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Discussion post #5

Social constructions of black masculinity and white femininity during Jim Crow era

(1870s-1960s) was heavily influenced by racialized gender relations. The white construction

created by historical, cultural and institutional forces helped to reinforce the white supremacy

and white male privilege. These stereotypes often depicted black men as always being

dangerous, having too much sex, and prone to crime. by contrast , White femininity was idolized

as pure, sensitive, and in need of protection (Zinn 154).

Black masculinity and white feminine construction together sustained a racially ordered

system. White supremacists exaggerated the differences between black men and white women so

as to drive wedges among the oppressed groups and make them weak enough to stand up against

systemic racism (PBS America,2023). Black masculinity became an excuse for extremely rigid

confinement and segregation of blacks in that era. These constructions were appropriated by

white men, especially people with authoritarian positions, who used them to substantiate

discriminatory practices and preserve their hegemony. These structures worked together to

ensure the maintenance of white male privilege.

Work cited

PBS America. "The Central Park Five FULL SPECIAL | PBS America." YouTube, PBS

America, 2023, www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1yTgXhcJOU.

Zinn, Maxine Baca, Pierrette Hondagneu-Sotelo, and Michael A. Messner. Sex and gender

through the prism of difference. na, 2007.

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Discussion post #6

Andrea Smith's article, "Beyond Pro-Choice versus Pro-Life: In her piece entitled

"Women of Color and Reproductive Justice," highlights reproductive concerns, emphasizing

those among women of color. The first concern is that the Chicano civil rights movement and the

women's liberation movement concentrated on issues that affect the whole community. Since

forced sterilizations impacted more women of color, who were interwoven with race, gender, and

class, such issue was hard to grab the attention of movements that touched on wider problems.

In addition, the Chicanos' civil rights movement and women's liberation movement

prioritized economic and political rights (Smith 133). These forced sterilizations, which are a

serious violation of reproductive rights, may have been downplayed or overshadowed in

comparison with some more immediate economic and political issues. There was also the

problem of machismo culture within the Chicano movement and the prevailing patriarchy, which

tended to overshadow women's issues. This cultural phenomenon probably made the issue of

reproductive justice, such as forced sterilization, become background.

In conclusion, the forced sterilization of Latina/Chicana women during the 1970s and the

later years was probably a secondary matter involving a combination of cross-cutting challenges

such as more urgent concerns, paternalistic views, inadequate knowledge of reproductive

Acknowledging these historical dimensions is essential in comprehending why some matters

were sidelined in the social justice struggles.

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Work cited

Smith, Andrea. Beyond Pro-Choice versus Pro-Life: Women of Color and Reproductive

Justice . The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2005.

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Discussion post #8

I have personally experienced the complex emotions and the hard work associated with

these issues Millan Kang writes about when working in a nail salon. Working as a nail technician

in a salon owned by an immigrant, I have learned to balance serving clients' emotional needs and

the challenging physical conditions of this trade. Kang’s reflection on emotional labor relates to

my personal experiences. I got involved in a challenging situation while working as a nail

technician in a salon owned by Korean immigrants. While I worked hard to fulfill the customers'

expectations, they were still unimpressed with the design I made. On this point, however, I tried

to address the customers' concerns by actively listening. I carefully allow the client to express

their frustrations and complaints without interfering. Afterward, I would convey my sympathy,

letting them know I understand their emotions regarding any letdown I may have caused them.

However, I presented various ways the concerns could be addressed. It could mean

readjusting the design to the extent that it fits the specifications of the project site,

complementing the project with another service, or extra data on the shortcomings of some

designs. It is important to maintain a professional attitude throughout the interaction, ensuring I

do not get into an argument with the disgruntled customer but do not become defensive.

Moreover, my actions should be guided by Millan Kang’s article, considering the cultural

context (Kang 820). I would try to communicate effectively using bilingual coworkers or

translation devices to establish understanding if there were language barriers.

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Work Cited

Kang, Miliann. "The managed hand: The commercialization of bodies and emotions in

Korean immigrant–owned nail salons." Gender & Society 17.6 (2003): 820-839.