But making unrealistic assumptions as to causes and effects within society and acting on those assumptions brings no lasting benefits. In the end all one accomplishes is to increase, rather than decrease, relations among the various groups in society. I think the recent increase in polarization among various groups in our society gives witness to my point.
Hmm, but to mee if these problems exist in the first place then aren't the groups polarized in the first place? No that may not be true, but you cannot realy blame folks for trying to figure out why they have the short end of the stick, but I agree with you that it is a multi-faceted problem and thee is no clear answer or solution.
I like Studies such as these is because they empower folks. Women are given the same benefits as men, the "why" is again multifaceted, but it teaches folks to depend on themelsves and to look upon one another in their group to gain momentum in socety, where they feel they have none.
feminists tells us that income disparity is completely and solely due to bias against women in the workplace. Not true. Sure, there is still some problem in that regard, but the majority of such disparity can be easily explained by any student of economics (Marxian economic theory explains it best).
And again, you cannot say that- because there are many facets of feminism that contribute that to many other things and is critical of said thought. Like I said, no group is more critical of feminists THAN feminists. People are aware of the fact tha women are mother and caregivers and take note of that, while others battle the bias against women in th workplace because, again like you mentioned, and they focus on that issue and in dismantling it. It does not mean that thats the ONLY reason why women are not empowered in the workplace the way men are.
Although racism does account for some problems(it will take more than a generation or two to completely eradicate it), it is not the end all nor cause of every problem encountered by those who are not white Anglos. Yet assuming it is and laying all the blame for the sad state of race relations at Anglo feet will not solve the problem. If anything it will increase resentment on all sides and exacerbate the problem, just as it recently has.
And again, studies of race do place accountablity where they believe it is due. But again, even in the facets people don't tend to agree and are critical of one another, so to paint with broad strokes that issues with race are soley to blame on white people is not even the issue. Race studies these days dals with how WE ALL continue to let such relations continue on and how the self hatred of people of color and their position of economic power in society alow such disparities to continue. To me it sounds like you are coming with only the "Blame Whitey" routine when Race Studies does not do that.
Okay it does that, LOL! and you know what it feels good to say that, I'm not gonna lie- to express yourself and your opinon when most consider it not important or playing on some "race card' (as if White peopl dind't like invent race cards in this country in the first place? Like really!) to express how you and your own are treated- I'm sorry if it may seem offensive or abrasive but when you get images and messges that you aren't human, aren't worthy, or aren't "enough", then you get angry. but don't take that anger as a a dismiss of you or even personal, its just anger and yeah people have a right to it. Dismissing that right just makes "us' even more angry. if you want to get rid of the polarization, that's the last thing you want to do.
But again, thats not all Race Studies does, like with feminism it helps empower poeople by giving them information on history that they may have not gotten in high school (because I feel so good as a black person knowing tha another black person made peanut butter... I mean, I can now sleep at night), (and while some times that history is vry controversial and inaccurate and needs to be reexamine, the fact they they are studying it in the first place makes other people study it and consider it in a serious light- whethr they beliee it or not) and allows them to empower each other.
Thats personaly what I see from such studies- its not that its perfect, and it never will be, but at times i wonder when people attack them and dismiss them ALTOGETHER, i sometimes think they attack them out of their prejudices of not knowing them or not knowing them enough. Not saying you're doing that but yeah others in this thread I am a little iffy about.
