Talking Point # 10 - Johnson

Johnson argues that the problems in the society we live in must be recognized and fixed by everyone; not just who it directly effects. The privileged need to recognize this now and in the past and help correct it for the future.

1. " The greatest barrier to change is that dominant groups don't see the trouble as their  trouble, which means they don't feel obligated to do something about it."

I think that it's kind of sad that people who have the most power to help, don't want to because it may inconvenience their lives. its actually pathetic really. how is that fair? if they were in their place, they would be wanting the help and not understand why no-one who could help them isn't. how inhumane and selfish.

2. "The more you pay attention to privilege and oppression, the more you'll see opportunities to do something about them. You don't have to mount an expedition to find those opportunities; they're all over the place, beginning in yourself. As i become aware of how male privileges encourages me to control conversations, for example, I also noticed how easily men dominate group meetings by controlling the agenda and objecting to it. This pattern is especially striking in groups that are mostly female but in which most of the talking none the less comes from a few men. I would find myself sitting in meetings and suddenly the preponderance of male voices would jump out at me. an unmistakable sign of male privilege in full bloom" 

Eh. i just think that a woman needs to speak up then. get over it, you're allowing oppression when you let a man dominate and if you do then too bad, don't complain. i know in high school, especially in english i usually dominated the discussions and there was plenty of boys in my class, they probably didnt care as much as me but o well. sometimes when i get interrupted in our class i get really pissed off especially when its by the same person and what not. and it happens to be a boy and i kind of just want to yell over him but instead i stop, raise my hand and wait because im not going to be rude.

"Support the right of women and men to love whomever they choose. Raise awareness of homophobia and heterosexism. For example, ask school officials and teachers about what is happening to gay and lesbian students in local schools. If they dont know ask them to find out, since its  safe bet that these students are being harassed, suppressed or oppressed by others at one of the most venerable stages of life."

I think that all people should feel safe and comfortable where they are. i actually got pissed to day in history class because the people on the side of me were making gay jokes and saying how much they disliked gays. i turned to my friend and said 'people are effing stupid and they piss me off with that crap" they didnt seem to care. whatever, theyre the steryotypical jocks and assholes of high school. they clearly need to grow up. i remember when we were talking about how some people identify as both male and female and i was just on an MTV website and it asked wut you were and the options were : male female other and i would prefer not to answer. i think thats awesome.

Basically i just skimmed this article. i dont like reading lengthy things and i still think i did fine blogging all this time. o well. blogging is done =] YAYYYY