Jeffrey Jerome Cohen's Monster Culture

Introduction/Summation:
Flawed, contemplative, and challenging are three descriptive words to describe equality, or the lack of it. The lack of equality is a “monster” according to Cohen’s fourth thesis “The Monster Dwells at the Gates of Difference.” Cohen’s fourth thesis explains how differences among people in regards to race, gender, culture, etc. create “monsters” in society, even when people do not want them to exist. According to “Monster Culture (Seven Theses)” by Jeffrey Jerome Cohen: “Monsters are our children. They can be pushed to the farthest margins of geography and discourse, hidden away at the edges of the world and in the forbidden recesses of our mind, but they always return.” This quote means that the monsters society creates

are not easy to get rid of and this shows how the differences among people will foster the growth of new and old monsters. Often times the differences, or “monsters”, that are created lead to inequality. Inequality can take many forms, including racism, discrimination, and prejudice. This relates to equality because of the unfairness in society, which prompts people to do "monstrous" things. Ultimately, inequality is a “monster” because it excludes people and equality doesn’t truly exist for everyone.
Confirmation:
The first reason the lack of equality is a “monster” is because it fosters prejudice thoughts and actions towards others. Society is giving into prejudice when people are not seen as equal because of their race or believes. Prejudice thoughts tend to get passed down from generation to generation, which makes these prejudices harder to get rid of. For example, people of color are still seen as bad, uneducated, inferior, etc. by some due to prejudices. The idea that certain races are better than others come from previous generations and the way society depicts people of color. Even with the same education or qualifications, minorities and anyone seen as “different” are more likely to be considered inferior. According to “Gentrification” by Sherman Alexie: “Who was the most racist in that situation?...Or was it all of us? Passively revealing that, despite our surface friendliness, we didn't really care about one another?” (Alexie 617). This quotes means that without knowing each other on a personal level people judge one another based on stereotypes, which shows prejudices can create “monsters” based on differences among people. Also, “Gentrification” shows that everyone can be prejudice regardless of race. In addition, these prejudices are often incorrect. Moreover, prejudices are often presumptions that can lead to hate and judgement towards people and groups without having a valid reason for doing so.
The next reason the lack of equality is a “monster” is because differences among people can cause hate, racism, and discrimination towards others.

People in America are not all seen as equal, and this is especially true when it comes to people of color. According to “Theories and Constructs of Race” by Linda Holtzman and Leon Sharpe: “The continuous racial targeting of people of color and the privileging of whites, along with the misinformation about race passed along from one generation to the next and reinforced through the media, has imbued people of all races with a distorted sense of personal and group identity” (Holtzman and Sharpe 604). This quote means that people of color are often targeted in a negative way, which shows that racism and discrimination is something that can be passed down or learned from the media. Today, there are people who still think minorities are inferior based on the color of their skin. “Theories and Constructs of Race” also mentions how from an early age, minorities become the target for racism, blame, and overall hatred. According to “Theories and Constructs of Race” by Linda Holtzman and Leon Sharpe: “The myth of racial inferiority and superiority has been upheld not only by physical violence and discriminatory policies but also by the psychological violence conveyed through stereotyping and racist messaging” (Holtzman and Sharpe 604). This quote means that minorities are constantly targeted both physically and psychologically, which shows that inequality is a “monster” due to the damage it causes to individuals on multiple levels. Racism can also lead to internalized racism, which causes individuals to adapt a self-deprecating attitude and engage in self-destructive behavior. Furthermore, hate, racism, and discrimination often result from people not understanding that not everyone is offered the same opportunities due to the lack of

equality.
The last reason the lack of equality is a “monster” is because it is a myth that everyone has the same opportunities since certain groups come from a place of privilege, giving them an advantage in society. Americans who are also people of color often times are not offered or have access to the same opportunities as white Americans. Some people view minorities as inferior. This view of minorities being inferior is wrong, and it makes it harder for minorities to be treated fairly or as equal in society. According to “How Immigrants Become ‘Other’” by Marcelo M. Suárez-Orozco and Carola Suárez-Orozco: “Second, unauthorized parents were less likely to take advantage of a range of benefits to which their citizen children are entitled” (Suárez-Orozco 672). This quote means that citizen children of immigrants do not receive some of the basic things they should because of their parent’s legal status, which shows that even though they are American, they are at a disadvantage from a young age. Some of the benefits would include health insurance (Medicaid), nutritional programs, and temporary assistance for crisis. The source “How Immigrants Become ‘Other’” also talks about how around a third of these kids live below the poverty line. Due to inequality, racism, and fear, many kids of unauthorized citizens do not get the same basic start as many other citizen kids do. This puts them behind socially, academically, and financially. In the end, the lack of equality that exists only promotes the creation of more monsters in society.
Summation:
In conclusion, equality can be considered a “monster” because it does not include or exist for everyone. Equality, or the lack of, can foster prejudice thoughts and actions. Prejudices harm society when entire groups of people are judged or treated differently based on presumptions. The lack of equality can also fuel hate, racism, and discrimination towards minorities and specific groups of people. People in America are still being treated unfairly based on things that makes them “different” from was is considered normal. In addition, people who come from a place of privilege have an advantage in society, proving that not everyone has equal opportunities due to the lack of equality. The topic of equality can be described as flawed, contemplative, and challenging. These three words describe equality because it is a difficult topic to discuss and requires a deep understanding in order to help fix the issues it brings. Ultimately, true equality is a myth and inequality is a “monster” society has been unable to get rid of.