Comparing Instead of Contrasting
Soc 421: Racial and Cultural Minorities in the United States
Dr. DeOllos
5/25/2005
1st Summer Session 2005
Similarities
Homosexual people and heterosexual people
1. Homosexual and
heterosexual people are both common in American society.
2. Homosexual and
heterosexual people are both defined by their sexual preference.
3. You can’t see a
homosexual or heterosexual person’s choice in sexual preference by
looking at either of their physical features.
4. Both homosexual and
heterosexual people are human beings.
5. Homosexual and
heterosexual people can both have families regardless of their sexual
preference in a partner.
6. Both homosexuals and
heterosexuals can hold jobs.
7. Homosexual and
heterosexual people can obtain diseases from their choice in sexual
partners.
8. In certain circumstances,
heterosexual and homosexual people can be discriminated against.
9. Homosexual and
heterosexual people can both have children.
10. Both homosexual and
heterosexual people can get married within certain states.
Christian people and Jewish people
1. Both Jewish people and
Christian people believe in a God.
2. Christian people and
Jewish people, because of their faith, can both be considered a part of
a minority group.
3. However, even though
Christians and Jews can be considered the minority they can also in
some areas be the dominant group, because of their faith.
4. Both groups, Christians
and Jews are welcome to live within the American society.
5. Christians and Jews share
a common belief that Jesus exists.
6. Both Christian people and
Jewish people associate themselves with a religion.
7. Within the American
society, both Jewish people and Christian people can vote.
8. At some point in history,
both Jewish people and Christian people have been persecuted for their
beliefs.
9. Both Christians and Jews
can live within societies surrounded by people who don’t share the same
beliefs as themselves.
10. Christians and Jews can
both marry outside of their religion.
Poor people and wealthy people
1. Poor people and wealthy
people can be found in almost every country.
2. Both poor people and
wealthy people can be of any race.
3. Poor people and wealthy
people’s statuses are both defined by money.
4. Whether poor or wealthy
both types of people can hold jobs.
5. Both types of people have
achieved their status of poor or wealthy.
6. Wealthy and poor people
can both hold prejudices towards one another.
7. Both poor and wealthy
people can be educated within the same school systems regardless of
financial status.
8. Whether poor or wealthy,
both types of people can be happy with their financial situation.
9. Both poor and wealthy
people can be unhappy with their financial status.
10. Poor and wealthy people
have both shared the experience of dealing with money to support
themselves.
Old people and young people
1. Both old and young people
are characterized by their age.
2. Both young and old people
are stigmatized by society because of their ages.
3. Young and old people
alike can have families of their own.
4. Both young and old people
can be male or female.
5. Young and old people can
go through education at the same time if they would like.
6. Whether young or old,
people can face discrimination because of their age.
7. Both young and old people
can live comfortably within the American society.
8. Young and old people can
hold the same types of jobs regardless of their ages.
9. Financial stability can
be achieved by both young and old people.
10. Both young and old
people face a lot of change within their lives because of the stages
they are in, in life.
White people and Asian people
1. Both white people and
Asian people can be considered a minority in certain places and
situations
2. White and Asian people
can both live comfortably within the American society.
3. Both white and Asian
people can marry outside of their ethnic group.
4. White and Asian people
can share the same religion regardless of their ethnicity.
5. In today’s society, both
Asian and white people are aware of each others cultures.
6. Both white and Asian
people belong to an ethnic group.
7. Asian and white people
can both face stereotypes associated with their ethnicity.
8. Dark hair can be
associated with both white people and Asians.
9. Institutional
discrimination can be faced by both whites and Asians in such places as
the workplace.
10. Both whites and Asians
can belong to the same social class.
Fat people and thin people
1. Both fat and thin people
can be stereotyped because of their size or weight.
2. Thin and fat people may
both enjoy eating.
3. Thin and fat people may
both be healthy regardless of size.
4. Being physically active
can be a trait common to both thin and fat people.
5. Both fat and thin people
face being stigmatized because of their size.
6. Fat and thin people can
both be of any race.
7. Fat people and thin
people can be found in any culture.
8. Both fat and thin people
can be faced with institutional discrimination because of their size.
9. Fat and thin people can
occupy the same social class.
10. Regardless of size, both fat
and thin people can hold the same type of jobs.
Women and men
1. Men and women can both
hold high power jobs regardless of their gender.
2. Within today’s society,
both men and women can be the head of a household.
3. Both men and women have
the capability of holding the same type of jobs.
4. Men and women can both be
faced with institutional discrimination in such places as the workplace
or education system.
5. Both men and women hold
stereotypes about one another.
6. Men and women are both
needed to produce a child.
7. Both men and women face
frustration associated with being a part of a minority group.
8. Men and women are both a
part of many societies all over the world.
9. Both men and women are
capable of raising children on their own.
10. Men and women are both
identified by their gender.
People who walk and people who use wheelchairs
1. Both people who walk and
people who use wheelchairs are associated with a group.
2. People who walk and those
who use wheelchairs are both able to function within the American
society.
3. People who walk and
people who use wheelchairs can both be found within the American
culture.
4. Both people who walk and
use wheelchairs can hold jobs.
5. Both people who walk and
those who use wheelchairs can be of any gender.
6. People who use
wheelchairs and those who walk can both be seen being physically active.
7. Both, people who use
wheelchairs and those who walk, can be socially active.
8. People who are in
wheelchairs and those who can walk can be a part of the same social
class.
9. Those in wheelchairs
along with those who can walk can be a part of any culture.
10. Both people in wheelchairs and
those who can walk can both be of any race regardless of their physical
handicaps.
If people within the American society in particular,
would start focusing on the similarities they share with people unlike
themselves, then social justice issues wouldn’t be such a problem for
minorities to deal with. People are more alike then they
think. We all share a common goal of trying to stay alive in this
world, no matter where we are. However, from being alive on this planet
for 20 years, I have come to realize that many people live only for
themselves and try to find a way that makes their self
better then the person next to them. This image of
trying to be better then the next person and
making another person, who isn’t like you, feel inferior can be seen
within the American society through social justice issues.
Social justice issues are such things as
discrimination, prejudice, and racism that occur not only amongst
people in society but also amongst our justice institutions like
education, law enforcement, the healthcare system, etc. Certain people
within this country are denied healthcare, the right to be married,
education, and equal protection under the law (which is illegal, but
still occurs) because they are seen as inferior to those who are
guaranteed these social justices. What makes these people so different
that they don’t deserve protection or education?(explain)
Sadly, they are looked upon by the dominant group in society as
inferior and then put into a minority group. They are then
discriminated against because of such things as race, gender,
ethnicity, financial status, etc. The dominant group focuses on their
differences from them. However, if the dominant group would start
focusing on the things they have in common with those they consider a
member of the lesser group, they would start to see how alike they
really are, and social justice institutions would start to become
fairer. (explain)
If we would start looking at each others
similarities rather then differences, we would start to see that we all
just want the same things, to be married, to achieve an education, to
be promised healthcare when our children become sick, to be protected
from harm, etc. We would see that it’s not about discriminating against
someone so that we can get ahead, or holding prejudices towards someone
so that we can feel superior, but that it’s about seeing how some one
needs what I have and sharing with them instead of trying to always get
ahead of them. By not always trying to get ahead, we would be able to
take time to start balancing things out like being able to give
everyone equal education, equal protection, and equal opportunities to
healthcare. I am aware that this would probably still not make
everything perfect, but by focusing on other’s similarities instead of
differences, we would at least make the gap between dominant and
minority, smaller. By doing this within America we would become more of
a melting pot society and achieve social justice for every type of
person, because we all share one major thing in common; we are all an
American and deserve to be treated like one.
Professor's comments: Dr. DeOllos wrote comments throughout the paper.
I included her comments in bold and underlined. In addition to the
comments she made, she also gave me a 23.5/ 25 as a grade on the paper.
I have included a copy of the directions I was expected to follow, with
a link.