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.

     In Feminist Politics: Where We Stand, Bell Hooks defines feminism as “a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression.” The goal is to stop discrimination against sex and gender. It’s about all genders having equal opportunities and rights, not about being anti-male. The movement is about seeking freedom from and dismantling the patriarchy that underestimates women. Before reading Hooks’s work, my definition of feminism didn’t go beyond the word equality. I felt as though the definition always involved economic rights and equal pay, but it’s so much more than that. Hook mentions liking her version of the definition because it doesn’t imply men are the enemy. For the movement, we want men to join us. This is a fight that benefits everyone. “To understand feminism it implies one has to necessarily understand sexism.” and that line right there is where the misinformed should start.

     Before reading Sex & Gender 101 by Kyl Meyers, I wasn’t entirely educated on the different sex chromosome variations that intersex persons can have. Meyers mentions that intersex variations are considered to be as common as red hair, so it’s pretty concerning that it took me so many years to learn about it. I believe that a lot of the information throughout this reading should be taught at a young age. I now understand the difference between gender assignment, gender identity, and gender expression. All of which allow a person to identify as they please, something everyone should be allowed to do without unwanted opinions. “Gender expression can change over time, just as sexual orientation can fluctuate over time.” Although I’ve always believed this, I’ve never actually read about it before, and I really enjoyed how informative it was overall. When discussing sexual orientation, I appreciated the definitions as I was able to really understand what pansexuality is;when someone is attracted to the qualities of a person rather than biological sex or gender. As I was reading this, I kept asking myself, why do some people think they have the right to comment on how a person identifies? Why are there people who are offended by someone else’s sexuality? Why does someone else’s body and their choices affect these closed-minded people? It’s incredibly frustrating that there are people who could read the same thing I just did and decide they disagree with literal facts. After reading these pieces, I look forward to having conversations with the people I surround myself with.

Hello everyone!

My name is Lizbeth, and my preferred pronouns are she/her. This is my second semester at BMCC as a Studio Art: Digital Imaging major. I’m from Queens, NY, and have lived here my whole life, and although I love it here, I do hope to one day move elsewhere. My mother is from the Dominican Republic, and raised me on her own. She’s an incredibly strong and amazing woman who sacrificed so much for me, she is definitely who I look up to. When possible, I love to travel and visit as many art museums as time permits. Besides digital art, I enjoy painting and would love to learn how to make pottery. My dream is to one day have a studio of my own, I’m not sure if it’ll just be a hobby or my career just yet, but time will tell. I love reading, but I don’t find much time to sit and read, so I’m constantly listening to audiobooks. I love the idea of being able to get all of my tasks done throughout the day and still be able to finish a book. I’ve always wanted to take this course and learn about and discuss feminism and inequality, also how women are underrepresented in politics. I’m really looking forward to getting to know my classmates and hearing their input throughout this semester.

I wish you all the absolute best!