Why we chose to survey our peers:
As a part of our research, we decided to survey fellow college students in order to assess common beliefs of power in relationships, how these dominances are often portrayed in the media, and the connection to our daily lives. The forms of dominance found in Break Any Woman Down are also visible in everyday relationships that surround us. By surveying our peers, we could better determine which stereotypes are prominent in today's society and also how Dana Johnson's stories relate to the relationships all around us.
This survey was taken by 50 college students, ranging from ages 18-22, from Michigan State University in the Spring Semester of 2012.
Our survey was comprised of 10 questions.
The first 8 questions were multiple choice.
The questions are as follows with the results posted in the column to the right.
Our survey was comprised of 10 questions.
The first 8 questions were multiple choice.
The questions are as follows with the results posted in the column to the right.
QUESTIONS1. In every relationship, one person always has more power than the other. (Relationships can include friendships, spouses, family, etc)
-Strongly Agree -Agree -Disagree -Strongly Disagree |
RESULTS1. Strongly Agree - (7.3%)
Agree - (43.9%) Disagree- (41.5%) Strongly Disagree (7.3%) |
2. Political Dominance refers to the dominance over another by means of wealth, jobs, and political power. I believe that political dominance is prevalent in today's society and media.
-Strongly Agree -Agree -Disagree -Strongly Disagree |
2. Strongly Agree - (50.0%)
Agree - (45.2%) Disagree- (2.4%) Strongly Disagree- (2.4%) |
3. I have seen or experienced political dominance throughout my own personal life experiences.
-Strongly Agree -Agree -Disagree -Strongly Disagree |
2. Strongly Agree - (16.7%)
Agree - (64.3%) Disagree- (16.7%) Strongly Disagree- (2.4%) |
4. Sexual dominance is the dominance over another through means of promiscuity and exploitation of the body. I believe that sexual dominance is prevalent in today's media and society.
-Strongly Agree -Agree -Disagree -Strongly Disagree |
4. Strongly Agree - (54.8%)
Agree - (40.5%) Disagree- (4.8%) Strongly Disagree- (0.0%) |
5. I have seen or experienced sexual dominance throughout my own life experiences.
-Strongly Agree -Agree -Disagree -Strongly Disagree |
5. Strongly Agree - (28.6%)
Agree - (50.0%) Disagree- (19.0%) Strongly Disagree- (2.4%) |
6. Physical dominance is dominance over another by means of aggression and violence. I believe that physical dominance is prevalent in today's media and society.
-Strongly Agree -Agree -Disagree -Strongly Disagree |
6. Strongly Agree - (35.7%)
Agree - (61.9%) Disagree- (2.4%) Strongly Disagree- (0.0%) |
7. I have seen or experienced physical dominance throughout my own personal life experiences.
-Strongly Agree -Agree -Disagree -Strongly Disagree |
7. Strongly Agree - (14.3%)
Agree - (42.9%) Disagree- (33.3%) Strongly Disagree- (9.5%) |
8. Do you find that race plays a role in which dominances are found within a relationship?
-Yes -No -Maybe |
8. Yes - (23.8%)
No - (57.1%) Maybe- (19.0%) |
The last two questions of our survey were short answer. We wanted to allow those taking the survey to give us insight into their viewpoints and thoughts rather than just choosing a predetermined answer. Those questions and some interesting responses can be found below.
QuestionsReferring to question 8 -
9. If yes or maybe, please give examples of these specific dominance/race relationships. |
Question 9 Responses-"American history shows us examples of whites with dominance over virtually every other race in their relationships. We still see this played out in the media and in entertainment. For example, in the movie "The Blind Side," a story about a young black man who overcomes adversity to become an professional football player, the focus is not actually on the young black man. Instead, the story has a focus on his white adoptive mother. He is portrayed as a shy, quiet kid but his adoptive mother is shown as strong and powerful. You almost get the sense that if it wasn't for this white woman, this black man never would have made it. This played out even further in reality, as it is Sandra Bullock who wins awards and acclaim for her performance in the film. While everyone who saw the film knows she is in it, it is unlikely that they remember the name of the black actor (Quinton Aaron)."
-"Black men often date outside their race because they feel they control or deal with the "attitude" of black women." -"Black males are more commonly dominant and want more power, but not always." -"With advantages still given to Caucasians in the workplace, the potential for heightened financial standing could create dominance in the relationship." Question 10 Responses |
10. Do you believe that the media portrays any of these dominances as more specific to certain races? If yes, please provide an example of the specific race/dominance relationships.
|
-"Black males are portrayed as potentially violent and sexually aggressive. Latina females are portrayed as either teasing or using sexual nature to get what she wants."
-"Yes, i feel that the media portrays black males as more agressive." -"I think in the Media African American and Asian males are portrayed as being more dominant in their relationships." -"Physical dominance and black couples, political dominance and white couples" -"Yes - minorities tend to be portrayed as exhibiting more relationship violence" -"Think that a lot of music today shows a strong sexual dominance schema - particularly when showing black men and women. Most rap videos seem to show multiple black women fawning over and being degraded by black men." "Yes, african-american males as more dominant" "We often see images or cases of white men with a dominance over their non-white partners, such as a man with an exploitative relationship with an immigrant worker. On the other hand, we also see images of black men with a dominance over white women. This dynamic usually has a more negative connotation than the former dynamic." "Yes, black women in movies are often portrayed as broken, angry, attitude-filled and bitter compared to their more passive, kind-hearted counterparts." |
Conclusion
Overall, we felt that Dana Johnson's main intention in Break Any Woman Down was not to focus on race. However, race is an important factor when reading this book and considering dominances within relationships. According to our survey, it is clear that these college students are aware of the prevalence of power in relationships. The majority of the students answered "Strongly Agree" or "Agree" to all questions pertaining dominances in the media and in their own lives, which means dominance plays a huge role in almost every relationship. Many students shared that they believe that the media portrays the black community as more sexually and physically dominant than other races. This further supports the many points, stereotypes, and connections that Collins makes regarding the black community. We are extremely satisfied with our survey results because we were able to see that the issue of dominance in relationships truly is a part of our everyday lives.