This week’s reading designates the fact that people may or may not be part of the problem. When these topics, oppression, male privileges etc are talked about, most of the time from beginning to end are associated with an individual. The author, Allan G. Johnson also indicates that what we sometimes term as oppression, could in fact not be oppression at al. He states, “merely the sum of individual failings on the part of people of color, women, and people living in poverty, who lack the right stuff to compete successfully with whites, men and others who know how to make something of themselves” (Johnson 27). From my understanding of this statement, people of color, women sometimes mis concept poverty with oppression. The lack of opportunities and resources mislead people into thinking that their situations are because of oppression, patriarchy. 

Allan Johnson states, “if we see patriarchy as nothing more than men’s and women’s individual personalities, motivations and behavior, then it won’t occur to us to ask about larger contexts”. Patriarchy involves more than just individualism; it is much broader in context than what we presume. When a parent ignores his or her responsibilities or refuses to cater for their children, The possibilities to that outcome should not be limited to how careless the parent is, or just justify the situation at hand based on the person’s personalities. We should take into consideration bigger factors, like how much society, religion has contributed to this output. 

As stated by the author, our personalities and gender preference are sometimes initiated through socialization. Interacting and “participating” in social affairs constitutes to an individual finding his or her true self or identity. The author sights his thoughts on the fact that as individuals, we sometimes react or respond consciously or unconsciously to certain circumstances based on how society puts forth, in other words how society expects us to. “We are participating something bigger than ourselves”. In this reading, we are confronted about agonizing truth that “human beings are the ones who make social systems happen”. Socialization, societal norms, and beliefs, set theories are a part of the system that is made up by us. The system created can also be made different by us. It is up to us to amend the system that we created. I know this is not really related, but this passage somehow reminds me of the 504 incidents, where disabled people joined forces and fought for their rights, that certain actions and changes be made to make less complicated for them.

Audre Lorde, the author of the reading, “There is no hierarchy of oppression” tells us that oppression comes in many forms and not directed to just one race or gender. The author wants to “effect change” whiles being her true self, “As a Black, lesbian, feminist, socialist, poet, mother if two including one boy and a member of an interracial couple”. The author acknowledges her race and gender. She refuses to ignore the oppression she endures from either side. It is brought to our attention that we brainwash ourselves about the hardships we have gone through, however she is determined to show her kids better so don’t need to be like us.