Rosenblum and Travis

There was quite a lot covered in the Framework Essay: Constructing Categories of Difference written by Karen Rosenblum and Toni-Michelle Travis. The main thesis of this work dealt with how people are put into groups, which usually consist of opposing two sides like male verse female for example, and the ways that these groups are categorized and stereotyped. The article first started out by bringing in the term master status, a social structure that influences every other aspect of life. Next, the author defined the expressionist perspective and the constructionist perspective. “Naming”/creating different social groups was talked about, which include race, sex, disability, sexual orientation, etc. The terms aggregating and disaggregating were defined and made applicable to the topic. An aggregate category of people is known to be the combination of several different groups, where as a disaggregate category of people is the aggregate category cut up into pieces due to certain common characteristics. Finally, the term dichotomizing is introduced with it being defined as diving something into two parts. From there, the topics of race, sexual orientation, sex, disability, and the “Other” were told how they were broken down into 2 groups. Race was broken down to black or white, sexual orientation by straight or gay, etc. In each category, the advantages as being stereotyped into one group verses the other one were stated, as well as the disadvantages. It was mentioned in the writing that a master status would usually have two opposing groups with sometimes three as in the example of sexual orientation. Were only the categories mentioned in the essay like race, sexual orientation, etc the only master statuses in our country. Also if there are others, could there be too many opposing views to make it a master like say if there were five or six opposing groups instead of two to three? Overall, I understood the essay, but it was hard to follow at times. Many new vocabulary terms were introduced, which made it hard to understand. I really enjoyed reading how the author compared the two sides of opposite groups and her explanation as to why they were stereotyped in that way. I also liked how this reading brought into light some new stereotyped groups that we have yet to talk about in class such as the disabled. I feel often that people with disabilities are often judged and/or overlooked in our society.