Social Issues Paper
The Standpoint Theory (ST) is the foundation to understanding how society functions (West Turner, 2000). Whether written or implied, society has deemed what is considered to be acceptable and intolerable. In todays society, it is not acceptable to smoke cigarettes in most indoor restaurants because doing so violates a non-smokers right to breathe clean air. The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is representative of the ST. The ST respects the statements, assertions, and theories of individuals as they understand a situation to be (West Turner, 2000). Opinions are expressed in many ways. Some people voice their opinions and beliefs through newspaper editorials, comment blogs and message boards on the internet, and by attending town hall meetings and taking a stand by standing up for their beliefs. In essence, all of these individuals are exercising the ST and putting it to the test.
There is an old saying that speaks of the squeakiest wheel getting the oil. That is reminiscent of the ST. One person who voices their opinion sometimes rallies more individuals and encourages others to stand-up for their beliefs as well. Atticus Finch, father and lawyer, from the movie took such a stand. He was a white lawyer defending a black man who was charged with raping a white woman. In 1932 Alabama, the finding of guilt would most assuredly guarantee that the defendant would be put to death. The film never revealed if Atticus Finch was representing the black man because the court appointed him to do so or if it was a private arrangement. Either way, Finch represented the man as he would have anyone else.
Finch was the father to two small children, a boy named Jem and a girl named Scout. Scout was the younger of the two and very much a tomboy. She and her brother carried on as children did in that time. They romped and played during the long summer days and enjoyed the evenings with their father once he got home. Their mother died two years earlier. Despite their father being a lawyer, they were told that they were indeed poor. Scout questioned their level of poverty by comparing her family to another family she knew of. It was her way of understanding poverty. The children were cared for, as was the family home, by a black woman. This was common as another elderly woman in their neighborhood was also cared for by a black woman. Living arrangements were still segregated during those times. There appeared to be a white part of town and a black part of town (Mulligan Pakula, 1962).
Jem and Scout loved scavenging and running about. They lived next door to an older gentleman who was mentally retarded. This health dilemma was unknown to Jem and Scout. Other neighborhood children had made-up a story about the recluse man describing him as some sort of monster. Scout, only six years old, believed everything she was told by her brother. The story grew and was added to. One evening, Jem and Scout and a neighborhood boy decided to try to get a view of the monster, only they were discovered ran home out of fear of being caught.
Jem lost his pants as they became snagged on some barbwire fencing. Once home the dilemma of how to explain the missing pants to Atticus became unbearable, and Jem decided to run back to get them. Scout was reassured that everything would be fine despite her fears. Soon after Jem left, Scout began hearing gunshots, but before she could become completely upset Jem returned. The two would eventually have an actual run-in with their monster.
After a fall recital at their school for Halloween, the two were walking home. Jem apparently fell somehow and injured his head very seriously, and it was the monster that carried him home to Atticus. The family doctor was called in, and it was determined that Jem had a concussion. Following that incident, Scout would leave little toys inside of a tree outside the monsters home. The monster would retrieve the toy and replace it with something of his. This continued through the duration of the movie. This is an important tidbit that will prove useful in supporting the ST.
Atticus Finch continued to represent the black man, and he was soon caught up in the trial. The days were long and the courtroom was hot as it was summer again. Finch went one evening to visit the family of his defendant and explain some of the legal aspects of the case. Jem rode along with his father that night. While waiting in the car for his father to come out, one of the defendants children came up to the car. The two boys locked eyes and just stared at one another. It was probably Jems first time being that close to a black child his own age. A few moments later, a drunken white man showed up staggering out of the woods and slurring racial obscenities towards the car. He was unaware that Finchs child was inside. The drunkard started beating on the car and attempted to grab the boy through an open window. Jem told the little black boy to please go and get his father. Finch appeared on the porch a few moments later and called the drunkard by his name. The drunkard screamed racial obscenities towards Finch, but Finch acted as though he had not heard.
Scout, Jem, and their caretaker began attending the trial, as did most of the town. It was later proven that the white woman had lied about the rape, and the black man was acquitted. The white woman would have preferred lying about being raped and watch an innocent black man be put to death in order to protect her secret of having a voluntary affair with a different black man. The trial is symbolic much in the same way Scout and the monsters situation of exchanging toys is symbolic. Both represent a fear of the unknown, but once given the chance a positive outcome could be revealed (Orbe, 1998). Atticus and Scout exercised the Standpoint Theory. They both went against the grain of what society had deemed appropriate and normal. Atticus defended a man of another race because he was a human being (Cooks Simpson, 2007). Scout befriended the monster because he had saved her brother in spite of the idle chatter of the neighborhood children.
The Standpoint Theory, once a feminist supported theory, recognizes the experiences and struggles of a specific cultural group, including co-cultural groups through alternate understanding (Orbe, 1998). The ST supported the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s as African-Americans stood together and spoke out against the discriminations and maltreatments of their culture and ethnicity despite the sometimes violent retaliation and response from their opposition. While some members of the white race and some members of the black race held opposing views during the Civil Rights era, the Standpoint Theory still represented both sides as each was standing on a personal and profound belief.
All white people do not think alike, just as not all black people think alike. During the Civil Rights movement, many white people supported the cause and wanted to see an end to segregation and the inhumane treatment of black people. Cooks and Simpson state that social locations in terms of race, ethnicity, religion, and other cultural groups have a profound effect on how one exerts the Standpoint Theory (2007). There are obvious differences physically beyond the color of skin, but society should recognize that black people and white people are all human beings deserving of respect. Even 50 years after the Civil Right movement took place, there are still individuals who cannot conceive or even entertain that aforementioned notion.
There are structures within society that influence the vantage points of the Standpoint Theory (Cooks Simpson, 2007). Society today is representative of hard-working people just trying to stay afloat, but some cultural groups seem to be helped by government run programs and state programs more often than others. Some now scream that this is reverse discrimination, while others merely suggest that it is affirmative action in action. No matter what side is defended, it will most likely guarantee an argument.
The media does a wonderful job of keeping the racial tensions and arguments alive. White people are often portrayed as living in the deep-south or middle-eastern states, living in mobile homes, being the product of inbreeding, beer drinkers, and not being able to speak proper English through their own two teeth. The same thing happens to black people. They are portrayed as people who are addicted to crack, products of broken homes, living in housing projects, are high school drop-outs, and are either going to or just got out of prison. Neither portrayal is correct, but too many people within society believe everything they see and hear on television. This leaves each group to defend itself among society. Tensions remain heightened, and the level of public moral is once again lowered.
The movie was released in 1962 at the very beginning of the Civil Rights movement. Whether or not this movie had any influence of lingering effect on any of the participants of the Civil Rights movement has never been determined, although it does set a good example for members of the white culture to follow. During the Civil Rights movement, supporters were forced to endure cruel and violent acts of malice performed against them. They were sprayed with fire hoses, beaten by police with billiclubs, had their homes and churches set ablaze, and some were even killed. All of this occurred because they wanted the same rights as the white man.
The white culture responded out of fear. They feared having to share some of their power, and they feared losing their power. The Standpoint Theory supports the white mans argument despite its redundancy. Their fears motivated them to react in ways that were dehumanizing and criminal. There was never anything to be feared. Where was the harm is allowing all children to get a good education Where was the harm in allowing a black man to purchase food prepared by a white man in a restaurant There was nothing to be feared except the amount of pride that stood to be lost by the white man. If more people gave reverent thought to their actions before acting, then maybe society would not be a system of organized chaos. Simple legal terms today still sing the tune of racism, only now the racism is directed towards the Latino and Hispanic cultures.
The movie, To Kill a Mockingbird, focused on the levels of poverty, protest, moral tolerance, and racism from 1932 Alabama. Through the Standpoint Theory, the movies main character,
Atticus Finch, was able to teach the importance of tolerance and equality. He defended a black man accused of raping a white woman in a period that could have cost him or his children their very lives (Mulligan Pakula, 1962). Not every person agrees with what society has termed to be the norm. Some people are actually brave enough to stand-up against the ruling authority and demand change. The Standpoint Theory strongly advocates one speaking out against the status quo of a situation (West Turner, 2000). The ST is not shy in pointing out where society is thinking or acting wrong. Sometimes the best decisions come out of struggle and tribulation.
To Kill a Mockingbird is a wonderful family movie, in spite of the plot. It takes a very delicate situation and teaches the importance of equality for people of all ages to comprehend. Atticus Finch took on a dangerous situation as did Scout. Scouts circumstances were different, but still equally as frightening to a very young child. By using the ST, both situations taught the lesson of learning out of fear. Most importantly, it taught society not to judge a book by its cover. Things may not always be the way one thinks. The ST challenges society to think outside of the box and view the circumstances of a situation on a larger scale instead of through such a narrow lens. Too often, one does not take into consideration the standpoint or position of the opposing side. Much light can be shed onto a subject through words, assertions, and thoughts of an individual using the Standpoint Theory to support their opinion surrounding a problem. Martin Luther King, Jr. did just that during the Civil Rights movement. He did not advocate violence nor did he support violence being a means of solving a problem. Instead he supported the verbal rationalization of a problem and compromising from both sides.
It would not be an unreasonable request to ask that this theory be taught in the public school sector as it is an excellent way to solve problems. There is entirely too much violence within society today. It should also be suggested that movies like To Kill a Mockingbird be asserted into a public school curriculum as many learn through watching and example rather than reading on their own. Movies certainly are not made today like they were years ago. This wonderful movie and priority theory of communication are to be appreciated. They teach valuable life lessons that are deserving of societys embrace and following.
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