Abstract
This paper examines the meaning of difference and how it is individualized by peoples own personal life experiences. Society molds our definitions of difference by the process of dichotomization. As we change and develop, so does our definition of difference and self. Our sense of self can be conceptualized into statuses. Of those statuses our master status is the one we identify with, the most of the time. Within this paper, I define what I believe to be my own master status, alone with its stigmas and privileges. This paper also examines how ones individual experiences and definitions of differences affect how you as a social worker.
Individual Uniqueness and Social Work Society has influenced the masses, whether those
Personally, I identify myself as an American who is of Asian decent. Your past has a lot to do with how you identify yourself as in the future. My past with those of the same ethnic background as me has not been the best. I have always had more non Asian friends than Asians ones. Although I do identify myself more with my American counterparts in no way does that mean I do not identify with my Asian ethnicity or up brining. I am proud to be an Asian woman, but I am more proud to be an Asian American woman.
Stigmatized Master Status Society stigmatizes those who are different. Stigmas are defined as things that disqualify certain people from being approved by society (Barreto, & Ellemers, 2010). Since the “perfect” person is defined as a White, Upper to Middle Class, Male of European decent, if any of your statuses are not either one of those, inevitably your statuses are going to be stigmatized. Being of Asian decent sets me up for being stigmatized as well. Asians are supposed “bad drivers”, “math geniuses”, “great at the arts”, “we are great at doing hair and nails” or that Asian men are not so well endowed. These stigmas embed themselves into our every day lives affecting those like an umbrella effect. The bamboo ceiling holds back many Asian Americans from being able to obtain employment opportunities that they are qualified for, because of their