Running head: DOMINATE AND SUBORDINATE GROUP

Dominate and Subordinate Group Analysis Refection Essay

Taesha Wilcox
Georgia State University

Running head: DOMINATE AND SUBORDINATE GROUP

There are various obstacles faced by individuals connected to subordinate groups, and
sometimes trying to defeat these obstacles is proven to be far from grasp.The dominant groups
hold the power and authority in society relative to the subordinates and determines how that
power and authority may be acceptably used (Adams, Bluemenfeld, et al., pg. 7). Contrary to
the lack of privilege the subordinates hold, there are also aspects of these individuals lives that
allows them to be dominant. It is easy to feel more connected to one group versus the other in
todays society, but everyone has attributes of both domination and subordination. Throughout
this paper, there is will be a discussion of the groups that appear dominant as well as the groups
that are subordinate. The outcome will be to provide evidence, through reflections of the
emotions felt surrounding the advantages and disadvantages of these groups, and the institutions
that made these assumptions relevant.

Subordinate Groups

Individuals belonging to subordinate groups are usually viewed upon as defective in

many ways (Adams, Bluemenfeld, et al., pg. 7). Therefore, a black women living in the working
poor population would be subordinate to men, upper-class, and white people. Being a part of
these groups can test an individuals limits, alluding to this thought is the fact that being black in
todays society it becomes is easy to feel small in this big world. The assertion of these feelings
stem directly to privileges such as to be white is to have greater access to rewards and valued
resources simply because of ones group membership (Ferber, 2012, p.64). As a child, there is
this notion to work ten times harder only to fall five steps behind to keep up. Sometimes that
holds relevance especially, when an individual can experience walking into a job overly prepared
with all the essentials and more only to feel half as important as your white counterparts. It is
easy to assume that you may stand out because of all of your hard work and dedication, but there
is still that doubt that lingers in the unconscious mind if you will ever be good enough.

The disadvantages that women face today are troublesome. It is a belief that a woman
should not have an opinion, and to remain silent or play a role. Personal experiences such as
being ignored on the job or being passed up on a promotion because you are a woman can make
it hard to look for the positive. Black women are more prone to faces obstacles based upon their
ethnicity and gender; such as maintaining a position at a lower level where their acquired skills
are overlooked (Hughes & Dodges, 1997; US Census Bureau, 2006). The reality of this can have
negative effects on an individual because the facts have proven that because you are a woman the
skill you acquire, sometimes will not matter. Being in a class of working poor has proven to be
very difficult, especially when there is a desire to get ahead. In 2010, 4.4 million people worked
full-time jobs but was classified as working poor (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010). Imagine
working five days a week, eight hours a day, and 40 hours a week only to get paid minimum
wage and is still considered poor after all the hard work. That is the reality for individuals
connected to this group, and that is why it is easy to be considered subordinate.

Dominate Group

Running head: DOMINATE AND SUBORDINATE GROUP

In my beliefs to be considered dominant one must exert power and control over another
group. Therefore in todays society a heterosexual, able- bodied and a gender-conforming bio
woman would be dominant compared to lesbians, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ people.
This group is seen as the norm for humanity (Adams, Bluemenfeld, et al., pg. 8). There is a lot
of joy gained by being able to talk comfortably about my heterosexual lifestyle without being
judged. It is easy to fit the box of a gender-conforming female because there has never been
lingering doubt about being anything besides a woman. Being considered an able- bodied person
will allow a greater chance at maintaining a better lifestyle without the use public assistance.
Through institutions such as church, social media, communities, and family these groups are
normal.

Being a part of dominant groups gives people a chance to cast a blind eye to the
subordinate groups constant social injustice. The truth is dominants do not know what the
experience of the subordinates is (Adams, Bluemenfeld, et al., pg. 8), in a sense that is the
benefit of belonging to this group. Individuals get to choose openly who to love, and we get to
show our affection and gratitude of one another without caution of being looked upon as
unrighteous. Being able-bodied socially guarantees power over people with disabilities, although
that individual could be ten times as qualified as me with the lack of disability. I wear long hair
and dress like a woman and look the part if you would say, so I have the privilege of being in
public and no one questioning my gender. Dominant groups set the parameters in which the
subordinates operate (Adams, Bluemenfeld, et al., pg. 7), therefore it is easy for individuals in
associated with these groups to dictate what is acceptable in society.

There are many stigmas attached to both the subordinate and dominant group. Being in a
dominant group does not necessary mean that the person is superior across the board, and the
same goes for being a part of the subordinate group. Distinctively having to portray myself as
dominant or subordinate has opened my eyes to just how blind I am when it comes to
understanding how my dominance in this culture is viewed by the subordinate groups. I take for
granted the things that make me powerful, because I focus on the thing that makes me
subordinate. The take back from the project is to become more aware of myself as a person and
understand how meaningful I am in this world. I want to understand that just because I may
belong to these subordinate groups today does not mean that it will always be that way. Also,
just because I may exert some characteristics of dominance does not guarantee that it will always
be that way. I want to become more mindful of the institutions that make individuals believe
these stigmas and try not to fall too easily in line with them.

Running head: DOMINATE AND SUBORDINATE GROUP

References
Adams, Bluemenfeld, et al. Readings for Diversity and Social Justice (3rd Ed) New York,
NY:Routledge. ISBN13: 978-0-415-89294-0.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, (2010).Characteristics of Minimum Wage Workers. Retrieved
November 15, 2014, from http://www.bls.gov/cps/minwage2010.htm
Ferber, A. L. (2012). The Culture of Privilege: Color-blindness, Postfeminism, an
Christonormativity. Journal Of Social Issues,68(1), 63-77. doi:10.1111/j.15404560.2011.01736.x
Hall, J., Everett, J., & Hamilton-Mason, J. (n.d). Black Women Talk About Workplace Stress
and How They Cope. Journal Of Black Studies, 43(2), 207-226.
doi:10.1177/0021934711413272