Author Archives: Mamadou A Diallo

Discussion 4

3 Replies

Hello everybody I hope everyone is doing well,

When it comes to privilege, I understand where I stand. I would consider myself a Privilege child. As others mentioned, I’m fortunate enough to be able to have and do certain things in life others don’t and wish they have. I have both my parents Mom and Dad, for the most part I’m not spoiled and rich, but the support was there. Being in America compared to Africa like some of my cousins. There my age trying to achieve great things and become someone but having to go through a different struggle due to where they are that I don’t have to go through making me understand my privileges. My father also reminds me of my benefits of being who I am and where I’m at in this point of my life. I have so much access to things to make life better and easier for me compared to other people in the world. I am So grateful for this Although further on we will talk about white Privilege, I also have Great Privileges. 

On To oppression. I have A couple experiences where I have felt Oppressed or been oppressed. I have an understanding of what oppression is, I’ve also seen others feel, be or get oppressed by somebody. I’ve felt Oppressed in school before When my Desk get corned out, when the teacher like to call your parent to just mess with the day, so you don’t watch cartoons peacefully or eat my favorite desserts and complain about simple things. I’ve felt oppressed when I was made fun of during the first few days of 5ths grade because my clothes fit a little too big. Another Scenario Where I’ve felt oppressed is By a Cop Even When they stop me or other people for stupid things and ask so many questions, I feel oppressed. When they harass other people, I could feel and see the oppression. I feel like Detectives / Undercover Cops Oppress and target the Minorities in certain communities too. 

The reading Marilyn Frye, “Oppression” I like how she breaks down what Oppression is. Oppression is prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or control. Men and Women old or young black or white can be Oppressed There are many problems with Oppression. Oppression cause things like double binds, sexism, heterosexism, ableism, classism, ageism, and anti-Semitism are types of oppression that go in society. Another reading I read this week was Peggy McIntosh, “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” the article is basically trying to Expose white privilege and inform readers White privilege is a thing. I think the problem is that White privilege is an unearned power, that is overlooked and overused or abused. I could see how it plays a role in society. In things like the Justice system, or in the working class.  Something that come to mind when I think about white privilege in the justice system is when a black man commits the same crime as a white man, but the black man will get more time in jail then the white men because of white privilege. McIntosh talked about some ways she is privileged. Giving readers like me an honest perspective on how privilege plays a role in her life for the good or the bad.  In conclusion, what should be done about white privilege is what I ask myself.

Discussion 4

Oppression / White Privilege

Leave a reply

Hello classmate and professor, I hope everyone is well .This week we stepped away from discussion and understanding of sex and gender and talk about Oppersion and White privilege. I read an article by Marilyn Frye, called Oppression” which basically talks about what Oppression is. She breaks down what the word oppress means by root. Men and women both deal with oppression. While reading this I tried to think of different kinds of oppressions people go through like racial, gender, age or even immigration problems. While reading she brings up scenarios that are double binded that to me causes oppression. I liked her example of the Women having to be sexual yet virginal giving me clear understanding of double bind and oppression is like. I agreed with her examples. In society when a girl is quick to give it up or let a man have what he wants easily she is seen as less then or considered kinda slutty. If A girl chooses to give up no cookie, & basically she refrains from certain activities she’s uptight, boring. In general reading this excerpt I feel like I’m more aware of what oppression is. This reading makes me think about different levels of oppression. 

On to Peggy McIntosh, article “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” she brings up an interesting topic and tries to inform readers about White Privilege. Peggy feels like this is hidden and it is time to acknowledge this. After understanding that in the beginning I asked myself as a black African man Am I aware of white people having White Privilege and its effects. I told myself yes. White privilege is a thing. I think the problem is White privilege is an unearned power It is overlooked and overused. In today’s world I myself could see how it plays a role in society. In things like the Justice system, or in the working class. An example to me of white privilege in the justice system is when a black man commits the same crime as a white man, but the black man will get more time in jail then the white men because of white privilege. McIntosh talked about some ways she is privileged. Giving readers an honest perspective on how privilege plays a role in her life for the good or the bad.  In conclusion, what should be done about white privilege is what I ask myself. Do we give black people more privilege, spread more awareness about White privilege maybe that can help? 

Discussion 3

5 Replies

  In the Excerpt “Beyond the Gender Binary ” by Alok Vaid Menon begins he begins the reading calling out the idea that gender binary is set up to fail the people. I think he thinks it is so limiting and unfair to the Nonbinary or people in general. Discrimination against non-binary people happen because of how normal it is to be gender binary. We were taught that this is the way. Alok talks about some issues surrounding his everyday life, as a person that is beyond the gender binary. From a Young age Alok feels like babies are born with no decision for self (which I don’t expect them to have) and divided into two categories boy or girl and this is how we decide how they will be treated, what kind of things will be given to them, over time this has become what is normal. Once again going back to non-binary this makes them kind of an outcast when they reject the norms that society created. It’s not really supposed to be like that. Something must be done; the ways things are understood must be changed. In order for gender-variant people to have support and justice for non-binary people, one must accept that there are ways of being that are not man or woman. 

                Alok goes on to discuss the real discrimination that nonbinary people go through. Over time murder rates increase, more physical violence, job discrimination among gender non-conforming people increased He got this information from a 2015 transgender survey. If the survey was done in 2015, I wonder what the results would be for a 2021 survey. Did things get better, is it the same or did it get worse. I hope and want to assume that maybe it got better because after 2015 more awareness was spread. In general, it’s not a good thing the non-Binary community is being harmed and discriminated against. What can be done about this? many things spreading awareness, making laws and protesting. Alok wants the gender binary to be put to rest. Harm from gender binary comes in all kinds of ways. That’s the thing pain does not have to be visible to be real. The same thing goes for the violence it doesn’t have to be physical to be felt. Before reading I felt like Gender Binary wasn’t a problem. Seems like it is because I was given so much information and views on the effects of gender binary being normal. It is not my fault I grew up under that being the norm. The problem is now that it is too normal, non-binary people are discriminated against.

Reflection 2

5 Replies

I must admit after reading the chapter that I read out of Alok Vaid Menon book “Beyond the Gender Binary”, and watching the short video offered to us. My interest in understanding what Gender Binary is has increased. There are some things that Alok Vaid explains that I agree with and some things that I question and really don’t agree with. When Alok was explaining what moving on beyond the Gender Binary is he states word for word “Manhood and Womanhood should not be defined in opposites which I found reasonable but when he claims he sees it “as 2 stars and a galaxy” I disagree. I’ll be honest in my head / life there are only 2 genders, men and women.  The 2 stars are Adam and Eve. The galaxy is the real world we live in where there are only men and women being who they want and making decisions that they want, still at the end they are either boy or girl. I know who’s reading this is like duh that common sense, but it almost feels like Alok forgot that.  I understand Alok is pushing the agenda that being non-Binary is Endless. It’s basically a Galaxy to him. Opposite to the video the reading was more about the injustice and discrimination that nonbinary   go through. Just because I disagree with Alok’s statement in the video, doesn’t mean that at the end People who consider themselves non-Binary shouldn’t get support or treated with equal respect. Nothing is wrong with a person that considers themselves Nonbinary, the book tries to address that a person who doesn’t want to commit to gender conformity isn’t strange but special and has the right to do so and uplift it. Many events and scenarios are spoke about in the excerpt that have to do with that. In conclusion, in order to support nonbinary people, I would have to accept being opened to gender non confirming people.

Reading Reflection 1 For Week 2 discussion

Leave a reply

Reading gender sex 101 was very clarifying. It’s not that I didn’t understand gender and sex. It’s just that they gave the definition to the most common things we need to know. The idea that (gender is a construct, sexuality is fluid) slips through some people’s minds. I think growing up this is not something my health teachers Clarified. I’ve learned things like this on my own. In this article they made sure to clarify that for me. I think this article would be so useful to explain to kids in middle school, so they go into high school or become teens with a great understanding of Sex and Gender. Around the time of entering high school that’s where I recognized people’s differences and people coming out. It’s a good way to understand what’s going on once you read about sex and gender. 

Feminism Is for everybody by Bell Books taught me this most. Feminism Is a word I’ve heard so much over the years growing up. In high school the girls that hated boys, the group of women that wanted to make rule for women that didn’t benefit men were considered the feminist. After reading the article by Bell books. From the very beginning they explain that this is not the matter. They really just want Gender Justice. There are many versions of feminism and as time goes the idea of feminism is becoming unclear. In the reading they want this to be clarified. Feminism is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression. I also understand the fact after reading this being a feminist doesn’t have to do with color, race, or age. Anyone can support the agenda, even a boy or man. The thing is to push the right message and not an agenda of hate. 

DISCUSSION week 2

2 Replies

Hello Classmate’s and Professor, this week I read a section of Sex and Gender by Klye Meyers. This was informative. Really breaking down Sex and Gender. The point that sex and gender are two different things are explained. Starting off with sex. According to the author Sex refers to anatomy and physiology. This includes sex chromosomes, sex hormones, sex organs, and external genitalia. Male, Female, and Intersex is the way we distinguish biological sex. Male has penis Female has vagina. Women have XX sex chromosomes; Men have Similar characteristics and features all around the world just not exact same the same goes for Females. Further on while reading Gender is brought up and explained. Gender refers to the social and cultural roles that males and females are expected to live up to base on their biological sex. Gender identity refers to how a person thinks about themselves in regard to gender. Sexual orientation talks about what a person is attracted too, explaining what it means to be straight, gay, bisexual & more. Some people confuse these things so it useful to write about this and inform readers about the difference of gender, sex & sexual orientation. 

         Chapter one of Feminism Politics: Where we stand by bell books basically explained What Feminism is what a feminist is, what they believe in and how it started. Feminism is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression. No matter where you are from and no matter what color your skin is You can be a part of feminism. Sometimes when men hear about Feminism, they think that it is always and about women seeking to be equal to men. Sometimes it seems like Feminist hate men. The truth is there could be some that really hate men, but that’s not what their aim is. They really just want Gender Justice. I learned that there are many versions of feminism. Some push the wrong Agendas, some are involved in politics, some are in Groups doing a lot and some women support the idea of it in their everyday life individually. Feminist movement has lost its clear definitions in a way but if women / people just have a better understanding of why it started, oppression and injustice that women deal with will be slowly called out.  Solutions to certain problems will be thought off. I’ll admit it after reading this I learned what A feminist really is. Before reading this, I felt like it was a group of angry women who fight for certain things and hate men but after today I don’t look at them like angry women. I see them as Smart women who stand up for themselves and fight for justice.

Discussion One intro

7 Replies

Hello fellow Classmates & Prof Waychoff my name is Alpha Diallo. I’m 20. I was born in September. I grew up in Brooklyn, New York most of my life. I’m majoring In Health science. It is an interesting major to me. Studying and learning about different subjects of health is what I look forward to doing this year. Other than worrying about school. I have some other hobbies that keep me occupied. Things such as skateboarding, painting, reading and cooking or baking. Those are some of the things I value the most. I Dream to one day be a Happy healthy and wealthy adult, have a family of 2-3 kids, work in a career that helps people wellness in general. See my mother and father rest knowing I made something of myself. If I was asked who I am culturally and where I am from … I would say I’m born in America, but my parents are from Africa, and they were born there making me African. I’m a Male, my pronouns would be he him & his.

To be honest like others this class was a degree requirement and seemed better than many of my other options. Using common sense and looking at the subject I can tell I’m doing gender studies. Maybe we will be looking into the issues of sex, gender and sexuality in many ways, watching films, reading, having group conversations about certain topics is how I think we will learn about these things. Impact of Discrimination on The Development of Boys and Girl. It is something I think I should learn more about.  In conclusion I hope we learn useful information, addresses gender issues, in American society.

dalpha39@yahoo.com/3475694890 / PS I tried to “post” this many times but I didn’t put my Post where it needed to be.