I think the beauty industry- thanks to YouTube, and shows like Drag Race- has become extremely diverse in the past 10 years. It’s still, by majority, a womens market, but there is a lot more advertisements with men and extremely more with women of color in the United States. I can’t say the same for places like Japan and South Korea where it’s all either Korea, Japanese, or white women in advertisements. Also a huge difference here in the U.S, is that we have makeup lines that have over 50 different foundation shades where in Japan and Korea I think the most a brand has is 14- and that was recent too even then all those 14 shades are light or pale, no tan or darker tones. Another thing I noticed in the chapter is it mentions to google image search the word “beauty” and the photo in the book is completely out-dated; the first 5 images are women of color, and even 2 of them with natural hair and no makeup and a few of people with body fat. I think thanks to Kim Kardashian, Tara Banks, and even the #metoo movement;  the waves of ‘loving your curves’ really took off here in America. Even one of my favorite makeup brands M.A.C. Cosmetics, their main ad right now is a slightly over weight Hispanic woman and their website mainly shows women of color, the model showing the lighter foundation is Asian as well. Sephora’s main ad on their website right now even shows women in their 50s and older, which is shocking compared to even just a few years ago. This is new for older women to be representatives of beauty, and awesome in my opinion. I would say if you just searched beauty it’s only women but if your looking more widely and also at what’s popular right now, there are several men in this category too. But it’s only really ‘attractive’ men or men in K-pop groups or makeup gurus like James Charles. I would like to agree with Razek of Victoria Secret that beauty is a standard-but I don’t agree with him that transsexual and plus size women aren’t beautiful in their own way. However- with plus size I think health is a huge issue.  For me; I do think you should be confident and love your self, but, I think promoting obesity can cause many health issues.  Healthy is beautiful- but I am kind of ‘old fashioned’ and think that  skinny, clean skin, long hair is beautiful. I think women should be strong but not too strong and that’s just my opinion. I think diversity and the changing of the term beautiful and what’s considered beautiful is forever changing and extremely more these past few years and years to come. Some things I think that traditionally have been considered beautiful I think will last ages as they already have.

Since we are not able to physically go into stores right now due to Covid-19 I looked at the top 3 places online that came to mind: Walmart, Target, and Amazon. One of the first things I noticed is in the search bar when you type in ‘toy’ the suggestions say things like ‘toys for girls 3-6 years’, ‘toys for girls 8-11 years’, ‘toys for boys 3-6 years’, ‘toys for 1 year old’.  I understand the 1 year old suggestion for people shopping for showers, etc,  but I thought it was quite interesting and specific- the boys/girls and age ranges. When I just searched ‘toys’ a lot of gender neutral toys and games came up mostly just bright colors; more rainbow, then either the usual blue or pink. But, one thing that caught my eye was a car one of those for kids to drive around in and in the photo the boy child was driving and girl in the passenger seat it came up in several of these type of toy ads/photos, giving more power to the boy child and that the girl just needs to sit to the side and look cute. The difference though when you click on their suggestions of ‘toys for girls 3-6 years’ and ‘toys for boys 3-6 years’ is vastly different girls are all pink and mostly dolly type things or doll houses; and boys are robots and cars or dinosaurs. So, you can extremely tell which is supposed to be for boys or girls. Now though I think it all depends on the parent because when I was a child, if I wanted hot wheels or bionicles my parents let me have them; or if I wanted Bratz dolls or a kids makeup set they bought them for me as well. I always had a choice; I was never told which toys I could or could not have. I see in marketing how extreme they are to target to either boys or girls but as children I don’t think they see that at all- at leas,t I have no memory of it. If I saw a cool toy that was all, the whole toy section was my section.

1. What race are you? 

I, according to the Census, am white or Caucasian, but; according to my parents and my ancestry.com,I am mostly Irish then Portuguese and lastly European. 

2, How do you know? How do you make that decision? 

I don’t think you can “make a decision” about what race you are. I’m very much into Japanese culture but I can’t sit here and say “I’m Japanese” because that’s not where my heritage is from. How I know is because of my parents and where I come from, also, I know in more detail because a few years ago I did ancestry.com which gives you actual percentages on what “race” you are. 

3. How did you learn what race you are? Can you tell me about some early messages you first received about race in general or your race in particular? 

I learned as I stated in the last question from my parents. As a child I went to a private Christian school in the small town of Lodi, California. In my childhood school, there was only 1 nonwhite kid in my grade. We learned how America is the big mixing pot, but really I didn’t see or understand that until probably high school. Even then; I went to Lodi High the “better” public school where the majority of people around me were all white. It wasn’t till I started getting more into my ancestry that I realized how many different races a “white person” could be. 

4. How do you decide what other races people are? Examples? 

When I was younger I would have straight up just said by their skin tone and how they look. Now that I’ve gotten more into Asian culture I find it really irritating how some black and white Americans just label an Asian looking person Chinese as if there’s no other Asian races. I’ve even seen some people say, “Oh -they must be Japanese”. Because of my own knowledge of Asian languages, I can clearly tell if  they’re speaking Korean and vice versa. I’ve become much more sensitive to just flat out calling someone a certain race when they might even be a mix. 

5. How do other people decide what race you are? Examples? 

I think that’s the easy thing with white people that were all just considered white even though I like to think deeper then that because where your ancestry comes from is a beautiful thing to know and be proud of. One example I will say, that always makes me laugh, is before people see me (I’ve gotten hired for jobs because of people assuming this before they see me) is that my last name is Silva; so lots of people before they see how white (and mainly Irish I am) think I can speak Spanish and when I explain to them I don’t and if anything I’d speak Portuguese because my last name is Portuguese they just don’t understand or know what that is. 

What is race? Good question I do agree that the human race would be a nice way to think of it but in the world we live in as we discussed in class then there would be no prejudice or discrimination which has driven our world for years for better or worse but also having the knowledge of our world and how many different types of people are in it is amazing to me, and a great way to show pride in yourself especially how far and vast we can travel to find and meet so many different races and cultures leading to the second question. What does it mean to say race is socially constructed? Without certain races making this decision as we discussed in class Europeans deciding what race is higher then the other but also was when we first started to travel and see how vast and different our planet is as well as all the humans living on it. If we all just would have stayed put and not had contact with others would race be a thing? 

The three people I interviewed (in email you said 3 instead of 5 was ok)

person 1

1. I consider myself white, not sure how else I would answer this.

2. I know I’m white due to my heritage and skin tone. My mother’s family is from Russia and my fathers family is from Germany. 

3. I learned I was white from my family and was taught in elementary school about race and ethnicity. Also, that this country was a place for all races to come together. So I knew there were other races at a young age but didn’t begin to realize the differences between them socially until I began middle school. 

4. I guess other races mainly by skin tone cause it’s the easiest to associate. Until speaking to someone you can’t determine a persons race. Their accent- to their actions could all be determining factors also. Some examples would be, people that are Asian would generally have more of yellowish warm skin tone as opposed to a person that is African that is more of a deep darker skin tone. 

5. The general public will all assume I am white due to my skin tone before any words come out of my mouth or any actions are done. As an example for me to walk in a location where there was predominantly African-Americans they would see my skin tone and assume I was white because of my skin. Even if I was born in South Africa. That’s why I believe it is not right to classify by race or ethnicity due to the unknown. Either way we are all on this earth for a reason and there shouldn’t be anything to set us back in regards to equality of man. The past has created false stereotypes that preceded into the future that are very hard to step away from cause everyone has their own view on race. 

person 2

1.   I am a mixture of several races, including; Portugues, English, French, North Africa (Moorish), Southern Eropean, and a tad Jewish.

2.  As an Anthropologist I understand that I share a set of cultural values passed down from family unit to family unit, grand parent to grandchildren, parent to children, immediate relatives to cousins, etc.  These values grew larger and more diverse as marriage to those outside the immediate group came about either through choice of coercion.  The Moorish invasion of the Iberian peninsula added huge cultural changes.  My dad marrying my mom smaller changes, but those that can be identified culturally and genetically.As an Anthropologist the decision is one of definition, not choice.  All humans are one race.  To further define differences related to culture, Anthropologists from Boas to Dunnell have been defining and redlining what race and culture mean.  Sociologist and all of the humanities does the same thing, but through the lens from which they view the world and how different groups fit within that world.

3.  I recall early on learning that we were of Portuguese descent, originating in the Azores Is., from my grandmother.  We ate Portuguese food; soupish, davigna douse, frietas, etc.  

They left the Azores in the early 1920’s after my grandmother was excommunicated from the Catholic Church.  The only work they could get on the east coast was picking cranberries.  Now I know that this was the kind of work non-English speaking immigrants could get.  It was not an easy life when they arrived in Gloucester, MA. When they moved to San Diego, they were looked down on by the local catholic Portuguese, so they started sword fishing as a means to provide.  My dad was beaten up many times by the Catholic Portuguese as he attended school.  So we got the message that we did not belong to either white America and Catholic Portuguese.  My dad and all his siblings married white people, in an attempt to better fit into society.

4.  This is probably one of the funner aspects of being an Anthropologist.  Where to start?  Physical differences in the face and over all body structure give many clues. Hard to see a large brow-ridge and not think the person has Australian aborigine.  The pointed chin and nose make me think of England, etc.  Language accents are mostly an easy giveaway.  In short there are many physical attributes, language differences that give clues as to ones racial origins.  Mannerisms like how one holds a fork and knife to eat with.  It’s always fun when I am stumped to finally make a guess, or to just ask them what race they are. 

5. I have not found too many people in America who are all that interested in race; outside my anthropology friends.  In other countries I have found more interest.  Likely because the places I have been make it glaringly obvious that I am not from there.  For example; in Mexico I have some characteristic that are similar, but the way I dress and walk, and the language are dead giveaways.  I spent time in Australia and people there love conversation. Inevitably, due to the lack of a strong accent, where I come from comes up.

person 3

1. I am technically Caucasian. 

2. I know, foremost, because it is what I have been told-literally all my life. Thinking about the question of ‘how I made the decision’ makes me realize that it is not something I decided. I actually don’t think that my Race is something that I decide.

3. I learned in grade school. I probably figured out, or became conscious of my race in 3rd grade-i am presently 64 years old-so that makes it a long time ago. At the time- I thought that being Irish was actually my race.

4. I think I automatically notice a person’s color, the color of their eyes-definitely what language they speak-if they have an accent.  I then will notice their behaviors-some are cultural.

5. I am assuming-that people see that I am white skinned and have blue eyes, I speak English. So -some may not even know the word ‘Caucasian’ but they know that I am ‘white’.

I am a white woman- (specifically,mainly Irish and some Portuguese)- born in Fullerton, California, (next door to Anaheim), but predominantly raised in the small town of Lodi California. Both my parents are college educated and have their Masters Degrees, my dad in Anthropology and my mom in Education Administration. Growing up, I’ve always been for the most part accepting of all races unless someone does something to hurt me or things I don’t agree with (shoplifting trying to peer-pressure me into things I don’t agree with) but reading this chapter made me remember the first time I spent Thanksgiving with my boyfriend’s family, We have been together almost 10 years now, so this was a long time ago-but things have not changed that much when we go there for visits. He is very open to other races as I am, but lived in the poor side of town; the side of town where on a side note during our first year of dating my best friend (white) at the time lived in a gated community her dad(white) dropped me off at his house and after I got out of the car asked my best friend if I was “dating a Mexican boy” because of where he lived. He is half Russian and half German though, and to get back to my story of my first time going to his grandparents house for Thanksgiving was the first time I ever heard someone talk about other races in such a horrible way “niggers” “chinks” “wet backs”. I was in utter shock that his grandpa was such a racist. Since he was so old everybody just rubbed it off as “oh that’s just grandpa” but as this chapter talks about I felt like an alien- yes I am white but I’m not white like you. Which makes me question “can you be racist against your own race?” Some of the stories I read or videos I see online and what’s discussed in this chapter of white supremacists disgusts me and being on social media makes me hate how some other races or other country’s just think all white Americans act like this or are this. Growing up until that point I thought all that racism was just talk or just what happens in the south not here in California. Which as you talked about in class, California is pretty progressive but that doesn’t mean it’s not happening or in the back of people’s minds or what some like to talk about over a Thanksgiving meal. To be honest, some of the readings this week have been hard for me as a white American to try and write about. There are certain things I don’t think I’m allowed to talk about because according to my skin tone I’m “privileged’ which the world and our society makes me feel it’s not my place to address some of the issues in the readings that were discussed.

The title of this chapter for me personally, only makes me think of rap music because, for me, I’m a huge fan and lover of KPOP (Korean Pop Music) and in Korean pop music they take references from many different types of music like rap or electronic or Latino music even country music sometimes. Now, it’s looked at in a much more positive way then “cultural appropriation” and for me, a white American, to like kpop no one thinks of it negatively how most take the word “cultural appropriation” even though, sociologically, I now like to dress how kpop stars dress. It’s looked at more as an amazing way to spread and share culture rather then appropriating it. Now I understand for most- ‘back-in-the-day’, if you were to be a white rapper that would be looked at as cultural appropriation; but I think Eminem changed that immensely because of how he grew up in a black community and had black friends which has helped paved they way for many more amazing white rappers to be accepted into this rap community. Because like the book mentions, music is an art form and now it’s more about your actual talent; are you a “mumble rapper” or actually a rapper?  Both can have financial success and majority of “mumble rappers” now are black which I personally think is caused by institutionalized racism, and perhaps,  just not having the same education. With social media a lot of those barriers are being broke down where more then just the rich can listen to as many genres as they want I still agree with the book- that saying what type of music you listen you is a huge statement of who you are as an individual, but with social media and the internet a lot of these genres can be blended together and appreciated more widely by people. Personally, now I think it all comes down to that some people are negative but most humans appreciate when their art is praised and accepted by others no matter what race or social status they are.

First thing that struck me about this video is that it was made in 2012 and the narrator mentions that some of his research was from 2009- which I can’t imagine how vast this has changed since then. Wealthy getting even more wealthy and the poor becoming poorer. Also, in classes we talked about the real-verses the ideal; and even what people thoughtwas the real, is so far from what the reality actually is. From the previous entries, we had to read this week, it seems America is really good at keeping people working for something they think is attainable but truely is not; unless your born into it or become some type of celebrity. With what’s going on right now (Covid19) I’ve seen several posts online saying how the billionaires in our country could help so many of the people who recently became unemployed because of the pandemic and still be a billionaire and watching this video it’s seems extremely true. That ‘one guy’ (in the video) could have helped out all 99 others and still have so much more money.

Mentioned at the start of the chapter is how the poor provide jobs for others (ie: social workers, criminologist, journalist and much more).  When I personally think of poverty and the poor, I think of Diogenes who lived with pretty much nothing and needed nothing and believed in living a self controlled minimalist life. Which isn’t the way most poor look at their circumstances today because of the more you have the higher your status in our society mentality,(at least not globally). I also agree with Gans ’13 functions of the poor’- we need the poor to keep our society and economy functioning.

One thing I wanted to say about this chapter and the elite of the American Upper class, is with the internet and social media now a lot more walks of people and races are starting to get into that upper echelon. I could see for a rich white male or female having those people now able to enter their circle to be infuriating and even as an outsider or middle class person seeing things like Cardi B throwing her shoe at Nikki Minaj at the Met Gala would be a disgrace and would understand why they like to keep their circles so exclusive.

Reading this chapter was very interesting to me. To start, I’m all for technology and these next decades are going to have amazing advancements in that realm. I myself love technology. I’m a gamer and I own 3 VR sets. I also think for society; what VR is doing and can do for many people outside of gaming is beyond amazing and exciting. Technology such as Tesla, and self driving cars, which one day I hope to own. As I kept reading I also am an adventurer and traveler. I want to visit every place on this earth if possible- especially places such as Asian and India. I think their beliefs and roots in tradition that they still follow today is fascinating. And gives their cultures so much meaning. As nations and individuals their identies are deeply rooted in these belief systems; which is something we don’t really value here in the west; it really is beautiful. But also thanks to globalization, and the internet, I am able to travel to most places and have people speak some English. I hve learned but enough words and phrases to get me by and be respectful to the people and cultures I visit. So being one who loves the advancements we’re making but also the tradition and connection we have to the past I am definitely  caught between the ages.

The corporate brand that first came to mind to me was, of course, Apple. Which when they first came out, they were the cooler and more minimalist option- compared to other companies at the time. They knew better then the customers what was wanted; which is one of their main ideologies -which can seem negative but also makes it a lot easier for the consumer. We are raised almost to be like cattle, so I think a big reason why they’re so popular is how easy it is for consumers. The idea; that everyone else is buying so I might as well too. Apple seems to pay their employees quite well, and  gives them many options to move up or work in areas they are interested in which also helps add to why buying their products is just common sense or natural to most consumers.