Journal 5 : Understanding Social Institutions and Microaggressions
The social institutions have taught gender socialization in way more ways than anyone around. The family teaches women to be calm, soft, and gentle and men to be manly, masculine, and also always wanted to boss around. There are many cultures that have underrepresented women in all aspects of life no matter how far we go. The politics and laws are also made such that the manner in which women are presented is weak in comparison to men. But things have changed with time. Due to more technical and educational advancements, women seem to have come to the level of men and taken a high stand in all walks of life no matter how things shape to be. We have to break the traditional norms and rituals to establish ourselves as strong and independent women of power and might.Mass media has completely distorted the image of modern women. They have failed to portray women in an empowered role. They continue to reproduce discriminatory stereotypes about women and portray them in sexist ways. As a rule, women are portrayed in a narrow range of characters in mass media. Women are often associated with the household or sex-objects. In advertising and magazines, women are usually portrayed as young, slim, and with a beauty that meets the accepted standards. This has become a social problem for women as they have to fight with the image that the media had created for them. Plus size women and not so fit women’s have to face criticism in the outer world, all thanks to the advertising industry.
Microaggressions are the everyday verbal or nonverbal insults, intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory messages to target persons based solely upon their marginalized group membership. This may appear to be very normal but actually can carry more drastic effect which when perceived by the target group leads to interpersonal conflict impeding the relationship development. Racial Microaggression is the feeling of insult colored people has to face by the white people, in their daily life, it can be verbal, nonverbal, intentional or unintentional, but it sends the hidden message of insult, derogatory feelings, and discrimination. The microaggression can be in the form of microinsult, microassault, or microinvalidation, the communication may be covert and disguised, it will be said innocently as if it is being done with good intention but often they are done with the hidden feelings of hatred and discrimination because the person is judged by his appearance. In an overt type of microaggression, the communication is often open and consciously displays the hatred.
Prejudices are pre-conceived notions that are negative in nature towards members of other groups. They are formed on the basis of irrational and baseless information which influences a person’s behaviors towards others. Prejudices sometimes lead to discrimination as well. Discrimination is the behavior or actions, usually negative, towards an individual or group of people, belonging to a certain race, class, religion, gender, etc.
1 thought on “Journal 5 : Understanding Social Institutions and Microaggressions”
Agreed, the media has portrayed/distorted the images of underrepresented groups. This is why I believe it is important for many people to step out and create a new narrative that represents them. A narrative that goes against the dominant perspective or projected tale of the dominant culture. Thanks for sharing!
Agreed, the media has portrayed/distorted the images of underrepresented groups. This is why I believe it is important for many people to step out and create a new narrative that represents them. A narrative that goes against the dominant perspective or projected tale of the dominant culture. Thanks for sharing!