After watching the video “What is privilege?” I definitely became more aware of my own privileges. To start, my education is a massive privilege because when I graduated High School some years ago, I decided not to go to college, not because I couldn’t, but because I didn’t want to at the time. I am aware that choosing to pursue an education is a privilege many do not have. And now that I’m older and know what I would like to study, I’ve decided to enroll. I have a home/roof over my head, I am able to feed myself, and I have access to clean water. At the beginning of the video, the woman mentions families not having the privilege to simply walk to a sink and get water that way instead of having to walk miles. I was born in the U.S and am a cisgender woman who is able-bodied.
“If your parents worked nights and weekends to support your family, take one step back.” I grew up in a household where I barely saw my mother because she was working so hard to support her children. Being bilingual is a privilege, but it wasn’t a choice when I was younger, as my mother couldn’t juggle working and learning English. I experience oppression as a queer Latinx woman, and I often feel unsafe. I work a job that barely helps me pay rent and live in a highly overpopulated area. As a woman of color, I have often found myself having to prove myself in work settings throughout my life. I’ve always felt like I wasn’t taken seriously.
The readings and the video above have definitely helped me understand the meaning of oppression and privilege on a deeper level than before. My current definition of privilege is an advantage granted or available only to a particular person or group of people. In “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack,” Peggy McIntosh writes, “It seems to me that obliviousness about white advantage, like obliviousness about male advantage, is kept strongly inculturated in the United States so as to maintain the myth of meritocracy…” Denying such a thing as white privilege or male privilege is unbelievable, and yet it’s not uncommon. That in itself seems to be a privilege, to simply not care about something that affects the entire world. My current definition of oppression is the state of being subject to unjust treatment. In “Oppression,”Marilyn Frye writes, “You can’t win. You are caught in a bind, caught between systematically related pressures.” And that really is how it feels sometimes.
Hi Lizbeth!
I love that you mentioned that denying white privilege and male privilege/ not caring about something that affects the world is a form of privilege in itself! I’ve never really thought of that idea but it is completely true. I think a big factor of people denying white or male privilege is not being able to relate to real opression. Privileged people claim small inconveniences to be opression because they are oblivious to their privilege and other’s opression. Whether they are oblivious by choice or are an oppressor themselves, it’s easy to deny something if it doesn’t effect you and you don’t care about it’s impact.
Hi Lisbeth, this video was very interesting to me. The activity they did was very creative and a good way of making us individuals realize our advantages and disadvantages. I strongly agree with you on the part when they mentioned “If your parents worked nights and weekends to support your family, take one step back.” My grandmother had to raise me due to my mother having me at an early age and working wasn’t enough for the both of us.
Thank you for bringing up being bilingual. Knowing multiple languages can be a privilege. It can also bring oppression – for example when some people think they need to tell others “speak English.” It’s a complicated area that deserves more attention.
Hello, I guess speaking two languages can be a privilege if you think about it but it is kind of complicated. But I do have similar experiences about my parents always working. I rarely saw them when I was younger, especially my father. He would always work nights and in the day he would sleep.
Hello, I haven’t realized how going to college is a privilege and after reading your post I’m now grateful that I have the opportunity to go to college. It’s great that we are able to take a break whenever we want from college and still continue to pursue our careers.