This Blog is a resource tool for the students taking the "FACING HISTORY AND OURSELVES" elective at Westborough High School, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
PERIOD 6 - LITTLE BOXES
Today you read the story "Little Boxes" in class. Please share your thoughts about the story and the class discussion that followed in a reflective post. Make at least one comment about another student's post.
33 comments:
Patrick Doran
said...
In "Little Boxs" I can see why he has conflicting feeling on how to classify himself with the limited options, unlike him I do not come from a family with a diverse backround so am unable to relate how I would respond to this situation. Although I do see that one box cannot display who a person truley is.
I agree with Patrick that one box simply cannot display who a person truly is. In the story "Little boxes", Wright seemed to take the boxes personally and they ruled his thoughts on who he was. I think he should forget about the boxes defining who he is, and learn about himself to start finding who he really is. People tend to generalize about others and place them into groups. We make assumptions about these people we group into categories and judge them based off those connotations although they may be completely false.
In "Little Boxes" Anthony Wright has trouble identifying his identity. He has a diverse background and when it comes to checking off boxes he is unsure of which ones to check off. I could see how this could become a problem and something that would be very frustrating. I believe that stereotypes can be made based off of the boxes that people check off. In reality there is much more that you can learn about a person than a few checked off boxes will tell you, and they are not a reason to judge a person.
Like Pat, I also cannot relate to Anthony Wright's conflict with checking off the boxes but I could see how something like that could be so difficult with such a diverse background.
I think people like categorizing other people into so-called boxes because its the easy way out. Yet, we consider it rude when people fail to recognize how vibrant their personal background is. Evidently we just naturally hold ourselves to a different standard than we do others. Today's discussion made we question why the "little boxes" in our lives arrise so much. If you learn so much more from the things that couldn't be checked off in a box, wouldn't that be worth it? And if not, why would the information in the box be necessary at all?
I agree with what Johanna and Patrick are saying. Don't doubt your personal identity just because it doesn't fit in a box. (This even goes back to the bear, just because he ended up working at the factory, that didn't make him any less of a bear.)
In "Little Boxes" Anthony is frustrated with checking off these boxes that are supposed to define him. I understand why he feels that way due to his diverse background and other important characteristics that are true to him. The boxes don't define who a person is and they don't give someone a chance to explain who they really are.
I agree with Pat on his comment about not experiencing the same dilemma Anthony had. My background is somewhat diverse but it doesn't bother me that when I come across these boxes, I don't put down every bit of that information.
In "Little Boxes" the person is conflicted because of they way society looks to classify people with one word. His background is so diverse and different that one word is not enough to satisfy it. Everyone is different in their own way and who they are and their identity is not able to be limited to one word and this author sees that and takes it personally because of how diverse his background is.
I agree with Avalon. The boxes don’t define people or give them the chance to explain who they really are. I understand why this frustrated him, but at the same time Anthony knows who he is and that is the most important part.
I felt like Wright was making a valid point in "Little Boxes." I understand how it may be hard to associate yourself with a single group when your birth ethinicity is not what you associate yourself with. It can be hard for people in general to not generalize and make stereotypes because they can be true. Most people chose to associate themselves with a group, which is how they would be generalized. In talking to people, I think Wright should be able to be both sides of himself but I checking boxes I feel like he should mark "other" and distiguish who is choses to associate himself with.
I completely agree with Stephanie. I think people do hold themselves to different standards than they do others. They see themselves as an individual and don't want to be generalized while naturally generalizing others. I also agree that filling out boxes isn't actually necessary on forms and the purpose is usually irrelivant.
I was very interesting to read "little Boxes" because I have never had a dilema like Wright's. It brought to my attention how other people may have difficulties identifying with one box or any of the boxes given. Wright also brings up a good point that although he may bilogically identify with one box it does not mean that he feels that he is truely a memeber of that group. My group also discussed how it may be difficult for biracial people to identify with members of their race or ethnicity. For example someone whose parents are white and black, depending on the darkness of their skin it may be difficult for them to identify with one of both of the races they belong to. I though this was a very interesting article.
I agree with Meghan that people can make steroetypes based off the boxes that we check of. I can see how people make generalizations due to the categories we create with those boxes. However, everyone is different and its important to know that.
I believe that "Little Boxes" presents the issue of defining a person in one word or phrase. Even when you are able to categorize yourself into one word, there's so many stereotypes and beliefs that stem from that label, that don't cover everything about that individual. Therefore categorizing people into "little boxes" takes away the individuality and fills it with common beliefs and ideas about a certain type of person. I found this article important because I find myself feeling the same way sometimes in relation to religion. My mother comes from a Jewish background and my father from a Catholic one. I still go to church with my grandparents, but am not a strong follower in either religion so I have a hard time defining what religion I would categorize myself under.
I agree with Catherine's point about Meghan's post. I feel it's important for everyone to understand each other's differences and be able to appreciate those people for who they are. I think its also very important what Johanna said as a comment to Pat's post that everyone should learn to completely understand who they are. Understanding like this might help how we tend to generalize based on appearance, because if we don't understand who we are, we won't be able to understand others.
People prefer to categorize others in "boxes", because it is easier understand a large group of people with the same characteristic, than to understand one person with a variety of traits. Yet this process works both ways. Not only do people make generalizations about others, but they identify themselves with a group as well. As a result, they ignore the characteristics of themselves that do not fit with that specific category, and conform entirely to the group. People want to fit in with a group. In order to do so, they relinquish their identity, until they believe that they and the category are one. This causes a change in identity.
I agree with Kylie about the issue of defining one's self among a society filled with generalizations. There is so much pressure to choose a category to align yourself with, that you lose sight of who you actually are. People who come from mixed race/religious backgrounds should not have to choose one side and toss aside the other half, because that forces them to disregard half of their identity.
I can see why Anthony Wright has such a hard time trying to check off which box he belongs in because he is made up of so many different ethnicities. However, I do not think that Wright should feel that he is losing part of his identity by checking off a box because what is written down on a piece of paper should not define a person. Wright knows how he is a mixture of all these different cultures so it shouldn't matter that an application does't convey this because it is just a piece of paper. I think Wright puts too much weight on these little boxes.
I agree with Stephanie's comment about how we expect different standards from other people. Like it is okay for you to categorize a person but if that same person turned around and tried to categorize you then you'd be upset. This highlights a major flaw in our society; the issue of double standards.
I think that the story "Little Boxes" clearly presents the issues that come with the generalization of people. Many people feel that they deserved to be recognized by the unique qualities that make them who they are. They therefore find it offensive when they are forced to place themselves under one specific title. The system of little boxes often presents confusion as well, for the people who feel they do not fit perfectly under one category. Personally, I do understand why the system of little boxes is both offensive and confusing to many individuals However, I do not personally experience the same feelings when I am requested to mark myself into a "little box."
In addition to my comment, I agree with Meghan that another problem that comes with the little boxes is the opportunity to stereotype. If a person marks him/herself into a box, judgments are often made about that person before their true identity is exposed.
Its hard for me to personally relate with the story since I don't really have a mixture of backgrounds but I can understand how hard it is to describe yourself as one background when you are actually multiple backgrounds attached to you.
In Little Boxes, the character seems really truly lost about himself and how he plays a role in society. He doesn't know what about him he could possibly change to make him fit in with everyone else. By the end of the story however, he has found his true identity. He knows he doesn't need to change anything about himself to fit in that there is nothing wrong with him, but that it is society.
I agree with Meghan. Sterotypes are a common and difficult thing for people to overcome. The boxes lead to sterotypes, whether people mean to do so or not. They lead to judgments that can be positive for that person, but often they can be very negative.
The author of this story has a hard time figuring out his identity. He feels pressure to identity himself with one of his ethnicities, when he is made of of many different ethnicities. Since his background is so diverse, he doesn't feel that he can be identified by just one ethnicity.
In "Little Boxes", I really admired Anthony Wright for the pride he took in his many different heritages and cultures. He is completely right in the idea that not one race should limit a person- because we are all made up of many different cultures, and all of these come together to mold us into who we are.
I agree with Meghan in saying that the boxes don't fully identify a person. Based on this small detail of race when checking off these boxes, assumptions can be made no matter what. One characteristic of a person shouldn't be able to portray them completely.
33 comments:
In "Little Boxs" I can see why he has conflicting feeling on how to classify himself with the limited options, unlike him I do not come from a family with a diverse backround so am unable to relate how I would respond to this situation. Although I do see that one box cannot display who a person truley is.
I agree with Patrick that one box simply cannot display who a person truly is. In the story "Little boxes", Wright seemed to take the boxes personally and they ruled his thoughts on who he was. I think he should forget about the boxes defining who he is, and learn about himself to start finding who he really is. People tend to generalize about others and place them into groups. We make assumptions about these people we group into categories and judge them based off those connotations although they may be completely false.
In "Little Boxes" Anthony Wright has trouble identifying his identity. He has a diverse background and when it comes to checking off boxes he is unsure of which ones to check off. I could see how this could become a problem and something that would be very frustrating. I believe that stereotypes can be made based off of the boxes that people check off. In reality there is much more that you can learn about a person than a few checked off boxes will tell you, and they are not a reason to judge a person.
Like Pat, I also cannot relate to Anthony Wright's conflict with checking off the boxes but I could see how something like that could be so difficult with such a diverse background.
I like what Johanna said in that he should not take the categorizing personally and not worry what that they don't define who he is
I think people like categorizing other people into so-called boxes because its the easy way out. Yet, we consider it rude when people fail to recognize how vibrant their personal background is. Evidently we just naturally hold ourselves to a different standard than we do others. Today's discussion made we question why the "little boxes" in our lives arrise so much. If you learn so much more from the things that couldn't be checked off in a box, wouldn't that be worth it? And if not, why would the information in the box be necessary at all?
I agree with what Johanna and Patrick are saying. Don't doubt your personal identity just because it doesn't fit in a box. (This even goes back to the bear, just because he ended up working at the factory, that didn't make him any less of a bear.)
In "Little Boxes" Anthony is frustrated with checking off these boxes that are supposed to define him. I understand why he feels that way due to his diverse background and other important characteristics that are true to him. The boxes don't define who a person is and they don't give someone a chance to explain who they really are.
I agree with Pat on his comment about not experiencing the same dilemma Anthony had. My background is somewhat diverse but it doesn't bother me that when I come across these boxes, I don't put down every bit of that information.
i was absent
In "Little Boxes" the person is conflicted because of they way society looks to classify people with one word. His background is so diverse and different that one word is not enough to satisfy it. Everyone is different in their own way and who they are and their identity is not able to be limited to one word and this author sees that and takes it personally because of how diverse his background is.
I agree with Avalon. The boxes don’t define people or give them the chance to explain who they really are. I understand why this frustrated him, but at the same time Anthony knows who he is and that is the most important part.
I felt like Wright was making a valid point in "Little Boxes." I understand how it may be hard to associate yourself with a single group when your birth ethinicity is not what you associate yourself with. It can be hard for people in general to not generalize and make stereotypes because they can be true. Most people chose to associate themselves with a group, which is how they would be generalized. In talking to people, I think Wright should be able to be both sides of himself but I checking boxes I feel like he should mark "other" and distiguish who is choses to associate himself with.
I completely agree with Stephanie. I think people do hold themselves to different standards than they do others. They see themselves as an individual and don't want to be generalized while naturally generalizing others. I also agree that filling out boxes isn't actually necessary on forms and the purpose is usually irrelivant.
I was very interesting to read "little Boxes" because I have never had a dilema like Wright's. It brought to my attention how other people may have difficulties identifying with one box or any of the boxes given. Wright also brings up a good point that although he may bilogically identify with one box it does not mean that he feels that he is truely a memeber of that group. My group also discussed how it may be difficult for biracial people to identify with members of their race or ethnicity. For example someone whose parents are white and black, depending on the darkness of their skin it may be difficult for them to identify with one of both of the races they belong to. I though this was a very interesting article.
I agree with Meghan that people can make steroetypes based off the boxes that we check of. I can see how people make generalizations due to the categories we create with those boxes. However, everyone is different and its important to know that.
I believe that "Little Boxes" presents the issue of defining a person in one word or phrase. Even when you are able to categorize yourself into one word, there's so many stereotypes and beliefs that stem from that label, that don't cover everything about that individual. Therefore categorizing people into "little boxes" takes away the individuality and fills it with common beliefs and ideas about a certain type of person. I found this article important because I find myself feeling the same way sometimes in relation to religion. My mother comes from a Jewish background and my father from a Catholic one. I still go to church with my grandparents, but am not a strong follower in either religion so I have a hard time defining what religion I would categorize myself under.
I agree with Catherine's point about Meghan's post. I feel it's important for everyone to understand each other's differences and be able to appreciate those people for who they are. I think its also very important what Johanna said as a comment to Pat's post that everyone should learn to completely understand who they are. Understanding like this might help how we tend to generalize based on appearance, because if we don't understand who we are, we won't be able to understand others.
People prefer to categorize others in "boxes", because it is easier understand a large group of people with the same characteristic, than to understand one person with a variety of traits. Yet this process works both ways. Not only do people make generalizations about others, but they identify themselves with a group as well. As a result, they ignore the characteristics of themselves that do not fit with that specific category, and conform entirely to the group. People want to fit in with a group. In order to do so, they relinquish their identity, until they believe that they and the category are one. This causes a change in identity.
I agree with Kylie about the issue of defining one's self among a society filled with generalizations. There is so much pressure to choose a category to align yourself with, that you lose sight of who you actually are. People who come from mixed race/religious backgrounds should not have to choose one side and toss aside the other half, because that forces them to disregard half of their identity.
I can see why Anthony Wright has such a hard time trying to check off which box he belongs in because he is made up of so many different ethnicities. However, I do not think that Wright should feel that he is losing part of his identity by checking off a box because what is written down on a piece of paper should not define a person. Wright knows how he is a mixture of all these different cultures so it shouldn't matter that an application does't convey this because it is just a piece of paper. I think Wright puts too much weight on these little boxes.
I agree with Stephanie's comment about how we expect different standards from other people. Like it is okay for you to categorize a person but if that same person turned around and tried to categorize you then you'd be upset. This highlights a major flaw in our society; the issue of double standards.
I think that the story "Little Boxes" clearly presents the issues that come with the generalization of people. Many people feel that they deserved to be recognized by the unique qualities that make them who they are. They therefore find it offensive when they are forced to place themselves under one specific title. The system of little boxes often presents confusion as well, for the people who feel they do not fit perfectly under one category. Personally, I do understand why the system of little boxes is both offensive and confusing to many individuals However, I do not personally experience the same feelings when I am requested to mark myself into a "little box."
In addition to my comment, I agree with Meghan that another problem that comes with the little boxes is the opportunity to stereotype. If a person marks him/herself into a box, judgments are often made about that person before their true identity is exposed.
I agree with Patrick Doran about how he feels conflicting about how he should label himself since his personality is so vast.
Its hard for me to personally relate with the story since I don't really have a mixture of backgrounds but I can understand how hard it is to describe yourself as one background when you are actually multiple backgrounds attached to you.
In Little Boxes, the character seems really truly lost about himself and how he plays a role in society. He doesn't know what about him he could possibly change to make him fit in with everyone else. By the end of the story however, he has found his true identity. He knows he doesn't need to change anything about himself to fit in that there is nothing wrong with him, but that it is society.
I agree with Meghan. Sterotypes are a common and difficult thing for people to overcome. The boxes lead to sterotypes, whether people mean to do so or not. They lead to judgments that can be positive for that person, but often they can be very negative.
The author of this story has a hard time figuring out his identity. He feels pressure to identity himself with one of his ethnicities, when he is made of of many different ethnicities. Since his background is so diverse, he doesn't feel that he can be identified by just one ethnicity.
I agree with Max's point that someone can't just be identified by one word. Everyone is unique so one word isn't enough to describe them
In "Little Boxes", I really admired Anthony Wright for the pride he took in his many different heritages and cultures. He is completely right in the idea that not one race should limit a person- because we are all made up of many different cultures, and all of these come together to mold us into who we are.
I agree with Meghan in saying that the boxes don't fully identify a person. Based on this small detail of race when checking off these boxes, assumptions can be made no matter what. One characteristic of a person shouldn't be able to portray them completely.
james yi
i agree what cara said
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