“Oh, now that I think about it, it’s discrimination?”
Everyday problematic expressions taught by a social studies teacher

Are the words we use so thoughtlessly really okay? Could it be that we unknowingly use words or actions that discriminate against or hate others? Discrimination and hatred exist even in moments we don't even notice.
They hide behind a mask of laughter and playfulness, or within a social atmosphere that has been taken for granted for a long time, and blend in with people's daily lives.
How sensitive can we be to this discrimination and hatred?

The author, who has communicated with teenagers in various ways as a social studies teacher, has now returned as a 'professional inconveniencer.'
He focused on the uncomfortable expressions that exist around us.
In "Am I the only one who finds this scene uncomfortable?", we examine how such expressions are used, where they originated, and why we must be careful and avoid using them indiscriminately.
We took a close look at the discrimination and hatred that exists in our society, from inequality of opportunity, gender, social minorities, the gap between the rich and the poor, to appearance discrimination.
And it explains in language that is easy for young people to understand how dangerous the discrimination and hatred hidden in our daily lives are.
Additionally, at the end of the book, a discussion using the contents of each chapter is included to help teenagers organize their thoughts on their own.


By following the human rights story told in a friendly and calm voice in "Am I the only one uncomfortable with this scene?", young people will be able to understand others and society, and broaden their perspective on the world.
In addition, you will be able to develop the attitude and strength to correctly interpret and critically accept the information and expressions that pour in from the media every day.

In dramas, the idea that companies are the 'private property' of conglomerates is portrayed as natural.
The second generation of a conglomerate is often portrayed as not only the son of the chairman but also a person with management skills, and it is not portrayed as natural for them to rise to a high position or take over management at a young age.
When you see scenes like this, it doesn't seem strange that the second or third generation of a conglomerate rises to a high position at an early age.
But if you look closely, they don't necessarily reach high positions just because of their outstanding abilities or efforts.
Especially when you take a position with unproven abilities, you're essentially taking away an opportunity from someone more capable and hard-working.

It is a personal freedom to enjoy watching dramas about conglomerates.
However, when we see scenes like this, we need to question the structure in which children of chaebol families quickly rise through the ranks and inherit management rights.
If we take unfair realities for granted, unfair structures can become more firmly rooted in society.
It is necessary to think about the problems of the conglomerate group, such as illegal or unlawful management and management succession.

--- pp.40~41

Think about a scene on a variety show where a female guest forcibly touches a male guest or makes sexually harassing remarks, causing laughter.
In the past, it was common for actions that would have been heavily criticized if done by a male performer to a female performer, but were passed off as simple pranks when the man was the victim.
But now, there are more and more cases where women point out problems when men behave in this way.

Sexual harassment means making the other person feel sexually ashamed through unwanted words or actions.
What matters is how the other person feels, rather than what the person who said or did something intended.
As social awareness of adulthood has increased, it is time to consider the other person's perspective and be careful with what we say and do.

--- p.73

At some point, the word 'Tttak' started to circulate on the Internet.
It is one of the expressions that hates the elderly, and is a derogatory word used to look down on the older generation who wear dentures.
On the one hand, it's also a bit strange.
Since ancient times, our country has considered respecting the elderly as a basic moral principle.
But at some point, the elderly went beyond being marginalized and became objects of hatred.
When did hate speech toward the elderly begin?
As democratization progressed and etiquette in daily life became more important, the images of some elderly people who were called 'thoughtless' were exposed in the mass media.
Unlike the younger generation who advocate for the democratization of politics, the older generation with conservative political leanings were often featured in the media.
Looking at the older generation, hate speech has increased, especially in online communities.

--- pp.105~106

“What kind of spoon were you born with?”
Nowadays, there are almost no people in South Korea who do not understand what this question is.
This is because the spoon class theory, which began to circulate around online communities around 2015, is now used as everyday terminology.

Spoon class theory refers to a new class theory that divides people into gold spoons, silver spoons, and dirt spoons based on their assets or income.
In addition, terms such as diamond spoon and copper spoon began to appear.
There are even spoon games and spoon bingo games on the internet that allow you to find out which spoon you belong to.

The spoon class theory originally originated from the European proverb, “born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth.”
In the past, in Europe, expensive silver spoons were only available to the upper class, so this proverb was used to mean that one was born into a wealthy family.
This story came to 21st century Korea and transformed into the 'spoon class theory'.

--- pp.133~134

Stereotypes about black people aren't limited to Western countries like the United States or Europe.
Similar stereotypes and prejudices have taken root in our country, which has been heavily influenced by Western culture since liberation.
Words that stem from these stereotypes and prejudices can be discriminatory, even if they are not intended to be.

The word 'black' can also be racist in a similar context.
Some explain that it is not a word used in a derogatory sense, but rather has a positive and friendly meaning.
Some people say that it doesn't have a negative meaning because it comes from the image of a 'black person who is big, athletic, and good at music or rapping.'
But if you look closely, these words contain stereotypes about black people.
Are all Black people big, athletic, or talented in music or rap? Positive stereotypes also don't respect individual characteristics.
It can cause all social groups belonging to a given category to feel uncomfortable and unpleasant by lumping them into one characteristic.
--- pp.165~166

Appearance-based evaluations and discrimination are not new, not only in mass media but also in new media such as social media, internet communities, and online news.
The recent popularity of the face-to-face culture on social media also reflects this trend.
Eolpyeong is an abbreviation for 'face evaluation' and it means evaluating someone's appearance.
For example, you can evaluate someone's appearance level by giving them a score between 1 and 5 hearts after seeing their photo posted on social media.

It is said that this culture of comparing faces is especially widespread among elementary, middle, and high school students.
Not only do teenagers comment on other people's faces, they also boldly post their own photos asking for 'face reviews.'
Why do teenagers ask others to rate their faces? Experts say the adolescent desire for recognition, coupled with a tendency toward lookism, has given rise to a culture of face-criticism.

--- pp.203~204