Gender and Racial Stereotypes in Media

NOTE: The links in this post are to two episodes of popular TV sitcoms that have stereotypes in them. And, yes, they are absolutely hilarious and critically acclaimed.

NOTE #2: Upon watching the episode of "30 Rock", I realized that the show is jam packed with racial and cultural stereotypes, and, yes, it is hilarious. Read on for my reasoning. It applies.

1/26/09 (date published) - People magazine
Magazine advertisement
USA TV show "Burn Notice"
Shows the protagonist and his attractive female counterpart with the line, "burned man, smoking woman" between them. He's aggressively holding a gun while she is unarmed and walking in a sexy manner towards the reader
Gender stereotypes/assumptions

2/22/09 (date purchased) - Don Miguel's beef and cheese mini dumplings
Logo for product
The logo for this food product is a Mexican man with a mustache dressed in a sombrero, serape, and white shirt and pants riding a donkey. The company who produces the food is located in Anaheim, CA
Racial stereotype

2/23/09 - CBS - Network. 8:30 pm
TV show/sitcom
"Worst Week"
When arguing over whether they even need a sofa, Angela says to her husband, who insinuated it wasn't important, "Well, we certainly do. We're not Japanese, Dick"
Racial stereotype

2/25/09 - ABC - Network. 9pm
TV show/sitcom
"Life on Mars"
All the police officers in the 125 precinct call Anne Norris, a female officer, "No Nuts Norris", among other disparaging comments
Offensive remarks concerning gender

2/26/09 - NBC -Network. 8:30 pm
TV show/sitcom
"30 Rock"
Taxi driver is Arab for no other reason than for comedic effect
Racial stereotype

2/28/09 - espn.com
Web advertisement
Castrol Edge Motor Oil
"Think with your dipstick" ad campaign shows men (no women) being whipped by an angry Scotsman when they allude to the fact that all engine oil is the same
Gender stereotype

2/28/09 (date watched) - DVD
Film
"Blue Streak"
Synopsis: Dopish white cops are fooled into believing that a black criminal is a cop because he knows more about crime than they ever could.
Racial stereotypes abound

3/1/09 (date read) - Esquire magazine
Magazine article
Subject of article: Natalie Gulbis and rebirth of LPGA
Article discusses the new direction of the LPGA based, for the most part, on younger players' looks, not ability (though it notes that the girls aren't at all bad).
Gender stereotypes

3/1/09 - ESPN - Network. 9:45 pm
Television advertisement
Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue
A classic: half nude women in bathing suits shown in the pages of a sports publication, if, for no other reason, to sell magazines to the male majority targeted by the magazine
Gender stereotypes

3/1/09 - HBO - Network. 9:30 pm
TV show/sitcom
"Eastbound & Down"
When looking for steroids, Kenny Powers asks his deadbeat friend if "that black guy who sold him all that Cialis" would have any, signifying that this man was a drug dealer
Racial stereotype

ANALYSIS OF EXERCISE:

I would assume (not brashly, I hope) that most of the people who partook in this exercise knew that the media was chock full of stereotypes. We digest them daily. Yet, having been a part of this, it was amazing how, when forced to take note, the stereotypical material jumps off of the page/screen. Having started this late due to a trip, it didn't take me long to pinpoint numerous accounts of racial/gender driven commentary in the media I personally consume. Though eye opening to a degree, I want to state my opinion on what I observed.

Many of the instances occurred in comedic forums. I laughed. I found them funny. But this does not mean I believe the references to be altruistic. For example, the character of the taxi driver in the episode of "30 Rock" did not have to be an Arab (hell, Arab may be insensitive. I tried to Google it). I have had numerous cabies in NYC that were not Arabs. A good many were. Yet, the character, in this instance, was funny (the actor is a notorious humorist). And, though presumptive, I took little away that would hinder my opinion of any type of people (Sidebar: I did find it somewhat ironic that "30 Rock", known for its trail blazing creator Tina Fey, who is painted as a powerful and liberated woman by many outlets, had this blatantly stereotypical image).

Here's why I didn't have a problem with it: I am media savvy. I don't take everything tossed at me from a magazine or the idiot box at face value (which is a deceptive nickname since I got Discovery HD theatre and the Science Network HD). I find stereotypical humor can be funny. If stereotypes are grounded in truth, however small, why can't we laugh at the outliers in our society? They can be somewhat absurd, no?

Let's draw a line in the sand now that we have this out in the open. I don't condone abusive or mean spirited commentary on anyone. If, using the same example from above, the character of the cab driver would have been an outright caricature with no purpose but to insult someone, then that is not acceptable. That has no value, whereas this option playfully exposed an eccentric truth nestled into a cultural tapestry, of sorts. His character also advanced the plot in ways other than just being an Arab taxi driver.

This idea goes for the episode of "Worst Week", as well. The joke itself is pointed as much at a stereotype that Japanese people don't have sofas as it is at Angela herself, for being so obtuse to not realize modern Japan has, indeed, grasped the useful nature of furniture. As one digests the humor, one realizes that Angela has a picture of traditional, feudal Japan in her head, not the modern nation we see today.

The images I found most confronting, and I would have never uttered this prior to the experience, were those of gender. The use of women as sexual objects to illicit a persuasive reaction in men, or even women themselves, was dramatic. The advertisement for the TV show "Burn Notice" could have been a part of the curriculum in a gender roles class. The man, angry, volatile and armed, while the woman is sleek, gliding towards the reader with a "come hither" look on her features. In between the two: "burned man, smoking woman". Just very low brow now that I ponder it. It's actually a great show...so...

Back to my previous line of thought. I can read that and know how silly the ad is, but still feel fine watching the show because I' not doing it because I was persuaded by some silly ad. Not only that, but the content of the show is going to be scrutinized much like the ad to decided if I like the show or not. In this case, I do. It's not simply T&A laid over a terrible plot (insert any show with Pam Anderson in it). How did I do this? I was taught how to analyze books and film and media through education, but also in the home.

Our media is oft maligned for the images it produces, and, yes, many are irresponsible. If I could wiggle my nose like a stereotypical witch of TV past and make the executives and employees realize that there is a better way (within reason), I would. I like women as much as the next guy, but I don't need to be bombarded with pornographic imagery (classy, sexy is fine with me). Where can we make the dent then? On our end. If we taught our children that the Castrol commercial, though an initial roll on the floor, is violent and stupid (don't women change their oil? Wouldn't they want their cars to last longer? They do own cars Castrol...), and we did this for everything we watched with them, they'd grown into conscientious and wise consumers of this land-mine filled media landscape we live in.

We don't need help from anyone else, just those near us.

P.S. Why could Mel Brooks get away with making "Blazing Saddles"? Because he was Jewish? I think so. And, yes, it's one of the funniest movies ever made. I know it's not based in total truth. Why? I'm media savvyyyyyyyy....

White Privilege (updated)

For those of you who have not had the chance to watch Tim Wise speak, I'll tell you this: I don't agree with everything he says, but if you can view or read his thoughts without looking at yourself and asking questions, you're probably a lost cause anyway. Here's an update on the concept of White Privilege that he wrote during the race for the Oval Office:

http://www.redroom.com/blog/tim-wise/this-your-nation-white-privilege-updated

In retrospect (and exceedingly in the moment as I watched it unfold), it makes me cringe that McCain even made the decision to bring on Palin. What was a calculated move to pick up votes backfired epically. I do think McCain would have made a good President. As a registered Republican who is moving away from any party and more and more frequently referring to himself as a "conservative", I am more closely tied to McCain's policy than Obama's. Let's just say one thing: Stimulus Package. Ugghhhh.

And another thing: I'm so sick and tired of people acting like George W. Bush is clinically retarded. The ultimate omission? The perception cultivated by the media that Kerry was in some way smarter than Bush. Admittedly (and certainly observed over his 8 years in office), he is not a great public speaker, and suffers from a slight case of the malady known as "social awkwardness". He did some goofy stuff. But does anyone remember Clinton basically saying he thought a female mummy was attractive? Knowing what we know now about the man, doesn't that just make you're skin crawl? Pick your poison. Smooth slimeball, or awkward Samaritan? I digress.

Back to White Privilege. I was reading and found this article. Respond with your thoughts on how this applies:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=hill/090209

If Phelps had been dogfighting, do you think he would have incurred the same wrath of Mr. Vick? A more severe circumstance than getting caught with a water bong to your mouth, but...eh? Food for thought? I think this may apply more to our fixation with celebrity than anything. I bet there are many people out there who would have written it off quickly and simply called him a thug if he were black.

Changing a day at a time. It's all we can do.

Privilege and Media

White privilege is never something I thought about as a white man. Why would I? Unless you have problems with the items discussed in McIntosh's white privilege list, how would you know those issues existed? It requires education and being taken outside of one's comfort zone to face these inevitable truths. Sadly, people of color have more trouble doing many things than I do. I do not perpetrate this, and I hope there are more and more people daily who provide equal opportunity for all races, but there are deeply entrenched institutional and cultural practices that work against minorities. The Constitution clearly states that all are equal and should get a fair shake, but take a look at the Founding Fathers. They owned slaves. There are so many double standards regarding equality it would take a long time to go over them all. But let's take a look at the opposite side of this situation. White privilege leads to white guilt, which leads to the forced deed of giving to those who are classified as "disadvantaged". This leads to entitlement, and can, in certain situations, develop into a general malaise in the "disadvantaged" communities.  It can have the opposite affect of the intended. By giving these people handouts, are we really helping them? In the most immediate sense, yes, but does this action tell them something? Does it imply, "You're not good enough to support yourself, so we feel sorry for you"? Is there another way to help that isn't charity? 

Conservative scholar Shelby Steele believes that the effects of white privilege are exaggerated. He states that there are certain black privilege's brought on by the advent of white guilt. If you are a black student, he states, you are coveted by schools who almost all have diversity committees. He denotes the hunger in our country today to not be racist as the motivation. This may stem from the want to not get in trouble with the PC police. But whatever the cause, isn't the outcome sufficient? I portend that the acceptance of anyone for anything based on something other than their merit is wrong. If everyone thought this way, we wouldn't have this issue. 

Unfortunately, not enough white people accept, let alone think about, how advantaged they are because they are surrounded by images of whiteness. The media is pervasively white. Disregarding stereotypes and simply looking at the glut of media imagery, there are multitudes of programs if not aimed at white people, speaking to their interests or needs. Many people say, "Why don't we have 'WET' if they have 'BET'?". It's simple. Most all of TV is produced by, for, and with white people in it. Question: have you ever had trouble finding white people on TV? I haven't. I see lots of black people too, but not quite in the same ballpark. We are so insulated by whiteness, it becomes hard to see the other side. This is why so many people don't even acknowledge the existence, or simply the concept, of white privilege. We live in Candy Land and can't see the outside because of the Gumdrop Forrest. The media certainly aids and abets this insulation. I believe it boils down to getting more people of color involved in the media, as well as taking those whites who are and forcing them out of their comfort zone. Have them cover something that is totally alien. 

It is a very difficult topic to slice and dice with many positions. It's not two sided, black and white (is this a bad pun? you decide). There are numerous stances to be taken. Personally, I think that white privilege is alive and well. But white guilt driving the need to throw money at disadvantaged people of color is not the solution. It's degrading. The image of Barbara Bush saying that the Katrina victims should be happy they are in the Astrodome instead of their homes comes to mind. Though they be poor, to assume that they would prefer a crowded stadium over their own, though they be meager, domiciles and lives is preposterous. It's white ignorance. People are proud, and their lives are still important to them, regardless of the quality of material items involved. This handout culture has led numerous communities to expect their well being to come from someone else. To take the responsibility of support from the individual to the surrounding community. The solution doesn't lie in currency or anything material: it resides in the changing of attitudes and perspectives on the concept of race. Most notably its eradication as we know it and seeing others based on their qualities, not their skin color. 

I see examples of white privilege all the time, no doubt, but until I was told to look for them, I never noticed. I noticed that the night shift at CVS is predominately African American, while the day shift is mostly white. Do whites get preferential treatment when choosing shifts? What's the managers race? I noticed that, when talking with a black friend, I asked a question requiring him to respond with an answer that would represent his whole race. I've never had to do that (How do white people generally feel about...?). I noticed that I'm not assumed to be something just because of my race. I was in a group of people when a white guy asked a black friend what he did at OU (insinuating, after I thought about it a bit, that he couldn't just be a student, he must be an athlete). I noticed that it's hard for me to stereotype whites, but I can think of hundreds for other races. I noticed that I rarely ever feel uncomfortable going anywhere, except a bit when I am surrounded by people of other races. Then I thought, "that must be what they feel like all the time". And I felt bad assuming so. I noticed that most all packaging on things I bought, which were products people of all colors would purchase, provided images dominated by white people. Then I thought of the Pine-Sol woman and laughed (I like her). I noticed that, at a convenience store, I was allowed to open my drink and walk around and not be reprimanded, but on my way out, the clerk asked a black girl to pay for her candy bar before opening it at the front of the store. I have no idea if the clerk didn't see me or this was racially charged. But I thought about it. I noticed that, even though I get nervous around cops (who doesn't), my black friends are way more concerned. I can tell by their mannerisms. It's crazy what is there if you take a look. 

The one drop rule is somewhat arbitrary to me, personally. I don't classify anyone as anything they don't want to be classified as. I may look at someone who is of a darker skin tone and process in my brain, "that person is black/latino/asian", but I don't make decisions based on race. Therefore, what would it matter if they have one drop or a million? They are a person. It's up to their parents to classify them as something on the paperwork, and for them to tell me if they want (which would be a fairly awkward conversation, by the way). I think this stance stems from the way I was raised, but also from my continued development and education. I'm different than I was when I was living with my parents. I've known and seen things that involve race that I've made my own decisions on. I think our behavior change can be either positive or negative when continuing our development. Tatum suggests we have a responsibility to grow from new information, but this statement insinuates that we are going to move in a positive direction. What if the stimulus is negative? What needs to be understood is that everyone is not the same, within and without racial parameters. If we respect everyone's God given right to be alive, then we won't have any issues. It's a lifestyle choice that doesn't require development once you have attained it. 

 

Only God Can Judge Me...

After class yesterday, I think the main issue we will run into is not the act of opening up to each other about race, but clinging to frivolous and arbitrary points of view derived solely from the places in which we are comfortable. We don't want to feel that the places where we are coming from are in some way flawed. They are what we know as home base. Wise talked (or yelled) about white guilt and privilege. Valid points to discuss, though in some ways highly detrimental. Entitlement kills ambition. This can work on both sides of the proverbial fence. It involves all colors. And though the point can be made that it was whites who have constructed the social structure, leading to institutional inequality, it is an issue that grips all of us (though, I, as a white person, can only feel "guilty").

In all reality, I don't feel guilty. I haven't done anything. I understand that I am entitled luxuries that people of color may not be afforded. That angers me. But the way I combat that is to treat all people as I would want to be treated. I read it in a book somewhere. Some billboard on the highway said it was a bestseller or something...oh, yeah, the Bible. And regardless of faith or morals or whatever you live by, if it's worth anything, this principle should be front and center.

There's no easy fix. It requires patience and a willingness to be bombarded with negative images of the ignorant acting out, still knowing that what you are doing, in your diminutive space, is the greater good. Simple things, like holding your tongue when it might be easy to make a joke at someone else's expense.

It falls on ALL OF US. There's no exclusions. There is always someone to blame.

I leave it to the Rose That Grew From Concrete, warrior poet, beautiful human, regardless of color, to spell it out.

This song should not be taken lightly. A telling excerpt:

Perhaps, I was blind to tha facts
Stabbed in tha back
I Couldn't trust my own homies
just a bunch a dirty rats
Will I, succeed
paranoid from the weed
And hocus pocus try to focus
But I can't see
And in my mind
I'm a, blind man doin' time
Look to my future
cause my past is all behind me
Is it a crime
to fight for what is mine
Everybodies dyin'
Tell me, Whats the use of tryin'
I've been trapped since birth
Cautious, cause I'm cursed
and fantansies of my family
in a hurse
And they say
It's the white man
I should fear
But, it's my own kind
Doin' all the killin' here
I can't lie
Ain't no love, for the other side
Jealousy inside
Make 'em wish I died
Oh my lord
Tell me what I'm livin' for
Everybodies droppin'
got me knockin' on heaven's door
And all my memories
is seeing brothas bleed
And everybody grieves
But still nobody sees
regulate your thoughts
Don't get caught up in tha mix
cause the media is full of dirty tricks
Only God can Judge me....

Tupac makes a clear statement here. Though there be inequality from the start, he can't help but observe that it's mostly other black men doing the killing in his neighborhood. And he is told to blame the white man. He's uneasy about the other side, he states, as he observes hatred there too. Yet, this defines a clear cut theme.

We're not getting anywhere without everyone taking responsibility and dropping the finger pointing at the door. That's when we will make progress.

Racial Profiling. Wrong but effective?

This subject is damn tricky. There's no getting past that simple fact. Racial profiling is a hot button issue, especially since its catapult into the national consciousness after the 9/11 attacks. I have been taught, as have most people of any quality, that to make judgements about someone on their external appearance is wrong. These deductions are based off stereotypical evidence that pigeon holes the subject in question. Political Correctness 101. It's on the syllabus.

Yet, in a situation dealing with Islamic extremists, is there something more important than an individuals feelings on the collective bus? Targeted intelligence-gathering at mosques and in local Muslim communities, for example, makes perfect sense when we are at war with these extremists that seem to have many of the same qualities over and over again.

I think the question that begs to be answered is this: would I, as a white male, mind being searched more often than other individuals if it meant saving lives? I can't totally place myself in the shoes of someone of another race, but if I saw, continually, people of my nationality or region perpetrating these jihadist acts of terror, I might be angered but I would have to look at the bigger picture.

Quick relevant sidebar: If a police officer came up to me and said, "You fit the profile of a drug dealer", What would my options be? Well, let's think this through. If I was a drug dealer, I might be nervous because I was doing something wrong. If all the drugs were in my car or apartment, I'd be really nervous if the cops wanted to search the vehicle/premises. If I wasn't, why would I stop them from going about their business? I have nothing to hide, and nothing to lose but my time (an inconvenience, no doubt). This is obviously an oversimplification, and one that will garner rebuttal, but it goes towards my point.

Islamic extremism is not based off of hatred or misunderstanding of another person because of their skin color. Last time I checked, the planes hit the World Trade Center and the Pentagon with all colors of people inside. It is a religious fanaticism that contains scripture calling for the death of any person not willing to convert. Talk about your ultimate stage of intolerance. Boy. A little bit more extreme than a racial slur, indeed.

Many agents of our government have been called out for searching mosques for links to terrorist groups. Where are they supposed to look? Quaker neighborhoods? Elks Lodge meetings? My mom's garden club? There are some realities that cannot be ignored.

To clarify: I don't walk around daily avoiding people of Middle Eastern decent. It's not in my makeup. I have to hope that humanity is good (regardless of all of the evidence on my TV screen pointing at the opposite). Yet for me to sit back and disregard bold trends would denote grave irresponsibility to the millions of Americans I would like to say I am united.

As we grow together more as a whole (which I hope understanding and tolerance will cultivate), I think this dangerous world that the few ruin for the many requires almost thicker skin. Though this may be perceived conflicting, or an oxymoron to some, it makes sense. Most people aren't bad, but there are those who are, and they match certain criteria. Therefore, for the safety of all, it might require discomfort for a few.

I may be called out for being insensitive. But I'd rather be insensitive than dead. I'll drink a cold one with all of my friends now. Of all colors, shapes, and sizes.

On a somewhat related note: looks like some of the "finer citizens" of Guantanamo picked up a hankering to be in the movies while in jail. Or they were actually bad people. You decide. I'm just glad they're free! Click below for more on this new star!

And to brighten everybody's day! Look at what the new numb skull in the White House did! Did anyone make fun of him viciously and with no remorse for this blatant act of stupidity? Nope. Oh well. The honeymoon continues...


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/4387606/Barack-Obama-mistakes-window-for-door-at-White-House.html

Powerful Women in Cinema

Being an avid fan of all things film from Casablanca to Evil Dead, the blog example in class of bad mamma jamma's on the silver screen got my creative juices flowing. It is often discussed how leading roles are difficult for actors and actresses to access due to their race, but this also rings true regarding the oft underplayed aspect of gender itself. This is not to say that women do not get leading roles. They certainly do. The type of part is the focus here. It's obvious Ingrid Bergman was a leading lady in the aforementioned Casablanca, and quite a dynamic and lovely one at that. Her character garnered respect for her stance against the Nazi party, as well as her desire to fight her emotions and stay with her husband. This concept of commitment stands in line with the traditional values we associate with the fairer sex: all attributes feminine and docile. Yet, roles for females as the star of the film, and especially action films, are limited to this day. It is very rare for us to see a woman on screen blowing things up and oozing the "I am woman, hear me roar" sentiment. This no doubt stems from a lack of roles utilizing this archetype of individual. Having documented the shortage, there are a few. And the ones that are available offer up some of the most original and pleasurable cinematic experiences out there. Let's get started:

1) Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley (Alien, Aliens, Alien 3, Alien Resurrection): Is there any other actress that was this kick ass yet maintained her maternal instincts? She's not a caricature. It would have been easy to make her a cardboard cutout of a butch woman blowing things up. Instead, in the deft hands of Ridley Scott (Alien) then James Cameron (Aliens), she comes to represent the human race as our queen bee. I'm not sure it gets any better than the end of Aliens. Overpowered by her instincts to regain the little girl Newt, she treks into the hive of the aliens with a grenade launcher taped to a flame thrower, dropping flares like bread crumbs along the way. In the center of the hive, she encounters the queen alien, and the moment is electric. Here we have the two matriarchs of their species, in an intergalactic stare down. Ripley torches the eggs, grabbing the little girl and hauling tail back into the space station to escape. The queen is not so happy, and follows in close pursuit, leading to a final fight sequence for the ages. Ripley dons a mechanical suit that, for most intensive purposes, looks like an advanced fork lift. Spewing a line like, "Get off her, you bitch!"towards the queen only adds to the intensity. What most people don't realize is that they are watching two females fighting over the survival and propagation of their species. Downright amazing and the best example of a woman showing her action mettle. Please don't watch the last two in the series. Trust me.


2) Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor (Terminator and Terminator 2): If anyone comes close to Ellen Ripley, it is Sarah Connor. Both Terminator movies were directed by James Cameron, who also helmed Aliens. One might say Mr. Cameron has a thing for tough chicas, but that shouldn't be too hard to deduce. He married Linda Hamilton! Yes, that's right: Sarah Connor. In the first film, we see Sarah as a mid-twenties everygirl, working a 9 to 5 and going out on the town to dance to some new wave 80's junk at the local club. By T2, when she understands her fate as the sole protector of John Connor, her son (and by the way the savior of the human race), that girl is long gone. What we are left with as the viewer is a woman who has vivid dreams of her flesh being torn off in a nuclear explosion while her skeleton dangles by her fingertips from a chain link fence. Quite a jarring scene. When she's shooting at the T2000 robot out of the back of a moving truck with her legs both shot up, you realize this lady is raw. Understanding Sarah's stance on life in general in the second film is summed up clearly in this quote from T2: "How are you supposed to know? Fucking men like you built the hydrogen bomb. Men like you thought it up. You think you're so creative. You don't know what it's like to really create something; to create a life; to feel it growing inside you. All you know how to create is death...". Hard as a rock.

3) Uma Thurman as Beatrix Kiddo, aka, "The Bride" (Kill Bill Vol. I-II): Quentin Tarrantino loves quirky genres of cinema, such as kung fu and 70's B-movies, and in these two off the wall offerings he combines elements of them both. That's not all. He adds the narrative style of a western (very simlar to japanese samurai films/kung fu), and puts a woman in the lead. Not just any woman. We meet her as only "The Bride", her name bleeped over whenever uttered in the first film in classic B-movie fashion. We eventually find out, after enough deaths to make Robocop blush, that we are looking at the assassin Beatrix Kiddo. She's on the ultimate mission for revenge after the brutal loss of her daughter at the hands of a beating while pregnant. Can you figure out who she wants to knock off? Simply look at the title: Kill Bill. Her mentor and father of said little girl. There's no doubt that Ms. Kiddo's skills with a samurai sword (taught to her in a classic training segment straight out of a kung fu film starring famous Chinese actor Chia Hui Liu) are prolific beyond anyone she encounters. Are they enough to take out the other queens of cinema referenced here? Watch and question that yourself!

Honorable Mention: Lori Petty as Rebecca (Tank Girl), Geena Davis as Charlie Baltimore (The Long Kiss Goodnight), Carrie Fischer as Princess Leia (The Star Wars Trilogy)

Please comment and add any leading lady roles that incur bad ass status!