Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men

Adult IssuesAdult Issues

Three issues in Three issues in Of Mice and Men Of Mice and Men that are serious are:that are serious are:

RacismRacism Mentally Handicapped PeopleMentally Handicapped People Misogyny Misogyny

RacismRacism Racism has existed throughout human history. Racism has existed throughout human history. It may be defined as the hatred of one person It may be defined as the hatred of one person

by another -- or the belief that another person by another -- or the belief that another person is less than human -- because of skin color, is less than human -- because of skin color, language, customs, place of birth or any factor language, customs, place of birth or any factor that supposedly reveals the basic nature of that that supposedly reveals the basic nature of that person. It has influenced wars, slavery, the person. It has influenced wars, slavery, the formation of nations, and legal codes.formation of nations, and legal codes.

The most notorious example of racism by the The most notorious example of racism by the West has been slavery, particularly the West has been slavery, particularly the enslavement of Africans in the New World enslavement of Africans in the New World (slavery itself dates back thousands of years). (slavery itself dates back thousands of years).

This belief of racism was not "automatic": that is, This belief of racism was not "automatic": that is, Africans were not originally considered inferior. Africans were not originally considered inferior. When Portuguese sailors first explored Africa in the When Portuguese sailors first explored Africa in the 15th and 16th centuries, they came upon empires and 15th and 16th centuries, they came upon empires and cities as advanced as their own, and they considered cities as advanced as their own, and they considered Africans to be serious rivals. Africans to be serious rivals.

Over time, European powers began to plunder the Over time, European powers began to plunder the continent and forcibly remove its inhabitants to work continent and forcibly remove its inhabitants to work as slave laborers in new colonies across the Atlantic, as slave laborers in new colonies across the Atlantic, Africans came to be seen as a deficient "species," as Africans came to be seen as a deficient "species," as "savages.""savages."

The N-WordThe N-Word Stemmed from Latin word “Negro” and the Niger River in Stemmed from Latin word “Negro” and the Niger River in

Africa.Africa. Exactly when the word “n-gger” became an offensive insult Exactly when the word “n-gger” became an offensive insult

is unknown. is unknown. However, we do know that it was already considered a huge However, we do know that it was already considered a huge

slur in 1837 when Hosea Easton wrote The Condition of slur in 1837 when Hosea Easton wrote The Condition of Colored People of the United States: and the Prejudice Colored People of the United States: and the Prejudice Exercised Towards Them. Exercised Towards Them.

Easton stated that the term is used with the intent to Easton stated that the term is used with the intent to deliberately make black people feel inferior.deliberately make black people feel inferior.

Today the word has the same connotations; it is considered Today the word has the same connotations; it is considered one of the most hateful words in the English language. one of the most hateful words in the English language.

Many people agree that there are at least two modern Many people agree that there are at least two modern definitions of the word. There is an extremely definitions of the word. There is an extremely negative one and there also is another “affectionate” negative one and there also is another “affectionate” one used among the black community. one used among the black community.

““N-gga” became more widely spread due to the N-gga” became more widely spread due to the emergence of hip-hop and rap music in the 1970s and emergence of hip-hop and rap music in the 1970s and 1980s, and thus a new movement, using “nigga” in a 1980s, and thus a new movement, using “nigga” in a positive way, emerged (Judy 214). positive way, emerged (Judy 214).

It is an unspoken rule that black people can freely say It is an unspoken rule that black people can freely say “n-gger”, especially in a familial way, because it “n-gger”, especially in a familial way, because it expresses a common history and oppression that expresses a common history and oppression that binds this community together. binds this community together.

White people, however, because they originated the White people, however, because they originated the word and spread the use of it in a derogatory manner, word and spread the use of it in a derogatory manner, cannot use it under any circumstances. cannot use it under any circumstances.

Now, of course, this is not the view of every person. Now, of course, this is not the view of every person. Many believe that it should be wiped from the Many believe that it should be wiped from the vocabulary of every individual, regardless of race.vocabulary of every individual, regardless of race.

Mentally Handicapped PeopleMentally Handicapped People

The term "mental retardation" used to be a medical The term "mental retardation" used to be a medical diagnosis. Now it means something very negative: diagnosis. Now it means something very negative: we use to term to tease and belittle each other. we use to term to tease and belittle each other.

The shameful connotations over the last few decades The shameful connotations over the last few decades are in part due to the use of "retarded" as an insult are in part due to the use of "retarded" as an insult among younger people. among younger people.

This may in turn have contributed to its replacement This may in turn have contributed to its replacement with expressions such as "mentally challenged" or with expressions such as "mentally challenged" or "intellectual disability"."intellectual disability".

Both adults and children with mental retardation may also Both adults and children with mental retardation may also exhibit the following characteristics:exhibit the following characteristics:

Delays in Delays in oral language developmentoral language development Deficits in memory skills Deficits in memory skills Difficulty learning social rules Difficulty learning social rules Difficulty with problem solving skills Difficulty with problem solving skills Lack of social inhibitors. Lack of social inhibitors.

MisogynyMisogyny

Misogyny means “woman-hating.”Misogyny means “woman-hating.” Terms like slut, whore, ho, tramp, trick, and Terms like slut, whore, ho, tramp, trick, and

tart stem from misogyny.tart stem from misogyny. Slut is a pejorative (mean) term for a person Slut is a pejorative (mean) term for a person

who is deemed sexually promiscuous. The who is deemed sexually promiscuous. The term has traditionally been applied to women term has traditionally been applied to women and is generally used as an insult or offensive and is generally used as an insult or offensive term of disparagement. (N-word for women.) term of disparagement. (N-word for women.)

Double StandardDouble Standard

If men have several sexual partners, they are If men have several sexual partners, they are “players” or “studs.”“players” or “studs.”

If women have several sexual partners, they If women have several sexual partners, they are “sluts” or “tarts.”are “sluts” or “tarts.”

Why the double standard?Why the double standard? EvolutionEvolution JealousyJealousy PowerPower

While we are reading the book…While we are reading the book…

Please do not use the “n” word.Please do not use the “n” word. Please do not call people “retarded.”Please do not call people “retarded.”