Posted by Lou Pilder on January 16, 2007, at 19:03:55
In reply to Re:, posted by laima on January 16, 2007, at 16:17:45
>
> Um, isn't Amy Tan a Chinese-American woman writing about other Chinese American women? Isn't that ok for her to do?Friends,
It is written here,[...a ..woman writing about other..Isn't that OK for her to do so?..]
I believe that whatever the intent or otherwise there might be that something is written about a group of people that has the potential to sterotype that group, if the sterotyping can be seen, then I belive that is not in accordance with the principles of social justice.
There are examples where the peoples in question are made out to be what the author might consider to be humorous. But would the subjects of the author's humor think that it was comical? Or could there not be others besides the author outside of the group of people in question that could not think it was funny? And would it matter if the author was of the same group of people?
Then there are examples in movies, books etc that use sterotyping to have the effect to be disparging to a group of people. Even if the author claimes it is funny, does that ligitimize any denigration that could be seen toward the group of people in question?
This actually happened to me. I was in a lounge with professional employees that were telling what they called jokes about people of Appalachian origin. I complained to the administration and they claimed that the jokes were allowed because they were funny. I asked in the hearing as to what could be the difference if "Jew" was replaced where they used the word for people of Appalachian descent. They said that they would not tell jokes with that in mind because I was there but they could tell jokes that were disparging to those of Appalachian descent because none of those according to them were there. I answerd them by saying that if you say it about them, you say it about me.
Lou
poster:Lou Pilder
thread:721248
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20070112/msgs/722989.html