# data[].attributes.body
I think that a difference is an area in which two or more things lack commonalities. It is important to note that a difference cannot be recognized if there is only one subject involved. With just one subject involved, that subject is, it exists as its own. A difference emerges when another subject enters and the two or more subjects are compared.

# data[].attributes.headline
Difference from an Anti-Oppressive Perspective 

# data[].attributes.subject
Difference from an Anti-Oppressive Perspective 

# data[].attributes.body
The textbook discusses two perspectives that might influence a person's view on difference. Those two perspectives include the essentialist and constructionist perspectives (Rosenblum & Travis, 2015).

1. The essentialist perspective recognizes differences such as race, sexual orientation, disability, etc., as objective categories that exist outside of societal views. They are seen as facts and as factors about an individual that are inherent and cannot be changed (Rosenblum & Travis, 2015).

2. On the other hand, the constructionist perspective recognizes that objective factors can be subjectively interpreted and vary from person to person. While factors such as race, sexual orientation, disability, etc. exist, the constructionist believes that each individual may assign a meaning to one of those factors that is not the same meaning another individual would assign to a factor (Rosenblum & Travis, 2015).

# data[].attributes.body
Dichotomization occurs when two variables or subjects are seen as mutually exclusive, possessing little to no overlap.

# data[].attributes.headline
How does Dichotomization Influence my Understanding of Differences? 

# data[].attributes.subject
How does Dichotomization Influence my Understanding of Differences? 

# data[].attributes.body
Being aware of the role that dichotomization can play in our society challenges my previous viewpoints on differences. I ask myself the question: "Have I been recognizing differences, or have I been feeding into the dichotomies that exist within our society?"

Dichotomies contribute to the ideas that one group is superior to another and that the various groups are in opposition to each other Rosenblum & Travis, 2015). It is natural for our minds to try to categorize individuals and our interactions with those individuals. However, as we recognize those differences in those individuals and our interactions with them, it is important that we are aware of the detrimental effects that dichotomization has on us and our society as a whole. Rather than categorizing a person within our mind, we can work to reframe our interpretations and approach each individual with curiosity and openness.

# data[].attributes.body
Rosenblum, K. E., & Travis, T.-M. C. (2015). The meaning of difference: American constructions of race and ethnicity, sex and gender, social class, sexuality, and disability (7th ed.). McGraw Hill

# data[].attributes.headline
A Quote From the American Medical Association

# data[].attributes.subject
A Quote From the American Medical Association

# data[].attributes.body
"Rather than enlightening us about the differences between cultural practices and norms, the dichotomizing approach often merely reinforces a variety of stereotypes—explicit or implicit, good or bad—that exist in the public mind and academic circles. Rather than promoting the intended cross-cultural understanding and dialogue, it often helps to fortify the invisible old “walls” between cultures and even creates new ones. (American Medical Association).

# data[].attributes.body
Nie, J.-B. (2012). The fallacy and dangers of dichotomizing cultural differences: The truth about medical truth telling in China. AMA Journal of Ethics, 14(4), 241–245. https://doi.org/10.1001/virtualmentor.2012.14.4.msoc1-1204 [The Fallac...of Ethics]

# data[].attributes.body
The textbook defines a master status as "A status that has a profound effect on one's life, that dominates or overwhelms the other statuses one occupies (Rosenblum & Travis, 2015)

# data[].attributes.body
Gender

I consider my gender, as a woman, to be a master status of mine. Given that I adhere to what might be considered "traditional female roles," I often find myself gravitating towards activities and character traits that align with those more traditional roles. This is my personal preference and what I have chosen to build my identity upon, not something that I intend to or want to impose upon other women.

Religion

My master status as a Christian plays a large role in my life and influences nearly everything that I do. As I have shared in class once before, it is because of my faith that I have chosen to pursue a career in Social Work. My desire to love and serve people predominantly stems from my faith. While I believe that I would still want to be a "good" person without my faith, it is my faith that truly pushes me to love people in a different, sacrificial way.

Age

My age also plays a large role in my day-to-day actions and activities. People perceive me as younger, and I recognize that while I am considered an adult, I am still very young and still learning many things. I want to take advantage of this time where I have so many people who want to help me in my education, my future career, and even just in life.

# data[].attributes.body
An article published in the Sociology Institute (2022) highlights four main characteristics of Master Status:

1. Visibility - A person's master status is often visible to those who interact with that person. Sometimes they might be immediately noticeable, other times they may be noticeable after a few minutes of talking with or observing that individual.

2. Social Impact - Master statuses have a strong impact on people's social circles and social interactions. Some examples of how a master status has a social impact include relationships, employment, and extracurricular/community involvement.

3. Overriding Other Statuses - A master status tends to "overshadow" other statuses that a person has. Both for the individual that the master status belongs to, and the individuals who interact with that person.

4. Resistance to Change - Oftentimes, a person's master status is the status that is most resistant to change because they are deeply ingrained within a person and/or society.

# data[].attributes.headline
Sociology.Institute Four Characteristics of Master Status

# data[].attributes.subject
Sociology.Institute Four Characteristics of Master Status

# data[].attributes.body
Sociology Institute. (2022, December 18). Master status: Its dominance in social identity. https://sociology.institute/introduction-to-sociology/master-status-dominance-social-identity/

# data[].attributes.headline
What I View As a Stigmatized and Privileged Status

# data[].attributes.subject
What I View As a Stigmatized and Privileged Status

# data[].attributes.body
While Christianity is the most practiced religion in the United States (Pew Research Center, 2025), I think that our society, specifically Generation Z, has developed a stigma towards Christianity. Many aspects of Christianity go against what our society pushes. For example, there is a stigma that Christians are boring and judgmental. Many celebrities and media sites tend to mock Christianity. One recent example was the Broadway Production of Jesus Christ Superstar, which distorted the theology of Christianity and the Bible. Of all of my master statuses, I think that the most stigmas exist against Christianity. However, if I really examine what stigmas exist, there is likely a stigma that exists against nearly every status or difference.

I could argue that, as a woman and a young person, there are stigmas against both of those master statuses. However, I consider myself privileged in all three master statuses.

As a young person, I consider myself privileged because I have many people around me who want to help me as I go through young adulthood. I have great professors, great mentors, and great leaders, who have all chosen to be alongside me in this period of my life and help me learn and grow. That is a privilege.

As a woman, I can have a job as a nanny, which allows me to work in such a way that I can be nurturing toward children. Unfortunately, many families are hesitant to hire males as their babysitters/nannies. My master status as a woman has helped me significantly in securing a role that I truly enjoy.

As a Christian, while there is a great amount of stigmatization, there is also a great amount of privilege in being a Christian in the United States. Our country recognizes Christian holidays, which allows me to have allotted time off to celebrate with friends, family, and those in my Church.

# data[].attributes.body
Pew Research Center. (2025, February 26). Religious landscape study: Executive summary. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/02/26/religious-landscape-study-executive-summary/

# data[].attributes.body
Understanding the various constructs that contribute to differences within our society will help me grow as a future social worker. Additionally, recognizing when something is a dichotomy and when something is a difference is essential to ensuring that I do not reinforce stereotypes among my future clients.

# data[].attributes.body
Alison Laurio (2019) touches on the importance of voting for politicians who support the movement towards social justice in our country. The politicians that we vote for influence our country's response to social justice. Recognizing an individual's differences is different than the dichotomizing approach. The dichotomizing approach is a step away from social justice. However, we can take a step towards social justice by voting for politicians and legislators who will address dichotomization in our country and help us achieve social justice.

# data[].attributes.body
Laurio, A. (2019, August–September). Undoing racism: How the social work profession is working toward healing and equality. Social Work Advocates, 14–23. National Association of Social Workers