While watching this video I ended up getting very emotional. I knew that this video will simply ask questions and have people walk forward if they can agree with whatever is being asked but once I started the video and even answered the questions myself while watching, it made me very emotional. Privilege is something that one has, a right given to them while oppression is a way in which one is hurt whether it be physically, mentally, spiritually, and/or emotionally. It made me realize just how privileged one can be. I knew I was privileged but yet again, there are certain things I and my family had to work hard for. I’m privileged because I have health care and can go to a clinic whenever I need to without having to worry about paying per my visits. I’m privileged because I have a father who works and brings home money to the house and allows us to have a meal every day and a roof over our heads. Not a lot of people have that. Yet at the same time, although my father would work, growing up I didn’t have the luxury of having expensive items or having new toys that came out. Or having clothes that were trendy. At a very young age, I was taught to be grateful to have the necessity in life. At school, I got bullied for a lot of things but one thing that I got bullied for was not having shoes that were ‘trendy’ or a brand that was well known. Growing up, I always received hand-me-down clothes. I am privileged because of my parents. Because I am Mexican-American. I was born here. Often times we take simple things for granted meanwhile other people wishes to have what we have. A way in which I can think about how I am oppressed is when it comes down to me being a Bisexual female. Although my parents and siblings accept me for being Bisexual and being extremely supportive of me, there will always be a barrier amongst my other family members to which I can’t come out to. Some of my family members still ‘live in the past and are extremely religious and for that reason, I’d rather keep it to myself to avoid hearing any negative comments that will either make me feel uncomfortable or angry.
6 thoughts on “Sofia Arista-Juarez Discussion 4”
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Hi Sofia!
It’s interesting to hear about you getting emotional while watching the video. How watching it and thinking about how the questions applied to your own life made you realize your privilege. I think this has been a shared experience for many people in this class. This week’s topic really makes you realize what we take for granted and learn to appreciate what privileges we do have. Sorry to hear that some of your family isn’t accepting of your sexuality. That’s a hard truth that sexuality is still something that causes opression. Hopefully there will come a time where everyone becomes more accepting and don’t consider other people’s differences as something to be looked down upon.
Hi Sofia, this video was very interesting. the activity they did was very creative and a good way of making us individuals realize our advantages and disadvantages.
Hi Sofia,
Thank you for sharing all that you did. You reminded me of my childhood days where as a Dominican American and four sisters, we got a lot of hand me down clothes as well and couldn’t really wear “new” stuff that was trendy. I’m also sorry about your sexuality not being fully accepted with your extended family and understand this as well as someone that comes from a huge religious family as well. When you feel like you have to hide who you are, it can feel oppressing.
Hi Sofia,
I enjoyed reading your thoughts on the video and about your personal experience. I can relate to you about being bullied in school because I did not have trendy clothes or shoes. As I grow up I realized that having non-trendy clothes or shoes was also a privilege because there are children in countries or even here in the states whose parents do not have the funds to get any clothes or shoes, so they rely on hand downs and donations. Sometimes those children are even more content with the world compared to those children who can afford the trendy clothes and shoes. This experience taught me to be grateful for what I can afford.
Hi Sofia,
I enjoy reading your post and love how you share with us about your life.
I am sorry that your experience about being bullied at school that must be rough and I am glad that you survived from that.
I grew up in China in the 90s and at that time most people were still poor so that people only can be able to buy new clothes and have a big meal during chinese new year! But everyone was poor so no one compared to others. Kids would have hand down clothes from their siblings or other families were very common because kids grow up so fast and buying new clothes is expensive!
Hey Sofia, I also got very emotional watching the video. It definitely made me realize the ways I am privileged and the ways I am not. It also educated me on the privileged few (white people) and the underprivileged people who were poc/black people/women/lgbtq.