Bitter Stereotypes :: Essays

Bitter StereotypesFrom the writer When I was in lofty school, I was very involved with forbearance International. Ever since then, the concern ab come out of the closet(predicate) basic merciful rights has been a lively part of my outlook on life. I chose Elisabeth Rosenthals word because I wish the challenge of analyzing the complicated and rude(a) issue of human rights in china. The actualisation that most people couldnt get by less about the topic pushed me. I hope that by choosing Rosenthals article, I have made at to the lowest degree one person more aware of the need to protect human rights. From the teacher The writers sense of umpire and humanity comes across cl ahead of time in this essay. This transitional studio appointee asked students to examine a mass media article for its hidden motives and subtle uses of rhetorical devices. Angie reaches beyond the assignment with her suggestion that the panorama (a Western publication) may square up even the potential validity of much(prenominal) a story, due mainly to what constitutes proof in this setting, and that proofs disconnection from the populace of the issue. From the editors What drew us to this slice was how passionately Haupt critiques the validity of a purely Western explanation for the occupation of suicide among women in country-bred China. She points out that such stories may outgo be told by those closest to the issue. We agree. The prevailing Western stereotype of Chinese society is that it is cold, harsh, and backward. Our whole image of China is tainted. We associate China with the ridiculousness of Mao Zedongs Cultural Revolution, with the brutality of the Tiananmen shape massacre, with the horrors of human rights abuses in Tibet and in mainland China, with the fortune cookie, and with the phrase Confucius says (even though only(prenominal) a handful of us could explain who Confucius was and what he said). Therefore, it is not strike that the media tends to over- simplify Chinese issues, so that they layabout fit with our (mis)understanding of Chinese society. I retrieve that Elisabeth Rosenthals article, Suicide stops Bitter grow of Chinas Rural Life, (New York Times 24 January 1999 early ed. Sec. 1 1+) dangle into the stereotype trap. Rosenthals article is about the outstandingly high rate of suicides among Chinas rural female population. The title promises to explain the phenomena Reveal Bitter Roots. And yet, only sextet short paragraphs (in a five-page story) address the assertable causes (roots) of the problem.Bitter Stereotypes EssaysBitter StereotypesFrom the writer When I was in high school, I was very involved with Amnesty International. Ever since then, the concern about basic human rights has been a vital part of my outlook on life. I chose Elisabeth Rosenthals article because I liked the challenge of analyzing the complicated and sensitive issue of human rights in China. The realization that most people couldnt care l ess about the topic pushed me. I hope that by choosing Rosenthals article, I have made at least one person more aware of the need to protect human rights. From the teacher The writers sense of justice and humanity comes across clearly in this essay. This transitional studio assignment asked students to examine a mass media article for its hidden motives and subtle uses of rhetorical devices. Angie reaches beyond the assignment with her suggestion that the setting (a Western publication) may limit even the potential validity of such a story, due primarily to what constitutes proof in this setting, and that proofs disconnection from the reality of the issue. From the editors What drew us to this piece was how passionately Haupt critiques the validity of a strictly Western explanation for the problem of suicide among women in rural China. She points out that such stories may best be told by those closest to the issue. We agree. The prevailing Western stereotype of Chinese society is th at it is cold, harsh, and backward. Our whole image of China is tainted. We associate China with the ridiculousness of Mao Zedongs Cultural Revolution, with the brutality of the Tiananmen Square massacre, with the horrors of human rights abuses in Tibet and in mainland China, with the fortune cookie, and with the phrase Confucius says (even though only a handful of us could explain who Confucius was and what he said). Therefore, it is not surprising that the media tends to over-simplify Chinese issues, so that they can fit with our (mis)understanding of Chinese society. I believe that Elisabeth Rosenthals article, Suicide Reveals Bitter Roots of Chinas Rural Life, (New York Times 24 January 1999 early ed. Sec. 1 1+) fell into the stereotype trap. Rosenthals article is about the unusually high rate of suicides among Chinas rural female population. The title promises to explain the phenomena Reveal Bitter Roots. And yet, only six short paragraphs (in a five-page story) address the pos sible causes (roots) of the problem.