Introduction to Autoethnography Essay

noted from the old and the middle-aged in the community were eye-opening. In essence, while the majority of the community members were seemingly uncomfortable with my presence, there was the minimal altercation, the community members showed facial expressions of shock and discomfort at my presence but only discussed in hushed tones and did not say much directly. Perhaps this reaction may have been due to the fact that I am male. In most of the societies both the modern and traditional settings, the male gender is seen as superior and is treated with a certain level of respect and difference (Adams Et al., 2013). However, on of the known facts is that there have been extents of gender-based violence in this particular community targeting women especially local women.

As a social worker, one of the reasons for my curiosity with the particular community was based on the fact that there have been such cases of gender-based violence in the particular community. To this end, I have a feeling that if the scenario was a reverse setting and I was a female passerby the reaction from the community would have been different. The stares and glares may have graduated to the physical altercation, and I would have most likely been roughed up by the community members. On the same note passing by an opening ground dominated by boys chances are I would have been harassed in more than one way. The fact that the experience was pensive and tense and based on my color and perceived otherness only means that it would have been worse had I been a female.

Intersectionality

Intersectionality in definition refers to the apparent interlinks

between socially constructed behaviors and tendencies with regard to various perceived aspects of otherness. In the particular experience, it is notable that xenophobia and racism may also be connected to classism and sexism. In essence, the fact that the members of this community perceive members of my racial community as superior and better off economically and socially may be a key contributor to the classist view in the society. However, the community members also tend to have an aspect of indifference with regard to color. The indifference is the main reason there are racism and extents of xenophobia, essentially, a community that has notable issues with self-identity will most certainly have other underlying cases of oppressive tendencies. In most instances, a community that feels inferior also attempts to develop divisions and classes at the local level. For instance, in the particular neighborhood apart from the evident cases of racism and xenophobia, there are possible cases of classism and sexism that may not be necessarily notable at a first glance.

The Intersectionality theory argues that each time one oppressive behavior is notable in a system it is more that probable that there are more interlinking tendencies in the community (Mehrotra, 2010). To this end, the reflection of individual identities must establish the other interlinking behaviors that from part of the community. Research indicates that self-identity is a perceived issue, meaning that it can be a perception that is unfounded. However, research also indicates that ultimately the party that has an inferior or superior complex will in most instances cause a ripple effect at a different level of engagement.

References

1. Adams, M., Blumenfeld, W. J., Castañeda, C. R., Hackman, H.
   

W., Peters, M. L., &Zúñiga, X. (2013).Readings for diversity and social justice (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Routledge.