Friday, January 20, 2012

And then there were four....


Hmmm. Very white. Very male.
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3 comments:

  1. Anonymous7:08 AM

    OK this is where I get a little...testy.

    Joe is white and male, but he's nothing like these guys.

    If he was ever lumped in with these people just on account of his race and gender, he'd be highly resentful of that and say "now how is that any different from looking at a black woman with 6 kids on public aid and saying 'so black, so female'?"

    If this makes any sense. I'm probably not explaining it well.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ellie Finlay8:44 AM

    You're explaining it fine, Tracie.

    I'm not saying that all white, male human beings are like these guys. Only that it is worthy of note that the final four Republican candidates are white and male.

    It has been aptly said that it is quite different to call attention to the dominant group than it is minorities or traditionally oppressed people and I agree. It is simply not equivalent to put "white and male" and "black and female" together in terms of who has greater advantages.

    This is why so-called "reverse racism" is really not the same thing as ordinary racism. Here's an example: because of the historic oppression of various minorities, it can be considered appropriate for say, Native Americans to have an organization that is only for Native Americans because its purpose is to help them overcome the disadvantages conferred on them by society's long term bigotry. Most people of conscience would be okay with this.

    However, for white people to have an organization that is limited to white people would clearly be seen as inappropriate because it would not be about overcoming anything but, rather, hanging on to the advantages they already have and to the presumption of white superiority.

    Do you see what I'm driving at here? Of course, I might not be explaining it very well!

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  3. Ellie Finlay8:54 AM

    Also, I'm making the observation in light of the Santorum campaign staff member saying that it's against God's plan for a woman to be president (and this person still has his job).

    Also Gingrich's public implication that black people are the ones who receive public assistance (when actually most are white) is pertinent.

    The GOP disdain for women and people of color is thinly veiled - if, in fact, it can be considered to be veiled at all.

    ReplyDelete

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