The social problem is racial profiling. The reason why this is the problem is because these stores are no longer segregated like back in the days. Like it once was all white one store and all blacks another store. They all have the right to go to any store and buy whatever they want to buy. This can be a conflict theory because sometimes people do not want to be racial profiling and it just does happen. Unfortunately it cannot be changed but it always comes down to racial profiling. Even if they tried to change it will still occur because they are just use to it. I commented in this specific topic because I once had been stopped in a store for “shoplifting”. A white female working at a Claire’s at the Glendale galleria mall stopped me before leaving the store and asked me if I could stand by and take out everything from my purse. I said why, she said she had seen me shopped lift, I took out everything and she was trying to say that my old lip-gloss I had there was the one I had stolen, I told her why would the lip-gloss say another brand? She stayed quiet and she apologized. I felt like crap that whole day I called in the store and I spoke to her manager and the manger fired her. It’s a horrible feeling, like I told her why I would try to steal I have money, there is no need for stealing. I say speak to a manager and tell them what occurred and how you felt. If that does not work I will say sue.
Racial profiling is a social problem because it doesn’t only affect blacks but also other minorities as well. I think some people look at people of colored, as people who are struck by poverty and can’t afford luxuries things and expensive clothes due to the fact that most of us cant, most colored people are victims of poverty I’ve seen it, also some people aren’t use to seeing black people so based on the stigma towards blacks they act discriminatory towards us. However that doesn’t give the right for anyone to assume that just by seeing a young black lady buying an expensive bag; they should call the cops because they believe she’s somehow stealing it. That’s just the usual stereotypical, discriminating and ignorant thinking that some people fall victim to. Conflict theories would see this as a struggle between the minorities and the negative stigma that most of society have’s towards them. They would also consider this to be a problem on a macro scale do to the fact that racial profiling happens all over the place in the U.S and not just to black people. When it was done I thought it was nothing new this always happens to us people of color, you just have to accept the fact that some people are ignorant. I choose this because I can relate, sometimes society is cruel and unjust but I find that the more I learn the more I see as to why society is the way it is and that helps me cope with it a little better. A solution would be people not listening to other people so much, not being so judgmental and most importantly get to know some of those people they don’t know at all. It’s a very much needed solution that people need to try because like they say don’t judge a book by its cover.
After watching this short clip, it's really embarrassing to see that the associates in Barney's would judge and discriminate African American shoppers, just because they wanted to treat themselves with lavish merchandise, that they earned. The discrimination that the two shoppers had to go through, proves how racists America can be, just because citizens of color decided to go shopping in a high end store. This problem is viewed on the macro view point because racial profiling doesn't only consist in New York. This unfortunate behavior is occurring all over the United States between different races and different ethnicities. A conflict theorist would say that this social problem has been on going because of racial and cultural differences among people, which caused Barney's associates to discriminate against the two shoppers. The cultural differences caused associates to become suspicious of the shoppers, which led to them contacting the police. The reflections I have toward this topic is that overall, everyone is going to be judged and discriminated upon. I've been discriminated many times, along with being called the stereotypical label "armo". Unfortunate situations like racial discrimination happens to a majority of people in the United States. The best solution that I can propose is to simply ignore, and not continue the chain by discriminating other people. I can't stop what millions of other people do or say, but I can stop myself from discriminating the millions of others. Natalia R
The social problem here would be discrimination based on race and what that can lead to. This is a very big problem because it continues to happen everyday despite the many advances that are being made to help combat discrimination. Though there have been solutions proposed, racial profiling still exists in abundance. To understand this problem more, you just need to communicate with any sort of minority to understand just how widespread this is. Although it isn't as often as this Barney's discrimination, most minorities have experienced something to this extent. An interactionist would look at each individual case at the unique sets of factors in the problems themselves. They would also analyze the past history of the particular policemen in the area and of the store managers. A conflict theorist would say that discrimination exists on all levels and humans will most likely never get rid of it. It is the job of those witnessing such unequal practices to call people out. Any proposal of a solution seems to be just a drop in the ocean. This problem is so widespread and so ingrained that it would be impossible to completely get rid of it. However, if it was possible, I would say that those who were responsible for accusing someone of stealing a bag to be thoroughly investigated themselves. If there excuses for stopping someone not white aren't valid and they some to be grasping at straws, they need to be fired, because they will surely do it again.
Racial profiling is a social problem on a micro- level because this proves how society has stigmatized certain minorities into "deviants". The racial profiling incident that happened in Barney's is just a small glimpse of the many forms of discrimination that individuals continue to have on each other. Interactionist perspective would apply to racial profiling because as long as individuals continue to stigmatize a certain ethnic minority, society will continue to make negative implications based on the color of someone's skin. I commented on this topic because some of my close friends, family members, and myself have experienced racial profiling and discrimination at some point in our lives. To know that racial profiling and discrimination still persists in this century is infuriating. A solution to this problem would involve parents of every race to teach their children from an early age not to put stereotypes based on the way someone looks. If parents start teaching their kids about tolerance, society will start to benefit and see positive change, therefore we can completely eliminate racial profiling and discrimination. - Laura M.
After reading Malaki's response I agree with him when he says that people look at others of different races and say that people just assume that they can't afford luxury items or they live in poverty. I do think racial profiling is a social problem because one thing is that most people don’t even realize that they are being racist towards others, and some people of a different race don’t get treated the way that they would like to in today's society. Also what Malaki said, it is not only the blacks it's all minorities as well. People deserve equal opportunity no matter what race/ethnicity they are. Racism can lead to self-conscience situations with one self. It makes them feel like they are a worthless person and that maybe they don’t deserve an equal opportunity as the rest of them just because they are of a different race. I think a functional theorist would say that people of the same race will stay together. They don’t go out of their race/ethnicity groups because that is where they feel the most comfortable. I think if an upper class person saw a black person on the side of the road they automatically think that the black person lives in the projects and it an addict. What if that person wasn’t though? What if the black guy went to college, has a high paying job and has a family he goes home to every night in the suburbs. That’s just how society functions. We stereotype because we think that it's ok to think what people are and not know who they really are. I also think that most people see and Asian walking down the street or whatever we immediately think: He went to Harvard, he works a high paying job, he drives a nice car, and he got straight A's in school. What if that wasn’t the case though. What if the guy/girl drop out of college because they were failing or they started doing drugs or even lost their job. There are a lot of what ifs and they probably which leads to stereotyping. Again that is just how society functions. We assume these things that we don’t really know. I do think that Malaki's solution is very feasible. We can work on being not so judgmental and get to know somebody until we assume anything about them. People love meeting new people. I think another solution would be to spread the word out about racism like what my high school did by making sweatshirts that said "racism is wrong".
Despite segregation laws having ended years ago as Mariajose pointed out, racial profiling is still institutionally practiced today. Although we all possesses equal rights under the law to patronize retail stores and virtually all public places, I agree with MariaJose that racial profiling is simply inevitable in today’s society. How we choose to act on or resolve the act of racial profiling is what makes the difference.
Mariajose’s personal experience on having been a victim of racial profiling was significant because it brings attention to the fact that racial profiling is not just a social problem at a distance, it’s one that is happening in our own community.
I chose to comment on this topic because racial profiling is so prevalent today. Ironically, it is especially strong in places that are considered to be hotbeds of diversity like the L.A area where many cities are notable for having a single race majority. I feel that racial profiling is less of a problem than choosing in how to act upon it is.
In the case of Barney’s, they, as an institution, have chosen to act on their racial profiling in a way that is not only aggressive but also damaging to society and offending to minority groups. Though solutions may have been proposed, they have not addressed the problem properly as it still persists.
A functionalist would say that racial profiling; in this case, institutional racial profiling has a place in society. Racial profiling might be considered functional if we look at the possibility of there being “benefits” to successful racial profiling. For example, racially profiling resulting in the prevention of crime. Though this practice is unacceptable on many standards despite any benefits it may produce, a functionalist might see this as manifest function of racial profiling.
It would be an ideal situation to be able to change people’s attitudes about other races so as to prevent racial profiling but that would be unrealistic. What would be feasible would be to implement strict laws that would reprimand any kind of institutional racial profiling like the kind that took place at Barney’s.
According to Emma, the social problem being presented in the CNN video clip is that of discrimination and racial profiling. I whole-heartedly agree with her response on the basis of the fact that discrimination is a huge problem that has plagued our society since forever. The part of her response that stood out the most to me was her response, stating that way of trying to solve this problem is basically useless because discrimination is a very hard and almost impossible social problem to get rid of. My thoughts on the social problem itself is that discrimination will always be occurring within our society, despite the many advances we make towards finding a solution to fix it. People will always discriminate, no matter what race.
A functionalist on this topic of discrimination would simply state that this particular incident of discrimination at Barneys New York is okay to occur within society, as discrimination is a problem that will continually persist within society. However, if this problem continues to persist within society, or the company, then it would be served as a dysfunction to society as the balance of the system will be thrown off.
My thoughts on Emma’s proposed solution are that it is a very good solution that is very feasible. The employees that showcased this blatant discrimination should be punished for their actions. To get rid of discrimination we must show that the people that commit these acts cannot simply get away with it unpunished. Another solution to the discrimination is for the retail companies itself to teach it’s employees not to discriminate or they will be held accountable for their actions. Employees that know they will be punished for their discriminatory behavior would definitely prevent some of these acts from happening.
I agree with MJ that racial profiling is a persistent social problem even in 21st century America. The discrimination and oppression minority groups have endured through the years have ultimately led them to be put into a position commit these crimes and be labeled as a deviant causing all minority groups to be discriminated against. I choose this post because Mj had been a victim of racial profiling herself and I find it interesting to hear her own testimonial as a primary source.
A functionalist would see racial profiling as necessary for the cohesion of society. Profiling creates a higher probability of sighting possible deviancy and sustaining social order.
She did not provide a proposed solution but she is right in the idea that this is something that does not have an easy or objective solution by any means. Possibly one such solution could be enforcing punishment by law to those who blatantly racially profile causing a new socialization to occur seeing racial profiling as deviant.
9 comments:
The social problem is racial profiling. The reason why this is the problem is because these stores are no longer segregated like back in the days. Like it once was all white one store and all blacks another store. They all have the right to go to any store and buy whatever they want to buy. This can be a conflict theory because sometimes people do not want to be racial profiling and it just does happen. Unfortunately it cannot be changed but it always comes down to racial profiling. Even if they tried to change it will still occur because they are just use to it. I commented in this specific topic because I once had been stopped in a store for “shoplifting”. A white female working at a Claire’s at the Glendale galleria mall stopped me before leaving the store and asked me if I could stand by and take out everything from my purse. I said why, she said she had seen me shopped lift, I took out everything and she was trying to say that my old lip-gloss I had there was the one I had stolen, I told her why would the lip-gloss say another brand? She stayed quiet and she apologized. I felt like crap that whole day I called in the store and I spoke to her manager and the manger fired her. It’s a horrible feeling, like I told her why I would try to steal I have money, there is no need for stealing. I say speak to a manager and tell them what occurred and how you felt. If that does not work I will say sue.
Racial profiling is a social problem because it doesn’t only affect blacks but also other minorities as well. I think some people look at people of colored, as people who are struck by poverty and can’t afford luxuries things and expensive clothes due to the fact that most of us cant, most colored people are victims of poverty I’ve seen it, also some people aren’t use to seeing black people so based on the stigma towards blacks they act discriminatory towards us. However that doesn’t give the right for anyone to assume that just by seeing a young black lady buying an expensive bag; they should call the cops because they believe she’s somehow stealing it. That’s just the usual stereotypical, discriminating and ignorant thinking that some people fall victim to. Conflict theories would see this as a struggle between the minorities and the negative stigma that most of society have’s towards them. They would also consider this to be a problem on a macro scale do to the fact that racial profiling happens all over the place in the U.S and not just to black people. When it was done I thought it was nothing new this always happens to us people of color, you just have to accept the fact that some people are ignorant. I choose this because I can relate, sometimes society is cruel and unjust but I find that the more I learn the more I see as to why society is the way it is and that helps me cope with it a little better. A solution would be people not listening to other people so much, not being so judgmental and most importantly get to know some of those people they don’t know at all. It’s a very much needed solution that people need to try because like they say don’t judge a book by its cover.
After watching this short clip, it's really embarrassing to see that the associates in Barney's would judge and discriminate African American shoppers, just because they wanted to treat themselves with lavish merchandise, that they earned. The discrimination that the two shoppers had to go through, proves how racists America can be, just because citizens of color decided to go shopping in a high end store. This problem is viewed on the macro view point because racial profiling doesn't only consist in New York. This unfortunate behavior is occurring all over the United States between different races and different ethnicities.
A conflict theorist would say that this social problem has been on going because of racial and cultural differences among people, which caused Barney's associates to discriminate against the two shoppers. The cultural differences caused associates to become suspicious of the shoppers, which led to them contacting the police.
The reflections I have toward this topic is that overall, everyone is going to be judged and discriminated upon. I've been discriminated many times, along with being called the stereotypical label "armo". Unfortunate situations like racial discrimination happens to a majority of people in the United States. The best solution that I can propose is to simply ignore, and not continue the chain by discriminating other people. I can't stop what millions of other people do or say, but I can stop myself from discriminating the millions of others.
Natalia R
The social problem here would be discrimination based on race and what that can lead to. This is a very big problem because it continues to happen everyday despite the many advances that are being made to help combat discrimination. Though there have been solutions proposed, racial profiling still exists in abundance. To understand this problem more, you just need to communicate with any sort of minority to understand just how widespread this is. Although it isn't as often as this Barney's discrimination, most minorities have experienced something to this extent.
An interactionist would look at each individual case at the unique sets of factors in the problems themselves. They would also analyze the past history of the particular policemen in the area and of the store managers. A conflict theorist would say that discrimination exists on all levels and humans will most likely never get rid of it. It is the job of those witnessing such unequal practices to call people out.
Any proposal of a solution seems to be just a drop in the ocean. This problem is so widespread and so ingrained that it would be impossible to completely get rid of it. However, if it was possible, I would say that those who were responsible for accusing someone of stealing a bag to be thoroughly investigated themselves. If there excuses for stopping someone not white aren't valid and they some to be grasping at straws, they need to be fired, because they will surely do it again.
Racial profiling is a social problem on a micro- level because this proves how society has stigmatized certain minorities into "deviants". The racial profiling incident that happened in Barney's is just a small glimpse of the many forms of discrimination that individuals continue to have on each other. Interactionist perspective would apply to racial profiling because as long as individuals continue to stigmatize a certain ethnic minority, society will continue to make negative implications based on the color of someone's skin. I commented on this topic because some of my close friends, family members, and myself have experienced racial profiling and discrimination at some point in our lives. To know that racial profiling and discrimination still persists in this century is infuriating. A solution to this problem would involve parents of every race to teach their children from an early age not to put stereotypes based on the way someone looks. If parents start teaching their kids about tolerance, society will start to benefit and see positive change, therefore we can completely eliminate racial profiling and discrimination.
- Laura M.
After reading Malaki's response I agree with him when he says that people look at others of different races and say that people just assume that they can't afford luxury items or they live in poverty. I do think racial profiling is a social problem because one thing is that most people don’t even realize that they are being racist towards others, and some people of a different race don’t get treated the way that they would like to in today's society. Also what Malaki said, it is not only the blacks it's all minorities as well. People deserve equal opportunity no matter what race/ethnicity they are. Racism can lead to self-conscience situations with one self. It makes them feel like they are a worthless person and that maybe they don’t deserve an equal opportunity as the rest of them just because they are of a different race. I think a functional theorist would say that people of the same race will stay together. They don’t go out of their race/ethnicity groups because that is where they feel the most comfortable. I think if an upper class person saw a black person on the side of the road they automatically think that the black person lives in the projects and it an addict. What if that person wasn’t though? What if the black guy went to college, has a high paying job and has a family he goes home to every night in the suburbs. That’s just how society functions. We stereotype because we think that it's ok to think what people are and not know who they really are. I also think that most people see and Asian walking down the street or whatever we immediately think: He went to Harvard, he works a high paying job, he drives a nice car, and he got straight A's in school. What if that wasn’t the case though. What if the guy/girl drop out of college because they were failing or they started doing drugs or even lost their job. There are a lot of what ifs and they probably which leads to stereotyping. Again that is just how society functions. We assume these things that we don’t really know. I do think that Malaki's solution is very feasible. We can work on being not so judgmental and get to know somebody until we assume anything about them. People love meeting new people. I think another solution would be to spread the word out about racism like what my high school did by making sweatshirts that said "racism is wrong".
In response to Mariajose:
Despite segregation laws having ended years ago as Mariajose pointed out, racial profiling is still institutionally practiced today. Although we all possesses equal rights under the law to patronize retail stores and virtually all public places, I agree with MariaJose that racial profiling is simply inevitable in today’s society. How we choose to act on or resolve the act of racial profiling is what makes the difference.
Mariajose’s personal experience on having been a victim of racial profiling was significant because it brings attention to the fact that racial profiling is not just a social problem at a distance, it’s one that is happening in our own community.
I chose to comment on this topic because racial profiling is so prevalent today. Ironically, it is especially strong in places that are considered to be hotbeds of diversity like the L.A area where many cities are notable for having a single race majority. I feel that racial profiling is less of a problem than choosing in how to act upon it is.
In the case of Barney’s, they, as an institution, have chosen to act on their racial profiling in a way that is not only aggressive but also damaging to society and offending to minority groups. Though solutions may have been proposed, they have not addressed the problem properly as it still persists.
A functionalist would say that racial profiling; in this case, institutional racial profiling has a place in society. Racial profiling might be considered functional if we look at the possibility of there being “benefits” to successful racial profiling. For example, racially profiling resulting in the prevention of crime. Though this practice is unacceptable on many standards despite any benefits it may produce, a functionalist might see this as manifest function of racial profiling.
It would be an ideal situation to be able to change people’s attitudes about other races so as to prevent racial profiling but that would be unrealistic. What would be feasible would be to implement strict laws that would reprimand any kind of institutional racial profiling like the kind that took place at Barney’s.
According to Emma, the social problem being presented in the CNN video clip is that of discrimination and racial profiling. I whole-heartedly agree with her response on the basis of the fact that discrimination is a huge problem that has plagued our society since forever. The part of her response that stood out the most to me was her response, stating that way of trying to solve this problem is basically useless because discrimination is a very hard and almost impossible social problem to get rid of. My thoughts on the social problem itself is that discrimination will always be occurring within our society, despite the many advances we make towards finding a solution to fix it. People will always discriminate, no matter what race.
A functionalist on this topic of discrimination would simply state that this particular incident of discrimination at Barneys New York is okay to occur within society, as discrimination is a problem that will continually persist within society. However, if this problem continues to persist within society, or the company, then it would be served as a dysfunction to society as the balance of the system will be thrown off.
My thoughts on Emma’s proposed solution are that it is a very good solution that is very feasible. The employees that showcased this blatant discrimination should be punished for their actions. To get rid of discrimination we must show that the people that commit these acts cannot simply get away with it unpunished. Another solution to the discrimination is for the retail companies itself to teach it’s employees not to discriminate or they will be held accountable for their actions. Employees that know they will be punished for their discriminatory behavior would definitely prevent some of these acts from happening.
I agree with MJ that racial profiling is a persistent social problem even in 21st century America. The discrimination and oppression minority groups have endured through the years have ultimately led them to be put into a position commit these crimes and be labeled as a deviant causing all minority groups to be discriminated against. I choose this post because Mj had been a victim of racial profiling herself and I find it interesting to hear her own testimonial as a primary source.
A functionalist would see racial profiling as necessary for the cohesion of society. Profiling creates a higher probability of sighting possible deviancy and sustaining social order.
She did not provide a proposed solution but she is right in the idea that this is something that does not have an easy or objective solution by any means. Possibly one such solution could be enforcing punishment by law to those who blatantly racially profile causing a new socialization to occur seeing racial profiling as deviant.
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