Privilege is derived from the Latin word privilegium, which is defined as an advantage by an individual or class, greater than what is accessible to others. Watching the video on “What is Privilege?” made me realize that while I am extensively more privileged than I give myself credit for, in ways that I take for granted I feel. Some ways in which I am privileged are that I come from a second generation of immigrants. I was fortunate enough that I could speak, write and read English and Spanish before I even began grade school, since I grew up with parents that spoke English and Spanish. My parents also had the opportunity to pursue a career, so I have never experienced poverty or lacked the resources I needed growing up. On the other hand, oppression is living a life not only restricted but molded by forces and barricades. Truthfully speaking, the video and readings from the week made it very apparent for me that I am not oppressed- I am far from it. However, I have experienced situations that I feel only ever happen because of the privilege that those in a place of power have. The example occurred at a previous job where an older man would make inappropriate comments to me and made me feel extremely uncomfortable. After reporting it to a supervisor, I came to find that he was not removed and my coworkers mentioned that they had heard the older man saying that I was always smiling at him, flirty and giving him mixed signals. I felt completely barricaded because of how the situation was handled. Most importantly however, I was astonished that the supervisor who had the ability to handle the matter appropriately, chose not to. 

            As I watched the video and surveyed the readings, I came to the conclusion that my privilege is real and in microscopic and macroscopic ways as well. As the girl starts off the video saying, “Some people are born into families where they have to walk miles just to get water. All I have to do is turn on the faucet- that’s privilege.” As obvious as that statement is, the reality is that the lives of plenty are deprived of such basic human necessities. The video was an eye opener because I was able to witness each individual move forward or backwards, becoming further distanced from one another as the girl read the statements. At the very end of the of the video, one lone African American woman stood at the very back and she did express how awkward it was for her. Overall, the experience for those in the video seemed to be disconcerting because of the emotions that were brought to the surface, especially as the gap grew larger between the participants. It truly is saddening to see how that privilege separates us from one another but it is important because acceptance of a problem is the first step in solving it. I think that in order for oppression to end, those who are privileged should acknowledge it, and use it in a way that is meaningful for those who don’t have the same privilege.