Blog #4: Relationship to the Culture of Power

Relationship to the Culture of Power:

In our lecture, we discussed at length the privilege of power here in America. This dominant culture , backed up by the writings of Johnson, is associated with those who are somewhat affulent, white, Christian, male, heterosexuals.

I am all those things.

My family never really had to struggle growing up. Granted we were not rich by any stretch of the imagination, even going through so really tough times, but I never had to worry about a roof over my head, or where my next meal was coming from. I always had the benefit of having health insurance, and growing up was able to visit dentists and other doctors pretty when needed. When I was younger, I always knew about and felt different than poor people. It was well and good to care about such individuals, but I was brought up definetly being aware that they were them, and we were us.

My heritage is almost entirely Irish. As far as pigmentation, few get more literally white than I do. If, knock on wood, I ever needed an IV put in, I am sure the doctor could have me stand in front of a bright light and see the outlines of my veins behind my translucent pale skin. Where I grew up in New Jersey, there were many other ethnic groups. I had friends who were hispanic, african, asian, west asian, jewish. A big mix. For some reason the idea that I wasn't a member of these groups didn't start until I moved to New Englad, and a little bit older. I now very much feel that I am white, and definetly experience some of the guitlt hat comes along with White Culture.

I was raised a Roman Catholic, but never really felt like it set me apart. As I said earlier, I had many Jewish friends as a kid, and the only real thoughts I had on it were ones of jealousy. I can distincly remember crying once when I was six or so because my Jewish friends were already celebrating Chaunukah and I had to wait a few weeks for Christmas. Other than that though, religous culture is only something I feel part of when it is called into question. An example would be the whole Happy Holidays vs. Merry Christmas stuff that has been going on in past years. Even though I consider myself somewhat open minded, the defensive feelings that I can't explain which arise when people say "Don't say Merry Christmas it's wrong" just shows that I am part of that culture.

There is no doubt that America is a man's culture. I am a man, but I can try and be objective and recognize some of the signs which assert this notion. I try and think of what the situation be if genders were reversed. So much of it then seems so alien and "wimpy", that it proves that I am in this male culture. I feel weird when my girlfriend pays for things, it would bother me if men were plastered on billboards as objects.

I was trying to think of a snappy way to start this paragraph about being heterosexual, when the mere thought process proved to me I am in the heterosexual culture. I was literally just about to write "Lastly, and definetely most assuredly, I am heterosexual." The idea that I have to assert that so much so as not to be confused with someone who is gay should show how much homosexuality is taboo and scary to a straight man. It is a definite gut check reaction brought about by culture, because for some reason homosexuality is really not a big deal to me. Would I judge a straight person on what I thought of their boyfriend or girlfriend? No. I have had plenty of friends who I didn't care for their girlfriends or boyfriends, it doesn't make me think any differently of them.

So in conclusion, my name is Kevin, and I am part of the Culture of Power.