Memoir Case

Reflection#8

1. Compared to Peggy McIntosh's classic list of everyday privileges written two decades ago, none out of 18 still applies as stated today. At first I had just checked #4 and #5 , but rethinking about it made me mark them off since they are not hundred percent accurate for citizens today.

1. Yes, I agree Demogrpher Harold Hodgekingson's suggestion of thinking in terms of national origin rather than race. A single race defines many different countries and every country has it's own culture and morals that shape it's society's behavior as well as their look on life. It is too broad to say that all Asians are good in math as if there is a certain cell Asians produce that provides them to excell in Math classes, when that is just impossible. Also, in the field of education, categorizing certain race of students as one might lead some to disgrace others from other countries from the same continent for being responsible for other people's misjudgement they face. I have number of Mongolian, Korean, Japanese friends who learned to dislike Chinese people due to others constantly mistaking them for being Chinese. Therefore, thinking in terms national origin rather than race seems better.

2. McIntosh's emphasis on group characteristics and privileges can not be useful to eeducator because it is too shallow and small minded to expect certain race of students to behave the same way when within the race there are many different cultures and personalities involved. This emphasis can not be helpful in any situations since I believe that a teacher should treat each student as an individual not as an individual of a certain race. You would never know where people really come from based on their style and the color of their skin.

3. It is very difficult for us as educators and citizens to discuss race without sliding into stereotypes if we don't have much information on the races and cultures other than our own as individuals. Most people only mention what they hear or see from the media and place that judgement on the whole race, so the discussion tends to lead to "Most Asians..." or " Most African Americans.."etc to avoid coming across as being racist when that is all they really know about that race. In conclusion, being educated on many different cultures might help non-stereotypical discussion to take place in this country of diversity.