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I. Outline/Aims.2 minutes

II. Activity.4 minutes

III. Common Themes..13 minutesA. Contextual

B. Socially Constructed

C. Systems of Power Relationships

D. Social Structural and Social Psychological

E. Simultaneously Expressed

F. Interdependence of Knowledge and Activism

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III. Construction of Masculinity..3 minutes

IV. Conclusion/Questions2 minutes

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Think of a Coal Miner...

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Race, class, gender, and sexuality are historically and

globally specific, socially constructed power relations

that simultaneously operate at both the macro and

micro levels of society. - Lynn Weber

Great! So what does that mean?

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The meanings of race, class, gender, and sexuality vary

across historical time periods and geographic regionsduring the same time period.

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For example, during the Reconstruction Period, the

ideal white male was strong and stoic. The ideal white

woman was nurturing and full of emotion. However,

the good black man was silly and happy-go-lucky,

and the ideal black woman was the asexual Mammy

figure who had no family of her own and was

emotionally very strong.*

Are these ideals still relevant today?

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- Race, Gender, sexuality and class are social constructs.

- Dominant culture defines race, gender, and sexuality as

polar opposites to create social rankings.- e.g. White, Non-White; Heterosexual,

Homosexual; Male, Female; Good, Bad;

Worthy, Unworthy

- By claiming that this is part of nature or biology,dominant groups justify this polarization.

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- Weber claims that, upon examination, race, gender,

and sexuality are not based in polar opposites or

biology but in group struggles.

-What about social class?

- Social class (in the U.S.) is not viewed in the sameway as race, gender, and sexuality. In fact, it is viewed

as a ladder that people can climb up or down based on

talent and effort. However, it still justifies dominance

and hierarchy.How???

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- Race, class, gender, and sexuality are socially

constructed hierarchies of domination - they are power

relationships.

-This is based on the concept that one group controlsanother group and, therefore, secures its position in the

system. Because of this, the dominant group secures

wealth, income, and access to healthcare and education

(social resources).*

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- We cannot forget that race, class, and gender relations have

meanings at the psychological level of individuals lives as well

as the community and social level.- Progress against discrimination begins at the level of

individuals who refuse to internalize the distorted images of

their group as portrayed by the dominant media.

-The individual psychological resistance to the ideas of the

dominating group leads to social structural changes.

-e.g. Civil Rights Movement

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- Race, class, gender, and sexuality all simultaneously existin every social situation.

- Nearly everyone is in both dominant and subordinate

groups and experiences advantages and disadvantages

because of this. No one is a pure oppressor or victim.

- Advantages and disadvantages in one area may not be the

same as in another, but, if we understand the ways in which

we are disadvantaged as well as privileged, it will provide

the foundation necessary to work together with other groups

to equalize distribution of societys resources.*

-What dominant and subordinate groups do you belong to?

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- The only real value of knowledge is to empower subordinate

groups, and, indeed, all social groups to seek social justice

and equal distribution of resources.

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What is a real man?

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-Dominant culture portrays working-class males as valuing

physical strength more than intellectual prowness. They are

also seen as being stoic, aggressive, and dominating over

women.

-When these men are athletically talented, they are

encouraged to pursue a career in sports.

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- These males are usually stereotyped as white. They are

deemed superior to working-class males because of their

positions of power in the labor force, greater income,

intellectual prowness, and, surprisingly, emotional sensitivity.

Notice that physical strength is not necessarily what makeshim superior.

- When these males are athletically talented, they are

encouraged to pursue sports only to build character.

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1. Are there true victims or oppressors? (T/F)

2. ______ ________changes lead to _______ ______

changes.

3. What does it mean when we say that the meanings of race,sexuality, class, and gender are contextual?

4. Dominant culture defines race, gender, and sexuality as

______ _______ to create social rankings, and justifies this

by claiming that it is part of _______.