In the early 20th century women became more involved in politics and in the economy. They participated in labor movements and organizations to advocate for rights in the workplace and unions which were influenced by an industrial disaster, a fire in New York City’s Triangle Shirtwaist Company in 1911. It was a tragedy that killed about 146 out of the 500 employees who were primarily young immigrant women, most being teenagers rather. These women were all working under harsh and inhumane conditions that consisted of poor pay, punishing schedules and tedious work. The fire that occurred was a result of a poorly made building the women worked in, where the hose malfunctioned due to it being rusted and rotten and there was no sprinkler system in case of an emergency like this was to happen. Not even the ways to exit the building was safe or secure enough to get everyone out alive. I am shocked by the way these women had sacrificed their lives through the hard work they were faced with and on top of that struggling to survive through a disastrous fire. I can understand why the public, especially the women during this time, was frustrated, demanding change and ways to improve factory safety standards in the workplace. This helped start the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union that served to fight for better working conditions for sweatshop workers. It continued to pave the way to protect the rights of women even from the sex discrimination and inequality that prevent them from having equal opportunities and to succeed economically as working individuals. They were being limited to these rights as this was not considered as the traditional role of a woman in society who were originally stay at home mothers and wives. 

The Equal Rights Amendment followed up once women fought for political equality which was the 19th Amendment allowing women the right to vote. The ERA failed to pass because the ratification deadline had passed and not every state contributed to the amendment.There has been some controversy with the way the ERA would affect women’s rights. In the article “Virginia Just Became the 38th State to Pass the Equal Rights Amendment. Here’s What to Know About the History of the ERA” by Tara Law in TIME Magazine states “advocates say that the amendment is help back by the sense among some people that it’s not necessary, but proponents argue that it could strengthen the legal basis for combating violence against women, pay inequality and maternity leave” (Law 6). This means that the law and American society don’t acknowledge the fact that women are still lacking that political and economic support that does not guarantee them legal equal rights among men. Some believe this amendment may negatively affect men. I don’t see anything wrong with a woman bringing home the same amount of money as her husband because at least they can provide for each other and their family together to build and grow a stable household. 

In Sadira’s snapshot one of the images represented different name brand and designer logos featuring the hard working people behind the labor of it all. I find it upsetting that throughout society some people always think they need to have the newest or most popular item on the market whether it’s clothes or sneakers just because of its name brand. These items are just overpriced and expensive just because the company only cares about trends and profits. Brands like Nike, Gap, Chanel and Polo Ralph Lauren either were or might still be accused of using sweatshops internationally to produce and manufacture their products. The problem with that is similar to the disadvantages the women who worked in the Triangle Sweatshirt Factory faced such as unfair wages, poor working conditions, underaged employees, and a lack of benefit and safety for workers. This is more of a reason for people to realize why we may take life for granted when there are others out there who have no other options to financially support their families. Moreover sweatshops also violate human rights with women being the large percent of it all being subject to crucial treatment these factories put them through

In reading the timeline “One Hundred Years toward Suffrage: An Overview” it was very inspiring to me because it consisted of a series of events that made up many years of different women in history who advocated and strived for women’s rights, freedoms and equality. The fact that these women, especially black women would be denied and rejected by the public from voting, owning land, getting a higher education and other opportunities that were mainly available and open to white men because of the inequality between the two sexes. Women eventually were able to make their mark during the nineteenth century. It is important to understand that the way women fought to get their voices heard and stand up for the female community as a whole was done by forming speeches and campaigns, creating reform movements and marches and even signing petitions which has made an strong impact on the lives of the future generation of women in reaching their goals. 

One of the events on the timeline that caught my attention the most was in 1859 “The successful vulcanization of rubber provides women with reliable condoms for the first time. The birth rate in the United States continues its downward, century-long spiral. By the late 1900s, women will raise an average of only two to three children, in contrast to the five or six children they raised at the beginning of the century” (Prints and Photographs Reading Room, Library of Congress). I feel like this is a good contraceptive alternative during this time to prove to society and political views that this helps women have better control over their own health and body for birth control and protection from sexually transmitted diseases. At some point the US Congress prohibited the sale and use of birth control however, two female activists Katherine McCormick and Margaret Sanger contributed to advocate for improving women’s lives to have control of their own bodies that gave rise to women reproductive rights in contrast to that of voting rights. 

In the video Untold Stories of Black Women in the Suffrage Movement it portrayed empowering and influential female figures who became strong leaders, activists and suffragists during the women’s suffrage and the civil rights era. One of these females was a white woman named Susan B. Anthony who fought to abolish slavery and to obtain property ownership of women. Another female was a black woman named Ida B Wells, who was born into slavery but freed by the emancipation proclamation. Ida fought for equality and rights for African Americans especially women. Anna Julia Cooper was also a black woman who was born a slave however was educated, eventually earning her PhD and inspiring other black women that education was the key in uplifting their race. Black women have been thriving by being a part of all professions even creating their own businesses even through times where similar issues facing their race may continue to linger. 

These women, especially black women, fought endlessly for the right to vote during a time where not only sexism was an issue but also racism which discriminated and segregated against many African Americans during the late 19th century. Women in general really came a long way since life was a lot different just 100 years ago, where the lives of women were more complicated and limited than the roles of women in today’s society. 

Fawzina’s snapshot showed a clear representation of the facial expressions from the women during the suffrage movement as they looked fed up and unhappy while reinforcing and demanding for women’s rights. Women wanted to be valued and respected so they can achieve fundamental human rights being able to be as legal and equal as men. As a female I want to create a productive and successful life for myself because I cannot take for granted all the hard work and dedication women had in fulfilling their dreams. 

In reading “How To Think Like an Activist” by Wendy Syfret, who provides us with different steps and strategies to take action and stand up in trying to change political or social issues. Throughout history activism has involved both violent and nonviolent movements, where some used to battle in war and others would turn to peaceful protest. These action were taken in order to promote and fight for positive change for groups of people who were affected by inequality, discrimination, or living under poor conditions in their community. People pushed toward positive change to influence and inspire the upcoming generation to have a better life. Activism consists of many different issues as Syfret states “People from all over the world are confronting issues such as climate change, racial injustice, xenophia, and violence against women, people of colour and non-binary individual” (Syfret 11). This means that the individuals in these communities are unsatisfied with the way they’ve been treated and are probably deprived of their rights and freedom. 

We now live in a generation where technology plays an important role in our lives and  helps us perform many different tasks efficiently and easily. In efforts to create change I feel like technology is one of the ways to communicate with others and have more of a chance to get their message across with people from all over the world that may also share the same frustration and injustice. Syfret stated “Not only has technology transformed our causes, but it has also reshaped the role and individual impact of activists. With a phone in hand, anyone has the ability to educate, inform, expose and serve as a reporter, documentary maker or social organiser. Today you don’t need an arm to act, just a wi-fi connection” (Syfret 23). It’s important to take advantage of the opportunities we have to grasp public attention, especially through social media platforms by inspiring and supporting others at the same time to create a successful movement with strong leadership. 

In the film Girls Connected by Koen Suidgeest there are 5 teenage girls from third world countries that go against their traditional and cultural practices and systems by engaging in activism as a way to prevent poor decisions from being made and challenge issues that continue to set a bad example to the younger generation. The girls presented throughout the film were using their voices to take action against gender discrimination and violence publicly which is another way to promote activism. There was Josi from Peru who wanted to help raise awareness about teen pregnancy which was a common problem in the community. For this to be done Josi formed an organization were the group informed others the importance about sex education. Ghazal from Jordan wanted to help other girls from doing things out of the ordinary; they are not only bound to the feminine role. Latifa from Bangladesh wanted to help prevent arranged marriages where young girls would get married due to the poverty of their parents and lose the opportunity to continue their education and childhood. Michelle from Kenya mentors girls and empowers them to be leaders and have the confidence to be successful and inspire those around them and serve as role models to the younger girls.  Ayesha from India has a passion for karate and uses her skills to train other girls as a form of self defense to protect the girls within the community from sexual assaults and violence. 

All these young girls incorporated their own strategies and techniques by trying to change their current lifestyle to a better one and advocating for young human rights and freedoms so that more knowledge gets passed on and equal opportunities are made. It sucks that before these girls, most of the older women in their communities didn’t have the chance to resist change because they were to strictly follow cultural customs and values that prevented their community from thriving economically, socially and politically.

In connection with Samantha’s snapshot the image that was shared depicted how people are defending women’s reproductive rights by coming together using protest posters at a popular spot in the city which was Washington Square Park. This is one form of activism that can help an issue like this secure women’s freedoms over the control of their own bodies, health, and privacy. I think it’s important for us women to target an issue like this because nobody but ourselves should decide whether or not we want to reproduce, we just need access to the right healthcare and sex education to prevent further complications. Third world countries are also at risk of political issues interfering with women’s rights and equality.

In reading “There is No Hierarchy of Oppressions” by Audre Lorde and “Patriarchy the System” by Johnson Allan these two authors shared their own interpretation of intersectionality between different social identities such as race, gender and sexuality in relation to unjust social structures. Individuals who are oppressed and privileged don’t choose to be a part of that system; however resistance can be used as a way to challenge and fight against the systems of oppression. The problem in this case seems to be that people in society would rather stick to what may be considered as the “norm” since they fail to understand that we are all involved and contribute to these social issues that continue to shape our lives. 

Audre Lorde describes herself as “black, lesbian, feminist, and a member of an interracial couple” to express that her multiple social identities make up for the same oppression since those within the categories are seen as a targeted are being negatively affected by it. I feel like through her writing she strongly valued the concerns that led up to people’s differences coming from such a diverse community and how society tries to reflect a negative side of them. She wants to inspire others that one oppression is no different than the rest because wrongful power is still being reinforced and we need to stay connected through it altogether in order to overcome what is known as the status quo. Nobody wants to live during a time where discrimination and prejudice behavior revolves around them because of their identity or social position. There is hope that minority groups and members of the LGBTQ community can be united together to gain that equality as their challenges and disadvantages are being left unnoticed with little room for change. 

 Just like Lorde mentioned her multiple identities, so did Allan as stated “We can think of a society as a network of interconnected systems within systems, each made up of social positions and their relations to one another. To say, then, that I am white, male, college educated, nondisabled, and a nonfiction author, novelist, sociologist, U.S. citizen, heterosexual, husband, father, grandfather, brother, and son identifies me in relation to positions which are themselves related to positions in various systems, from the entire world to the family of my birth” (Allan 41). This means that among these different identities, people have different outlooks on themselves and each other such as the beliefs and values one may share together or not. Even through the patriarchal system between men and women, society feels like there should be a continuation of the authority held among both genders where one is superior than the other. It does not mean that everyone who participates in this system should feel that way about each other.  

Heatherlee’s snapshot perfectly depicted how women are working towards taking down male domination as it relates to gender inequality. It should not be assumed that women are  inferior or weak because they work just as hard to get the credit they deserve since their ability to do so is different from men. It all dates back to history where women have strived strongly to have the same privileges as men since that’s the way cultures and gender roles were built upon this patriarchal perspective. We need to look past the ideas that prevent oppression and the inequality of all social identities that restricts and limits us from coexisting as ourselves regardless of our position in society. I would also like to note that I feel like all women, especially black women today should feel honored and empowered that we have Kamala Harris as our Vice President because it inspires other girls and women that men are not only ones that can hold power. 

    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.