Names and prejudice

Individuals in culturally oppressed groups face a unique challenge in naming themselves. The names they embrace often are used against them as insults. Here, four college friends discuss their thoughts about names used to describe sexual orientation.

DAVE: “Gay” is not an inclusive word, because it’s the lesbian, bi, transgender, queer, and gay community. “Queer” can be offensive depending on who’s saying it and how they mean it. I use “queer” to describe myself, but it’s different if I say it, versus someone coming up and saying to me, “You’re a %$#@ queer, aren’t you!?”

KYEORDA: When people say “gay,” they think white male, and that’s not me. I use “queer” because it includes a lot of different people. I started referring to myself as queer because I don’t like the word “bisexual.” When you say you’re bisexual, people assume things, like that person is in a phase and they’re really a lesbian or when I walk in the room I’m going to be attracted to half males and half females, and it’s just not like that. “Queer” is more ambiguous and I like that.

BRANDON: I like the word “queer” but I don’t use it to identify myself. I use it when I speak about the community in a broad context because “LBGT” [lesbian-bisexual-gay-transgendered] doesn’t encompass everyone. When you think about “gay” you think male; that eliminates other genders. “Queer” is questionable, depending on who you are. Older LBGT members don’t like it; there are too many difficult memories.You see the younger generation reclaiming it and making “queer” something we can believe in.

SARAH: “Gay” is not an inclusive word. So far as “queer,” I don’t think it’s a bad word to use, and it’s convenient as opposed to the acronyms, but I don’t use it myself. Also, I think there are some people outside the community who view “queer” as different or oddball and that’s not an image we want to project.

BRANDON: I think breaking that image is something important though. I’m normal, and I’m queer!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• Think about groups you belong to—religious, social, ethnic, etc. What are some positive and negative names attached to these groups?

• What impact do these names have on you and your relationships with other group members?

• Can the negative names applied to your group be challenged? How?

Film: King’s Speech

Tells the story of the man who became King George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II. After his brother abdicates, George ('Bertie') reluctantly assumes the throne. Plagued by a dreaded stammer and considered unfit to be king, Bertie engages the help of an unorthodox speech therapist named Lionel Logue. Through a set of unexpected techniques, and as a result of an unlikely friendship, Bertie is able to find his voice and boldly lead the country through war.

Please read the assignment carefully and write a good paragraph in response to each of the questions, referring to at least ONE concept in each of the paragraphs.

1. What cultural and gender issues contribute to the Prince’s problem?

2. How do speech therapy classes change his overall communication habits?

3. What strategies does the King use to overcome his shyness?

4. How does the King deal with communication barriers of his life before and after speech therapy classes?

5. In addition to learning to speak better, what does the King learn from his tutor?

Дата добавления: 2015-10-30