The document discusses the author's experiences as a member of subordinate groups in different contexts. As a Muslim woman from Somalia, she has faced subordination based on her gender, religion, and ethnicity. In Somalia, women have little power or influence and face discrimination. As a religious minority in the US, Muslims experience scrutiny and stereotyping after 9/11. The author also feels subordinate within Islamic traditions, where women have less legal and social status than men. However, living in the US provides opportunities that empower her and allow her to advocate for women's rights. She hopes to see changes that reduce subordination of groups based on gender, religion, and other attributes.
The document discusses the author's experiences as a member of subordinate groups in different contexts. As a Muslim woman from Somalia, she has faced subordination based on her gender, religion, and ethnicity. In Somalia, women have little power or influence and face discrimination. As a religious minority in the US, Muslims experience scrutiny and stereotyping after 9/11. The author also feels subordinate within Islamic traditions, where women have less legal and social status than men. However, living in the US provides opportunities that empower her and allow her to advocate for women's rights. She hopes to see changes that reduce subordination of groups based on gender, religion, and other attributes.
The document discusses the author's experiences as a member of subordinate groups in different contexts. As a Muslim woman from Somalia, she has faced subordination based on her gender, religion, and ethnicity. In Somalia, women have little power or influence and face discrimination. As a religious minority in the US, Muslims experience scrutiny and stereotyping after 9/11. The author also feels subordinate within Islamic traditions, where women have less legal and social status than men. However, living in the US provides opportunities that empower her and allow her to advocate for women's rights. She hopes to see changes that reduce subordination of groups based on gender, religion, and other attributes.
Dominate and Subordinate Group Analysis Reflection Female As a female, I am a member of a subordinate group where its members have less power, control and influence than members of the dominant male group. Religious minorities in the United States include those who practice Islam, and I am in a subordinate position as a Muslim American than the dominant faith group such as Christian Americans. As a Muslim woman, I am also a subordinate position within the Islamic religion, compared to male counterparts that are in a dominant position in Islam. In society, women are oppressed as a group, while men hold power and privilege. When I was younger, I felt disadvantaged as a result of my gender. Growing up in Somalia the role of women in national affairs was non-existent; there are no women in positions of power such as government ministries or local communities. At school, I remember boys making jokes insulting womens intelligence and their abilities to compete in the classroom. Likewise, I observed girls confirming to those stereotypes, and when a girl doesnt conform to the standard norms, she is often called Dhilo basically translated into English as the loose girl. Its common to hear discouraging remarks from male teachers in the classroom and less expectation of educational achievements. It is those views that I tend to feel subordinated, powerless and marginalized as a woman compared to the male counterpart. Gentile Mutilation is cultural beliefs are a strong factor in why this harmful practice takes place in Somalia. These include the idea that it preserves chastity, cleanliness, family honour and preserves a girl for marriage. Living in the United States places me in a dominant position and affects my lifestyle today; it provides me with educational, economic opportunities and political participation such as voting rights. There are also costs related to this dominant position, In the U.S society the dominant groups consist the middle class and whites and white heterosexual male. Therefore, I am marginalized and experience economic exploitation. The empowerment of women from the respect of womens rights, including political participation is an area that I would like to see changed in this subordinate-dominant relationship. Religious Minority as a Muslim As a member of a religious minority in the United States, I am in a subordinate position. Americans had limited experience with Islam; after September 11th extreme levels of scrutiny was placed on Muslims and many considered to be extremists by the U.S. government. Many Americans believe that Islam religion promotes violence, when in fact, violence against others is forbidden. I have experienced loss of neighbors confidence once when a neighbor of 12 years has told my husband that Islam is an evil and
Dominate and Subordinate
wicked religion. When the neighborhood mosque began new Dekalb County commissioner put a temporary hold on the effort after residents raised
concerns about their neighborhoods safety. However, there are many
Churches in the area which the neighborhood does not see as a threat to security. I felt that my religious freedom is violated and the commissions refusal to acknowledge and support the right to build a place of worship. The medias negative portrayal of Islam is a part of this subordinate- a dominant relationship that I would like to see changed; the popular Islamic stereotypes such as holy war against the West must stop. Intuitions are used to exert such a privilege and power; for example, school breaks are scheduled around Christian holidays while no time off is given for Muslim holidays. Muslims do not eat pork nonetheless, its offered at school lunch without considering many Muslim Americans children who go without a meal that day, such as my three children. Womens Subordinate Position within Islamic Faith As a Muslim woman, I am also in a subordinate position within Islamic faith, compare to male counterparts that are in a dominant position in Islam. There are rules and laws within the Islam that keep Muslim women in a subordinate position, for example, a woman is prohibited to be head of the family, head of a state or a judge and her testimony is worth half of mans testimony in court. The laws of inheritance in Islam has affected me personally, after the death of my father, we were seven brothers and seven sisters including me; nevertheless, my brothers inherited three-quarters in four of the inheritance while as girls inherited only one quarter in four. There are many struggles to be in this group. Intuitions are used to exert such a privilege and power, for example, under Islamic law and cultural norms, a woman shouldnt work outside of the home, basically, and a woman has less power and privilege than her fifteen years old son and potentially makes decisions for her. I struggle with the fact that woman has been subjected to systematic subordination not in Somalia but the United States as well. Women were legally the property of men into the 20th century while women in Somalia are suffering still. Personally, it brings me joys to be able to make decisions for myself and the opportunity to advocate womens rights. The empowerment of women from the respect of womens rights, including political participation is an area that I would like to see changed in this subordinate-dominant relationship. For example, I look forward to the day we elect a woman as president of United States in this election. Reflection
Dominate and Subordinate
Todays global society, numerous dominant and subordinate groups can be compared, the relationship between men and women, rich and poor or gays and straights. I came to understand that dominant groups have the same characteristics regardless of their geographical location. All dominant groups have facets that give them a power and a privilege over another group who dont possess the same power or privilege. I grew up in a patriarchy society where all institutions in the society are used to perpetuate the subordination of women, such as schools, laws and cultural norms and control mechanisms are part of the culture. I became aware of the preferential treatment and privileged my brothers received in education, and family decision-making process. However, its considered offensive to reveal negative emotions in the presence of others, so the ability to hide your feelings became a major asset. This assignment raises view issues for me such as gender ideology and its practice in different cultural settings like womens appropriate roles and attitudes, rights, and responsibilities. 1. Adams, Bluemenfeld, et al. Readings for Diversity and Social Justice (3rd Ed) New York, NY: Routledge. 2. CIA: The World Factbook: Somalia. (2001). CIA World Fact Book, 1405. 3.
Lum, D. (2011). Culturally Competent Practice. In D. Lum, Culturally Competent Practice. Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning