Examining Privilege and Oppression in a Multicultural Society, Essay Example

Introduction

Part VI of Anderson & Middleton (2010) entitled “Stories of Personal Compassion and Being Allies” addresses the significance of understanding the dynamics that exist among individuals with unique differences and how this impacts their lives in different ways, particularly when an individual has a unique perspective that is not the same as their own. The concept of a “veil of obscurity” is unique and distinct in that it represents a covering over a hidden agenda that is largely racist and unforgiving (Anderson & Middleton, 2010, p. 238).

Body

The story of an Asian American professor who witnessed the poor treatment of another Asian American at a jewelry counter demonstrates that racism in today’s society across many different cultures is alive and well in the modern era (Anderson & Middleton, 2010). The treatment of this individual was unacceptable and demonstrated a lack of acceptance and understanding of those who are different, thereby creating a wall of racism that is difficult to cross in many instances (Anderson & Middleton, 2010, p. 242).

The article also addresses how a woman of Middle Eastern Descent was viewed on a flight shortly after September 11, 2001, as the passengers watched her with fear as she left her seat to go to the restroom on two separate occasions (Anderson & Middleton, 2010). These conditions reflected a lack of support and understanding of her culture and the recognition that not all people of Middle Eastern descent are created equal (Anderson & Middleton, 2010, p. 246). This reflects the importance of understanding how the dynamics of Middle Eastern culture are largely misrepresented and do not provide much leeway for interpretation in the modern era.

The actions taken by individuals under different circumstances may appear innocent to them but are often discriminatory in nature and create a number of difficulties in attempting to demonstrate equality for individuals in different settings (Anderson & Middleton, 2010). Those who were treated poorly within the chapter represent a number of different types of minorities, not just a single group, that are often discriminated against throughout society that often receive unfair attention and focus because of how they look or what they represent. Therefore, it is often difficult to overcome these feelings when attempting to serve these individuals in different capacities. This is an uphill battle that must be fought in order to preserve the integrity of a culture or ethnicity and its overall purpose.

This essay also provides a level of understanding of what takes place throughout society when there is a limited understanding of a group or culture and how people believe that they are entitled to go with whatever they are feeling towards that group, even if it is highly discriminatory in nature. This is a difficult pill to swallow on any level and requires individuals to examine their core beliefs and values in an attempt to understand why they act in specific ways, and what may be required to overcome these conditions and to be more accepting of individuals from different backgrounds. The article stands out because it provides a face for negative behaviors that often occur within groups and how they harm relationships within cultures and beyond.

Conclusion

This essay provides some much-needed perspective regarding how individuals behave towards each other and how this might be alleviated through different activities in order to prevent further risk or harm to individuals. It is necessary to aim to treat all persons equally and to not make harsh judgments or accept stereotypes that may not be accurate, as these are generally harmful and detrimental to society and what it represents for all persons in different ways. This reflects the importance of understanding the dynamics of culture and how they must be better understood in order to meet the expectations required of the helping field and those who work within these parameters.

References

Anderson, S., & Middleton, V. (2010). Explorations of Diversity: Examining privilege and oppression in a multicultural society. Cengage Learning.