Category: Individual

Originally introduced as a concept to challenge a feminist analysis which spotlighted a woman’s gender experience while seemingly rendering invisible and irrelevant her other experiences and realities intersectionality is now used to better understand the plight of various marginalized groups and individuals. Intersectionality plays an important role in unpacking how the lives and experiences of an individual’s multiple identities influences how they perceive and interact with their world and conversely how their world perceives and interacts with them. It recognizes the multiple interconnected inequities and forms of oppression that marginalized people face. This interconnection of numerous social identities at the level of individual experience reflect intertwined systems of privilege and oppression at a systemic level.

Kimberle Crenshaw who is credited with coining the concept of intersectionality argued that in the case of black women, feminist theory and antiracist discourse predicated on a discrete set of experiences often does not accurately reflect the interaction of race and gender. While some theorists view intersectionality as the complex and cumulative ways in which the effects of multiple forms of discrimination i.e. racism, sexism, classism, homophobia, transphobia, poverty etc. combine, overlap or intersect, others seek to understand and address the intersections of various locations of social disadvantage, not in isolation or cumulatively; but with the recognition that they often combine in a variety of ways to produce specific configurations or intersections of inequality. These inequalities can shift and fluctuate but are almost always present in one combination or another, manifesting in a matrix of marginalization and oppression.

The analytical lens of intersectionality aims not to reveal one group as being more victimized or privileged than another but rather to inform effective responses to persistent and growing social inequities. It allows those who lead and influence community engagement to consider a variety of socio-political forces and understand how privilege, power, oppression and exclusion operate in interlocking ways to shape the lives of individuals and communities. Intersectionality takes into account historical, social and political contexts while recognizing unique individual experiences resulting from the confluence of different types of identity. Consider the experiences of a Minenhle, a young Black African, transgendered male who is claiming refugee status because of the persecution he faced in his home country. His race gives rise to social stereotypes, assumptions and prejudices, with deep historical roots, that may suggest to many that he is socially inferior and not deserving of the same rights and opportunities as others. Some may react negatively and with resentment to his collecting social assistance and label him a burden to society.

The resentment may be further exaggerated if he seeks intervention to affirm his identity. His gender identity, especially in combination with his race, marks him as deviant and even dangerous and separates him from his own ethno-racial community. He is vulnerable to ridicule, exploitation and violence putting him at risk of retraumatization. Further, his nationality, and precarious immigration status all function to create a matrix of power and oppression, which prevent him from presenting his authentic self, connecting to or seeking assistance within his own ethnic community, or from reporting crimes committed against him due to fear of deportation. Attempting to engage such an individual in activities that simply address, for example his immigration status does little to reduce the disparities, subjugation and vulnerability he is experiencing.

Communities are diverse, multi-dimensional entities whose members belong to more than one group at the same time, as a consequence of their multiple identities, some communities or individuals are pushed to the extreme margins and experience profound discriminations while others benefit from more privileged positions. The well-known poet and activist Audre Lorde who once identified herself “As a forty-nine-year-old Black lesbian feminist Socialist mother of two, including one boy, and a member of an inter-racial couple, stated that she usually found herself a part of some group defined as other, deviant, inferior, or just plain wrong.” Intersectional analysis helps us to visualize the convergence of different types of discrimination as points of intersection or overlap resulting in a simultaneous experience of oppression and privilege. While in the course of community engagement we may deal with issues separately, for example, food security, crime, or unemployment, ignoring the interrelatedness of these issues and denying the reality and impact of converging experiences of inequities and micro aggressions leaves those most affected feeling excluded and vulnerable.

Intersectional theory helps to deconstruct and assess the impact of these converging identities on opportunities and access to rights, and to see how policies, programs, services and laws that affect one aspect of an individual’s or community’s life are inextricably linked to others. Acknowledgment that communities are not homogenous is commonplace in CE, however, the implications of this are not elucidated and are easily lost in the design, planning and application of CE approaches. It is not enough to merely say that economically disadvantaged youth are in jeopardy or that racialized peoples have different experiences. In developing processes, designing interventions and measuring impact the unique and overlapping experiences and issues particular to disproportionately affected groups must receive appropriate and adequate attention. Conceptualizing each form of oppression and discrimination as compounding, sandbags piled one on top the other, thereby increasing the overall burden of inequality, does not illuminate the full context and quality of the experience of marginalization. It renders invisible the interconnectedness of multiple experiences of exclusion and ignores the fact that something unique is produced at the intersection point.

Engagement strategies often ignore the significance of social identities and are not flexible enough to allow people to see themselves reflected. Without an intersectional lens activities meant to impower individuals to affect meaningful and positive change are inadvertently constructed in ways that exclude and often penalize. For example, a group of parents decides to engage around an issue such as affordable childcare recognizing that the chances of affecting change is increased through a collective approach. However, the newcomer couple who work multiple survival jobs and different shifts to make ends meet, know that no matter how positive the outcome of the group’s activism they will not experience the same degree of benefit as their white, educated, neighbours with 9 – 5 jobs.

Their family commitments coupled with their work demands do not allow the same level of engagement as other members of the group, nor are the outcomes likely to meet their specific needs. Not naming an issue, dismissing an issue as outside of scope, oversimplifying an experience, labeling a need as not common, describing sectors of a community as reluctant to engage or hard to reach are all subtle ways of diminishing and ignoring real and present challenges for those with the least power. Using intersectionality as a key principle in CE requires thinking differently about identity, equality and power, and placing more focus on points of intersection, complexity, dynamic processes, and the structures that define access and opportunities, rather than on defined categories or isolated issue areas. It requires a substantial investment in the analytical and data gathering stages of the work, beginning with the collection of information about how people actually live their lives, the experiences and views of the diversity of the community, especially those living in the furthest edges of the margins. It should include both personal stories as well as quantitative data. It entails critical investigation of principles, assumptions and motivation behind research, interpretation of data, and evaluation of impacts. It requires pause to ask how appropriate a “new” engagement model or better practice is for a particular community rather than jumping blindly on the newest fad or language.

To many this is simply semantics if it doesn’t result in meaningful change. From the standpoint of privilege, oppression can seem less “intersectional”, even when the individual or organization shares some part of their identity with the community with which they are working. Whether paid or unpaid the position of “leader or catalyst” affords a certain amount of power and privilege and all the potential to use such in ways that are not to the advantage of the communities of interest. Without intentional deconstruction privilege often results in a blinkered perspective, masking the interactions of oppressions. Practitioners and activists with multiple social group privileges are often positioned so that the intersections of structures of disadvantage are less readily visible to them. This is the root of the “colour blind” mentality in racism. We are all humans, the only experience is the human experience, or we are all precariously housed and that is the only experience that matters and that binds us. Such naïve perspectives are counterproductive in creating sustainable meaningful engagement. This is not to say that those with some form of social group privilege are fated to remain unaware of how the axis of oppression interacts.

Using an intersectional lens, those in positions of leadership can engage in processes of self-reflection to analyze the advantages of their own socio-political position and determine better practices that counteract and balance the power differential. While it is impossible to name and represent all of the oppressions, identities and structures that may emerge in intersectional analysis, such an analysis should encourage continued investigation of the environment in ways that uncover suppressed dimensions. Meaningful impacts and improved outcomes for communities mean recognizing and focusing on multiple inequities and the way they influence the experience of groups and individuals simultaneously, in much the same way as the interconnections between poverty, homelessness, and food insecurity are understood. The effectiveness of community engagement depends on analyses that can capture complex, entwined issues. If CE approaches and activities are not informed by a complete picture of socio-economic, political, and historical experiences of diverse groups it is unlikely that the full breadth and scope of vulnerabilities, actions and experiences within the community are unearthed. Approaches and activities built on limited information cannot possibly achieve their full potential. What may work to engage and benefit some community members may act to exclude and disadvantage other sectors of the community. To truly reduce or eradicate inequities, the focus needs to be placed on the confluence of multiple dimensions of inequity. Community engagement must step out onto those skinny branches and gather those communities and individuals teetering on the fringes of marginalization.

References

1. Bowleg, L. (2012). The problem with the phrase women and minorities: Intersectionality – an important theoretical framework for public health. American Journal of Public Health, 102(7), 1267-1273.
2. Crenshaw, K. (1989) Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex: A Black Feminist Critique of Antidiscrimination Doctrine, Feminist Theory, and Antiracist Politics. University of Chicago Legal Form Vol. 1 Issue 1
3. Crenshaw, K. (1991). Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence against Women of Color. Stanford Law Review, 43(6), 1241
4. Lorde, A. (2007). Sister Outsider: Essays & Speeches by Audre Lorde. Toronto: Crossing Press. p. 114.
5. Symington, A., 2004, ‘Intersectionality: A Tool For Gender And Economic Justice, Facts and Issues’, The Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID)

As indicated by the word reference, ‘segregation is the uncalled for or biased treatment of various classes of individuals or things, particularly on the grounds of race, age, or sex.’ In this manner, individuals who are separated can persevere through negative outcomes in territories, for example, prosperity, confidence, self-esteem, and social relations. At the point when the novel starts, George and Lennie are headed to take a shot at a farm in Salinas, California. Rather than going directly to the farm, they camp by the stream for the evening and discussion about their fantasy of one day having their very own farm. George and Lennie are both vagrant specialists who move all around searching for new openings and attempting to avoid any issue that Lennie continues to cause. In the book Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck depicts depression through Law breakers and Curley’s significant other’s disengagement, which makes them become edgy and severe.

As the main female on the homestead without an official name, Curley’s better half is described as an article, making her participate in tempting conduct just to pick up consideration from the others. Curley’s better half, otherwise called ‘tart’, ‘poison’ and ‘jailbait,’ encounters depression, so she ends up urgent to be appreciated by the laborers on the ranch. As George and Lennie are talking, Curley’s significant other interferes with them since she’s ‘searching for Curley,’ as she regularly does, and once she knows where Curley has gone, she makes an exceptionally coy move by ‘[throwing] her hands behind her back and inclined toward the door jamb so her body was tossed forward’ (Steinbeck 31). Curley’s better half feels she should put herself out there in any shape or structure for individuals to recognize her and give her the adoration and friendship that Curley neglects to do. Since Curley’s better half is segregated and forlorn it additionally influences her inwardly. As Curley’s better half is conversing with Lennie, she starts to state, ‘I get forlorn. You can converse with individuals, however I can’t converse with no one yet Curley. Else he gets distraught. How’d you like not to converse with anyone?’ (87). She attempts to get Lennie to perceive how her life resembles by asking him how he’d like it on the off chance that he couldn’t converse with anybody. She needs him to comprehend what it feels like to not have anybody around. Curley’s significant other communicates the amount she is pestered. She isn’t permitted to converse with anybody or Curley would get frantic and will cause more battles with the different folks. Different men are dreadful of Curley, which is likewise another motivation behind why they would prefer not to converse with her since they would prefer not to have issues with Curley or else they could get ‘caned.’ Hence, Curley’s significant other is encountering seclusion which makes her get lonelier.

Like other African Americans during the 1930’s, Evildoers manages isolation causing his disengagement from the others, which leads him to be unpleasant and disrespect others. Criminals dozes and invests the majority of his energy in a room appended to the stables. He peruses the books and magazines that are laying on the ground to cause the day to pass by quicker. At the point when Lennie attempts to come into his room, Hoodlums turns out to be exasperated yet later gives him access. He keeps on imparting his insights by communicating how an individual is influenced by dejection, saying ‘a person goes crazy on the off chance that he ain’t got no one. Try not to have no effect who the person is… a person gets desolate a’ becomes ill’ (72). Lennie was the one in particular who didn’t see the shade of Criminals’ skin and wasn’t hesitant to go into his room or do essential things, for example, conversing with him. Hoodlums encounters incredible measures of dejection since he is dark. The more Lennie is there talking and tuning in to Law breakers, the more ardent Hoodlums progresses toward becoming, sharing, ‘I was brought into the world ideal here in Southern California. My father had a chicken farm, ‘session ten sections of land. The white children come to play at our place, an’ occasionally I went to play with them, and some of them was quite decent. My ‘ol man didn’t care for that. I never knew till long later why he didn’t care for that. Be that as it may, I know now.’ He dithered, and when he talked again his voice was delicate. ‘There wasn’t another hued family for miles around. Also, presently there ain’t a shaded man on this farm a’ there’s jus’ one family in Soledad.” (37). During The Incomparable Misery, a few people kept away from dark men since they believed that they were unique in relation to every other person. Dark individuals wouldn’t have the option to live in a similar network and all as a result of their wild skin shading. When he played with the white children in his general vicinity, his dad wouldn’t care for that and he didn’t have the foggiest idea why until he became more established. He understood how individuals with his skin shading couldn’t do the least complex things even as a kid making him become harsh and desolate. By looking at how, ‘there wasn’t another hued family for miles around.’ to ‘now there ain’t a shaded man on this farm a’ there’s jus’ one family in Soledad.’ it communicates how unique everything is for a minority individual and what amount has changed for the more awful. Criminals has perceived how the dark individuals have surrendered the zone, leaving him the main minority individual around. As communicated, Law breakers doesn’t have any individual who can comprehend what he’s experiencing making his depression and harshness heighten.

Steinbeck shows the impacts of segregation and dejection in an enthusiastic manner by taking the perusers inside the lives of Curley’s better half and Hooligans and communicates what separation resembles. Regardless of whether it’s about sexism or bigotry, he demonstrates that forlornness is an individual’s most exceedingly terrible adversary, as it makes Criminals and Curley’s better half become narrow minded, urgent and unpleasant.

Through freedom can be characterized as the capacity of one to settle on a decision uninfluenced or unconstrained by any outside variables. At the point when an individual activities his through and through freedom, it basically implies that his activities have not been impacted by magical, physical, social or mental compels. In any case, the degree to which people can practice their through and through freedom with regards to society has been a theme of discussion for a very long while now. Does the individual make society or is it society that makes the person? With regards to law, is the individual obliged to obey societal laws or would he be able to break them for the sake of still, small voice? This paper stands firm on this discussion contending that the individual is controlled and constrained by the general public and his will goes the extent that the general public permits.

The general public shapes our reasoning, our demeanors, convictions, inclinations, and our exceptionally world view. It is unthinkable for one to contend that what they are considering or doing is altogether their very own creation since people are bound to the foreordained activities of the general public in which they live. It is difficult to live and discover bliss outside the set guidelines of society. For instance, individuals are driven by objectives and they buckle down spurred to prevail by ideas that society has put in them concerning what being fruitful methods. As a rule, nobody needs to prevail for the wellbeing of their own, they need to pick up acknowledgment by others, to get a spot in the public arena, they need to be in front of others; this is actually the inverse of unrestrained choice.

The general public has set up standards, qualities and laws that administer its individuals. Society manages that the law that is set ought to be obeyed consistently. Individuals have since the making of the idea law violated the law somehow and for different reasons. In any case, this does not imply that they have through and through freedom; it just implies that their decisions have been impacted not by the law as made by society, but rather by a still, small voice, that is formed by society. For instance, guess one ran over an outfitted man compromising youngsters with his firearm, the individual would be compelled to settle on a decision of whether to infringe upon the law by executing the individual before he hurts the kids, or giving the circumstance a chance to follow through to its logical end. In any case, the individual who settles on the choice does as such affected by society. On the off chance that he decides to not execute the individual, he does as such on the premise that murdering is a wrongdoing, and on the off chance that he slaughters the individual, he does as such on the premise that the individual is a criminal doing criminal acts and is a peril to the kids he is compromising. The two situations are impacted by what the general public has shown the individual to be worthy or not, it’s anything but a matter of choice.

In conclusion, the individual is bound to the desire of the general public. He needs to fit in with societal measures and laws, regardless of what he trusts inability to which there are outcomes. The idea of unrestrained choice is only a deception that society has made to influence individuals to fit in with its will. The idea of unrestrained choice slams into rationale and the physical makeup of the world as we probably are aware it; it is an unsound thought. This is on the grounds that individuals don’t have aims, rather they see goals.

Self respect

Self-Respect refers to loving oneself and behaving with honour and dignity. It reflects respect for Oneself. An individual who has self-respect would treat himself with honour. Furthermore, lacking Self-Respect is a matter of disgrace. An individual who does not respect himself, should certainly not expect respect from others. This is because nobody likes to treat such an individual with respect.

Self-Respect is the foundation of a healthy relationship. In relationships, it is important to respect your partner. Similarly, it is equally important to Respect yourself. A Self-Respecting person accepts himself with his flaws. This changes the way how others perceive the individual. An individual, who honours himself, would prevent others from disrespecting him. This certainly increases the value of the individual in the eyes of their partner. Lacking Self-Respect brings negative consequences. An individual who lacks Self-Respect is treated like a doormat by others.

Furthermore, such an individual may engage in bad habits. Also, there is a serious lack of self-confidence in such a person. Such a person is likely to suffer verbal or mental abuse. The lifestyle of such an individual also becomes sloppy and untidy. Self-Respect is a reflection of toughness and confidence. Self-Respect makes a person accept more responsibility. Furthermore, the character of such a person would be strong. Also, such a person always stands for his rights, values, and opinions. Self-Respect improves the morality of the individual. Such an individual has a good ethical nature. Self-Respect eliminates the need to make comparisons. This means that individuals don’t need to make comparisons with others. Some people certainly compare themselves with others on various attributes. Most noteworthy, they do this to seek validation of others. Gaining Self-Respect ends all itt and Self-Respect makes you a better person.

Respect of Others

Everyone must Respect fellow human beings. This is an essential requirement of living in a society. We certainly owe a basic level of Respect to others. Furthermore, appropriate Respect must be shown to people who impact our lives. This includes our parents, relatives, teachers, friends, fellow workers, authority figures, etc. Showing respect could gain trust with someone or Something.

One of the best ways of showing respect to others is listening. Listening to another person’s point of view is an excellent way of respect. Most noteworthy, we must allow a person to express his views even if we disagree with them. Another important aspect of respecting others is religious/political views. Religious and cultural beliefs of others should be given a lot of consideration. Respecting other people’s Religions is certainly a sign of showing mature respect.

Everyone must Respect those who are in authority and almost everyone deals with people in their lives that hold authority. So, a healthy amount of respect should be given to such people but people of authority can be of various categories. These are boss, police officer, religious leader, teacher, etc. Even if someone could not show respect, it is still good for yourself to show respect to gain trust so they could do it back. It could depend on what type of person you are.

Conclusion

In conclusion, respect is a major aspect of human socialization. It is certainly a precious value that must be preserved and it is respectful behaviour is vital for human survival and could even spread and make the world a better place. We could make this world a better place by showing respect to earn trust and spread it around the world.

Wherever you are and whatever you are doing you can’t stay away from stress, yet you can figure out ways to oversee it. Stress can be our way to react to any mental, physical, and emotional factor that causes mental tension or any response to a change that requires a modification or a reaction. Stress is both outside and inside of us. External events or situations can cause stress. In addition, the internal thoughts, the way we see an event, or the way we cope with changes can also be characterized as stress. Stress can be caused by social events, overthinking, environmental, and psychological situations.

First of all, there are five components of stress: stressors are basically the same definition as stress, any event or situation that causes stress it can be physical or mental, for example, a student has to present a presentation in front of his class. as a teen, the one thing he or she doesn’t want to happen in this situation is getting embarrassed in front of his or her friends this student will start thinking ‘’what will happen if I hesitated or the teacher asked a question I don’t know its answer or what if I mispronounced a word’’ all of this going through his or her head will eventually cause stress. To avoid stressors you must change specific behaviors. For example, if you are a caffeine, alcohol, or nicotine addict you must reduce the amount you take every day till you stop taking it. Another way of dealing with stressors is by talking to someone, keeping yourself busy by doing any kind of activity, getting more sleep, and meditating.

Stress response or ‘’fight or flight‘’ is the reaction the body takes when exposed to a certain situation. The stress response can be emotional: insecurity, anxiety, depression, guilt, and anger. Behavioral: smoking, poor appearance, aggressive speaking, fidgeting, and nail-biting. And physical: insomnia, headache, weight loss, weight gain, or increase in heart rate.

Individual difference is a study that examines the psychological differences between people. There are many types of individual differences: physical differences for example shortness, tallness, fatness, and thinness. Intelligence difference for example there are levels among individuals from 0 to 50 I.Q level to above 120 I.Q level. Attitude difference for example different people may react differently in the same situation according to a specific behavior in their traits. Achievement difference for example some may succeed in reading, writing, physical education, singing, or drawing. This difference may be visible among people at the same level of intelligence. Motor ability difference, for example, few people can perform mechanical tasks effectively, while others find it difficult to deal with it. Nationality difference, for example, People of various countries vary in regard of physical and mental contrasts, interests and character. Egyptians are loud, Russian are tall, Swiss are racist, etc. Sex difference for example women has greater skills in memory while men have greater motor ability.

The economic status differences for example complexity, interest, and tendencies may be achieved by financial differentiations. Interest differences for example differences in family background, sex, culture, and nationality cause difference in interest. The emotional difference for example some are aggressive and they can get angry easily others are cold and calm. Personality differences for example different individuals differ in their way of thinking, feeling, and behaving. The racial difference for example a sample of 433 dark and 897 white children were made and showed a huge difference in scores of the Missouri Children’s Picture Series.

Allostatic load is characterized as the expense of incessant presentation to raised or fluctuating endocrine or neural reactions coming about because of ceaseless or rehashed difficulties that the individual encounters as upsetting. For example, a person suffering from chronic hypertension will eventually cause exhaustion for a long time period at an early age.

Allostatic balance is the process of achieving stability through physiological or behavioral change. Simply the balance you play between preparing the body for serious physical activity and relaxing the body. For example the balance of your way of life, work, exercise, and connections.

Conflict or struggle is a disagreement and oppositeness between two countries, people, groups, or states which most of the time is characterized by physical violence. Psychologists categorized conflicts into four different types: Approach-Approach is when there’s conflict within an individual where he or she has to decide between two appealing goals. For example, you are planning a prom party half of the students are leaning toward a classic theme while others are leaning toward a masquerade theme and each theme has advantages and disadvantages and you have to decide between the two appealing themes.

Avoidance-Avoidance is when a conflict occurs and the result is uncomfortable for both outcomes so they avoid it instead of solving it. In other words a choice between two unattractive goals. For example, you have two equally important tasks you have to do right away. A person in this type of conflict will avoid these tasks because of an inability to choose which has priority. Obviously, avoidance-avoidance conflict is the worst type of conflict because they are usually unpleasant and highly stressful.

You have to decide whether you will avoid it or approach it.

Double Approach-Avoidance is a choice between two approach-avoidance conflicts. You are forced to choose between options which have advantages and disadvantages. In this type of conflict, you can’t reach a 100% satisfaction level. Whatever decision you will take guilt will follow it. For example, buying a laptop from the internet and you must pay extra fees for the delivery or buying it from the store which is 3 hours away from you.