For the people of preColonial Latin America, the Aztec, Maya, and Inca, an individuals place in society and his/her gender was perceived as another natural phenomenon of their existence. The arrival of the Europeans in Latin America drastically influenced the cultures and customs of ancient Latin American peoples; insofar, that a New People and a New World evolved. With this in mind, are race and gender a social construction or a natural phenomenon?
Be sure to use textual evidence for your argument from the reading provided in class today. Post your own argument and respond to one of your peers. Remember, you can not access this site through your cps.edu email, so use a personal gmail or yahoo account.
Hector Salazar
ReplyDeleteMr. Saldivar
Latino Literature
9/16/14
Race and Gender are natural phenomenon, however discrimination against race and gender are social constructs, created in order to generate hierarchy. An individual’s race and gender are natural. You are born into whatever race and whatever gender you are, that cannot be altered. Society uses gender and race as ways to discriminate, because individuals cannot control these two things.
“Colonial Latin Americans lived in a hierarchical society that assigned privileges and obligations according to ethnicity, class, honor...” (183). During the conquest of Latin America, new races began to take shape with Europeans intermixing with the indigenous people and slaves. All privilege within these societies belonged to the white Europeans, this forced many of the new hybrid races to defend how “white” they were because it was “their sole claim to preferential status in society” (157). Race was something an individual had to construct and defend. Proof of this was found in official documents in the colonies where race was a label, however “all ethnic identities were quite flexible...especially those who were quite flexible” (183). In order to gain a position on the hierarchal ladder, an individual had to be of the favorable white race.
Gender roles were also different to Europeans than to the indigenous people. To the natives, your gender’s niche was specific; however each person’s contribution was crucial to the function of society and treated equally. To Europeans, however, men were superior therefore, “patriarchal dynamic was essential to a stable society” (168). To European’s women were “seen as morally inferior to men” and treated as object not equals, unlike the native people’s way of life. Once again discrimination was constructed to generate hierarchy.
Yes, “Society uses gender and race as ways to discriminate,” but individuals decide whether or not they want to practice discrimination. Beatriz de Padilla made the decision to take part in social constructs regarding race; it was a conscious decision. If race and gender were something an individual had to construct and defend; wouldn’t it become a natural phenomenon for second and third generations to naturally believe they were white due to prior social constructs of society? In regards to gender, I feel that is more of a social construct. The idea that “women are inferior to men” has been something constructed by society, that is still relevant today. Race and gender can be a natural phenomenon; although, it stems from social reconstruction.
DeleteTrue, many people wanted to be white for the simple reason that life in the colonies was much better white and because of this people would latch onto whatever white they had and try and use it, unfortunately, this could not be done with the gender issue in which I agree with your observation that women were objects more than people
DeleteI agree with Hector that race and gender stem from natural occurring phenomenon and that the concepts have been distorted. However, discrimination and segregation also hierarchy by creating self loathing and isolating them from the rest of society, and therefore preventing them gaining power. The meanings and connotations of both gender and race have changed over time. The meaning of the term gender is often mistaken for that of sex, (the biological differences between male and female). Gender describes the masculine and feminine characteristics which society and culture assign to each sex. To use the gender term gender in the same context as sex, is to portray social views of men and women as scientific. It is this type of representation that lead to the belief in colonial Latin America that women were like Eve, and therefore morally lesser to men and needed men to, “monitor and discipline [them]...paying special attention to their sexual behavior” (Latin America and it’s People 163). An individual who is immersed in a sense of distrust, inevitably will begin to lose confidence and themselves. Therefore,women who didn’t have a strong sense of independence did not actively or fully participate in their community because they felt their actions and opinions had little to no value. The same misuse of biological term with a social one, occurs with the term race. Humans are homo sapiens and form only one species, and therefore one race. Ethnicity pertains to what an individual's culture and origin are. To use race otherwise is to reference early European colonists to, “doubt..[in] whether [Native Americans] even had souls” (156,) an idea that dehumanizes Native Americans, by questioning their very place as humans. European colonists extended this belief to all people of color in in the colonies. The effect of this concept on both the slaves of the natives was that even though the Europeans colonists where only a small fraction of the population in the colonies, “their economic, social, and political influence...outweighed their numbers” (157). If an individual absorbs the idea that they are subpar to to their peers or even demonic in comparison they will have a harder picturing themselves in positions of power and authority. The success of conquests in Latin America could never have occurred as successfully or become as deeply embedded in the mindset of Native Americans and slaves, without the distortion of basic biological principles to suit the ideology of Europeans.
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ReplyDelete"Still, society placed a high premium on whiteness, and people of mixed ancestry often took care to distance themselves as much as possible from their African and Indian origins.” (163) And today, this comment is still relevant. Often, we have or still find ourselves in a mental state contemplating the idea of “What if...I was this race” or once wished upon being a different race. Unfortunately, race is a natural phenomenon, but a social construct as well. We naturally notice that we are different; however, social reconstruction focuses on dividing Europeans and Non- Europeans, because they are the minority and see Non- Europeans as a threat. Race and gender are a combination of social reconstruction and natural phenomenon.
ReplyDelete“Whatever their (Spaniards and Portuguese) place in society, they often displayed arrogance toward those born in America.” (156) It is evident that this quote can be manipulated and seen as natural phenomenon and social reconstruction. In the context that it was placed. European immigrants felt as if they were superior to Non-Europeans. However, whites usually were obtaining high rankings in society and this idea that mulattos, Indians, and slaves were beneath them could be seen as social reconstruction playing a role in race.
Another case, in which social construct played a role in race was the Beatriz de Padilla case. She was accused of murdering her significant other. In court, she insisted that she was more white than black, because her father came from a prestigious family. This is a prime example of social reconstruction. Because society has put emphasis on this idea of being white and connections to people in powerful rankings can benefit an individual, Padilla chooses to be white. In the article, it made a comment about Padilla’s wanting to be more white than black because of the idea that she might be acquitted for the case. In my opinion, social reconstruction was implemented in this case because society has put whites on a pedestal; essentially, resulting in the natural phenomenon of Padilla. Because of social constructs, Padilla willingly decides to take initiative and be seen as white and neglect her Non- European heritage. Social reconstruction and natural phenomenon are at war; however, society is its worst enemy.
I agree that race and gender discrimination derives from the majority placing themselves on a pedestal to deeply instill the notion that their kind deserves to hold power. Your use of the Padilla case really supported your claim, and your idea that race and gender are a combination really made since.
Delete*sense
DeleteI agree with the idea that you brought up of "what if I was this race" and how it adds to the notion that race and gender are built into society because of the way Europeans generalized and categorized people, therefore making natives think that the White race was superior.
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ReplyDeleteIn today's society, race and gender are gradually becoming less relevant, however they still have a long way to go and are still social constructs. This Importance of such trivial factors such as race and gender in society can be traced back to the arrival of the Europeans in Latin America. Race particularly played a part in the social mobility of people back then because "...there were clear limits to the upward mobility of Indians, mestizos, blacks and mulattos, and limits also to the downward mobility of people who could plausibly claim pure European ancestry" (166). Its apparently not enough that those without pure European ancestry are barred from the highest reaches of society, but the pure Europeans have a buffer from sinking too low simply because of their ancestry. Also, gender presents sizeable barriers within the household for many colonials. Women were seen as a commodity which had to be kept in check "As daughters of eve, women were seen as morally inferior to men--dangerous temptresses who, if left unsupervised could easily lead men to the "precipice of perdition"." (168). Simply to be female in a time like this meant that you were a sub citizen, simply the property and responsibility of a husband or patriarch. There is nothing natural about the unequal treatment of the different races and genders in colonial Latin America. This Preference for the white male is nought, but a social construct.
ReplyDeleteRace and gender are socially constructed ideas with a basis of natural phenomenon. But the idea of a world where all humans live without the labels of race and gender can be fathomed, therefore race and gender are not whole-fully natural.
ReplyDeleteWith the creation of divisions comes the creation of inequality. Hierarchies are made to keep power and command in the hands of the group with the tightest grip. Racism and sexism is an even deeper layer of construct, when a group asserts domination by using these differences as evidence that they are superior. These divisions of race and gender lead to roles and stereotypes, and the idea that a certain racial or gender group was put on earth to serve these roles. "Colonial Latin Americans lived in a hierarchial society where they were expected to defer to their social betters, command respect from those who ranked beneath, and above all adhere to the norms of conduct appropriate" (156). In colonial Latin America, the presence of Africans, indigenous people, and Europeans (women and men) created an atmosphere perfect for the chiseling of deep social construct. Men are said to be morally superior to women, while the natural differences of races are used to support claims that Europeans are at the best advantage to hold power. While natural differences lead to the creation of race and gender, this does not assert that racism and sexism is at all natural but shows how the use of differences can be manipulated to create unjust hierarchies to build these social constructs and even destroy them.
As Europeans migrated to the "New World" they brought along not only their guns, germs, and steel, but also their social systems in which race and gender pose a greater effect on you as a human being more than anything else. Therefore I think race and gender are socially constructed because of how rapidly biracial members of the society conformed to the ideas implanted on them. For example focusing on the Creole people and how "Many people successfully hid their Indian and African ancestors and "passed" as whites."(157) This idea was clearly shaped by the people who didn't want to be looked down upon for being anything but white, therefore justifying how they were not affiliated with the Indian or African races. However, this idea wasn't there before. Sure different empires pre-Colombian influence had different cultures and had a variety of people and yes maybe it seemed to separate tribes because of the customs they weren't in agreement in. But, that didn't classify them as inferior or superior. This idea was embedded into them by the Spanish and Portuguese because before, race and ethnicity was not a problem and had no effect on how society functioned, and certainly did not manipulate who was in power. But as Europeans divided themselves and put labels on natives and their biracial children, that's when self-awareness of ones own race came into play, and thus explains how the idea of race and gender's unjustified importance is put there instead of being there.
ReplyDeletePeople can disregard their own race but that's something no one can change nor can they take that away. The creole people as mentioned took upon themselves to occupy specific (white) races to improve their social ranking in Colonial Latin America, but despite that they never altered their own race. Race is established once you're created, it's inevitable. Therefore, I agree you do have some valid arguments but race and gender are natural phenomenon.
DeleteIt is natural for humans to fear the unknown, and attempt to create order through categorization in order to cope with this fear. "The first Europeans arrived in the Americas with a very clear sense of "us" and "them" (Latin America and its People 156). Because the indigenous people of the Americas were strangers to the Europeans, and their customs were so different, they became fearful of them. In an effort to manage their fear, they gave them labels such as "Indians" and "inferior". If they perpetuated this idea that these strangers were inferior, they could take comfort in the fact that they could easily be defeated whenever necessary. Thus diminishing European fear. Even though humans' need to quickly define things in order to cope is natural, racism and gender roles are merely just a socially constructed product of this fear.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the lack of knowledge causes fear, but I believe gender roles are more based on how our bodies naturally develop. Men are naturally stronger due to hormones and women are more caring so they don't eat their children like some male animals do.
DeleteI agree that fear is what drives social construct. By deeming one particular race as "inferior", the race who considers themselves in power essentially can eliminate the threats that that particular race poses, ultimate giving the race that is considering themselves "superior" that actual sense of superiority.
DeleteWhen a child is born into the world there is no stamp that reads whether it will be your next ruler, priest, or artisan. The only thing apparent is the gender and race of the child. However as a society begans to develop and you have different mixes of races along comes the idea of the superior and inferior races. Along with this idea came the belief that "claims to power and prestige" were based on the "presumed purity of blood which in the clonies meant European ancestry untainted by African or Indian culture. Latin America and its People, 157)
ReplyDelete". Here arises the notion that the whiter the blood line the greater the claim to power making the European race superior to it's fellow races and creating this hierarchy of power "placing a high premium on whiteness" in which the ancestors started to "distance themselves as much as possible from their African and Indian origins" (163).This direct distinction of race pushed people of the European race and even mixed races to discriminate against those of African or Indian origins, creating these distinct social classes with rules that are meant to keep the lower class in what the europeans considered their "place" in society.
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ReplyDeleteGender is a natural phenomenon but race is a social construct, humans are the same no matter what color someone's skin color is, but we do have different cultures in every society. "As time passed, however, more and more mestizos and mamelucos were simply the children of racially mixed people." If was race was a natural phenomenon then there would be no mixture of different races because the races would want to stay away from each other to keep their purity. Animals very rarely crossbreed with another animal, so if humans were really different races then every society would keep to themselves.
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DeleteIf race was not natural there there wouldn't be such thing as mixed race, because there would be nothing to mix. I also don't think the Europeans thought that people are all people, since they brought slaves over from Africa to their colonies.
DeleteI like your comparison between animals and humans, because humans do tend to forget we are animals, too. However, i disagree with your argument that race is not a natural phenomenon. Dogs do not interbreed with each other if they live in the wild; but once they live together long enough they might actually breed. People (as well as animals) know that others are different, but given enough time we learn to ignore that fact, see past the physical traits, and learn to live with each other
DeleteBoth race and gender are natural phenomenon. Race, pertains to the origins of ones self along with the biologically generated gender, these can not me manipulated to satisfy ones liking. Now on the other hand race (labels) and geneder (roles) can be assimilated by people that are constructed by those around them to acquire a specific ranking but above all they are rooted from the "natural phenomenon" aspect of them both. Colonial Latin America manufactured a hierarchy societal lifestyle. They regulated their people and all were "...to adhere to the norms of conduct appropriate to their class, gender, and ethnicity."(156) These rules placed, helped Colonial Latin America function as a whole. The introduction of a European presence amongst them created a new system for the natives to abide by. Europeans altered the way of live Colonial Latin Americans had to their own advantage, In order to overthrow the Aztec, Maya, and Inca. "Class and ethnicity set the parameters for social mobility..." (168) a prime, example of how they socially constructed these ethnic backgrounds and gender roles to access different "levels of life" essentially. And in doing so, they would forever change the dynamics of the Colonial Latin American society.
ReplyDeleteI strongly agree with your reasoning of why the Europeans enforced the divide of peoples in Latin America
DeleteI feel that race and gender is a social construction because when you are young, you know that most people are different from you but you don't think that you are more important or above them. You might treat them kind of different but it's natural until you get to know that person. But you can grow up into a house hold that is racist and be taught that because some one is of different race or gender of you that you are superior to them and they are not to be treated equally.
ReplyDeleteBrennan Quinn
ReplyDeleteAlthough race and gender are part of human nature, the discrimination of people based on this natural phenomenon is constructed socially. Racism and sexism has been apparent for thousands of years in places all across the world. Ranging from the Indian caste system to European gender roles, the oppression of people based on race and gender has been used to create a lower class of peoples.
Similarly to the Indian caste system, the new world was divided by race. “…A racially diverse society, but not everyone enjoyed equal access to power and privilege” (183). The lightest skinned peoples were the ruling class, while the darkest were the working and lower class. Not only was the new world divided by race, but the oppression carried over to women as well. Before the Europeans arrived to South America, women and men were often viewed as equals. Proven by their folklore and religion, men and women had separate but equally important roles in society. After the Europeans arrived, South America quickly became a patriarchal society. The divide of people in Latin America was enforced by the Europeans so the descendants of them would still rule the lands and the indigenous people.
"Colonial Latin America was, then, a racially diverse society, but not everyone enjoyed equal access to power and privileged." With this being said I believe that race and diversity is a natural phenomenon, but the idea of inferior vs. superior is a social construct. I personally believe that race and gender drives racism and prejudice. Man is responsible for creating a social ladder in society and this is usual based off of the physical, and cultural aspects of a race. These differences that are apparent, especially in a diverse society, makes it easier for man to deem certain races inferior based off of their attributes. For example, with White vs. Black in the 60s. While the color of one's skin is natural and cannot be altered, the use of propaganda and the labels of Whites as superior, the majority, and blacks as inferior, the minority are both social constructs. Whites, and even African-Americans would try to prove how they were superior or "the better race:.
ReplyDeleteCesar Palafox
ReplyDeleteSaldivar
Latino Literature
9/16/14
It is natural for humans to believe themselves greater than the next. "The first Europeans arrived in the Americas with a very clear sense of "us" and "them" (Latin America and its People 156). Both race and gender are natural phenomenon, but the discrimination based upon them are social constructs. The people of the New World had not founded racism because there was no other race to interact with. The Aztecs did not attack the Europeans because of their skin color, but instead welcomed them into their city. It was the Europeans who brought their Old World idea of race vs. race to the Americas. The Aztec empire fell with the help of neighboring tribes: people they share physical traits with. If race was a social construct, the Aztec empire would never have bullied their neighbors into helping the Spanish defeat them.