After reading “Oppression” by Marilyn Frye and “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” by Peggy McIntosh, these two enlightening texts gave me a deeper understanding on how privilege and oppression are two different terms yet in a way relate to one another. Oppression targets and discriminates against groups of people personally, interpersonally, institutionally and culturally. It also serves as a systemic barrier that works to position those from different social identity groups or of a dominant group such as white people and males on a higher pedal stall with the ability to access benefits, advantages, and favors which gives them a greater chance to fulfill their needs throughout society and in life. Those who are not as privileged are rather limited and exploited from the law, education, employment and health care. These social identity groups are less fortunate and underestimated due to their race such as black people and also their sex such as females. Both of these texts addressed racist and sexist behaviors that combined with social injustice, stereotypes and institutional power are formed by inequality and mistreatment of that individual.
Frye gave an interesting analogy of a bird in a cage that described the complexity of the oppressed who are confined and shaped by social structures and gender inequality which has been in existence since way back in history till this day. The author stated “It is perfectly obvious that the bird is surrounded by a network of systematically related barriers, no one of which would be the least hindrance to its flight, but which, by their relations to each other, are as confining as the solid walls of a dungeon” (Frye 12). I believe what was meant by the author is that oppressed individuals are unable to live their lives freely through the powers of society. As mentioned earlier women are target groups of oppression because of what they wear, do or say and how it affects their gender roles and the reflection of themselves living among a patriarchal society. As a female I feel like what is worn is for myself, not to get attention from others who try to imply their own interpretation of me because society says so.
McIntosh also made an interesting point stating “I have come to see white privilege as an invisible package of unearned assets which I can count on cashing in each day, but about which I was ‘meant’ to remain oblivious. White privilege is like an invisible weightless knapsack of special provisions, maps, passports, codebooks, visas, clothes, tools and blank checks” (McIntosh 1). This means that even oppressors from a dominant group are also struggling with this system because they are granted with unearned privileges and see it as being normal whereas not many colored people are able to relate to and share those similar opportunities. For many target groups whether one is female or black they have to work hard to get their way since they are faced with obstacles that differentiate them from the rest.
Today I am proud to see a society where oppressed individuals are starting to take form as we see all different types of black owned businesses that are becoming successful in support of their culture and race that struggled to get where they are during these times. Entrepreneurship in this form is important in strengthening the community’s wealth and way of living so they are no longer held back by systemic racial and or gender oppression. I enjoyed Junie’s snapshot because it depicted how white privileged individuals get all the credit and feel like they are the ones being left out because they are blinded by the inequality and discrimination black people have been going through. I feel like society has to continue to change their ways drastically toward oppressed groups and recognize how much it takes a toll on their lives getting mistreated and ruled out for the complexion of their skin.
