The Other

     The "othering", or discrimination of others is clearly a huge problem in today's society as people are singled out for their race, gender, and religion. We see this "othering" demonstrated in the real world, as well in literature and media. The type of discrimination that I most identify with, however, is gender discrimination. This has helped me to relate with many of the authors whose pieces we have read in 11AP, such as Brent Staples, Deborah Tannen, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Elizabeth Stanton.
     Brent Staples, who wrote "Black Men and Public Spaces," talked more about being "othered" for his race than for his gender. However, as Tannen, the author of "There is No Unmarked Woman," would argue, the fear directed towards Staples wasn't only the result of him being black. If a woman were to come across a black woman at night, it is likely that she would be less afraid than she would be had it been a black man. Here lies an example of gender discrimination- the belief that men are inherently more powerful, and therefore more dangerous than women.
     In The Scarlet Letter lies another example of gender discrimination- the difference in how Dimmesdale and Hester are seen for their crime of adultery. While both Hester and Dimmesdale are literally "marked," in the words of Tannen, Hester's mark is worn on the outside while Dimmesdale's is well concealed. There is also a huge difference in how society views their adultery. While the townspeople spent years shaming and excluding Hester, when Dimmesdale confessed to his sin, the townspeople made excuses for him, and some even denied that his confession even happened. This problem is still so common today, under the name of "slut shaming."
     These examples of gender discrimination against women are outlined in Stanton's "Declaration of Sentiments." She states that "He has endeavored, in every way that he could, to destroy her confidence in her own powers," and that "He has created a false public sentiment by giving the world a different code of morals for men and women, by which moral delinquencies which exclude women from society, are not only tolerated, but deemed of little account in man." This document, having being written in the mid 1800's, illustrates problems that are still abundant today. It appears that we have come so far, and maybe we have, but we still have so much further to go.
     Here's an amazing video illustrating the discrimination against women: A Very Realistic Military Game