1. The issue I am thinking about researching is that of voice, specifically the implications and results of people oftentimes having to assume authority in situations in which they cannot or do not actually have that authority. For example, in a classroom situation when a white student is asked how a black person might feel in a situation in which they are being discriminated against, they cannot actually know how it feels, but have to assume that authority and come to their own conclusions. Therefore, I want to look at the repercussions of doing just that. How does the student feel when they assume the authority of someone in that community, and how do people who are actually in that community feel. Does this create unnecessary dissonance, or is it a necessary part of the learning process?
2. My personal connection to this topic is that I have been asked to assume this particular role in a classroom situation and I didn’t know how to react. Also, I have seen other students with the same confusion because they do not want to offend anyone or articulate anything the wrong way. In my own experience it simply created tension in the classroom.
3. I already started to talk about my own opinions, but I do think it can be a very useful and necessary part of learning, but it might make people within the community feel upset at what the people outside of it are saying because they can’t really understand.
4. My knowledge of this topic comes from practical experience. So far I have mentioned classroom situations, but I also notice in workplace situations the same thing happens. Specifically, at the insurance company where I am interning, I oftentimes lead the client to believe that I have more authority about a topic that I actually have because I do not want to come off as uninformed. Also, in literature, sometimes white authors will create characters, for example, who are slaves, or Jewish, or really anything that the author themselves are not.
6. In one of the essays that we read for class, the researcher said that when she hears people who are not of her race try to assume what it is like for her, she oftentimes ends up being quiet and holding her opinions to herself, but actually feeling very offended. From a communication standpoint, however, researchers might look at why people outside of the community feel and why they communicate in the way in which they do.
7. Research could include interviewing students, professors, etc…possibly even taking a survey of students.
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