Lyev
6th March 2010, 18:54
It's all very well, what with International Women's Day coming up in two days time to say that these days everyone is equal, or perceived as equal or treated as equal. Well they're not. For a start, the pay-gap between men and women in the UK currently stands at 21.4%, but anyway, this isn't really why I wanted a discussion.
There's something that really bothers about modern society, and the way less fortunate people, or people that society condescendingly thinks are less fortunate, are dealt with. I hate how many prejudices, stereotypes and pejoratives are not only tolerated by society, but wholly ingrained into society's very foundations. It's totally the norm for people to casually toss around words like "gay" and "spacker" as if it's cool or clever to use them, or even worse, when people think they're being ironic or satirical by throwing around these phrases as insults. (I would just like to say how much I abhor "gay" and "spacker" when they're used a pejorative, because they're acceptable, but "nigger" is. How can people differentiate so wildly between racism and homophobia? Oh and apparently, the word "gay" doesn't mean homosexuality anymore; it just means something that is bad or undesirable. Well, actually, you have to check the origins of the word. How does a word a for homosexuality morph into a word for something bad?)
What's worse is when I reproach my peers and friends for using such terms I am reproached straight back for jumping on a soap-box or taking the moral high-ground. It makes me doubt my beliefs and I think perhaps it's me, and not society, or other people, that are in the wrong. But, when I calm down and think about it, it's most definitely society with the problems.
It seems the fashion, as I mentioned a bit earlier, for the media and such forth to claim that society is totally free of prejudice now, and that we are all entitled to equal opportunities now etc. etc. but I'm struggling to find acceptance and tolerance in my day-to-day life, when it comes to other nationalities, genders, disabled people and the LGBT community. Lots of people still have ingrained prejudices and what's more is society doesn't fucking care, and they justify they're petty intolerances with such filth as; "oh well it's just my opinion and I'm an allowed an opinion, you see".
Anyway, this rant is leading to a specific example and anecdote. On Thursday I went to see a show at the theater with a couple of friends, because it was a show containing only my peers, from my year-group at school. Consequently, there was also a lot other people from my year at school sitting in the theater. There was a transvestite (at least I think that's what he was, I didn't want to stare, as that was all everyone else was doing) who was sitting a few rows behind me. Everyone pointed him out and laughed, not directly in his face, but I'm sure he noticed; it was so bleeding obvious.
I don't understand the fucking deal with it; just grow the fuck up. The fundamental difference is a piece of cloth; why not laugh at a man in a kilt, or in a sari (I think I've seen David Beckham wear one) or what about when you get out the bath and wrap a towel around yourself? That's basically a skirt, isn't it? Why not laugh at a black person for being black, or an Asian for being Asian?
A few people in my year thought it would hilarious to sit a few seats next from the poor man, to show how cool they were, in front of their friends. This was in the interval, by the way, when they moved and the transvestite wasn't yet in his seat and by this point everyone had had such a giggle and laugh at the expense someone, just because of a bit of cloth. I did tell them to not be such wankers, but the man didn't come back to his seat; maybe he got fed up of the pointing and staring, or just had something else to do, I don't know.
The weak justification for some of peers sitting next the man and laughing pretty much at his face was something to the effect of "well he deserves it for dressing like that in public". It's a such a repugnant, lazy excuse for justification.
Also, another thing that came across is the crazy stereotypes people have transvestite and trasgender people. One of my "friends" (I'm seriously questioning this status; I've never known people to be so fucking dim) came to the conclusion that this man was obviously a pedophile and a rapist because the transvestite had been to see previous shows before, and because they were dressed in women's clothing. I suppose it's just a shock reaction, as he has probably not seen many transvestites in his lifetime, and also to get a cheap laugh at the man's expense.
So anyway, I'm just in utter disbelief at the totally accepted prejudices that people have, and then the nonchalance when reproached with having such backward views. As I have said, it seems still perfectly acceptable for society to ostracize gays, transsexuals, transvestites and lesbians or any other sort of non-mainstream minority group. Has anyone else come across such abhorrent behaviour against the LGBTQ community? I think these fucked-up views need challenging, especially as they're seemingly so acceptable. Thanks for taking the time to read my rant.
There's something that really bothers about modern society, and the way less fortunate people, or people that society condescendingly thinks are less fortunate, are dealt with. I hate how many prejudices, stereotypes and pejoratives are not only tolerated by society, but wholly ingrained into society's very foundations. It's totally the norm for people to casually toss around words like "gay" and "spacker" as if it's cool or clever to use them, or even worse, when people think they're being ironic or satirical by throwing around these phrases as insults. (I would just like to say how much I abhor "gay" and "spacker" when they're used a pejorative, because they're acceptable, but "nigger" is. How can people differentiate so wildly between racism and homophobia? Oh and apparently, the word "gay" doesn't mean homosexuality anymore; it just means something that is bad or undesirable. Well, actually, you have to check the origins of the word. How does a word a for homosexuality morph into a word for something bad?)
What's worse is when I reproach my peers and friends for using such terms I am reproached straight back for jumping on a soap-box or taking the moral high-ground. It makes me doubt my beliefs and I think perhaps it's me, and not society, or other people, that are in the wrong. But, when I calm down and think about it, it's most definitely society with the problems.
It seems the fashion, as I mentioned a bit earlier, for the media and such forth to claim that society is totally free of prejudice now, and that we are all entitled to equal opportunities now etc. etc. but I'm struggling to find acceptance and tolerance in my day-to-day life, when it comes to other nationalities, genders, disabled people and the LGBT community. Lots of people still have ingrained prejudices and what's more is society doesn't fucking care, and they justify they're petty intolerances with such filth as; "oh well it's just my opinion and I'm an allowed an opinion, you see".
Anyway, this rant is leading to a specific example and anecdote. On Thursday I went to see a show at the theater with a couple of friends, because it was a show containing only my peers, from my year-group at school. Consequently, there was also a lot other people from my year at school sitting in the theater. There was a transvestite (at least I think that's what he was, I didn't want to stare, as that was all everyone else was doing) who was sitting a few rows behind me. Everyone pointed him out and laughed, not directly in his face, but I'm sure he noticed; it was so bleeding obvious.
I don't understand the fucking deal with it; just grow the fuck up. The fundamental difference is a piece of cloth; why not laugh at a man in a kilt, or in a sari (I think I've seen David Beckham wear one) or what about when you get out the bath and wrap a towel around yourself? That's basically a skirt, isn't it? Why not laugh at a black person for being black, or an Asian for being Asian?
A few people in my year thought it would hilarious to sit a few seats next from the poor man, to show how cool they were, in front of their friends. This was in the interval, by the way, when they moved and the transvestite wasn't yet in his seat and by this point everyone had had such a giggle and laugh at the expense someone, just because of a bit of cloth. I did tell them to not be such wankers, but the man didn't come back to his seat; maybe he got fed up of the pointing and staring, or just had something else to do, I don't know.
The weak justification for some of peers sitting next the man and laughing pretty much at his face was something to the effect of "well he deserves it for dressing like that in public". It's a such a repugnant, lazy excuse for justification.
Also, another thing that came across is the crazy stereotypes people have transvestite and trasgender people. One of my "friends" (I'm seriously questioning this status; I've never known people to be so fucking dim) came to the conclusion that this man was obviously a pedophile and a rapist because the transvestite had been to see previous shows before, and because they were dressed in women's clothing. I suppose it's just a shock reaction, as he has probably not seen many transvestites in his lifetime, and also to get a cheap laugh at the man's expense.
So anyway, I'm just in utter disbelief at the totally accepted prejudices that people have, and then the nonchalance when reproached with having such backward views. As I have said, it seems still perfectly acceptable for society to ostracize gays, transsexuals, transvestites and lesbians or any other sort of non-mainstream minority group. Has anyone else come across such abhorrent behaviour against the LGBTQ community? I think these fucked-up views need challenging, especially as they're seemingly so acceptable. Thanks for taking the time to read my rant.