Wikipedia is working to make their website a more inclusive and accepting community. They are trying to rid of pronouns and replace them with gender neutral language. This is extremely important, it is so often that we read something and we see “he/him” completely excluding women. Not only is non binary language politically correct, it allows for a more inclusive and accepting community.

In addition, Wikipedia is trying get more women involved with the topics. It is very clear that there is underrepresentation on women centered articles on Wikipedia. It is important for them to expand on these articles and topics- this will allow the community to be more educated. This can be done by getting more women involved in Wikipedia. Another important policy that Wikipedia has enforced is to be neutral in an editors work. Of course everyone has opinions, however, it is important to remain impartial as to include factual information and not to influence others opinions.

While Wikipedia is working hard on their progression with society there are many mixed emotions on these concepts. Most of the dispute lays around the use of pronouns, many people are confused by these new terms and why they mean so much. These represent people’s identities and if someone’s pronouns are not accepted then it is often a sign that their identity as a person is not accepted. It is important that Wikipedia and the rest of society are supportive and inclusive of each other.

Citiation:

Wikipedia:Gender-neutral language. (2019a). In Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Gender-neutral_language&oldid=908035673

Wikipedia:Neutral point of view. (2019d). In Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Neutral_point_of_view&oldid=913713064

Taking this class has broadened my perspective on all the the inequality of the world. It has always been my passion to work in the psychology field, over the last few months I decided that I want to become a play therapist. I also recently decided to add a minor in WGSS, this I am not sure exactly what I want to do with. I do however, know that I want to create a positive impact in people’s lives.

Since I have been on the negative side of the worlds inequalities, I want to make sure that others do not have to face those same hardships. This world and society we live in is built around the power and oppression of people. Yet just as so many have done before us we have the power to create a change. I would like to get more involved in activities that can benefit towards the justice of everyone. I will not only put myself out more to create an impact but I will also help educate others to create a real impact, the more we demand action the more action will be made,

Just like many other parts of society, the concept of disability is multifaceted. When it comes to disabilities we see the social model, which is the way society is formed and functioning is the cause of disability ie. those who are disabled are not able to form a common task due to society. The other, is the medical model in which the actual disabilities of a person are the resulting problems in which they are facing.

Whether a problem arises from the social or the medical model it is clear to see that the way in which society is working (currently) is not a place with equal opportunities and access for those with disabilities. Just like with so many other systems of oppression, society has built a false narrative around those who are disabled. Society has decided that those who are able are more capable and deserving than others, whether it be mental or physical disability.

This idea puts those in the disabled class at a disadvantage when it comes to having a happy and successful life. If not given the opportunities and resources there is now possible way for people to succeed. However, when people are placed on the same playing field then completely new possibilities are able to happen (not only for the disabled community but also society. It is important to provide fair and equal rights to all human being no matter their ableism, skin color, religion, etc.

Citations:

Berne, Patricia, et al. “Ten Principles of Disability Justice.” WSQ: Women’s Studies Quarterly, vol. 46 no. 1, 2018, p. 227-230. Project MUSE, doi:10.1353/wsq.2018.0003 (Links to an external site.).

Bryan, Willie V. “Struggle for Freedom:Disability Rights Movements .” Readings For Diversity and Social Justic, 3rd ed., Routledge, 2AD, pp. 468–474.

David J. Leonard, writes Grand Theft Auto V: Post-Racial Fantasies and Ferguson Realities to analyse the institutional violence and stereotypes against people of color. Leonard uses a reboot of a popular video game in addition to recent police brutality, to argue the reinforcement of accepted violence against people of color. While this is context is extremely accurate, this concept reaches far past an Xbox/Playstation Game.

Other than all black casted films, if we look at a majority of films containing a black character is it not uncommon that this character is a criminal, violent, or affiliated with another negative connotation. This portrayal only furthers the support of the very stereotypes. This is DANGEROUS for the black community, it is for reasons like this that people tend to overlook the promising qualities and focus on the negative ones of a Black person. An example being people pointing out the trouble that Mike Brown had gotten into as a point of argument against his rights as a human. However, when a white man gets into trouble with the law, people talk about how they are such a great person and they have so much promise.

Like many of the racist ideals that are a part of American society, this is very likely routed from the system of slavery. Throughout history white men have had much control over the Black community, them [white men] being the violent group of the two. Through the economic pressures of society Black men and women have been lead down a path of violence to get by in this world. However, that is not the life for most Black women and men, only what society has taught us to believe of them.

Citation:

Noble, Safiya Umoja, and Brendesha M. Tynes. The Intersectional Internet: Race, Sex, Class and Culture Online. Peter Lang Publishing, Inc., 2016.

In a world that relies so heavily on social media and the entertainment industry it is easy for people’s lives to be influenced by what is being shown. People of specific gender, race, and sexual orientation, are portrayed as the common stereotype of each group rather than as an individual in society. These portrayals can have a negative effect on these populations and the ways in which others view them.

Education, Representation, and Resistance: Black Girls in Popular Instagram Memes, by Tiera Chante’ Tanksley analyzes the effects of representation- specifically to black girls and women. As a black women, it is very clear that society wants us to be seen in a certain light, aggressive, hyper sexualized, and uneducated. By the media “confirming” those stereotypes it is nearly impossible for women of color to be seen as anything but what society wants us to be seen as.

What the media supports is somewhat of an enigma. It is very often that we see a white women sport a look (rooted from black culture) and it is hip or become a new trend, but when a black woman wears the same thing it is considered “ghetto”. Just as when a white women stands up for herself she is doing a great job fighting for her rights but when a black women does so she is being “aggressive”. It seems almost impossible for a black girl or woman to be able to carry out an act without some kind of backlash and criticism.

What society wants black girls and women to be seen as erases the history of black women. It reduces our value, and does not allow girls and women to recognize their potential. This short essay challenges the media being put in front of these girls and women. It recognized that this image is damaging, especially to the education [of black girls] and that it need to be altered.

Citation:

Noble, Safiya Umoja, and Brendesha M. Tynes. The Intersectional Internet: Race, Sex, Class and Culture Online. Peter Lang Publishing, Inc., 2016.

“Black Women Exercisers, Asian Women Artist, White Women Daters, and Latina Lesbians: Cultural Constructions of Race and Gender Within Intersectionality-Based Facebook Groups” (BWEAWWWDLL), by Jenny Ungbha Korn discusses self categorization, as analyzed by Facebook. Korn argues that social media sites allow minority groups to find a community online while also breaking the traditional stereotypes that come along with their race. Both gender and race are social concepts, often times others assume another’s identity. The use of social media allows people not only to decide their identity but also share it with others. Korn found that although mainly people of color were using the site to connect with like-minded people, the highest percentage was within black women. Social media is extremely relevant in todays age, the use of it will have a significant impact of how we perceive ourselves as well as how others see us.

While looking for a Wikipedia article I could connect with this reading I tried multiple terms while using the search bar. The tried terms include: social media groups, social media connections, social media, self categorization, and identity theory. Most of these showed up with no results. I was able to get results from Social Media and Self Categorization. While the self categorization page covered many of the ideas of defining ones own identity it left out how social media is able to play a role into it. With the page covering social media, there were many hopeful topic names including “Interpersonal relationships“, ”Self presentation”, and “Stereotyping”. However, these did not contain any information on the communities formed on social media and/or how they impact people’s categorization.

Resources:

Noble, Safiya Umoja, and Brendesha M. Tynes. The Intersectional Internet: Race, Sex, Class and Culture Online. Peter Lang Publishing, Inc., 2016.

“Self-Categorization Theory.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 13 Oct. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-categorization_theory.

“Social Media.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 26 Oct. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media.

The goal behind feminism is to provide equal opportunities between both women and men. So , if that is the goal, why does it appear that there is a lack of activism for women outside of the White race? Chapter two of The Intersectional Internet , The Trouble with White Feminism: Whiteness, Digital Feminism, and the Intersectional Internet, Jessie Daniels, analyzes the fault we see in white feminism against the overall cause.

In this melting pot that is America, the standard of a “normal” person is that of white decent (or even just white features and privileges). It is no secret that white men experience a privileged life, but what often goes unnoticed is the privilege that White women receive due their their race. Whether it be a major movement such as feminism or their ability to sell makeup to the masses, white women have a voice that many marginalized women do not have the advantage of. Yet, for some reason, their power is not being used for the greater good of womanhood, but rather for their own feminist movement, white feminism.

In her essay, Daniels, dissects three major instances that white women used their voice to benefit women of their own background while neglecting those who deserve if not equal, more attention in their fight. She uses the cases of Lean In, One Billion Rising, and The Future of Online Feminism to support her point. These three instances are just a few of many examples where the progression of ones own group was put before the greater good.

The access to Internet allows the voiceless women to be heard. However, Without the support of feminist who already have a voice and are being heard minority women will continue to be unequal not only to men but also to white women.

Resources:

Noble, Safiya Umoja., and Brendesha M.. Tynes. The Intersectional Internet: Race, Sex, Class and Culture Online. Peter Lang., 2016.

In the short essay, Identities and Social Locations: Who am I? Who Are My People?, Gwyn Kirk and Margo Okazawa-Rey discuss the many difficulties of not only knowing ones self but also being able to portray that self to others. Living in the large melting pot that is The United States, it is common for someone to not quite know who they identify with ( or what they identify as).

This essay covers the topic from the micro level (individual) to the macro level ( the individual within society). Categories as who someone identifies as ranges from gender, to race, and language and everywhere in between. This results in the distinguishing of who “fits” in a group and who does not. With such a large variety of people within our country it allows people to come into contact with others they may categorize with, this enables people to question who they are within our society.

Adams, M., Blumenfeld, W. J., Castaneda, R., Hackman, H. W., Peters, M. L., & Zuniga, X. (2000). Readings for Diversity and Social Justice. Psychology Press.

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