After watching the video What is Privilege?, I realized just how privileged I have been and continue to be in my life even as a second generation Dominican American. My mother migrated to New York from the Dominican Republic in 1982 and was able to manage going to college even though she didn’t know any of the English language and became a Physical Therapist’s Assistant and breadwinner of the household. I’m privileged to have been able to explore a performing arts career after high school instead of having to be forced into going to college for a degree I would’ve been unsure about at the time. I’ve been privileged with education throughout my life even now as an adult learner. To get to decide at the drop of a hat that I want to go to school and have that option be available is such an underrated privilege in society when there are so many that have low or no access to education.

Like Marilyn Frye’s example of how young women in the United States are in a bind where neither sexual activity nor sexual inactivity is acceptable, I definitely can say that I felt this throughout my twenties and almost in a subconscious way. That is when I first began to explore that part of me so I felt very aligned with myself but at the same time, I was experiencing feelings of guilt due to how I was raised with a Catholic mother which insinuated that everything I was feeling was wrong. However we never spoke about things growing up because it proved to be too awkward a conversation to confront with children. Although I can agree with waiting until certain ages for this information to be shared, this cultural silence was extremely oppressive as a young adult and growing being. I wanted to be spoken to and treated as an adult but because I didn’t feel I could do that with family, I learned in a harsher way how having this outlet in my life would have helped tremendously growing up. Nowadays, my mom and I have a relationship where I can call her up and tell her anything because she realizes that it’s important to actually be there for your child through whatever they may be going through instead of trying to paint a perfect picture to the outside world that is actually oppressing the young women growing up inside the walls of your home.

The readings and video both really helped me understand the differences and magnitudes of oppression and privilege. Based on Frye’s article Oppression, my definition of oppression is a sneaky barrier created to seem as though it will aid in it’s cause when really it’s purpose is to maintain one immobilized or unable to move forward with progression in the scenario. A privilege is a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group. The material was able to break both of these terms down and portray where in our own lives we’ve experienced each at some point or another.