We are the Other - Eric & Mike with Cup Foods Employees and Customers, Minneapolis, Minnesota (2012)
At a glance, it seems like a regular corner store with regular customers. There are different people of different races present in the store. The signs read "Please" and “I used to feel intimidated by the people hanging out in front of the store but after spending some time here I feel comfortable.” Upon a deeper review of the picture, it is clear that there was some discomfort and tension between the individuals. In fact Huie actually says, "Mike (“Please”) is the second youngest of four brothers who own Cup Foods. Eric is the second oldest of four brothers. They had not met before the taking of this photo." I am assuming they had seen each other, but had not formally met. Now, after they had met, Eric is obviously more comfortable around these people. His discomfort and intimidation was probably due to the outward appearance Mike and others have. Whether it be race based or just a natural reaction to physically larger people (Eric is not the largest person in the world.)
What was the drive behind Eric's intimidation? Eric had never met or talked to these people before, yet he manifested a reason why he should be scared. In todays American society, stereotypes run rampant. People are classified, or "othered" based on beliefs, appearance, actions, etc. Eric probably assumed the worst. They're black and aggressive and scary, he probably thought. It's not entirely his fault, society can be held responsible for some of the blame.
In Gilead, women are the people who are "othered." They are classified by society based on their previous lives and actions. For example, there are distinct differences between handmaids and marthas. Handmaids, although they hold a respectable position, were placed in this role as a from of punishment for being against the feminist revolution, being lesbian, or other reasons. Marthas were chosen to be maids and house carers. They are physically differentiated by colors of the clothes they wear. Handmaids wear read, Marthas wear green. They are even treated differently.
In Eric's situation, he had the ability to overcome the wall of stereotypes that separated him and Mike. But how could the society of Gilead overcome the classification of other people? Are Marthas and Handmaids equal? Could Offred ever consider herself equal to, lets say, a Serena Joy?
The context you provide for the photograph is great and necessary- why is it significant that they hadn't met before this photograph when we look at what Eric wrote on his chalkboard?
ReplyDeleteI like the questions you pose at the end of your post- in what ways is Offred equal to, or perhaps better than, Serena Joy? Serena Joy is an other beyond just being a part of the classification of Wife, just as Offred is an other beyond her classification of Handmaid.