This paper discusses and compares the issue of bias in the cases of 'Affirmative Action at the University of Selkirk' and 'Portrait of a Canadian Advisor'.
Abstract In this article, the writer notes that the perceptual biases in the cases of 'Affirmative Action at the University of Selkirk' and 'Portrait of a Canadian Advisor' are different in that the contexts are radically distinct. Further, the writer points out that they are similar in that the perceptual biases in both cases are based heavily upon stereotypes. The writer concludes that in this analysis, one can see how and why the Selkirk and Canadian advisors' cases differ significantly. The writer notes the implications of this for programs to address biases in both contexts.
From the Paper "A similar perceptual bias based upon stereotypes can be seen in the case of the Canadian advisors. The difference between the biases in this case and the Selkirk case is largely one of context, with the biases being racially/culturally-based with respect to the Canadian advisors while they are gender-based in the case of Affirmative Action at Selkirk."
"This being said, the interesting thing about the Canadian advisor case is how it is similar to the Selkirk case in being not an obvious or overt stereotyping but a more complex and subtle form of bias. The Canadian advisor case consists of two distinct models of the Canadian advisor: one based upon surveys of the advisors themselves and the other based upon field surveys of advisors from their spouses and colleagues. A key difference between these two models illustrates the perceptual biases that these advisors show towards the host countries in which they work."
Abstract This paper is about evaluating the personalities of others. Our judgments of others can be wrong because of biases in how we perceive other people. A bias is "any consistent manner of perception or interpretation that does not reflect the objective information or a purely logical analysis of it" (Gray, 1999, pp. 519-520). These biases are of three main types: not using our full resources for perception, not having complete information, or having certain motives that lead us into false judgments.
Abstract This essay considers whether gender-biased advertisements are a reflection of the social status quo or whether they are actually creating the basis for sexist stereotyping in our society. To consider this topic further, the paper explains that it must be examined from a cause and effect point of view and then attempts to shed some light as to the reasons, both implicit and explicitly, why advertisements rely so heavily on sexist, gender-biased images to sell products. The paper concludes with the finding that mass media can definitely propagate sexual stereotypes as well as perpetuate existing ones.
From the Paper "Advertisements typically emphasize the use of cosmetics and household wares by women while girls are portrayed playing with dolls and domestic appliances. Boys on the other hand are pictured playing with vehicles and games of war and competition, while men are associated with cars and sports. This in turn creates the impression of women as emotional and dependent and men as aggressive, dominant and independent. (footnote 1) In an advertisement for Nautica, we see two men playing football, a sport associated with masculinity, while wearing the Nautica line of clothing and accessories (Vanity Fair 38-39). If one is careful in observing the ad, the models can be seen wearing watches while playing."
Abstract In this paper, it is shown that Uchida's historical recollection of the American interment camps of Japanese Americas is biased and circumstantial. Of course, the experiences of this author reflect the true-life events of one person's account of the interment, but do not provide a non-biased approach to histrionics of these incidents. Although confessional accounts, if used over a wider population, might give a broader look into this historical malady, the paper shows that Uchida makes no argument to portend the accounts are other than the author's own.
From the Paper "The issue of Japanese internment during World War II was the critical issue surrounding sovereignty of American citizens that were singled out in the American homeland. Uchida does not present a objective point of view simply because of the accounts that are provided and given by the author relating to historicity. Of course, personal documentation of the interment camps at Tanforan and Topaz reflect an important view of life for Japanese when being imprisoned, but Uchida does not make historical accusations that can explain overall societal and historical legitimacy of this era in American history."
Abstract This paper discusses cognitive and visual perceptions, the perspective of Gestalt psychologists on perception and how perception during the decision-making process can be based on the attribution theory. The paper explores how perceptions during the decision-making process are formed by an individuals' biases, and goes on to list the ways in which biases can affect one's perception. The paper therefore shows how perception plays a key role when the decision-making process is not based strictly on rational, objective measurements.
From the Paper "In order to fully understand the role of perception in the decision making process, we must first understand what each is. First, there are a variety of theories and perspectives available discussing the human performance involved in the decision making process. Decision making always results in a final choice being made whereby the output can be either an opinion or action. Perspective viewpoints of human performance in the decision making process include 1) Normative, where the analysis involved in the decision making process is concerned with rationality and logic; 2) Psychological, where an individual's decisions are based on their set of needs, values sought, and personal preferences; and 3) Cognitive, where the decision making process is seen as a continuous process that is integrated along with the interaction one has with their environment. At another level, decision making can be seen as an emotional process that can be either irrational or rational, with assumptions being explicit or tactical. (Kahneman, 2000)"
Abstract This paper discusses political socialization, the process of developing political opinions, biases and even political apathy. It discusses the influences of family, schooling, peers, mass media, political parties and religion on one's beliefs. Four methods of indoctrination into the political society are also discussed-- latent, manifest, affective, and instrumental socialization.
From the Paper "Political socialization begins early on in life and is an ongoing process affecting individuals throughout. It is how people eventually identify personal beliefs and expectations in American politics. These political views can include our level of patriotism, faith in the democratic system, standards by which we hold governing bodies, and opinions regarding public policies. From the playground to the classroom, the office to the dinner table, much of our lives affect our political opinions. The most easily identified agents of this are family, schooling, peers, mass media, political parties and religious influences. Further more, these means indoctrinate us in the political society through four basic methods: latent, manifest, affective, and instrumental socialization."
Tags: development, beliefs, religions, America, environment, democracy, government
Abstract This paper reviews Murray and Herrnstein's, "The Bell Curve", a book which created a huge controversy when the research findings described how some races are more intelligent than others. The paper outlines the many factors that the authors of this book failed to take into account, and illustrates how this encouraged a biased and controversial outcome.
From the Paper "In the book, "The Bell Curve", Murray and Herrnstein state their findings on intelligence and factors that influence it as well as factors that intelligence influences. The authors base a lot of their research on Spearman's controversial general intelligence (g factor) theory of a "general mental capacity"(Myers). According to Murray and Herrnstein, the g factor can be measured by standard intelligence tests. Their research resulted in findings such as: Blacks? IQ scores are about 15 points lower than whites; low IQ causes social problems such as poverty, crime, illegitimacy, etc.; high IQ is the main contributing factor in success and income level; and social programs are pointless because nothing can be done to raise IQ. They also stress an ever increasing gap between the those with high IQs, called the cognitive elite, and those with low IQs. They claim that this is happening because of the heritability of intelligence, the tendency of those with high intelligence to marry others of high intelligence, and those with low or average intelligence seem to marry others with low or average intelligence."
This paper reviews the book, "In Pursuit of Equity: Women, Men and the Quest for Economic Citizenship in Twentieth Century America" by the social historian Alice Kessler-Harris.
1,735 words (approx. 6.9 pages), 1 source, 2002, $ 56.95
Abstract This paper discusses that women's citizenship is more than political rights and includes how women are treated at work. The paper points out that from the beginning of America, economic success and the right to work has been linked with full participation in the American political process. The paper continues that current law still reflects certain anti-female laboring biases.
From the Paper "The need for organized, well-paid male work was thus presented as validating a necessary social norm, the ability of a man to be the head of his own household, and to control the purse strings of the home. Male dominion of the family was crucial to the social order of the land, thus making well-paid male labor an economic necessity. This did not mean, of course, that women did not work when necessary. However, even when women did work extremely hard, such labor was viewed as subsidiary to male labor and male economic sustenance of the household."
This paper is a research project that evaluates the degree to which there is sexually identity communication on CNN's Town Hall style program, "Talk Back Live".
Abstract This paper first reviews the feminist literature on communication between and among men and women. The author in her research project asks questions about gender communication differentiation in more structured environments such as CNN's program. The author reports reviewing fourteen transcripts between October 21st and November 12th and comparing the three different types of verbal communication: Man-to-Woman, Man-to-Man, and Woman-to-Woman. This paper concludes that the study showed very limited gender biases and that the producers actively counterweighted any bias to maintain the show's image of circumspection and impartiality.
From the Paper "The first thing that the "Talk Back Live" transcripts revealed about gender identities was the nature of the positions played by men and women on the show. Women weren?t in positions that were "inferior" to those of the men, but men were consulted by the host of the show about a number of topics considered the traditional domain of men, and vice versa. This was much more apparent than the nature of the way people were addressed by the anchors, which sounded almost pre-scripted. When the men would explain these topics, the female host would keep quiet, not asking many questions."
This paper discusses the documentary film "Roger & Me" by Michael Moore, which chronicles the rise and fall of the American auto industry through the eyes of one of General Motor's company towns Flint, Michigan.
Abstract This paper explains that, unlike most documentary films, Michael Moore in his film "Roger & Me" uses irony, satire, dry wit and black humor to make his point. He maintains the idea of a documentary by showing real life, which he intersperses with almost ludicrous situations and quotations by those being interviewed. The author points out that Michael Moore, the son of an autoworker, who video-taped the documentary himself, created the "plot" by which Moore attempts to bring General Motor's Chairman of the Board, Roger Smith, to Flint so that he can see firsthand the devastation to people's lives caused by the plant shutdowns. The paper relates that, although the film is biased against General Motors, the film was effective in illustrating Flint's political mentality by showing the futile attempt of the city to throw money at a problem when they haven't a clue as to what to do.
From the Paper "Beyond that, as Michael Moore states at the beginning of the movie, success is escaping Flint. The lack of a timeline also leaves a question in the determination of the movie's effectiveness. The movie covers several years of time and it is difficult to follow the sequence of events or the time period through which they unfolded. It should have been obvious real soon that GM was not going to reopen the plants, nor assist with any type of transfers or workplace assimilation for the workers from the assembly floor. The political structure of the city must have existed in the clouds, because they seemed to not any idea either as to what could be done. Throwing millions of dollars into a tourism market that did not exist was a waste that should have been foreseen. The opinion voiced by the affluent and the celebrities that the people should "so something" shows a complete lack of empathy for the people involved."
Abstract In many facets of life particularly in the justice system people are called upon to assess the likelihood of events and their complements. Probability theory assumes that belief ordering over events and their complements should mirror each other. This paper examines how, in court cases, it often doesn't happen exactly this way, particularly when people are asked to retrieve information about familiar and unfamiliar events. This is known as the familiarity bias, a common component of eyewitness recall. This paper examines familiarity bias and what it means for eyewitness recall.
Abstract The paper addresses the impact of colonialism on Singapore by examining Victorian children's literature and how it reflected and/or rejected the indigenous cultures of the nation. The paper looks at the historical syllabus of the nation through the Victorian period and attempts to demonstrate the cultural biases that were present in the official and unofficially available children's books of the period.
From the Paper "In a post colonial culture it is relatively easy to find the vestiges of the colonial influence upon the cultures of the colonized nations. There are few exceptions, even in the cases were the nation was not colonized but simply associated somehow with a trade rout for an English speaking nation. The challenges of resuscitating the past, and eradicating the potentially negative influences of the often racially driven colonial thought process, are substantial and in many ways this eradication must begin with children. Children often witness the devaluation of their culture, through social discrepancies that repeatedly demonstrate one race's superiority over another but there is no greater affront when the official sources of their education also demonstrate these principles."
This paper compares the articles "Mediating India" by Deborah Bhattacharyya, "The Tourist Gaze 'Revisited'" by John Urry and "Tourist Agency" by MacCannell.
Abstract The paper discusses Bhattacharyya's belief that the "Lonely Planet" guidebook shapes how westerners see India and how they interact with their Indian hosts. The paper explains how she posits that the text reflects western biases and that tourists tend to interact with Indians through the distorting lens of their own cultural paradigms. The paper then looks at John Urry's idea that the "tourist gaze" is sub-consciously shaped by the tourist books and examines MacCannell's partly similar beliefs.
From the Paper "At the core of her paper, Bhattacharyya appears to be insisting that tourists books - like the western travelers they inform - reduce the Orient to something akin to spectacle and that they "leave out" things which might seem mundane or insignificant to western eyes (387). For his part, John Urry does not seem to dispute this. Particularly, he writes that the "tourist gaze" is sub-consciously shaped by the tourist books that provide so much of his or her information; he also writes that western society is notably "ocular-centric" and that it places special emphasis upon what is seen rather than what is heard or smelled or even touched (Urry, 174-178)."
Abstract The paper discusses Tomas Rivera's collection of short stories, "And the Earth Did Not Devour Him", that paints a dark picture of physical hardship, social struggles and spiritual enlightenment. The paper looks at how Rivera demonstrates the separation of classes between Americans and Mexicans, as well as the racial biases and stereotypes that have been placed upon the Mexican people since their migration post-World War II.
From the Paper "The history of Mexican culture has steadily gained popularity in the United States. With the population steadily increasing throughout the years, it is no surprise that its integration has made it to the public school classroom. However, the Mexican people struggle to battle stereotypes and generalizations. While there are many characteristics that typify a native Mexican, or even a Mexican American, their ethnicity and class divisions are significantly apparent in modern America. Tomas Rivera addresses the issues of class, gender and ethnicity in And the Earth Did Not Devour Him. Taking place in post-World War II, the novella tracks the year in the life of a young Mexican boy, traveling with a group of migrant workers in search of work. Topically, the novella is about the young boy's internal struggle to find meaning behind the life events of the year. However, the undertone reveals a great deal about the prejudice and American perspective on the Mexican Migrant worker."
Abstract The paper examines the problem of racial bias, gender bias, juveniles and capital punishment and the link between poverty and the death penalty. The paper contends that overall, the death penalty may be a necessary evil in our society, however, until we can be one hundred percent sure it is meted out fairly, a moratorium on the act may be in order.
Outline:
Introduction
Racial Bias and Capital Punishment
Gender as a Factor in Death Penalty Sentencing
Capital Punishment and Juveniles
Poverty and the Death Penalty
Conclusion
From the Paper "Capital punishment has been administered and accepted in this country for over 200 years, however, some states have now abolished the practice, while others continue with sanctioned executions. In 2000, Governor George Ryan of Illinois suspended executions in that state and "commuted the death sentences of all Illinois death row inmates in 2003" (Wolfers 791). Following Ryan's lead, in 2004, New York's highest court ruled that the state's death penalty statute was unconstitutional. Although prisoners still sit on California's death row, executions in that state are virtually nonexistent, however, executions in Texas continue at an even pace (791). "
