Goth Like Me
In the 60's John Howard Griffin wrote a book called 'Black Like Me' which many of you may have heard of. For those of you who have not here is a brief synopsis: The author wanted to explore racism in modern society and find out if racism was as rife as people claimed.The answer was 'Yes'. Griffin attempted to go places and do things firstly disguised as a blackman, then try again later as a whiteman. A typical example of what happened was when he went for a job interview. First he went as a blackman and was told the job had already gone. He came back an hour later as a whiteman and was given an interview.
This shows some of the prejudice that exists in society, and I believe this is not only on a racism scale, but also a sexism or religious scale too.....and also what you wear.
I make this last comment because normally when I approach strangers to ask directions or for product information in a shop I tend to get a positive response to my sunny smile and polite questioning. HOWEVER! Whenever I have wearing my skeleton-in-a-dungeon t-shirt I get a very funny reaction. One woman I stopped to ask direction positively jumped out her shoes, then fearfully pointed in the right direction. Today I asked an assistant in Wilco if she happened to know which plants attracted butterflies and she got very defensive saying that staff weren't specialists in such things etc, etc - a simple "No" would have done.
I believe that is prejudice based purely on what I was wearing! I think I need to write my own book and do my own experiments and call it 'Goth Like Me'. I shall go to job interviews in a smart shirt and trousers, and I bet I get the job. I shall then go later on in my skeleton-in-a-dungeon t-shirt, ripped jeans, and with a ring through my nose - I bet they wouldn't even consider me for the job!
This shows some of the prejudice that exists in society, and I believe this is not only on a racism scale, but also a sexism or religious scale too.....and also what you wear.
I make this last comment because normally when I approach strangers to ask directions or for product information in a shop I tend to get a positive response to my sunny smile and polite questioning. HOWEVER! Whenever I have wearing my skeleton-in-a-dungeon t-shirt I get a very funny reaction. One woman I stopped to ask direction positively jumped out her shoes, then fearfully pointed in the right direction. Today I asked an assistant in Wilco if she happened to know which plants attracted butterflies and she got very defensive saying that staff weren't specialists in such things etc, etc - a simple "No" would have done.
I believe that is prejudice based purely on what I was wearing! I think I need to write my own book and do my own experiments and call it 'Goth Like Me'. I shall go to job interviews in a smart shirt and trousers, and I bet I get the job. I shall then go later on in my skeleton-in-a-dungeon t-shirt, ripped jeans, and with a ring through my nose - I bet they wouldn't even consider me for the job!