After writing my previous post, I was thinking about the power of words. However, the meaning is not embodied in the word itself, but rather the concept behind the word. According to linguistics, words are (almost always) arbitrary. Therefore, the word itself does not hold any special meaning, but rather connects with a specific idea separate from itself.
"Welfare" is a word that carries with it a lot of emotion and many different perceptions. I found it incredibly interesting that the term "welfare" was adopted in response to negative connotations with the words "charity" and "philanthropy." New Keywords states that these words were, "saturated with associations of patronage, discrimination, and scrutiny of the poor by their 'betters'" (371) Like "stewardess" and "waitress," these words were deemed unacceptable. (Wikipedia actually redirects searches on "waitress" to "waiting staff.") However, unlike stewardess and waitress, there was nothing within the word itself that housed the negativity (like the feminine "-ess" suffix). Though gender was removed in the feminized terms, and their neutrality corrected the associated negativity, it was impossible to remove the discrimination of the poor inherent in "charity" and "philanthropy." The feelings then associated with them simply transferred to the new word, welfare. Today, charity and philanthropy are very positive words, and bring to mind pleasant ideas of generosity.
Though this train of thought is definitely abstract, I think that it is useful to keep in mind in our study of words. Like the idea of word "theory" discussed in class today, words just portray an idea of something and are not really concrete in themselves. Their meanings can shift and evolve to the times, continually transforming the language and culture that they describe.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Thoughts on "Welfare"
As I grew up in an upper-middle class home, I had little to no interaction with anyone on welfare. This is neither negative nor positive, as I am sure my parents were looking out for my well being by protecting me both physically and emotionally from what I am sure they considered a threatening and unhealthy environment for a child. However, because of this lack of experience on my part, as I got older, I was suspicious and even condescending toward this group of people. This negative connotation stuck with me well into my college years, that is, until one day after a conversation with my mother.
It sounds cliche, but my mother is really the person I most respect and admire. A first generation college graduate, she graduated UC Davis with honors and entered law school, all while being legally blind. Though law school did not work out, not for lack of ability, but a disenchantment of our legal system, she landed a fantastic job a very successful environmental company. This was the story I had always heard. Little did I know, there were a few bumps in the road that would change my perceptions of government assistance forever.
She informed me casually one day that after she decided to leave law school, she did not have a job lined up. She had a pile of bills to pay, and student loans began to demand repayment. Consequently, no income and increasing debts left her with few options. She applied for food stamps. My jaw dropped, I could not believe that my mother, intelligent, proud and successful as she was, could set aside her pride and ask for government assistance. I realized that at that moment, no one is immune to hardship. I had never even considered the thought that it could just as easily happen to me.
She never needed to use to the food stamps, as she got a job even before they could even fully process her information. But she was not afraid to ask, and that made a huge impression on me. She told me that things like that are there to help in times such as hers, but are not to be taken advantage of. I learned not to be so quick to judge others in their hard times, as I may be there someday myself.
It sounds cliche, but my mother is really the person I most respect and admire. A first generation college graduate, she graduated UC Davis with honors and entered law school, all while being legally blind. Though law school did not work out, not for lack of ability, but a disenchantment of our legal system, she landed a fantastic job a very successful environmental company. This was the story I had always heard. Little did I know, there were a few bumps in the road that would change my perceptions of government assistance forever.
She informed me casually one day that after she decided to leave law school, she did not have a job lined up. She had a pile of bills to pay, and student loans began to demand repayment. Consequently, no income and increasing debts left her with few options. She applied for food stamps. My jaw dropped, I could not believe that my mother, intelligent, proud and successful as she was, could set aside her pride and ask for government assistance. I realized that at that moment, no one is immune to hardship. I had never even considered the thought that it could just as easily happen to me.
She never needed to use to the food stamps, as she got a job even before they could even fully process her information. But she was not afraid to ask, and that made a huge impression on me. She told me that things like that are there to help in times such as hers, but are not to be taken advantage of. I learned not to be so quick to judge others in their hard times, as I may be there someday myself.
Monday, June 23, 2008
I am an idiot, but so are you
I walked into the bookstore this morning before class hoping to buy this sessions' book. My first mistake is that I took my husband along for company. Yes, *gasp*, I am married. It's really not that strange, just like a live-in boyfriend, only I get to spend his money. Anyway, back to the bookstore. My second mistake was that I had not have my coffee yet. As a result of these two circumstances, I was not my usual, attentive self (attentive according to my standards, ie: putting the milk back in the fridge instead of the cupboard). Needless to say, I could not find the book. Instead of asking for help, I opted to go buy a latte with the hubbie and try to organize my thoughts (emphasis on TRY).
After class, I returned to the bookstore, hoping the hour and a half of class had somehow magically transformed me into a book-finding machine. It did not, and now the bookstore was a million times more crowded, fellow students shoving me all over trying to locate their own class materials. I finally conceded to my pride and decided to ask an employee. As I walked up to the service counter, I realized the guy in front of me was asking for the same book, and the guy behind me also joined in the search. "Yay! I'm not an idiot," was all I could think. I tagged along as a group of three or four of us all looking for New Keywords followed around the student employee looking for the book. Apparently, all five of us were blind. He returned to the counter to look it up on the computer and also asked the mangers, who both adamantly insisted is was on the shelf. I tried telling the man it was nowhere to be found and he commanded me, rather rudely, I must say, back over the the UWP wall. There the other manager angrily pointed to the book and wondered "How in the world none of you guys saw it." We shamefully took the books and mumbled to each other about the rude employees. How dare we not be able to find something? I mean they are not there to help people, obviously. I apologize for my bitterness, but it was a bit startling. However, I think I did learn something: there are a lot of idiots in the world, and I am one of them (as are four or five of my classmates).
After class, I returned to the bookstore, hoping the hour and a half of class had somehow magically transformed me into a book-finding machine. It did not, and now the bookstore was a million times more crowded, fellow students shoving me all over trying to locate their own class materials. I finally conceded to my pride and decided to ask an employee. As I walked up to the service counter, I realized the guy in front of me was asking for the same book, and the guy behind me also joined in the search. "Yay! I'm not an idiot," was all I could think. I tagged along as a group of three or four of us all looking for New Keywords followed around the student employee looking for the book. Apparently, all five of us were blind. He returned to the counter to look it up on the computer and also asked the mangers, who both adamantly insisted is was on the shelf. I tried telling the man it was nowhere to be found and he commanded me, rather rudely, I must say, back over the the UWP wall. There the other manager angrily pointed to the book and wondered "How in the world none of you guys saw it." We shamefully took the books and mumbled to each other about the rude employees. How dare we not be able to find something? I mean they are not there to help people, obviously. I apologize for my bitterness, but it was a bit startling. However, I think I did learn something: there are a lot of idiots in the world, and I am one of them (as are four or five of my classmates).
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