Monday, February 8, 2010
When race is misperceived
One reason a person's racial (cultural) identity is important to consider is because people of color can bring that baggage to the group and view things within that lens of past oppression, even when it isn't always the the cause of their exclusion. The example was Sasha today talking about how she often feels silenced because of her race and felt silenced in the group. I think her silencing (discomfort) was more an issue of gender than race.
The white girl with the black attitude.
Is it more culturally acceptable for women of color to be more outspoken than white women?
Possibly. There is an understanding and allowance for their history of oppression. Especially if a woman of color is not the minority in a group. But when a white women speaks out (especially against a white man) it is seen as more aggressive or culturally abnormal regardless of whether this white girl is in the minority or not. White women are suppose to shut up around a white man. I wonder if the tendency for women of color shut up around white men less or more. Maybe everyone ought shut up in front of the white man.
Possibly. There is an understanding and allowance for their history of oppression. Especially if a woman of color is not the minority in a group. But when a white women speaks out (especially against a white man) it is seen as more aggressive or culturally abnormal regardless of whether this white girl is in the minority or not. White women are suppose to shut up around a white man. I wonder if the tendency for women of color shut up around white men less or more. Maybe everyone ought shut up in front of the white man.
Arrogance is the enemy
I have to explain how this group dynamics class works. The class is split into two groups and we each observe the other group talking and we pull out their dynamics and roles.
A person doesn't become a leader by asserting themselves as one. Everyone must respect them to truly allow them to have that power and take that role. So this guy Steve in my group is the self-proclaimed leader. No one decided that he should lead, we were all just quiet and he stepped up and decided to take over. He is very full of himself and believes that everything he says is so important. Others are sick of him and my teacher says he's being used in the group to question roles, etc. I was jockeying for power with him today, probably giving him more air time than he deserves. I better shut up and let him hang himself. That is the plan. Chi is very likable but at the same time he resists any leadership role, it's like he wants to be involved and important without taking any initiative. He wants to be really controversial, but he resists creating that tension, like he wants someone else to do it for him, so he can benefit but at the same time someone else gets blamed for bringing on the tension. That's annoying too.
A person doesn't become a leader by asserting themselves as one. Everyone must respect them to truly allow them to have that power and take that role. So this guy Steve in my group is the self-proclaimed leader. No one decided that he should lead, we were all just quiet and he stepped up and decided to take over. He is very full of himself and believes that everything he says is so important. Others are sick of him and my teacher says he's being used in the group to question roles, etc. I was jockeying for power with him today, probably giving him more air time than he deserves. I better shut up and let him hang himself. That is the plan. Chi is very likable but at the same time he resists any leadership role, it's like he wants to be involved and important without taking any initiative. He wants to be really controversial, but he resists creating that tension, like he wants someone else to do it for him, so he can benefit but at the same time someone else gets blamed for bringing on the tension. That's annoying too.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)