Today is Administrative Assistant’s Day! Enjoy our really fabulous post from last year in which we recount Ann Swidler’s observations about “Secretary’s Day” and Social Control.
holidays
If plain ol’ chocolate isn’t exciting enough this Easter, try:
- Giving it some Hip to the Hop
- Sexing It Up with Nibbles, Your Sexy Easter Honey
- Adding Professional Wrestling (pictured)
Lisa Wade, PhD is an Associate Professor at Tulane University. She is the author of American Hookup, a book about college sexual culture; a textbook about gender; and a forthcoming introductory text: Terrible Magnificent Sociology. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
It is Easter Sunday. How about other places on the globe such as Japan? Christians are less than 1% of the population of Japan. Yet, because of globalization, geographic locations plays less and less of a role in defining culture. Many people around the world now consume the same food, clothing, music, movies, and technology.
Global corporations play a role in transmitting culture from place to place. Recently, American corporations in Japan have been trying to popularize and commercialize Easter. Disney’s theme park in Tokyo, for example, has promoted Easter with the Disney Easter Wonderland since 2010:
Likewise, beginning last year, Baskin Robbins has been promoting the holiday. This year they have a month-long Wonderful Easter Campaign:
It will be very interesting to see how Easter becomes part of Japanese culture. When the Japanese adopted Valentine’s day, for example, they added their own twist. Women are expected to give chocolate to men; men are supposed to return the favor by giving candy to women on March 14th, White Day. I would not be surprised to find that Easter becomes popular in Japan, but celebrated with a twist – a Japanese flavor.
—————————
Sangyoub Park is an assistant professor of sociology at Washburn University, where he teaches Social Demography, Generations in the U.S. and Sociology of East Asia. His research interests include social capital, demographic trends, and post-Generation Y.
Last week I posted about the stereotype that Black people love watermelons, explaining that it originated with efforts to justify slavery. Black people were simple, slavery proponents argued, so a delicious watermelon was enough to make them happy.
This stereotype, long past its strategic usefulness, nonetheless persists. Barack Obama’s election to the U.S. presidency, for example, inspired a rash of watermelon-themed commentary, including this one:
(source)
In light of this history, as well as the ongoing racism, the product below — a Valentine’s Day candy that pairs two Disney princesses — is rather, let’s say, insensitive. The White Cinderella Aurora character decorates the vanilla flavored side; the Black Tiana character decorates the watermelon flavored side. Just… wow.
Thanks to Caroline H. for forwarding this along.
Lisa Wade, PhD is an Associate Professor at Tulane University. She is the author of American Hookup, a book about college sexual culture; a textbook about gender; and a forthcoming introductory text: Terrible Magnificent Sociology. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
On this second-to-last day of Black History Month, let us return to posts past.
We have been urged to celebrate Black History Month…
- …with fried chicken and collard greens.
- No really, with fried chicken and collard greens! (pictured)
- …by relaxing our hair and drinking kool-aid.
- …by conflating them with “underprivileged” people.
- …with a “Compton Cookout” complete with blackface and nooses!
- …by buying stuff from companies that do nothing but acknowledge Black History Month.
<sarcasm> Good times. </sarcasm>
Lisa Wade, PhD is an Associate Professor at Tulane University. She is the author of American Hookup, a book about college sexual culture; a textbook about gender; and a forthcoming introductory text: Terrible Magnificent Sociology. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
My Occidental College colleague, politics professor Caroline Heldman, snapped this photograph of a billboard on an L.A. freeway. It suggests that one may celebrate Black History Month by calling 1-800-GET-THIN. The billboard is another stunning example of the trivialization of black history by companies using it only as an excuse to market their product or service.
Lisa Wade, PhD is an Associate Professor at Tulane University. She is the author of American Hookup, a book about college sexual culture; a textbook about gender; and a forthcoming introductory text: Terrible Magnificent Sociology. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
Happy Fat Tuesday to all our friends in New Orleans! Don’t do anything we wouldn’t do!
If you’re not in the middle of the revelry, enjoy these Mardi Gras posts from previous years:
- Where Mardi Gras Beads Come From
- Mardi Gras Krewes, Tourism, and Segregation (pictured)
- Race, Class, and Collective Mardi Gras Memory
- The Evolution of Beads for Boobs
Lisa Wade, PhD is an Associate Professor at Tulane University. She is the author of American Hookup, a book about college sexual culture; a textbook about gender; and a forthcoming introductory text: Terrible Magnificent Sociology. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
Consumption:
- The Sweet Smell of Environmental Degradation
- Measuring Love with $$$
- Love for Sale with Dogboy and Mr. Dan
Heteronormativity
Cross-Cultures
Gender
- The Feminization of Love
- Violent Metaphors in Vintage Valentine’s Day Cards (pictured)
- Do Men Want Flowers?
- The Heterosexual Gift Giving Imperative
- Men are Loved and Women are Property
- The Sexes are “Opposite”
- Steak and a BlowJob Day (for men)
Race/Ethnicity
- Vintage Valentine’s Day Cards Punning on American Indians
- More Vintage Cards with Racial Caricatures
Lisa Wade, PhD is an Associate Professor at Tulane University. She is the author of American Hookup, a book about college sexual culture; a textbook about gender; and a forthcoming introductory text: Terrible Magnificent Sociology. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
If plain ol’ chocolate isn’t exciting enough this Easter, try:
- Giving it some Hip to the Hop
- Sexing It Up with Nibbles, Your Sexy Easter Honey
- Adding Professional Wrestling (pictured)
Lisa Wade, PhD is an Associate Professor at Tulane University. She is the author of American Hookup, a book about college sexual culture; a textbook about gender; and a forthcoming introductory text: Terrible Magnificent Sociology. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
It is Easter Sunday. How about other places on the globe such as Japan? Christians are less than 1% of the population of Japan. Yet, because of globalization, geographic locations plays less and less of a role in defining culture. Many people around the world now consume the same food, clothing, music, movies, and technology.
Global corporations play a role in transmitting culture from place to place. Recently, American corporations in Japan have been trying to popularize and commercialize Easter. Disney’s theme park in Tokyo, for example, has promoted Easter with the Disney Easter Wonderland since 2010:
Likewise, beginning last year, Baskin Robbins has been promoting the holiday. This year they have a month-long Wonderful Easter Campaign:
It will be very interesting to see how Easter becomes part of Japanese culture. When the Japanese adopted Valentine’s day, for example, they added their own twist. Women are expected to give chocolate to men; men are supposed to return the favor by giving candy to women on March 14th, White Day. I would not be surprised to find that Easter becomes popular in Japan, but celebrated with a twist – a Japanese flavor.
—————————
Sangyoub Park is an assistant professor of sociology at Washburn University, where he teaches Social Demography, Generations in the U.S. and Sociology of East Asia. His research interests include social capital, demographic trends, and post-Generation Y.
Last week I posted about the stereotype that Black people love watermelons, explaining that it originated with efforts to justify slavery. Black people were simple, slavery proponents argued, so a delicious watermelon was enough to make them happy.
This stereotype, long past its strategic usefulness, nonetheless persists. Barack Obama’s election to the U.S. presidency, for example, inspired a rash of watermelon-themed commentary, including this one:
(source)
In light of this history, as well as the ongoing racism, the product below — a Valentine’s Day candy that pairs two Disney princesses — is rather, let’s say, insensitive. The White Cinderella Aurora character decorates the vanilla flavored side; the Black Tiana character decorates the watermelon flavored side. Just… wow.
Thanks to Caroline H. for forwarding this along.
Lisa Wade, PhD is an Associate Professor at Tulane University. She is the author of American Hookup, a book about college sexual culture; a textbook about gender; and a forthcoming introductory text: Terrible Magnificent Sociology. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
On this second-to-last day of Black History Month, let us return to posts past.
We have been urged to celebrate Black History Month…
- …with fried chicken and collard greens.
- No really, with fried chicken and collard greens! (pictured)
- …by relaxing our hair and drinking kool-aid.
- …by conflating them with “underprivileged” people.
- …with a “Compton Cookout” complete with blackface and nooses!
- …by buying stuff from companies that do nothing but acknowledge Black History Month.
<sarcasm> Good times. </sarcasm>
Lisa Wade, PhD is an Associate Professor at Tulane University. She is the author of American Hookup, a book about college sexual culture; a textbook about gender; and a forthcoming introductory text: Terrible Magnificent Sociology. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
My Occidental College colleague, politics professor Caroline Heldman, snapped this photograph of a billboard on an L.A. freeway. It suggests that one may celebrate Black History Month by calling 1-800-GET-THIN. The billboard is another stunning example of the trivialization of black history by companies using it only as an excuse to market their product or service.
Lisa Wade, PhD is an Associate Professor at Tulane University. She is the author of American Hookup, a book about college sexual culture; a textbook about gender; and a forthcoming introductory text: Terrible Magnificent Sociology. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
Happy Fat Tuesday to all our friends in New Orleans! Don’t do anything we wouldn’t do!
If you’re not in the middle of the revelry, enjoy these Mardi Gras posts from previous years:
- Where Mardi Gras Beads Come From
- Mardi Gras Krewes, Tourism, and Segregation (pictured)
- Race, Class, and Collective Mardi Gras Memory
- The Evolution of Beads for Boobs
Lisa Wade, PhD is an Associate Professor at Tulane University. She is the author of American Hookup, a book about college sexual culture; a textbook about gender; and a forthcoming introductory text: Terrible Magnificent Sociology. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
Consumption:
- The Sweet Smell of Environmental Degradation
- Measuring Love with $$$
- Love for Sale with Dogboy and Mr. Dan
Heteronormativity
Cross-Cultures
Gender
- The Feminization of Love
- Violent Metaphors in Vintage Valentine’s Day Cards (pictured)
- Do Men Want Flowers?
- The Heterosexual Gift Giving Imperative
- Men are Loved and Women are Property
- The Sexes are “Opposite”
- Steak and a BlowJob Day (for men)
Race/Ethnicity
- Vintage Valentine’s Day Cards Punning on American Indians
- More Vintage Cards with Racial Caricatures
Lisa Wade, PhD is an Associate Professor at Tulane University. She is the author of American Hookup, a book about college sexual culture; a textbook about gender; and a forthcoming introductory text: Terrible Magnificent Sociology. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.