You’d think writing freely would be easier but honestly it was a bit difficult finding what I wanted to speak on. Coming from an immigrant family and being first generation is difficult, and lately I’ve been dealing with a lot of guilt. When we spoke about privileges it really opened my eyes to how immensely privileged I am, especially when thinking of how my family lived in the Dominican Republic. My grandma would work tirelessly for hours cleaning up an entire school for a measly $100 a month. She grew up during dictatorship and lived her childhood in fear. My mother, a bit more privilege was able to go to school, went to a top school but couldn’t afford to pay the semesters due, and eventually had to leave a few months before she was set to graduate to migrate here. it made me realized that life is just a stepping stone, we do all that we do for a better life then the ones before us, and to give a good life to our kids, and grandkids etc. It made me reflect a lot on my schooling, on how I take things for granted and just overall made me open my eyes and try harder to do my best everyday, not only for my own well-being but to pay homage to my grandma, and my mom who did all they did so I could have a life like this.

Activism for me has always been speaking out on injustice, standing up for what’s right and sparking the conversation and starting action on change. After watching the film “girl connected” that was about teenage girls navigating their countries there was definitely certain ways of activism that I missed, they showed activism through the community, encouraging and teaching other young women of safe sex, domestic violence etc. although I personally haven’t engaged in anything physical such as protests, or community groups I keep the conversation with those close to me, When someone’s being ignorant about a certain topic I educate them. I always to try to speak anyway I can, and I hope I can go to protests in the summer. There are many ways one can engage in activism around gender Justice, calling out misogynistic comments, being an ally for all women regardless of sexuality, social class . Supporting women owned businesses etc. there are so many little ways that you can support and show activism that don’t have to be physical that still matter.

I think im incredibly privileged, in many ways that i honestly didn’t even think of before watching the video. I grew up here in NYC, as hectic as it can be its very liberal and accepting of others, at least in my experiences. Although im not rich, im also not poor and im able to do things like see a doctor whenever, not worry where my next meal will come from, etc. However, after watching the video i realized there are many ways of opression for one, im a woman not only that but a minority, bisexual woman, ive dealt with being called homohobic slurs, racial slurs etc. Being a woman i believe is where i have faced the most opression, ever since i was 13 ive been sexualized by men outside, sexualized online through video games. As one of my classmates stated im also a plus sized woman and i do feel opressed by my size, i never wouldve thought my weight is something ive been opressed more so judged, but ridiculing, not feeling feminine or beautiful enough is something i struggle with. Just today i went into the doctors for issues and ive been having and i felt the only thing that was focused on was my weight , as my other concerns were glossed over and ignored. The video and reading opened my eyes a bit more in seeing opression isnt just about race, i was ignorant to the fact that other parties also exprience opression . Opression comes in the form of gender, sexuality social status, social class and so much more.