’s like that word follows me, as the word gay follows him. We also read, “Hey Fat Chick: Thin Privilege Checklist” and I found that very interesting because as I was going through the list, my body type does not fall on that check list. For example, the second bullet point talks about picking up a magazine or watching TV and seeing people the same size. You don’t see fat or obese people in magazines or on TV very often. (3)
For my deviant experiment I decided to stand backwards in a few elevators. It’s funny because I decided to do this before you put it up on the blog as an example. Here is an example of what I did. It was the best one I could find.
I stood backwards in a few different elevators. The first one was in the Clark County Juvenile Court house. I just happen to be there for a speeding ticket so why not be there for two deviant reasons. There was one man in the elevator with me. I can feel that he was staring at me awkwardly. The second place I stood in the elevator facing backwards was at the Vancouver Mall. I ended up in an elevator with two teenage females. They didn’t say much, but laughed. And when we were getting out of the elevator I could tell they were talking about me quietly.
Standing with your back to the front of an elevator is considered deviant because we have a social norm to stand facing forward, just like we have a norm to follow the speed limit signs on the side of the road. There is nothing wrong or harmful with standing the opposite way; I just received awkward looks because I wasn’t following the social norms of society. It shouldn’t matter what way we stand but since day one we have always stood a certain way we are expected, as a society, to keep it the same.
It was strange to be acting in a deviant way. I am not a person that goes against the social norms of society frequently. Also, it was strange and different to be receiving looks, which I couldn’t really see because I was facing the other way but I could feel them staring at me. They were labeling me as weird or strange because I wasn’t following the norms of society. Like I explained above Becker says in labeling theory that if you act in a way, society will label you differently, whether that is who or what you are regardless.
Word Count: 700
(1) Thio, Alex, Thomas C. Calhoun, and Addrain Conyers. Readings in Deviant Behavior. 6th ed. Boston: Pearson Education, 2010. Print.
(2) (2) Scudera, Domenick. "My Gay Lifestyle." Huffpost Gay Voices. 1 Nov. 2011. Web. 04 Feb. 2012..
(3) (3) "Hey, Fat Chick." Thin Privileged Checklist. Web. 4 Feb. 2012..
Also, another way I am labeled deviant, by society, is I have a little fluff on my body. I am not a size 0 or anything. Actually by the numbers of the scale and doctors, I am considered obese. I don’t think I look obese, but according to society that is how they label me. That puts strain on me sometimes because it makes me want to lose weight more. I stress about it sometimes and wonder why I can’t be the size that society wants me to be. I really like the article we read called “My Gay Lifestyle” by Scudera because being fat is a similar thing. (2) I live a normal life and do normal things like shower, drive, have normal relationships, but since I am considered obese it’s like that word follows me, as the word gay follows him. We also read, “Hey Fat Chick: Thin Privilege Checklist” and I found that very interesting because as I was going through the list, my body type does not fall on that check list. For example, the second bullet point talks about picking up a magazine or watching TV and seeing people the same size. You don’t see fat or obese people in magazines or on TV very often. (3)
For my deviant experiment I decided to stand backwards in a few elevators. It’s funny because I decided to do this before you put it up on the blog as an example. Here is an example of what I did. It was the best one I could find.
I stood backwards in a few different elevators. The first one was in the Clark County Juvenile Court house. I just happen to be there for a speeding ticket so why not be there for two deviant reasons. There was one man in the elevator with me. I can feel that he was staring at me awkwardly. The second place I stood in the elevator facing backwards was at the Vancouver Mall. I ended up in an elevator with two teenage females. They didn’t say much, but laughed. And when we were getting out of the elevator I could tell they were talking about me quietly.
Standing with your back to the front of an elevator is considered deviant because we have a social norm to stand facing forward, just like we have a norm to follow the speed limit signs on the side of the road. There is nothing wrong or harmful with standing the opposite way; I just received awkward looks because I wasn’t following the social norms of society. It shouldn’t matter what way we stand but since day one we have always stood a certain way we are expected, as a society, to keep it the same.
It was strange to be acting in a deviant way. I am not a person that goes against the social norms of society frequently. Also, it was strange and different to be receiving looks, which I couldn’t really see because I was facing the other way but I could feel them staring at me. They were labeling me as weird or strange because I wasn’t following the norms of society. Like I explained above Becker says in labeling theory that if you act in a way, society will label you differently, whether that is who or what you are regardless.
Word Count: 700
(1) Thio, Alex, Thomas C. Calhoun, and Addrain Conyers. Readings in Deviant Behavior. 6th ed. Boston: Pearson Education, 2010. Print.
(2) (2) Scudera, Domenick. "My Gay Lifestyle." Huffpost Gay Voices. 1 Nov. 2011. Web. 04 Feb. 2012.
(3) (3) "Hey, Fat Chick." Thin Privileged Checklist. Web. 4 Feb. 2012.
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