ALMA RAMIREZ

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HD361 Social and Political Context

Theories learned through Social and Political Context consisted on an anti-bias
perspective, privilege and power. I learned that society continues to label those who do not fit the
criteria of class privilege and power. The opportunity of taking this class was with Joyce
Robinson which was a great experience.
I was able to fulfill the goals through class readings and committing myself to do the
assigned homework. The semester began with a memory box, in this memory box we were to
decorate it with pictures and sentimental things inside and out. The outcome was to reflect how
others saw us and comparing to who we truly are in the inside. It was a chance to let others know
who we are through our pictures, values and preferences. We proceeded with differences and
appearance, differences and appearances are unique qualities that every individual carries. The
memory box was like an ice breaker to get everything out in the open. For example, some shared
pictures of their family while others expressed their sexual orientation. I think that this was a
great opportunity to bring down barriers and topics that many do not wish to talk about, it was a
moment of embracing everyones differences and appearance.
Social and Political context consisted of topics that many find as taboo or touchy
subjects; In class I learned that society Corporate America was built for European Americans
only while degrading others through a non-acceptance by society. If you are not a white male
that diminishes you from power and privilege. My knowledge expanded when the word race
became a part of an illusion. Race was determined through the color of skin meaning the lighter
is more accepted while darker the pigmentation the more inferior you became. Also, many years
ago scientist declared that those with darker pigmentation had smaller brains and did not function
highly as those with lighter pigmentation.

ALMA RAMIREZ

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Contributions in which I assisted were with projects that I had to do throughout the
semester. One of the projects that I did was on Religion and Homophobia. I was excited to do
the project because the semester before I had the privilege to attend the LGBT community center.
The power point was on Heterosexuality and Homophobia, Religion and Morality. All are
connected, For example, The Catholic religion emphasizes that heterosexuality is the moral thing
to do which promotes homophobia then not embracing the person for who they are but for their
sexual preference. Percentages in the LGBT community become higher because it is not morally
accepted. Therefore, suicide rates within the LGBTQ is much higher than heterosexuals. Sharing
this information with my fellow peers was eye opening for them, what stood out the most was
when I shared a video that I saw at the LGBTQ center. It left my classmates surprised and
heartbroken, I left them speechless. The video was about an adolescents whose parents found out
he was gay, his parents expressed the shame and disgust they felt towards his sexual orientation.
The adolescent then became homeless and had to endure drug abuse, sexual assault and
prostitution just to stay alive while hiding his pain.
Another project which was a group project, consisted of helping low income high school
students to purchase their cap and gown. Many of the Garfield High School students come from
low income families or are single mothers. These students are often discourage that they cannot
participate in the commencement ceremony, so to give them this opportunity was perfect.
In conclusion, social and political context touched on topics that many do not like to talk
about or rather not be confronted with. There were great topics that everyone shared without the
need to be judged or offended, the class lived up to its name. I understood that we become labels
for society, our differences are not great qualities that live up to their standards therefore creating
barriers that divide us, and instead it should bring us all together.