My First Controversial Post..
I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm tired of hearing about the Zimmerman trial. I'm tired of hearing it turned into a "racial" thing. No, this doesn't make me a white supremacist, it doesn't mean I hate black people, and it certainly doesn't mean I think that 17 year old boy deserved to die. My point, is that it is a culture and society thing, not a racial thing.
We are a culture drowning in fear and distrust, because we are surrounded by messages and media telling us what to be afraid of- and we listen.
We are taught at a very young age "you are the company you keep." We, as a society, know that if we walk into a fancy restaurant with piercings all over our faces and ripped jeans- we probably won't get the same attention and service as the business men in suits at the next table (hello, has anyone seen Pretty Woman!?).
I, for one, remember the sad day I took out my nose ring and 4 rows of piercings on each ear because I had a job interview, and knew that my glory days were over. I have a white ink tattoo on my wrist so it is not vibrant to everyone else, and the colorful (and regretful...) tattoo I got at 17, my dad encouraged me to make sure it was "placed somewhere that if you were in an evening gown, it will not show." I personally don't care if a tattoo peaks out of a bridesmaid dress, but some people do, and I understand that (not that I'm not judged for my "tramp stamp" when I'm in a bathing suit- but hey we all make poor choices at some point, right?).
If you were to place a row of 10 men in front of me and have them wear masks and gloves, and show me only their attire (not skin color), and ask me which one would scare me the most if he were walking around my home at night- hands down I'd pick the one in the baggy jeans and chains and whatever else the "gangsta" culture likes to dress themselves in (ps, I see PLENTY of white men in this attire as well- it is not secluded to one race). This style is made popular primarily by artists/rappers who glorify a certain kind of attitude and lifestyle.
However, that's not to say that of those 10 men, the one in the boat shoes, shorts, and oxford shirt wouldn't rob me - and that the one in the baggy jeans wouldn't save me. Look at the two "Boston Bombers" they looked like totally run of the mill guys, and caused mass chaos. I understand people are individuals- but society is a group of individuals as a whole, and American society, unfortunately, creates stereotypes based on clothing.
No, not everyone can afford to wear designer clothes (ah, that'd be nice!), but even KMart, Target, WalMart, and the Thrift Store have clothes that will make you have a certain appearance. A professional, approachable appearance. Trust me when I say, more of my money is spent on Forever 21 $15 shirts than on $150 pairs of designer jeans- and never once have I been stopped because I look suspicious (of course someone, somewhere, out there is arguing that it is because I am a white female- but just go with this, please).
So what's the answer here? Do we start an uprising so that we can wear whatever we want and not be discriminated against for it? Do we start protests for the holey jeans? Maybe I can rent out a convention center and give a motivational speech on why I should be allowed to be taken seriously with a nose ring (actually, can someone please do that? Because I really miss it).
Or do we hold ourselves to a higher standard? Do we all, as a society, understand that the choices we make with our appearance impact the opinion strangers have of us? Is it fair? No. Is it always accurate? Obviously not, because a 17 year old was suspected and eventually killed because of it. Is it sometimes accurate? Yes.
I don't know the answer here. I know what I was taught. I know where I have gotten in life because of my choices (not far, but hey I have a warm home that I rent and a very very very modest spending budget- yay!). I know that the way I am treated at work when I am in dress pants, pearl earrings, and a cardigan is significantly different than the way I am treated on casual Friday's when I am in jeans (designer or not). And I know that for me, personally, respect is worth more to me than freedom to wear my jeans, tee shirts and a nose ring (yes, again with the nose ring!). Believe me, my inner hippie is dying to get out, but I don't particularly want to deal with the random drug tests and suspicions that come along with that image.
I am not a lawyer, nor do I pretend to totally understand the justice system. I don't agree with the stereotypes of society, but I am not in a place where I want to challenge them, because it's not worth losing my job, my respect, or worse my life over.
The event between Martin and Zimmerman was nothing short of disappointing and tragic, but there is more to blame here than the color of someone's skin.
We are a culture drowning in fear and distrust, because we are surrounded by messages and media telling us what to be afraid of- and we listen.
We are taught at a very young age "you are the company you keep." We, as a society, know that if we walk into a fancy restaurant with piercings all over our faces and ripped jeans- we probably won't get the same attention and service as the business men in suits at the next table (hello, has anyone seen Pretty Woman!?).
I, for one, remember the sad day I took out my nose ring and 4 rows of piercings on each ear because I had a job interview, and knew that my glory days were over. I have a white ink tattoo on my wrist so it is not vibrant to everyone else, and the colorful (and regretful...) tattoo I got at 17, my dad encouraged me to make sure it was "placed somewhere that if you were in an evening gown, it will not show." I personally don't care if a tattoo peaks out of a bridesmaid dress, but some people do, and I understand that (not that I'm not judged for my "tramp stamp" when I'm in a bathing suit- but hey we all make poor choices at some point, right?).
If you were to place a row of 10 men in front of me and have them wear masks and gloves, and show me only their attire (not skin color), and ask me which one would scare me the most if he were walking around my home at night- hands down I'd pick the one in the baggy jeans and chains and whatever else the "gangsta" culture likes to dress themselves in (ps, I see PLENTY of white men in this attire as well- it is not secluded to one race). This style is made popular primarily by artists/rappers who glorify a certain kind of attitude and lifestyle.
However, that's not to say that of those 10 men, the one in the boat shoes, shorts, and oxford shirt wouldn't rob me - and that the one in the baggy jeans wouldn't save me. Look at the two "Boston Bombers" they looked like totally run of the mill guys, and caused mass chaos. I understand people are individuals- but society is a group of individuals as a whole, and American society, unfortunately, creates stereotypes based on clothing.
No, not everyone can afford to wear designer clothes (ah, that'd be nice!), but even KMart, Target, WalMart, and the Thrift Store have clothes that will make you have a certain appearance. A professional, approachable appearance. Trust me when I say, more of my money is spent on Forever 21 $15 shirts than on $150 pairs of designer jeans- and never once have I been stopped because I look suspicious (of course someone, somewhere, out there is arguing that it is because I am a white female- but just go with this, please).
So what's the answer here? Do we start an uprising so that we can wear whatever we want and not be discriminated against for it? Do we start protests for the holey jeans? Maybe I can rent out a convention center and give a motivational speech on why I should be allowed to be taken seriously with a nose ring (actually, can someone please do that? Because I really miss it).
Or do we hold ourselves to a higher standard? Do we all, as a society, understand that the choices we make with our appearance impact the opinion strangers have of us? Is it fair? No. Is it always accurate? Obviously not, because a 17 year old was suspected and eventually killed because of it. Is it sometimes accurate? Yes.
I don't know the answer here. I know what I was taught. I know where I have gotten in life because of my choices (not far, but hey I have a warm home that I rent and a very very very modest spending budget- yay!). I know that the way I am treated at work when I am in dress pants, pearl earrings, and a cardigan is significantly different than the way I am treated on casual Friday's when I am in jeans (designer or not). And I know that for me, personally, respect is worth more to me than freedom to wear my jeans, tee shirts and a nose ring (yes, again with the nose ring!). Believe me, my inner hippie is dying to get out, but I don't particularly want to deal with the random drug tests and suspicions that come along with that image.
I am not a lawyer, nor do I pretend to totally understand the justice system. I don't agree with the stereotypes of society, but I am not in a place where I want to challenge them, because it's not worth losing my job, my respect, or worse my life over.
The event between Martin and Zimmerman was nothing short of disappointing and tragic, but there is more to blame here than the color of someone's skin.
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