Reply to DD experienced racism in the classroom. How to handle.

Forum Index » College and University Discussion

Reply to "DD experienced racism in the classroom. How to handle. "

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]It seems the frat boys felt comfortable making a black joke, but God forbid, they express any view against gay marriange on a college campus today.[/quote]

Oh no, not the "joke" that allows the person to say racists remarks they really mean without taking responsibility.  I could easily make "jokes" about frat boys but reality is that my joke has reduced a real person into a stereotype.  In general, I believe most people want to feel like they belong and they want to feel valued.  When a joke is made that has the impact of 20 people laughing that don't have anything in common with the butt of the joke (I.e. It was not self-depreciation) and the other 3 feeling isolated that have something in common with the butt of the joke, I can see how the isolated 3 are not amused.  I can also see how the isolated 3 wonder if the 20 people that laughed really found it funny and agree or just didn't know how to react.  It also puts the burden on the people already feeling isolated to either stick out even more by saying something or say nothing which gives the signal that something that really wasn't cool to say was okay by the people that were in essence the butt of the joke. I have never quite found that knack for defusing a situation that makes it clear it wasn't okay to say something in a way that doesn't become a conversation about my reaction and allows the person that made the comment a graceful way out assuming the person really didn't mean it seriously.

If this was truly an innocent joke that was just so funny and clearly not reflecting the personal opinions of the person telling the joke, would he have said the same joke if the majority of his classmates had something in common with the joke and he was the only one or one of a handful that did not?  Also, would he feel equally comfortable with a joke made by a classmate that isolated him from all of his classmates (I.e. About fraternities if he was the only one in a fraternity in the class, or about his religion, or political background) and be laughing the loudest or would he feel uncomfortable?

As for a view against gay marriage, there are always classes where you have to argue for and against a position.  The professor has to set the tone to keep things respectful and from getting personal.  Keeping the goal on making persuasive arguments, realizing that understanding the opposing view can help you craft a better argument, and realizing that certain times emotions can work against the very people you are trying to convince ...and what emotions can help sway peoples (think political campaigns) would be I important IMHO.

To the OP, I would echo what everyone else is saying about having your daughter self-advocate.  There is so much emphasis in the working world about being on a team and people skills and being able to work with different people (age, race, gender) as well as different personality types.  Your DD will have clueless people and a$$holes that she may work with and sometimes for and she will have to figure out how to stand up for herself in a way that is constructive and still allows for people to continue working together in at least superficial harmony, when to let it roll, and when to cut bait.  
[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics