Comments on: The Neutral And The Marked: A Primer For Your Kids http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/04/01/the-neutral-and-the-marked-a-primer-for-your-kids/ Sociological Images encourages people to exercise and develop their sociological imaginations with discussions of compelling visuals that span the breadth of sociological inquiry. Fri, 25 May 2012 00:11:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Leah B T http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/04/01/the-neutral-and-the-marked-a-primer-for-your-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-551669 Leah B T Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:37:00 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/04/01/the-neutral-and-the-marked-a-primer-for-your-kids/#comment-551669  You don't know the ethnicity or race of the person who wrote the article, so you can't assume they are a racial minority. Also, the "stereotype of racial minorities as whiny, lazy jerks" is a stereotype which is based not in any truth or objective reality whatsoever, but in bigotry and individuals' readiness to believe the stereotype within the framework of a racist society. Therefore it's not people of color's job to prove that they are not whiny, lazy jerks. It's non-POC's job to not think of racial minorities in terms of hateful stereotypes.  You don’t know the ethnicity or race of the person who wrote the article, so you can’t assume they are a racial minority.
Also, the “stereotype of racial minorities as whiny, lazy jerks” is a stereotype which is based not in any truth or objective reality whatsoever, but in bigotry and individuals’ readiness to believe the stereotype within the framework of a racist society. Therefore it’s not people of color’s job to prove that they are not whiny, lazy jerks. It’s non-POC’s job to not think of racial minorities in terms of hateful stereotypes.

]]> By: Joe Eagar http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/04/01/the-neutral-and-the-marked-a-primer-for-your-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-534109 Joe Eagar Thu, 15 Sep 2011 21:38:00 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/04/01/the-neutral-and-the-marked-a-primer-for-your-kids/#comment-534109 I hate to tell you this, but European-descended non-Hispanic (and all those other idiot qualifiers for what a "white" person is) do make up around 70% of the American population. The neutrality of whites in advertising is perfectly natural.  There's nothing wrong with it.  Now, it wouldn't be right if there were no representations of other groups at all.  But there is, and I'm not a big fan of this kind of whining.  It reinforces the stereotype of racial minorities as whiny, lazy jerks (I've never met hispanic or black people who fit that bill in real life, and I don't like seeing that stereotype reinforced on the internet). I hate to tell you this, but European-descended non-Hispanic (and all those other idiot qualifiers for what a “white” person is) do make up around 70% of the American population.

The neutrality of whites in advertising is perfectly natural.  There’s nothing wrong with it.  Now, it wouldn’t be right if there were no representations of other groups at all.  But there is, and I’m not a big fan of this kind of whining.  It reinforces the stereotype of racial minorities as whiny, lazy jerks (I’ve never met hispanic or black people who fit that bill in real life, and I don’t like seeing that stereotype reinforced on the internet).

]]> By: Jack Vermicelli http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/04/01/the-neutral-and-the-marked-a-primer-for-your-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-424729 Jack Vermicelli Wed, 22 Dec 2010 09:38:03 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/04/01/the-neutral-and-the-marked-a-primer-for-your-kids/#comment-424729 Calling it an "African American family" is probably not accurate, as Playmobil is a German company. More likely, it's an "African European family," or somesuch. And to echo previous commenters, "Red Indian" likely does not carry the same stigma or social shibboleth depending on region, just as "Negro" is still just as fine in some places in the world as it once was in the US. Calling it an “African American family” is probably not accurate, as Playmobil is a German company. More likely, it’s an “African European family,” or somesuch. And to echo previous commenters, “Red Indian” likely does not carry the same stigma or social shibboleth depending on region, just as “Negro” is still just as fine in some places in the world as it once was in the US.

]]> By: Deb D. http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/04/01/the-neutral-and-the-marked-a-primer-for-your-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-415845 Deb D. Thu, 02 Dec 2010 14:35:36 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/04/01/the-neutral-and-the-marked-a-primer-for-your-kids/#comment-415845 Americans, apparently, enjoy being offended so very much that they fail to have any respect for the fact that other nations/cultures have different social sensibilities - "How Dare They...!" Americans, apparently, enjoy being offended so very much that they fail to have any respect for the fact that other nations/cultures have different social sensibilities – “How Dare They…!”

]]> By: Culturally Appropriating Native Americans: A “Hands-on Approach to History” » Sociological Images http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/04/01/the-neutral-and-the-marked-a-primer-for-your-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-274076 Culturally Appropriating Native Americans: A “Hands-on Approach to History” » Sociological Images Wed, 21 Apr 2010 09:02:49 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/04/01/the-neutral-and-the-marked-a-primer-for-your-kids/#comment-274076 [...] PSA, Italian political party uses images of American Indians to oppose immigration, and a Native American toy set. var addthis_language = 'en'; 36 Comments Tags: cultural imperialism/(neo)colonialism, [...] [...] PSA, Italian political party uses images of American Indians to oppose immigration, and a Native American toy set. var addthis_language = 'en'; 36 Comments Tags: cultural imperialism/(neo)colonialism, [...]

]]> By: Women Can Wear Men’s Shirts, but Men Cannot Wear Women’s » Sociological Images http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/04/01/the-neutral-and-the-marked-a-primer-for-your-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-170456 Women Can Wear Men’s Shirts, but Men Cannot Wear Women’s » Sociological Images Fri, 18 Dec 2009 09:38:43 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/04/01/the-neutral-and-the-marked-a-primer-for-your-kids/#comment-170456 [...] make one generic and the other specific.   Men can be human, but women are always female humans; white people can be just people, but non-white people are always other; Christian symbols are for everyone, but non-Christian symbols are exclusive; and so on and so [...] [...] make one generic and the other specific.   Men can be human, but women are always female humans; white people can be just people, but non-white people are always other; Christian symbols are for everyone, but non-Christian symbols are exclusive; and so on and so [...]

]]> By: Allie http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/04/01/the-neutral-and-the-marked-a-primer-for-your-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-167083 Allie Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:04:10 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/04/01/the-neutral-and-the-marked-a-primer-for-your-kids/#comment-167083 Playmobil is German, not Thai. Playmobil is German, not Thai.

]]> By: Best Buy Assumes All Customers Are Male » Sociological Images http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/04/01/the-neutral-and-the-marked-a-primer-for-your-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-150238 Best Buy Assumes All Customers Are Male » Sociological Images Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:26:45 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/04/01/the-neutral-and-the-marked-a-primer-for-your-kids/#comment-150238 [...] more instances of male as the default human, see these posts: one, two, three, and four. 50 Comments Tags: gender, gender: masculinity, internet, marketing [...] [...] more instances of male as the default human, see these posts: one, two, three, and four. 50 Comments Tags: gender, gender: masculinity, internet, marketing [...]

]]> By: Christian is not a Religion » Sociological Images http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/04/01/the-neutral-and-the-marked-a-primer-for-your-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-127069 Christian is not a Religion » Sociological Images Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:44:18 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/04/01/the-neutral-and-the-marked-a-primer-for-your-kids/#comment-127069 [...] we attribute to “person,” unless there are reasons to do otherwise, here, here, here, and here. 15 Comments Tags: law/crime, prejudice/discrimination, religion, the state [...] [...] we attribute to “person,” unless there are reasons to do otherwise, here, here, here, and here. 15 Comments Tags: law/crime, prejudice/discrimination, religion, the state [...]

]]> By: WHO IS FACEBOOK? » Sociological Images http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/04/01/the-neutral-and-the-marked-a-primer-for-your-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-99087 WHO IS FACEBOOK? » Sociological Images Thu, 13 Aug 2009 03:55:52 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/04/01/the-neutral-and-the-marked-a-primer-for-your-kids/#comment-99087 [...] we attribute to “person,” unless there are reasons to do otherwise, here, here, and here. 42 Comments Tags: color, gender, globalization, race/ethnicity BE [...] [...] we attribute to “person,” unless there are reasons to do otherwise, here, here, and here. 42 Comments Tags: color, gender, globalization, race/ethnicity BE [...]

]]> By: Sociological Images » WHAT KIND OF WOMAN ARE YOU? http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/04/01/the-neutral-and-the-marked-a-primer-for-your-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-5391 Sociological Images » WHAT KIND OF WOMAN ARE YOU? Wed, 24 Dec 2008 07:43:14 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/04/01/the-neutral-and-the-marked-a-primer-for-your-kids/#comment-5391 [...] women and men are people.  For more posts on this idea related to gender and other categories, see this post on toys for kids and our post on that famous real bodies [...] [...] women and men are people.  For more posts on this idea related to gender and other categories, see this post on toys for kids and our post on that famous real bodies [...]

]]> By: Rob Schmidt http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/04/01/the-neutral-and-the-marked-a-primer-for-your-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-4783 Rob Schmidt Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:01:55 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/04/01/the-neutral-and-the-marked-a-primer-for-your-kids/#comment-4783 Here's another example of a mishmash of Native images: http://www.bluecorncomics.com/pics/playmobl.jpg Plus a series of "cowboys and Indians" images: http://www.bluecorncomics.com/2008/05/cowboys-and-indians-images.html Here’s another example of a mishmash of Native images:

http://www.bluecorncomics.com/pics/playmobl.jpg

Plus a series of “cowboys and Indians” images:

http://www.bluecorncomics.com/2008/05/cowboys-and-indians-images.html

]]> By: Anachronism and American Indians at Racialicious - the intersection of race and pop culture http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/04/01/the-neutral-and-the-marked-a-primer-for-your-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-4519 Anachronism and American Indians at Racialicious - the intersection of race and pop culture Thu, 27 Nov 2008 10:00:49 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/04/01/the-neutral-and-the-marked-a-primer-for-your-kids/#comment-4519 [...] In many places in the midwest the American Indian is very present, but in other places in the U.S., like in California, Disney’s Pocahontas is as close as we get to “Indians.” The idea that American Indians are gone comes, in part, from the ubiquitous representation of them with feathers, buckskins, and moccasins. These anachronisms are everywhere (see, for example, here, here, here, here, and here). [...] [...] In many places in the midwest the American Indian is very present, but in other places in the U.S., like in California, Disney’s Pocahontas is as close as we get to “Indians.” The idea that American Indians are gone comes, in part, from the ubiquitous representation of them with feathers, buckskins, and moccasins. These anachronisms are everywhere (see, for example, here, here, here, here, and here). [...]

]]> By: Kirsten http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/04/01/the-neutral-and-the-marked-a-primer-for-your-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-2813 Kirsten Sun, 31 Aug 2008 20:32:36 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/04/01/the-neutral-and-the-marked-a-primer-for-your-kids/#comment-2813 "Native American Indian" is the usual term in Britain, sometimes without the "Indian". That said, the older generation probably would use "Red Indian" and I heard my (fairly liberal) grandmother today using the term "not enough chiefs and too many Indians". This phrase (actually an inversion of the usual management metaphor) does not refer to people from the Indian subcontinent. As a little Scottish girl in the 80s I had a large collection of "Red Indian" costumed dolls given to me by relatives who had been to America. I was aware that they didn't represent one homogeneous culture, but I don't know if this was typical. (What was the film "The Indian in the Cupboard" called in America?) I did think (as the person who sent the Playmobil link) that it was REALLY odd that you can only get white grandparents. Do they want to imply non-whites don't live to be grandparents, or what? “Native American Indian” is the usual term in Britain, sometimes without the “Indian”. That said, the older generation probably would use “Red Indian” and I heard my (fairly liberal) grandmother today using the term “not enough chiefs and too many Indians”. This phrase (actually an inversion of the usual management metaphor) does not refer to people from the Indian subcontinent.

As a little Scottish girl in the 80s I had a large collection of “Red Indian” costumed dolls given to me by relatives who had been to America. I was aware that they didn’t represent one homogeneous culture, but I don’t know if this was typical. (What was the film “The Indian in the Cupboard” called in America?)

I did think (as the person who sent the Playmobil link) that it was REALLY odd that you can only get white grandparents. Do they want to imply non-whites don’t live to be grandparents, or what?

]]> By: Sociological Images » why and how People of color are included in advertising: First in a series http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/04/01/the-neutral-and-the-marked-a-primer-for-your-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-1215 Sociological Images » why and how People of color are included in advertising: First in a series Sun, 18 May 2008 09:44:22 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/04/01/the-neutral-and-the-marked-a-primer-for-your-kids/#comment-1215 [...] whiteness is the neutral category (for example, see here and see here for the same phenomenon related to gender) and most, but not all, advertising is aimed [...] [...] whiteness is the neutral category (for example, see here and see here for the same phenomenon related to gender) and most, but not all, advertising is aimed [...]

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