Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus

After reading this question, the first experience that I could think of was my interaction at the JO. In the winter I would go there to play basketball at least three times a week. There's usually always a game going on which means there are people waiting there turn to play the next game. Walking back to the courts instantly made me aware that I was the subordinate group. If I was lucky there was this other girl there that I knew but almost 80% of the time, I was the only girl there to play basketball. In the beginning of the quarter when I would go there, not many guys would ever ask me to be on there team unless they were a person short and were desperate. After playing some games for the next few weeks, I was able to show the "regulars" there that just because I'm a girl, doesn't mean I'm going to run around the court like an idiot who has no clue what they're doing. Although I wasn't as strong as them (not by much, just kidding), I think through my play that I impressed them. After this fact, now they would ask me to play even if there were other guys to ask. I think growing up, it's easy to develop our views and stereotypes young. Like the last article mentioned, those three year olds all drew pictures of Indians with feathers and knives. They were only three and they already were stereotyping Native Americans. I think the same applied with these guys. Women's sports are not taken as seriously as men's and to live in a world where that's just how it is, I'm not surprised that in the beginning they never asked me to be on their team. I think it's easy to stick with what we know but once what we know is disproved, that's when I believe the engagement can become positive. Once those guys saw that I could actually play basketball, they were able to change their view and treat me as if I was another guy at the JO.

I think that these types of positive engagements between dominant/subordinate groups can take time. It can be hard at times to think differently of someone else if you've had an opposite point of view growing up. In order to be successful with this type of interaction through ServeCorps, I think it's important that people get a feel for each other at these events. For example, say we planned an event where two distinct groups were participating; a subordinate group and a dominant group. Maybe before the event starts, the participants should have do some type of an icebreaker with each other. In their daily lives, these people may be at different levels, but when you put everyone together in one room and make them participate in an unknown activity, I think it helps level out the "playing field." Once everyone hopefully can gain more respect for each other, this mutual respect could do wonders for the community. When we're all on the same level, we all respect each other and listen to each other. Because of this, more ideas can be heard, more plans can be made, more things can get accomplished, etc. It sounds easier said than done but I think it can be accomplished.