The two readings this week really did open my eyes to a lot of things that I’ve just sadly adapted to growing up and have faded into this ‘normal’ for me. Marilyn Frye’s piece really helped me understand oppression is not just suffering or being miserable, but more specifically it’s someone who’s confined by a barrier. “It is the experience of being caged in: All avenues, in every direction, are blocked” (Frye 12). One really intersting section that was like a revelation for me was the part about the door opening. “The door-opening pretends to be a helpful service…it will be done whether or not it makes any practical sense…The message of false helpfulness of male gallantry is female dependence” (Frye 12-13). I’m not sure if others can relate but typically I feel burdened whenever a guy holds the door for me, like I need to scurry through the entrance/exit even though I’m fully capable of holding a door. Even when I have my hands full I would just rather get it myself because it doesn’t feel like someone is doing me a favor, it’s just myself and my own time.

On the other hand, McIntosh’ list of ways white privelege has impacted her life was not necessarily an eye opener for me. There were lots of things I had already acknowledged from a young age and I also probably could’ve came up with the same list myself but that’s because I’m not a white woman and have noticed these things forever. So to me, in my perspective it wasn’t an ‘invisible knapsack,’ but I do think the acknowledgement of white privilege is long overdue for people who are white. Of course it would be odd to one day be told you’re privileged when this is just your ‘norm,’ but at the same time you don’t know everyone else’s norm.