Wow! I was just flipping through the channels when I came across this show. The show is called "What would you do?". In this particular clip, the show sees what people would do when they see a waiter deny service to a gay or lesbian couple. This clip touches on just about everything we've talked about in lecture and discussion: stereotypes regarding clothing, "normal" gender roles, sex, gender, desire/sexuality, a heterosexual matrix, and hegemony. The clip is about 14 minutes, but it is very interesting! What would you do in this situation?
What's sex got to do with... simply eating a meal?
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I was very appalled when I saw this video. I think this video illustrates the heteronormativity that exists in this society. Society values and perpetuates the ideal of a "nuclear family" that contains 2 parents of the opposite sex. I think society also believes that when there is a conflict going on that we should "mind our business," however, if the situation was more appeasing to the restaurant patrons and not so controversial, more people would have spoken up. I think the patrons may have thought it was wrong that the waiter spoke on his beliefs, not that his beliefs were wrong, and probably shared some of his beliefs as well. Me personally, I am not sure what I would do either, if I would have felt so strongly to confront the waiter.
I was also very appalled when I watched this video. I could not imagine encountering a situation like that in which I am openly discriminated against when I am just trying to get on with my everyday life. I agree with barn027 that most people think they should just "mind their own business" and not get involved when someone is being harassed, but since I have never really been in a situation like that before, I couldn't say what my own reaction would be. I would most likely speak with a manager, but I don't know if I would yell at the server. I'm disgusted yet not surprised that so many people did not do ANYTHING to help the gay couple that was being ostracized, and that when asked afterwards, many of them said it was none of their business. I was surprised, however, when one woman even laughed at the inappropriate comments of the server, and thought it was funny and confusing that two women could have kids!
I thought it was ridiculous that in over half the states of the U.S restaurants have the right not to serve a homosexual couple. I think this is a violation of human rights and its discrimination. I was shocked to see this.