Black Men: Stigma, Status And Expectation Summary
Conforming is something that is expected from everyone, but who benifites from this conformity? Shavar Jeffries, Holly Brewer, and Amy Tan might have an idea. Shavar Jeffries’s New York Times article “Black Men: Stigma, Status and Expectation” discuses the historical and present racial stigma against black men in the United States. Jeffries covers the dehumanization of black people, the discrimination against them, and finally the current day prejudices and stereotypes held against them. Holly Brewer’s article “Stereotypes” addresses gender stereotypes and their effects on young people. Some key points include a list of gender stereotypes, how young children are when they are presented with their “gender roles”, and how aware yet inactive
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Tan recognized this when observing the way people treat her mother, who does not conform to Standard English when speaking. In one instance, while on a visit to the doctor, Tan’s mother is refused a diagnosis, and treated unfairly until Tan was called. Tan says, “she would not leave until the doctor called her daughter… And when the doctor finally called her daughter, me, who spoke perfect English...we had assurances the CAT scan would be found” (Tan 2). In this situation Tan and the doctors are more powerful than Tan’s mother because they conform to English language standards when speaking. Notice the issue is not resolved until Tan is called--not because Tan’s mother can not be understood, at the time she was speaking her “best English” (Tan 2)—but because the doctors had no respect for someone who does not conform. Brewer also believes that conformity benefits the powerful. When speaking about traditional male gender roles Brewer mentions the superiority of men. She says, “Men are in charge; they are always at the top… As Husbands, men tell their wives what to do” (Brewer 3). These gender roles immediately increase the power of a man—especially over women—in the United States’ already paternal society. If a man chooses to conform to these gender roles he gains power, in this respect conformity again benefits the powerful. The third author, Jeffries brings forth further evidence to prove that conformity benefits
Tan recognized this when observing the way people treat her mother, who does not conform to Standard English when speaking. In one instance, while on a visit to the doctor, Tan’s mother is refused a diagnosis, and treated unfairly until Tan was called. Tan says, “she would not leave until the doctor called her daughter… And when the doctor finally called her daughter, me, who spoke perfect English...we had assurances the CAT scan would be found” (Tan 2). In this situation Tan and the doctors are more powerful than Tan’s mother because they conform to English language standards when speaking. Notice the issue is not resolved until Tan is called--not because Tan’s mother can not be understood, at the time she was speaking her “best English” (Tan 2)—but because the doctors had no respect for someone who does not conform. Brewer also believes that conformity benefits the powerful. When speaking about traditional male gender roles Brewer mentions the superiority of men. She says, “Men are in charge; they are always at the top… As Husbands, men tell their wives what to do” (Brewer 3). These gender roles immediately increase the power of a man—especially over women—in the United States’ already paternal society. If a man chooses to conform to these gender roles he gains power, in this respect conformity again benefits the powerful. The third author, Jeffries brings forth further evidence to prove that conformity benefits