Back to: Social Consciousness in Sign Language Interpreting: An Examination of Bias, Subjection, and Intersectionality Quiz Please purchase the course before taking this quiz. Both terms, “kyriarchy” and “intersectionality,” are similar in definitions with respect to social systems and forms of oppression, but how is intersectionality different from kyriarchy?1 Intersectionality describes the subjection of such person whose overlapping marginalized social identities leads them to experience oppression and discrimination differently from a person whose set of overlapping identities are different by at least one. Intersectionality describes the set of social identities that people have and at least one of them become relevant in a situation based on a socially homogenous group of people who share one social identity. Intersectionality describes the set of social systems that affect a person in an oppressive way depending on the number of social identities that are relevant to that person. Intersectionality describes different identities that people have based on their social background and the system of oppressions and the identities are arranged in the hierarchical manner with respect to power and privileges. Social justice is a goal, but equality is a minimum. As a change agent, what do we need to do to ensure equity and justice?1 As a change agent, we need to be vulnerable, examine our relationships and our roles in harmful practices, recognize multiple realities among us, and engage in a dialogue to gain understanding and insights. As a change agent, we need to blame ourselves for perpetuating the systems of oppressions, recognize our roles as oppressors, and take trainings to address our bias. As a change agent, we need to hold ourselves accountable to the systems of oppression, inquire people of color about their experiences of oppression, and create a safe space for people of marginalized communities. As a change agent, we need to be confrontational, confess our bias, accept our roles in the complexity of oppression, and do more than just holding dialogues. In the beginning, the presenter discussed about the new years’ resolutions with the class participants. What was the takeaway message for the class before the presenter began his discussion about bias, subjection, and intersectionality?1 We need to approach social changes with effective and manageable strategies and accept the fact that complicated problems require ongoing dialogues and reflections. We have no valid excuse not to make a change within ourselves and in our society so we can achieve social justice together. We need to stop being afraid and be more stubborn in order to make a change. We need to do more than just talking about it and prove ourselves by taking actions. As a black deaf person, the presenter often discussed about racial issues, but he specifically used the term “subjection” as a concept that describes the oppression of certain racial groups. Why did he use the term “subjection” instead of “racism”?1 The term is applicable in any social context that involves people who are subjected to social issues that are treated as minor issues from the societal perspective and that produce serious effects on those who are directly affected. The term is applicable in any social context that involves a large class or community of people who are subjected to the complex system of oppression that influences our ways of living, thinking, and knowing ourselves and how resources are distributed among social groups through community and institutional practices. The term is applicable in any social context that involves a community of a particular social class or identity that subjects them to violence and discrimination from the society that does not accept any identity or practice that deviates from the norm. The term is applicable in any social context that involves a group of people who are subjected to discrimination and prejudices from people who are different from them. On the 2016 annual report from RID, the number of people of color in the RID membership was low compared to the number of white members. What explained the low RID membership enrollment among members of color?1 The members of color experienced challenges in education and profession in a way that white members would not experience often. The members of color were less interested in joining RID because their intersecting social identities were not respected. The members of color preferred to be part of other organizations that provide them safe space from racial insults. The members of color were not aggressively recruited as were white members. The presenter has often been asked about available resources and courses on Black ASL and how they can be applied in the interpreting work. What is the issue with the questions from the audience about the available resources on Black ASL and Black English?1 The audience tend to ask inappropriate questions about the target cultural community that make the presenter uncomfortable. The audience tend to believe, without any question, in the academic authority on the study of target culture and language. The audience tend to idolize the language and culture of the target community in a way that it is unsettling. The audience tend to prefer to study the target culture and language without having to form relationships with members of the target community. In the discussion about bias, the presenter explained about mental models that basically exist as truths in our worlds. The presenter showed several instances of racial and political incidents and ended it with his implicit association test (IAT) result that indicated his racial bias. Why is the discussion of mental models an important strategy to understand bias?1 It is important to understand people’s mental models because it can help us to see who the real racists are. It is important to understand people’s mental models because we need to accept or reject them based on their harmful effects on people. It is important to understand people’s mental models because we need to see how our social and institutional structures lend to our bias throughout our lifetime. It is important to understand people’s mental models because it can explain us to prevent bias from forming. The presenter came upon the term, “kyriarchy,” which is coined by a white feminist biblical scholar named Elisabeth Fiorenza. Why is this a useful term in addressing different forms of oppression and domination?1 The term is useful in addressing a set of social systems that affect one person with different identities. The term is useful in addressing a social system that is especially designed to have multiple populations under control. The term is useful in addressing the other social systems that are also part of the social system of interest. The term is useful in addressing any social system that contributes to oppression and submission.
