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Show THERE ARE NO IMMIGRANTS IN THE WORLD 64 Thomas and Joseph accepted unfair treatment from their employers without any sign of anger. They acknowledged Eurocentric preferences in the workplace but again did not complain or question the validity of such preferences. Both men conformed to the will of the dominant group without force. They believed to do so was in their best interest. The men have internalized Eurocentric dominance which blinds them to the truth - they deserve equal treatment regardless of the language they speak, their ethnicity, and the color of their skin. The men did not contend with the dominant structure or status quo of society. They only voiced regret regarding where they fell in the structural hierarchy. It wasn't the structure they didn't like, but the place they occupied in it. When I asked Thomas if he thought his lower wage at work was fair, he said, "No, pero así es. No hablo inglés. [No, but that's just the way it is. I don't speak English.]" He didn't question why his lack of English skills should cost him in a job that did not require English speaking at all. This internalized oppression is not hatred for his race but rather an adoption of a system that benefits the dominant group at his expense (Foucault, 1977; Pyke, 2008). I assert that years of living with an inferiority stigma and the discriminatory treatment that accompanies it has created a false belief in each of the men - a belief that they are not equal to white Americans and deserve the unequitable treatment they receive. Rather than the men recognizing the limited opportunities they have had compared to white Americans, they internalize their lack of opportunities and deem themselves less intelligent than white Americans (Bowles & Gintis, 1976; Williams, 1999). At one point in the interview, Joseph was discussing his challenges advancing at his construction job. He said, "Los estadounidenses son más inteligentes. [Americans are just smarter.]" I asked if he would explain and give me an example if he could, he said, "…cuando se trata de leer planos y planes ... y entender lo que se debe hacer a continuación, ellos [sus compañeros de trabajo estadounidenses] se enganchan muy rápido. Son |
