Johnson chapter 6

The main point of this chapter seems to that even if someone isn’t necessarily sexist or racist they don’t do anything to stop the racist people because they don’t want to cause trouble. They are traveling the path of least resistance. Johnson uses the example of a man hearing an off color joke but doesn’t want to make a scene so even though he doesn’t agree with the joke or believe in the stereotypes that make the joke funny he will say or do anything; the man will chuckle along with the rest of his friends or coworker to avoid conflict.

The main point of this chapter is that racism and sexism still exist because people want to fit in with others around them. Johnson says that we all have choices but we choose not to make a scene, we choose to travel down the path of least resistance because are afraid of the consequences that would face us if we choose to speak up, we choose to agree with our bosses; who are usually white males. Johnson says that we will sell out our beliefs and morals because we are afraid of losing our jobs if we stand up to our superiors.

Johnson says that we allow racism and sexism to continue to avoid conflict however, is this not a reason that sexism and racism would soon become nonexistent? A racist person is not socially accepted by most groups and organizations so it doesn’t make senses that people would sit back and listen to racist or sexist comments so that they don’t stir things up. It makes more sense that people who were racist or sexist would keep those feeling to themselves so that they would better fit in with the people around them. If I were racist or sexist unless I was among friends that I was sure shared my beliefs I would remain as pleasant as possible to all others around me.

I think this chapter did have so good points although I don’t believe that all individuals stand back and listen to offensive jokes because they don’t want to cause a stir, I do think that Johnson had a good idea about the path of least resistance. I think a more likely reason that people laugh along with off-color jokes is because they do believe the stereotypes even if they claim they don’t. Also if the person don’t really believe the stereotype they do know what the joke is poking fun at so they laugh.