Racist and Sexist Theories in Literature

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Questions and Answers

What characterizes implicit racism?

Racial beliefs that are openly discussed in society.

Conscious racial attitudes that are expressed verbally.

Acts of overt racism that are easily identifiable.

Racial biases that are non-intentional or unconscious. (correct)

How does Manne define misogyny in relation to patriarchal norms?

As an emotion that only a few men experience.

As an expression of natural male dominance.

As a deep-seated hatred of women by all men.

As the enforcement mechanism for a patriarchal order. (correct)

What does the term 'white privilege' refer to?

Societal benefits enjoyed simply due to being white in a hierarchical system of race. (correct)

Discrimination against racial minorities in institutional settings.

The systemic advantages experienced by people of color.

The absence of racial biases in social interactions.

What is the role of micro-aggressions in discussions of racism?

They reveal implicit racial attitudes through small statements or actions. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following concepts deals with exclusion from knowledge production?

Epistemic oppression Signup and view all the answers

Which analysis type does Manne utilize to explore misogyny?

Conceptual project to redefine misogyny. Signup and view all the answers

What is one aspect that distinguishes institutional racism from differential treatment?

Institutional racism must be perceived as unfair treatment. Signup and view all the answers

In what way can acts of misogyny occur, according to Manne?

They can occur without the intent of the perpetrator. Signup and view all the answers

What is the basis for rejecting racial anti-realism?

Race is an important social reality due to distinctive ways of life. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about gender epistemology is correct?

Many individuals clearly understand their gender identity from a young age. Signup and view all the answers

What does the normativity problem of gender entail?

A clear definition of gender fails to account for all individuals. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about the gender pay gap is true?

Women earn approximately 99 cents to every dollar a man earns when controlling for nearly all factors. Signup and view all the answers

What causes segregation according to the discussed model?

Segregation can happen both through law and spontaneous societal behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant reason for the continuation of practices like footbinding and FGM?

They secured potential economic advantages through the 'marriage premium.' Signup and view all the answers

Which perspective characterizes gender as an existential concept?

Individuals have personal authority to declare their own gender. Signup and view all the answers

How is race utilized in a medical context?

It is used for predicting medical prognosis and diagnosis. Signup and view all the answers

What is identified as a key reason for the prevalence of political disagreement?

Political irrationality Signup and view all the answers

How do political beliefs correlate with personal traits according to the content?

They cluster based on non-cognitive traits Signup and view all the answers

Why might individuals be epistemically irrational about politics?

Because political knowledge requires significant effort with little personal gain Signup and view all the answers

What role do political beliefs play in social interactions?

They act as tools for social bonding Signup and view all the answers

What behavior do people exhibit regarding their political opinions despite being wrong?

They display excessive confidence Signup and view all the answers

What is one characteristic of the 'politically engaged citizen' archetype discussed?

They maintain a strong and informed opinion Signup and view all the answers

How does Huemer argue political beliefs are shaped beyond logical reasoning?

They cluster despite having no logical relation Signup and view all the answers

What is a reason given for people disregarding the decisiveness of votes in certain states?

Everyone assumes their vote is wasted Signup and view all the answers

What concept does the phrase 'the unmentioned racial contract' refer to in political philosophy?

An implicit agreement among whites to share political rights at the expense of non-whites Signup and view all the answers

According to the theories discussed, which activity is considered as mixing one's labor for property rights?

Agriculture Signup and view all the answers

What is commonly viewed as the mistake of philosophers like Locke regarding their theories on rights?

They unjustly applied their analysis of rights to non-white people Signup and view all the answers

What justification did Locke provide regarding property rights and Native American societies?

The lack of agricultural practices in Native American societies justified taking their land Signup and view all the answers

Which philosopher's theory is often critiqued for its racial underpinnings in relation to property rights?

Locke Signup and view all the answers

What did Fitzhugh argue about the nature of capitalist society compared to slave society?

Capitalist society is more predatory than slave society. Signup and view all the answers

In 'Mein Kampf', how does Hitler view the concept of genius?

Genius is innate and not learned. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best captures Yockey's view on race?

Biological classifications of race are arbitrary. Signup and view all the answers

What characterization does Romanes give to men's and women's qualities?

Men's qualities are born of strength, women's of weakness. Signup and view all the answers

What was Wright's argument regarding women's suffrage?

Women are overly subjective and cannot be objective. Signup and view all the answers

How do the writings of Fitzhugh, Hitler, and Yockey commonly view the relationship between the individual and the group?

The individual should be subordinate to the group. Signup and view all the answers

What fundamental belief is shared by the three writers regarding social structure?

Society is inherently hierarchical and not egalitarian. Signup and view all the answers

According to the philosophies discussed, how is slavery viewed in relation to the individuals involved?

The liberty of the slave is seen as a burden rather than a gift. Signup and view all the answers

What does Caplan argue about the perception of unfairness between men and women?

Unfairnesses between genders are roughly equal. Signup and view all the answers

According to Benatar's perspective, what is a limitation of the feminist critique?

It fails to address unfair treatment of men. Signup and view all the answers

What critique does Sowell provide regarding intellectuals and their understanding of race and inequalities?

They fail to recognize individual and institutional knowledge. Signup and view all the answers

What is suggested as a possible method for eradicating practices like FGM?

Community pledge associations. Signup and view all the answers

What does Caplan state about the reasons why feminism seems valid to many?

Men's suffering is undervalued compared to women's. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes Hayek’s critique of intellectuals regarding their understanding of economic systems?

They prioritize theoretical knowledge over practical knowledge. Signup and view all the answers

What is one key factor that Sowell identifies as contributing to economic divergence between societies?

Political and economic institutions. Signup and view all the answers

What common perspective is challenged by both Caplan and Benatar regarding societal unfairness?

Some unfairnesses are a natural consequence of social evolution. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Racist Writings

Fitzhugh argued that restrictions on human liberty are natural and desirable, contrasting capitalist society's predatory nature with the less predatory system of slavery.
He believed in Christian morality as a justification for slavery, suggesting that since husbands have property rights over wives and children, it follows that masters have property rights over slaves.
Slavery of whites was deemed acceptable in principle, but racial strife was undesirable in practice.
Hitler's writings promoted a belief in the biological superiority of the Aryan race, emphasizing the struggle of the races and the triumph of a superior order.
He argued that man is subordinate to nature and thus the lesser races couldn't aspire to become the same as the Aryans.
Yockey's perspective on race contrasts with a biological view, considering race a spiritual force, with individuals defined by their race and societies fundamentally hierarchical.

Sexist Writings

Romanes's writings switch between descriptions and expected norms, arguing that men's qualities are strength and women's are weakness.
Wright presented a case against women's suffrage, arguing that women lack the intelligence and moral qualities needed for voting and are too subjective in thought to be impartial.
Appiah discusses racialism, a doctrine that races exist with fixed differences, and extrinsic racism, where differences between races result in differing moral traits. Appiah argues, however, racialism is not always morally reprehensible.
Extrinsic racism involves the belief that races have inherent differences, and this justifies differential treatment based on qualities perceived as inherent to the races. The reverse, intrinsic racism, is the belief that races inherently possess different moral worth, independently of other qualities.

Racism and Neoracisms

Zack differentiates between hearts-and-minds racism, which is individual racism, and institutional racism, where institutions or policies disadvantage certain racial groups.
Implicit racism refers to subconscious racial attitudes and microaggressions, which are small acts or statements revealing implicit racial biases.
White privilege describes the advantages inherent to being white in a hierarchical racial system.
Zack also includes epistemic oppression, which involves knowledge production that is excluded from consideration, or discounts evidence or testimonials from particular groups.

What is Sexism?

Manne defines misogyny as the enforcement arm of a patriarchal order, where norms and expectations benefit men at the expense of women.
This enforcement can manifest as harmful policies or actions, even if not explicitly motivated by hatred for all women.

Political Irrationality

Huemer argues that political disagreements often stem from irrationality rather than miscalculation, ignorance, or differences in values.
He notes that people are surprisingly confident in their political beliefs, even when those beliefs are shown to be wrong.
Huemer also observes that political beliefs often align with other non-cognitive aspects, like race and gender.
He proposes instrumental and epistemic rationality as ways to assess political beliefs.

Searle discusses brute vs. observer-relative features of the world and the limitations of the epistemic and ontological versions of objectivity.

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Description

This quiz explores the writings of notable figures who have promoted racist and sexist ideologies. It delves into the arguments made by Fitzhugh, Hitler, and Yockey, analyzing their perspectives on race and gender. Understanding these theories is crucial for recognizing the historical context and impact of such beliefs in contemporary society.