Blog 10

Everyone feels fear. These fears can range anywhere from being scared of a simple spider, or being afraid of having money to purchase food or fear for your physical safety. Comparing the readings about fear to Steven Lukes' three dimensions of power theory, it is quite easy to pick out examples between the two. 

The first dimension of power, decision-making, could be explained with an example from the reading about sexual assault. Due to the fact that girls are being sexually assaulted and these assaults are generally occurring in the same type of places, examples being frat parties and bars, girls are now going to avoid those areas or always make sure that they are with friends so they are more protected. Looking at the reading about Latino immigrants, it specifically stated that the immigrants had begun taking different routes home in order to avoid the attack heavy areas of the city. These examples both fit the concept of an individual or group of people extending their power and changing the behavior of another individual or group of people. 

In the reading, the example of the Latinos that were being physically harassed could be described as the second dimension of power, setting the agenda. In this situation the Latinos aren't able to know when an individual is going to try and attack or harass them. The harasser is the one "setting the agenda" of when these attacks are going to happen. This step relates very similarly to the reading about rape on college campuses. A victim of rape isn't aware of when they are going to be attacked, only the attacker knows when they are going to make a move, therefore "setting the agenda". 

The last dimension of power is control over the political system or agenda. The reading on sexual assault can be used to explain this idea. If an individual is a victim of rape, there is generally very little chance that everyone is going to be their story. It happens often that a victim will come out with their story and that the public will either discount it or say that they are exaggerating, or even that it is their own fault that they were assaulted. An explanation for this unfortunate circumstance is the media. The media is where these situations are most often advertised, meaning that the public is being made to think that the attackers deserve sympathy, or that all individuals that say they were attacked are actually lying. 

Above is a diagram depicting Steven Lukes' three dimensions of power. While it doesn't fit in directly and expands on his ideas slightly, it still gives a good idea of what he was saying.