When listening to this, what comes to mind is Darwinism or survival of the fittest. This concept has been ingrained in humanity since the beginning and shows within schools or work environments. Humans desire to be the best and although we are not met with similar threats compared to ancestors, we still desire to be the fittest. When not met with being the best, we are considered invaluable. This even occurs when fighting for justice. One desires to be better to not feel inadequate. That in itself is problematic with human relationships.
Written into the very core of human behavior is our propensity to group ourselves with others with whom we have similarities. It has been evident for a long time that these groupings create systems of oppression and inequality. Romantic-era poets, Shelley and Byron, exemplified the long-standing desire for criticism by challenging the societal norms of their time. Recent research and discussions in sociology have uncovered evidence of ingrained biases caused by past prejudiced narratives, and these modern philosophies urge the importance of self-scrutiny to overcome these hindrances. It is paramount that we dismantle these prejudices at their deep root.
Growing up with a sister who is physically disabled quickly taught me how people compensate for a lack of excellence in one area by excelling in another. When frustrated by her failure to perform activities requiring an able body like mine, she would remind me of other areas in which she surpasses me. Growing up, her bullies would similarly compensate for a lack in their lives by constantly reminding her of her shortcomings, all while performatively advocating for justice for my sister to teachers in order to avoid punishment, mirroring the actions of many toward bigger social justice issues today.
Equality and inequality in every form festers an observant reaction from humanity whether it is through race, gender, disability, employment, sports, or academics. Equality is present in any avenue of life which generates effects in people that lead to compensation for certain attributes. Understanding your internal value through self-reflection and internal drive is what can allow for a celebration of an attribute that in some eyes has a negative connotation. Growing up with anxiety I have journeyed through avoidance to acceptance and celebration that lead to understanding where the strengths lie as you mentioned different value is accorded. In early ancient cultures various disabilities were used for what strengths could be offered manufacturing equality amongst society.
Oh ye children! Look up and grasp the glorious sun rays! May thy eyes reap what was sowed, a feast befitting those atop their ancestors - a bulging, seething mass that turmoils below, chained hand in hand, maintaining thy crested crown. Do not gaze down! Lest you fear the fall, and so also question the hideous vermin who stand atop punier mounds, rising ever upwards out of a putrid shared lineage. Cling to thy myth; the world revolves around the mighty, and the worthless be damned, a mere stepping stone to lift up the praised bourgeoisie into the sun’s privileging gleam.
I think Roland Barthes's argument in his book Mythologies aligns with your point regarding individuals' desire to differentiate themselves by embodying symbols and traits. Unfortunately, as you mentioned, individuals seek prestige no matter how frivolous the characteristic is. It is hard for me to imagine a world where people no longer strive for material objects as a way to inflate their self-importance. I agree with Barthes that classes aren’t inevitable and are perpetuated by society. I believe the most effective approach to combat this misconception is to universally reject the idea that somebody should pursue specific traits, statuses, and symbols to distinguish themselves and gauge their worth, which requires people to resist selfish ambitions, a feat I’m not sure is possible.
I believe that heightened danger deserves heightened reward. As a student, I am choosing to incur the cost of college to receive proven higher payouts. My endeavor will be fruitful because I will be more valuable to firms after graduation. This is an aspect of equality because everyone who does the same will receive similar payouts. Visual differences such as skin tone distort perception but don’t change reality. Like most, I am visual and falsely assume someone’s success hinges on appearance instead of effort. We are all individuals capable of stepping out into danger, to achieve higher rewards.
Growing up everything felt like a competition, whether that may be who can run the fastest, climb the highest, hang on the monkey bars the longest, everything was a competition. You say, “we don’t want equality,” and to this point I agree, as we get older the competition is not as naïve and innocent as who is fastest but is more determined by the color of your skin, appearance, education, or success. There is an internal drive to be better no matter how much you say you want equality, there is always a part wanting to be more than your neighbor.
Today, the pursuit of success has replaced primal instincts where choosing the best hunter for survival and seeking ideal mates for family creation once prevailed. Today, our focus has shifted to achieving success and climbing the social, wealth, or education hierarchy for recognition and validation. However, the innate human desire to be the best for survival persists. Byron's example of strategically positioning himself by the fireplace to draw attention away from his disability mirrors the need to be seen a certain way. Roland Barthes' observation about the bourgeoisie and petite bourgeoisie controlling their status seems to still align with the concept of natural selection.
The urge to compensate for a perceived difference due to embarrassment or jealousy resonated with me. Symbols of privelige breed envy, showing one with an embodied difference what they perhaps wish they had. The intense need to outperform others is undeniable in human nature, and an unchangeable difference such as a disability can be detrimental. This jealousy inevitably brings negativity, although the connection with a superior source of perfection could help eradicate this problem. This source could allow each to not be in competition with each other but focus inwardly on being the best possible despite their situation.
Toys we received as kids provided us with simple apprehensions that, as Roland Barthes points out, steered us into a framework that fixed the direction of our intellect. By evaluating my attitudes I can hope to move around this framework. Analyzing עֵזֶר in Gen 2:18, I have to ask if I am more prone to accept the translation “helper” or “savior” for the inferior/superior placement of Eve because it reflects reality and true equality, or the framework I grew to trust. Is this evaluation possible, or am I destined to evaluate “equality” from the beginning framework?
Similar to Percy Bysshe Shelley and Lord Byron being inspired by their disenfranchisement, I decided to pursue a career in education to help undermined communities as a result of experiencing unequal access to educational opportunities. I witnessed students in my high school compete through academics to outshine peers and friends for college which has influenced my belief that humans innately seek more power than others (i.e., inequality). Most systems work as hierarchies such as companies, governments, and religion, and I agree with Thomas Carlyle that “admiration for one higher than himself” is not problematic but promotes diligent people.
We as humans do not actively want equality. We are instead looking to avoid the effects of inequality. To discuss equality, we must address “othering”. Society focuses on aspects of human existence that we want to avoid thus creating an “other”. When we see “others” in literature we see something we want to avoid. This is exactly what Flannery O’Connor argues in her essay “Teaching of Literature”. We only want to see a mirror of ourselves, not the very people we are marginalizing to avoid introspection. This creates emotional turmoil inside us when we encounter these stories.
It's easy to complain about injustice while staying complacent in life- easy to complain about injustice when only making observations and no real-life changes. The image of feeding children cultural and structural norms through the media and toys they encounter from an early age without being given an outlet to question them struck me deeply, as it feels there is incredibly high access to all sorts of different media that is largely unsupervised and unfiltered by parents and caregivers. As new generations are growing, its incredibly important that we feed them with curiosity, empathy, and desire to learn.
My words sometimes fail me. I wish people could read my mind when the words I speak do not come out right. Of course, I would not want my inner thoughts to be on display all the time, but it would be nice for people to know exactly what I mean. This has been happening a lot lately where my words do not convey what I actually mean. I do not know why, maybe it is because of my lack of vocabulary or maybe it is God teaching me how to be silent. Whatever the reason may be, it is still irritating not being able to communicate my thoughts in an effective way. In the video, you mentioned that people often focus on what you [general] say more than why you [general] said it. That is accurate. One reason this may be true is because people's minds are focused on one item at a time. That item could be a phrase or a conversation. I know for me, I hear a phrase come out of someone's mouth, but I do not think about why they said it until much later after the conversation is closed. People often ask me what I meant when I said "...," but they ask me after the conversation was had. I think while being in the moment things just fly over our heads until we begin to unpack the conversation. That is another reason why I wish people could read my mind and I can read theirs. From now on, though, I will be more proactive during a conversation.
In a time of social upheaval, performative social justice has become a way to differentiate those who seem to “care” to those who stay “ignorant.” Our inherent need for justice has turned into posting ill-informed infographics on Instagram stories. Naturally, inequality leaves a bad taste in the mouths of those who don’t experience it. However, the online social justice community has lessened their guilt through “proving” their benevolence through their posts no matter how misinformed or ignorant. This boils down to examining what we say versus why we say it and the consequences that could follow.
Everyone desires to feel valuable. Some feel the need to compensate for personal deficiencies by enhancing other skills, talents, or knowledge. I have seen how others instead embrace these differences and demand to be celebrated. Many decide to champion for specific groups who have been disenfranchised in ways not unlike themselves. However, social justice can become performative, where gratification comes from the approval of others without requiring the discomfort of self-reflection and genuine empathy. While social justice should be a priority, it distracts from deeper insights into oneself and others and becomes superficial if the motives are not wholly altruistic.
A future of true equality in all aspects including experiences and lifestyle despite merit or lack thereof seems ironically unfair let alone mundane. Therefore, I am tempted to assert that hierarchy is not only natural but also desirable. Then again, is it not an act of privilege to be able to conceive this thought in the first place? If I were a young Hispanic woman like myself from a century ago, I'm sure I would have had different thoughts. Yet, I am spoiled by the social luxuries those who fought in the name of equality have afforded me.
Professor Hampsey told us that there’s a discrepancy in the story of Adam and Eve-that it was inaccurately translated to say that Eve was made out of Adam’s rib. In truth, she was made out of his side, which makes her his equal instead of his subservient-there would be no Adam without Eve. This reminds me of Sandy in The Marrow of Tradition, in that society made him lesser than Mr. Delamere, yet, again, there would be no Mr. Delamere without Sandy. This dichotomy exists within us, as humans. The things we think make us lesser are what make us, us. There would be no me without my Arthritis, or inability to run fast, or get up from the floor by myself.
Equality cannot coexist with diversity; everyone has various skills, passions, and personalities. The inevitable differentiation of responsibilities during group tasks exemplifies the principle Apostle Paul discusses in 1 Corinthians 12: a functioning body has many different parts that are all absolutely necessary. Everyone's role is unique, yet all are equally valuable. However, people's self-worth falters when they compare themselves to others. Ignoring their personal talents, they strive to embody those around them to not feel as bad, yet, in The Problem of Pain, C.S. Lewis echoes Paul's belief that humans are designed to "achieve union instead of mere sameness."
As long as sin persists on this earth, inequality will endure. The early chapters of Genesis outline God’s design for humans as perfect and “good”. Eve was intended to be Adam's equal, or as you mentioned, his ally. However, as sin entered the world, so did inequality. The presence of sin allows the unjust to dominate the vulnerable. In James 4:12, James also suggests that human’s definition of equality might not align with God’s initial design. The Bible teaches that true inequality will never be eradicated until the return of Jesus when all sin will be destroyed.
When listening to this, what comes to mind is Darwinism or survival of the fittest. This concept has been ingrained in humanity since the beginning and shows within schools or work environments. Humans desire to be the best and although we are not met with similar threats compared to ancestors, we still desire to be the fittest. When not met with being the best, we are considered invaluable. This even occurs when fighting for justice. One desires to be better to not feel inadequate. That in itself is problematic with human relationships.
Written into the very core of human behavior is our propensity to group ourselves with others with whom we have similarities. It has been evident for a long time that these groupings create systems of oppression and inequality. Romantic-era poets, Shelley and Byron, exemplified the long-standing desire for criticism by challenging the societal norms of their time. Recent research and discussions in sociology have uncovered evidence of ingrained biases caused by past prejudiced narratives, and these modern philosophies urge the importance of self-scrutiny to overcome these hindrances. It is paramount that we dismantle these prejudices at their deep root.
Growing up with a sister who is physically disabled quickly taught me how people compensate for a lack of excellence in one area by excelling in another. When frustrated by her failure to perform activities requiring an able body like mine, she would remind me of other areas in which she surpasses me. Growing up, her bullies would similarly compensate for a lack in their lives by constantly reminding her of her shortcomings, all while performatively advocating for justice for my sister to teachers in order to avoid punishment, mirroring the actions of many toward bigger social justice issues today.
Equality and inequality in every form festers an observant reaction from humanity whether it is through race, gender, disability, employment, sports, or academics. Equality is present in any avenue of life which generates effects in people that lead to compensation for certain attributes. Understanding your internal value through self-reflection and internal drive is what can allow for a celebration of an attribute that in some eyes has a negative connotation. Growing up with anxiety I have journeyed through avoidance to acceptance and celebration that lead to understanding where the strengths lie as you mentioned different value is accorded. In early ancient cultures various disabilities were used for what strengths could be offered manufacturing equality amongst society.
Oh ye children! Look up and grasp the glorious sun rays! May thy eyes reap what was sowed, a feast befitting those atop their ancestors - a bulging, seething mass that turmoils below, chained hand in hand, maintaining thy crested crown. Do not gaze down! Lest you fear the fall, and so also question the hideous vermin who stand atop punier mounds, rising ever upwards out of a putrid shared lineage. Cling to thy myth; the world revolves around the mighty, and the worthless be damned, a mere stepping stone to lift up the praised bourgeoisie into the sun’s privileging gleam.
I think Roland Barthes's argument in his book Mythologies aligns with your point regarding individuals' desire to differentiate themselves by embodying symbols and traits. Unfortunately, as you mentioned, individuals seek prestige no matter how frivolous the characteristic is. It is hard for me to imagine a world where people no longer strive for material objects as a way to inflate their self-importance. I agree with Barthes that classes aren’t inevitable and are perpetuated by society. I believe the most effective approach to combat this misconception is to universally reject the idea that somebody should pursue specific traits, statuses, and symbols to distinguish themselves and gauge their worth, which requires people to resist selfish ambitions, a feat I’m not sure is possible.
I believe that heightened danger deserves heightened reward. As a student, I am choosing to incur the cost of college to receive proven higher payouts. My endeavor will be fruitful because I will be more valuable to firms after graduation. This is an aspect of equality because everyone who does the same will receive similar payouts. Visual differences such as skin tone distort perception but don’t change reality. Like most, I am visual and falsely assume someone’s success hinges on appearance instead of effort. We are all individuals capable of stepping out into danger, to achieve higher rewards.
Growing up everything felt like a competition, whether that may be who can run the fastest, climb the highest, hang on the monkey bars the longest, everything was a competition. You say, “we don’t want equality,” and to this point I agree, as we get older the competition is not as naïve and innocent as who is fastest but is more determined by the color of your skin, appearance, education, or success. There is an internal drive to be better no matter how much you say you want equality, there is always a part wanting to be more than your neighbor.
Today, the pursuit of success has replaced primal instincts where choosing the best hunter for survival and seeking ideal mates for family creation once prevailed. Today, our focus has shifted to achieving success and climbing the social, wealth, or education hierarchy for recognition and validation. However, the innate human desire to be the best for survival persists. Byron's example of strategically positioning himself by the fireplace to draw attention away from his disability mirrors the need to be seen a certain way. Roland Barthes' observation about the bourgeoisie and petite bourgeoisie controlling their status seems to still align with the concept of natural selection.
The urge to compensate for a perceived difference due to embarrassment or jealousy resonated with me. Symbols of privelige breed envy, showing one with an embodied difference what they perhaps wish they had. The intense need to outperform others is undeniable in human nature, and an unchangeable difference such as a disability can be detrimental. This jealousy inevitably brings negativity, although the connection with a superior source of perfection could help eradicate this problem. This source could allow each to not be in competition with each other but focus inwardly on being the best possible despite their situation.
Toys we received as kids provided us with simple apprehensions that, as Roland Barthes points out, steered us into a framework that fixed the direction of our intellect. By evaluating my attitudes I can hope to move around this framework. Analyzing עֵזֶר in Gen 2:18, I have to ask if I am more prone to accept the translation “helper” or “savior” for the inferior/superior placement of Eve because it reflects reality and true equality, or the framework I grew to trust. Is this evaluation possible, or am I destined to evaluate “equality” from the beginning framework?
Similar to Percy Bysshe Shelley and Lord Byron being inspired by their disenfranchisement, I decided to pursue a career in education to help undermined communities as a result of experiencing unequal access to educational opportunities. I witnessed students in my high school compete through academics to outshine peers and friends for college which has influenced my belief that humans innately seek more power than others (i.e., inequality). Most systems work as hierarchies such as companies, governments, and religion, and I agree with Thomas Carlyle that “admiration for one higher than himself” is not problematic but promotes diligent people.
We as humans do not actively want equality. We are instead looking to avoid the effects of inequality. To discuss equality, we must address “othering”. Society focuses on aspects of human existence that we want to avoid thus creating an “other”. When we see “others” in literature we see something we want to avoid. This is exactly what Flannery O’Connor argues in her essay “Teaching of Literature”. We only want to see a mirror of ourselves, not the very people we are marginalizing to avoid introspection. This creates emotional turmoil inside us when we encounter these stories.
It's easy to complain about injustice while staying complacent in life- easy to complain about injustice when only making observations and no real-life changes. The image of feeding children cultural and structural norms through the media and toys they encounter from an early age without being given an outlet to question them struck me deeply, as it feels there is incredibly high access to all sorts of different media that is largely unsupervised and unfiltered by parents and caregivers. As new generations are growing, its incredibly important that we feed them with curiosity, empathy, and desire to learn.
My words sometimes fail me. I wish people could read my mind when the words I speak do not come out right. Of course, I would not want my inner thoughts to be on display all the time, but it would be nice for people to know exactly what I mean. This has been happening a lot lately where my words do not convey what I actually mean. I do not know why, maybe it is because of my lack of vocabulary or maybe it is God teaching me how to be silent. Whatever the reason may be, it is still irritating not being able to communicate my thoughts in an effective way. In the video, you mentioned that people often focus on what you [general] say more than why you [general] said it. That is accurate. One reason this may be true is because people's minds are focused on one item at a time. That item could be a phrase or a conversation. I know for me, I hear a phrase come out of someone's mouth, but I do not think about why they said it until much later after the conversation is closed. People often ask me what I meant when I said "...," but they ask me after the conversation was had. I think while being in the moment things just fly over our heads until we begin to unpack the conversation. That is another reason why I wish people could read my mind and I can read theirs. From now on, though, I will be more proactive during a conversation.
In a time of social upheaval, performative social justice has become a way to differentiate those who seem to “care” to those who stay “ignorant.” Our inherent need for justice has turned into posting ill-informed infographics on Instagram stories. Naturally, inequality leaves a bad taste in the mouths of those who don’t experience it. However, the online social justice community has lessened their guilt through “proving” their benevolence through their posts no matter how misinformed or ignorant. This boils down to examining what we say versus why we say it and the consequences that could follow.
Everyone desires to feel valuable. Some feel the need to compensate for personal deficiencies by enhancing other skills, talents, or knowledge. I have seen how others instead embrace these differences and demand to be celebrated. Many decide to champion for specific groups who have been disenfranchised in ways not unlike themselves. However, social justice can become performative, where gratification comes from the approval of others without requiring the discomfort of self-reflection and genuine empathy. While social justice should be a priority, it distracts from deeper insights into oneself and others and becomes superficial if the motives are not wholly altruistic.
A future of true equality in all aspects including experiences and lifestyle despite merit or lack thereof seems ironically unfair let alone mundane. Therefore, I am tempted to assert that hierarchy is not only natural but also desirable. Then again, is it not an act of privilege to be able to conceive this thought in the first place? If I were a young Hispanic woman like myself from a century ago, I'm sure I would have had different thoughts. Yet, I am spoiled by the social luxuries those who fought in the name of equality have afforded me.
Professor Hampsey told us that there’s a discrepancy in the story of Adam and Eve-that it was inaccurately translated to say that Eve was made out of Adam’s rib. In truth, she was made out of his side, which makes her his equal instead of his subservient-there would be no Adam without Eve. This reminds me of Sandy in The Marrow of Tradition, in that society made him lesser than Mr. Delamere, yet, again, there would be no Mr. Delamere without Sandy. This dichotomy exists within us, as humans. The things we think make us lesser are what make us, us. There would be no me without my Arthritis, or inability to run fast, or get up from the floor by myself.
Yes, Mr. Delamere relies heavily on the care of Sandy. Couldn’t Mr. Delamere, however, have hired someone else decades earlier to tend to his needs?
Equality cannot coexist with diversity; everyone has various skills, passions, and personalities. The inevitable differentiation of responsibilities during group tasks exemplifies the principle Apostle Paul discusses in 1 Corinthians 12: a functioning body has many different parts that are all absolutely necessary. Everyone's role is unique, yet all are equally valuable. However, people's self-worth falters when they compare themselves to others. Ignoring their personal talents, they strive to embody those around them to not feel as bad, yet, in The Problem of Pain, C.S. Lewis echoes Paul's belief that humans are designed to "achieve union instead of mere sameness."
As long as sin persists on this earth, inequality will endure. The early chapters of Genesis outline God’s design for humans as perfect and “good”. Eve was intended to be Adam's equal, or as you mentioned, his ally. However, as sin entered the world, so did inequality. The presence of sin allows the unjust to dominate the vulnerable. In James 4:12, James also suggests that human’s definition of equality might not align with God’s initial design. The Bible teaches that true inequality will never be eradicated until the return of Jesus when all sin will be destroyed.