The Office TV Show

The Office I chose to do my paper on the television show The Office. The reason why I chose this show is because I believe it provides great examples when it comes to dominant and minority groups, including many different races and ethnicities. I think it somewhat gives viewers an insight of the daily struggles minority groups face in the workplace. Some of the different races included in the show are African American, Indian, White, and Mexican. Not only does the color of their skin set them apart, but their cultural characteristics as well. One example is the different religious views some of the characters acquire. This not only causes conflict between them, but makes them label some of their coworkers as inferior. As I began to dig deeper

It takes place in Scranton, Pennsylvania and is about a paper company. Michael Scott, a white man, is the manager who really brings light to the program. It focuses on how he and his coworkers interact, and the relationships they develop throughout each season. Although it may be a big hit, a great deal of prejudice and discrimination takes place. Michael really tends to embrace his whiteness by using his racist jokes, the position he holds at the company, as well as the stereotypes he has towards African Americans and Mexicans. For example, Stanley and Darryl are African Americans who Michael constantly judges. Not only does he joke about their race, but their weight as well. Although he criticizes them, he shows a sense of fear because he tends to associate them with gangs and violence. When I think of Michael Scott, ethnocentrism comes to mind. Throughout the whole show his character is known to judge others lifestyles based on his own culture. Not only does he make his whiteness recognizable, but also very

When I watch the show, I often find myself feeling very sorry for him because of the struggles he has to deal due to his race. Throughout the program he constantly tries his hardest to find a better job but cannot seem to make it happen. He often mentions the issue is because he is African American. I find Darryl falling under the Blauner Hypothesis simply because of his struggles with prejudice, discrimination, and racism, putting him into a colonized minority group. The more issues that begin to take place throughout the seasons, the harder it is for Darryl to overcome such battles. Another character I also have sympathy for is Oscar. Not only does he fall under a minority group because he is Mexican, but he is also at a huge disadvantage due to being a homosexual. When it comes to his life in the workplace, the mocking and name calling never seems to end. His coworkers don’t just laugh at his race, but also at his sexuality. On The Office the minority group definitely outweighs the dominant, but one character named Dwight shows a great example of how someone who is in a dominant group may act. Much of his power comes from him being White, how much land he has, and how well he does in the workplace. He uses this to discriminate against the minority groups. Infact, in one episode, he specifically picks up illegal immigrants, has them do his work for him, and tells them that he will pay them at the end of the day.