Throughout these first 5 episodes and the discussion following i have been mulling over some questions about these ideas of 'no other viable option' or the 'trade' of the urban African American community. These all dealing with the idea of I have swung back in forth on this issue of privilege throughout college. First exposed to my own privilege, as a middle class, college educated white woman, in a History of Social Welfare course I justified hardship and criminal behavior with the lack of options or opportunity. However personal exposure to these populations; urban underprivileged and offending parties, i can see that this perspective alone actually serves to handicap them further. If we as a society are to never believe that it IS possible to live outside of the expectation of one's race, gender, nationality or socioeconomic position than we would be
a. ignoring historical record of those who have risen above societal structures and restraints
b. playing into the very structures enlightened and systemic thinkers [such as college educated individuals are expected to be] hate [example racial discrimination by employers etc]. If all of society busy into the idea that people cannot overcome the broken circumstances they find themselves in than they really wont.
Nice post. You are certainly correct that there are exceptions to the notion that certain individuals are somehow simply unable to rise above their station or transcend their class/stratum/circumstances. I would also agree that an unequivocal perspective that people, given certain circumstances, are simply doomed to have no opportunities for advancement or are somehow inherently stuck (or worse, predestined to be) where they are does more harm to any thought of social change or movement toward equity, social justice, etc. This perspective would be more akin to social Darwinism and perhaps even the philosophy of Ayn Rand. This is why I think you may be mis-perceiving the message as it's been presented in both the show and in the class. The issue is not one of "no other option" but of limitations and/or differential opportunity. There is no debating that some, simply due to circumstances outside their control, have a far lower probability of obtaining certain things (through legitimate means) in society than others. The exceptions (by the fact that they are indeed "exceptions") serve to highlight this fact. This is where the structural aspect comes in: As long as we have conditions in our society that perpetuate or maintain certain hierarchies or inequalities, this differential will remain and the vast majority of certain people with certain characteristics will continue to be marginalized, oppressed and exploited. This marginalization, oppression and exploitation will have its byproducts, crime being one of them.
ReplyDeleteWe will see cases in The Wire of people who rise above and transcend their circumstances. This doesn't change the structural problems at all or even offer proof that the structural conditions are more malleable than presumed. I think we'll see this point made in The Wire too.
Finally, regarding your last sentence. Certainly all of society doesn't buy into the idea that people cannot overcome circumstances. If all of society believed that, then we wouldn't have the critiques of structure that we do, we wouldn't have the attempts to change those structures and we wouldn't have this class and this discussion (hell...we wouldn't have a Justice Studies major!)
I think your post is very intriguing because if anyone has some individualistic belief in free will and choice, its hard to understand why someone would chose to continue to live in a life of poverty and perpetuate this urban cycle.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I understand your perspective that this "no other option" idea can serve as a crutch, I believe that the mere fact that our society is structured in such a manner that allows for its citizens to be so stratified as well as stigmatized from their situation, that it leaves people almost hopeless in seeking out some other alternative.
To rise above such circumstances takes an extremely strong character, because ultimately, you are rising above everything you have ever been taught or know, and are attempting the "unknown" if you will.