Overview
Overview
The purpose of this activity is for student's to articulate ways in which language reflects cultural assumptions. You will be responsible for identifying how each statement may reflect sexist or racist language tendencies. You and your classmates will also be responsible for offering alternative wording to reduce potential perceived racist or sexist connotations. Remember—discussing race, gender, and similar issues can be challenging—if there is inflammatory, disrespectful or otherwise inappropriate language within your post I will block it, and we will have a conference to determine further consequences if necessary. It is quite likely that some of the statements will be bothersome to you (as they are to me), and that others will not. As communication students and scholars we are challenged to think critically about the world and words around us. In short, this assignment is a practice in how can we use human communication to authentically and ethically engage in diversity affirming communication encounters.
Action Item
- Read the following 10 statements.
- 1. I now pronounce you man and wife.
- 2. You can tell that they are the good guys because they wear white hats.
- 3. “And now for breaking news, let’s go to our man on the street interview.”
- 4. Let’s see if we can’t make something good happen by using a little black magic.
- 5. I can’t believe Sarah kept her last name when she married.
- 6. John stayed home to babysit his son while his wife ran a few errands.
- 7. My friend Ranjet is from India, but he acts like a regular guy.
- 8. I know a male nurse and a woman pilot.
- 9. Asian people are really short. Most of the women are about 5 feet, and the men aren’t much taller.
- 10. Blacks are really confrontational.
- Copy and Paste the above 10 statement to Post as a reply to this discussion
- Under each numbered sentence, articulate how the language used in each of the above-sentences could be perceived to be sexist (suggesting one sex is better or the standard) or racist (suggesting one race is BEST or standard) or any other problematic bias in society. Your analysis should include:
- A brief full-sentence explanation (1-2 sentences) of how each sentence (1-10) could be perceived as sexist or racist or otherwise problematic.
- Alternative wording to reduce or avoid the possible sexist/racist/otherwise problematic connotations.
- Your post could look like the following: 1. Original Sentence:
- Why the original sentence wording may be problematic.
- How you would revise the potentially problematic sentence to be a more effective and mindful sentence.