YouTube: Social Media & Social Justice

By Sue Ung 

YouTube: HDCYT - "Charlie bit my finger - again !" (2007)

In the past, YouTube was only a social media platform to share funny videos, but recently, it’s been a way for people to reach out by discussing social justice issues like racial stereotypes, religious stereotypes, coming out as a part of the LGBTQ community, feminism, and mental health.

Videos like the one above, posted in 2007, is just a snippet of what YouTube videos looked back then – something silly and funny to watch. This video went viral and still is popular to this day. But, today, we frequently see videos geared towards awareness of different issues around the world.   

YouTube: BuzzFeedYellow - Asian Americans Respond to Racist Comments (2015)

Yes, I am an Asian American, but no I am not who you probably think I am. I define myself, you don’t. This video breaks Asian stereotypes by showcasing those of Asian background and they call out all haters. Going from a pubic to private Catholic schooling and being Asian, I’ve definitely heard it all. Watching this video responding to racist comments against Asians, I constantly nodded my head in agreement and at one point I even said to myself, “YES! Amen to that!” This video shares that no one should be ridiculed because of their race because it’s not like they can change it. And, no one should have to hide and change themselves because of their race. Again, they can’t change whom they were born to be or to look like. This video stands up against racism and it has motivated me to stand up for myself and to stand up for others. No more biting back my tongue and thinking, “Oh, well they don’t know better.” Sure as hell, they’ll know better after I school them.            

YouTube: BuzzFeedYellow - I'm Muslim, But I'm Not... (2015)

“I’m Muslin, but I’m not a terrorist.” It is really sad that Muslims feel the need to say this. There are people out there that are so quick to judge those “who look like their from the Middle East or look Muslim”. What does that even mean? What does looking like a Muslim mean? Last time I check, you can’t determine someone’s beliefs by looking at them. In the video, Tom states, “I’m Muslim, but I’m not stopped at airports because my name is Tom and I’m white.” This just proves that religion and beliefs are far beyond looks. This also shows that those “who look Muslim” are stopped in airports or are avoided in pubic areas. This is without a doubt because how the news and the media views Muslims in the Middle East. The U.S. news skewed what has happened in the Middle East and to be quite honest, that’s arrogance right there. The news always wants it to seem like the U.S. is this perfect country without war and that “the Muslims are the bad guys”. It boils my blood because the U.S. is far from perfect - for starters: “collateral damage in the Middle East”. Muslims aren’t bad people. Understand that there are radical groups out there, but that doesn’t directly correlate with their religion. So stop making fun of people wearing a hijab, a turban, or for wearing more cover-up clothing.  

   

YouTube: lacigreen - SHE ASKED FOR IT. (2014)

“She asked for it.” Especially living on a college campus, I hear this way too often and I always say, “Well, just because she wants to wear a lot of makeup and dresses that way doesn’t mean she wants the attention. She just likes to wear that stuff and you should just let her live her life.” Laci Green says, “The problem with blaming the victim is that the predator was the one who caused the crime, not the victim, their clothing, or pictures.” She goes on saying that predators choose to commit those crimes and shares examples for cases involving men and women.

In college, we often hear about “hook-up culture”. And with this culture, there are two sides – “female” and “male” (because there are people who identify as being neither, but that’s a different story). In the case of a straight male, if they choose to hook-up, how ever you choose to define it as – holding hands, kissing, cuddling, or having sex – if they choose to hook-up with several females in a short period of time, the straight male is considered “a bro” and someone who “can get it easily”, which are titles that reward the male. In the case of a straight female, if she decides to hook-up with several guys in a short amount of time, she is seen as a “slut” or a “whore”, which are titles that dehumanize woman. Why is it that men are rewarded and women are dehumanized? Because that is culture now, but we have to change that and people around the world are taking strides towards gender equality.  

YouTube: JacksGap - Lets Talk About Mental Health (2015)

This is more of a personal video where Jack Harries briefly accounts a time when his friend confided in him and when he himself was depressed. He hits the nail right on the head when talks about how mental illness has such a negative stigma surrounding it because it “suggests that something’s wrong with the brain and the brain is our control center”. Jack quotes Kevin Breel by stating, “When we break our arm, everyone runs forward to sign the cast, but when we say we have depression, everyone runs the other way”. This really puts things in perspective because it is so true. It’s true that we are so quick to mend those in physical pain, but with mental illness, people are hesitant. From what I’ve learned and experienced myself, you can change someone’s attitude a day simply by smiling at them are asking who their day is going. These simple acts are all it takes to change someone’s life. And it may seem silly, but it’s true. Mental illness is a problem and the stigma that surrounds it doesn’t make it any better. Merrimack is now making moves to squash the stigma by adding a Wellness Education Office run by recent hire, Megan O’Hara. This coming week will be Merrimack’s first Wellness Week to create awareness of mental and physical health - “be well, body and mind”.       

Ultimately, it comes down to acceptance. And acceptance doesn’t mean agreeing with everyone and everything, it means being aware of the beliefs and experiences that people go through and have. I’m an Asian American. I’m Catholic. I believe in gender equality. I believe that mental health is an issue. And I believe that I can make a difference.     

Works Cited
BuzzFeedYellow. "Asian Americans Respond to Racist Comments" YouTube. YouTube, 10 May 2015. Web. 

BuzzFeedYellow. "I'm Muslim, But I'm Not..." YouTube. YouTube, 15 Sept. 2015. Web.

HDCYT. "Charlie Bit My Finger - Again !" YouTube. YouTube, 22 May 2007. Web. 

JacksGap. "Lets Talk About Mental Health." YouTube. YouTube, 25 Jan. 2015. Web. 

Lacigreen. "SHE ASKED FOR IT." YouTube. YouTube, 6 Sept. 2014. Web.