Johnson Ch. 8

In Chapter 8 of Johnsons book PPD, he discusses the technique called “Getting off the Hook” that many people in society use to deny or resist the existence of racism or sexism or any other oppressed problem. Johnson points out different techniques people use to avoid the issue. At the end of the chapter, Johnson concludes that by staying “off the hook” people will continue to distance themselves from the other. Men will distance themselves from women, whites from color, heterosexual from lesbians or gay men, and the non-disabled from the disabled. Off the hook, you live in illusion denial as if you can choose whether or not to be involved in the life of society and the consequences it produces.

Johnson gives great examples and reasons why people will try to get off the hook. The first way to get off the hook is to just simply deny that it exist entirely saying something like “Racism and sexism used to be issues but they aren’t anymore” (Pg. 108). Another way that people try to get off the hook is by blaming the victim for that specific situation. Another way that Johnson discusses is calling it something else. By doing this, you’re creating the appearance of being in touch with reality and not having to do something about it. The final way in which Johnson writes is when people say that the situation is better this way. People are simply assuming that the groups prefer to live one way. Many would assume that African Americans would rather live with people of their color; which in a study conducted it was found that blacks would rather live in integrated neighborhoods. By using all of these common techniques, many people are able to get away of the touchy subject.

This is an everyday thing for society. Most of the time when people use these tactics, they are completely oblivious to the hidden meaning. It will be extremely difficult for people to accept that they use these terms to simply avoid the topic. It is almost guaranteed that every single individual uses one of these techniques everyday. Slowly, everyone will come together with their senses and realize what is happening. When slaves were brought over and used here in the United States, many believed that this was ordinary. We have now changed how we look at things like this. Some progress will be made, but I believe not anytime soon.