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.

This week’s reading is about oppression and privilege. Marilyn Fyre’s book was well wrapped and in the book she analyze the difference between being miserable and oppression because everyone can be able to feel miserable but only certain group would suffer from oppression. Because oppression is built by people who would benefit from it. Being frustrated can be applied to everyone too because people have emotions that related to frustrated, but oppression is happening everywhere, even about the way you can do to release your emotions. If you are oppressive, you are expected to behave in certain way and if you behave don’t match with the stereotype, You can not be the normal you because that right is being oppressive, you only can behave like the oppression system expect you to do. Otherwise, they could label you. As long as you won’t behave as the society expect you to do, you are in trouble.

If you are a girl, you are expected to be good, gentle, nice and so on. If you behave anti-oppression, the society and people around you would label you or othering you, “act like a boy!” something like this would come out from their word. But it doesn’t matter what people. They would not use the same standard for you. You have to be stronger and stronger. Even you were trying your best to be stronger or control your emotions, you would know it is not the ending. Things similar like that would happen and there is no limitations.

This week’s readings allowed me to have a deeper understanding of what oppression and privilege really mean, as well as how they intersect. In “Oppression,” Marylyn Frye brings up a bird in a cage in comparison to the oppression that women face. The visual she paints of the birdcage really emphasizes that women are surrounded by many barriers in their everyday lives, and those barriers add up and build confining walls around us. She goes on to describe oppression in single words such as “Mold. Immobilize. Reduce.”, perfectly expressing what it feels like. It’s really unfair that we are expected to smile through unjust treatment, expected to stay quiet, and not bring attention to our struggles. In “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack,” Peggy McIntosh focuses on bringing notice to her white privilege. This reading really made me understand that there are different kinds of privileges, there is the one that is “earned,” such as one’s education, and then there is the born into privilege, such as white privilege. With that being said, just because someone has privilege doesn’t mean they aren’t oppressed. McIntosh experiences oppression as a woman but is privileged because of her race. I thoroughly appreciated her piece because she acknowledged said privilege and literally listed 26 ways on how her white privilege has affected her life, at times not even being aware of it. If I’m being honest, this is the first piece of writing I’ve come across that focuses so much on white privilege acknowledgment. It’s a great example of someone understanding how to use their privilege for good and being an ally.

After doing the readings, I enjoyed having to read about privilege and oppression. I feel like it gave me a better understanding of what both topics mean. I did have a good understanding beforehand but this gave me more information to take in. After watching the video I noticed that the white guy was the furthest ahead of everyone and I’m guessing this sort of proves that white men are really privileged. Whereas the black lady was far behind everyone. She proved a point that black women are really oppressed even in today’s society. Even though we may have the same rights some people are heavily disadvantaged in life. 

I noticed that most people don’t realize that they’re privileged until someone who isn’t as privileged comes into their life. Others choose to ignore their privilege.

I guess I realized that I should be grateful that I have a financial advantage over most people. I think that’s the only thing I would really be grateful for since most people are still struggling financially and they’re struggling even more with inflation.

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? 

After the readings, it has given me a better understanding of what privilege is and what oppression is. Before reading these readings I was a bit skeptical to say that I am privileged because I did not have the best understanding of what privilege is. Now that I do have a better understanding of that privilege is, I understand that I am privileged to even in the simple ways. To my understanding, Privilege is having access or advantages that others may not have. I am privileged because I have a roof over my head, I can walk, I have access to education and I have food to eat, ETC. While in the case of oppression, I have always known that I was being oppressed. this reading just confirmed it even more. The reason I know I have been oppressed is because I have been treated unfairly due to the color of my skin, my mental illness, and even where I come from. My reason is a good way to define oppression. In my opinion, oppression means is having someone cruelly mistreating you because of your race, gender, age, or in my case your mental health. Being oppressed is by far the hardest experience I have ever had to go through because it made me very unsure and confused about myself. Not knowing what to define with really made me wonder who I really am. I have learned from these readings and the video never to take advantage of what you have because there are people without and wish they can have access to things that you are taken advantage of.

These readings gave in-depth information on what privilege is, what oppression is, and what happens when these two meet. As a poor Latina woman in the US, my privilege and oppression definitely do intersect. White privilege is an unearned power, regular privilege can be earned, and pressure can affect anyone. I am privileged in ways some are not; I have a home and food to eat. As I mentioned in my discussion, I found it interesting that Marilyn Frye said that women are oppressed while men aren’t oppressed for being men. Still, different factors play a part in their oppression. I don’t know if someone would understand me, but can you be oppressed for being privileged? I think you can, but I’m not sure. When it comes to white privilege, many don’t know that they have it because it’s just something that’s been there for them since birth. Even if many factors play into white folk not having privilege, it’s just that being white gives them that privilege. It’s seen that if a white man and a black man had the same position in a job and did the same amount of work, some bosses would be inclined to pick the white man just because he is white. If it were a white man and a white woman, the white man would still win, but the woman would lose because she is a woman, regardless of her race. It differs between a white woman and a woman of color, because the person of a different race will always be viewed as being lower than the white class.

From both readings the idea of “oppression” was broken down along with populations that tend to endure the consequences of the label and those that reap benefits as “the privileged or oppressor”. In Marilyn Frye’s “Oppression”, oppression is described as a sneaky barrier created to seem as though it will aid in its cause when really its purpose is to maintain one immobilized or unable to move forward with progression in the scenario. She also urges that we maintain a macroscopic view as a microscopic view tends to blur the oppressive structure lines in this matter. I was really moved by the explanation about how oppressed people are often required to smile and be cheerful and therefore partake in a sort of “accepting” or erasure of how things are. It reminds me of government help and living in “the projects”. We hear how they were established to create homes and help for underprivileged neighborhoods yet the catch is that you can’t technically move on up without losing privileges that you can only seem to qualify for when you strive for less so this makes individuals want to not amount to much because the funds stop when you help yourself and so the vicious cycle continues. Peggy McIntosh’s explanation and list on white privilege was very eye opening to witness from the source of the issue. She is able to show us the first true step towards changing white privilege through her mere acknowledgement of the severe role it has played in her life whether she’s been conscious of it or not.

Both of this weeks readings gave detailed explanations of privilege and opression. I think a lot of times people think of privilege as having extravagant things and opportunities. Not realizing that they themselves are privileged in many simple ways and are taking it for granted. As shown in the list of privileges included in “White Privilege” by Peggy McIntosh. This reading focuses on white privilege which is an unearned power based around systematic racism. I think privilege has a wide definition but it can be categorized. There is privilege based on race, sex, and social status as well as simple privileges like having a home or healthcare that may not necessarily have to do with race, sex, or social status. On the opposite side of the spectrum, Marilyn Frye discusses how many people consider themselves oppressed due to insignificant frustrations. While privilege is often overlooked, oppression is often overused. Frye explains that people claiming to be oppressed because of any inconvenience takes away from true issues of opression. Opression causes barriers for fundamental human rights and greatly effect people’s lives. As discussed in the reading, it is not a term that should be taken lightly. Privilege and opression are complex topics that are associated with many other social issues. You can’t discuss them without also discussing topics like race, sex, or social status.

I really enjoyed reading Marilyn Frye’s Oppression. I thought it was insightful, and very topical, as well. The word “oppression” is used often, too often without any acknowledgement of its true meaning. I think that everyone should read it, since it’s important to know the true definition of the word, and why it’s so significant.

Oppression is purposeful, it’s systematic, an unfortunate man-made societal force that continues to live on today. There are many socioeconomic barriers that prevent certain groups of people from thriving, and the way in which our society functions largely benefits white people, especially straight, cisgender white men.

There is a big difference between just facing obstacles, and facing obstacles because you belong to a specific group of people.

I thought it was very interesting how Frye brought up the ways in which men “help” women – ways that turn out to be not very helpful or necessary at all, while denying to assist women in areas where help is truly needed. I had never thought of it like that before – most of the time, I tend to appreciate when men do these sorts of things, so I guess that’s because of societal conditioning that’s convinced me to feel that way. I do think that men should actually be more helpful, especially when it comes to family dynamics, like taking care of children and doing household chores.

I also really enjoyed reading White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack by Peggy McIntosh. I agree that white privilege and its effects are barely ever covered in academic settings, and I think there should be a bigger emphasis on it. I also think that white people should tune into what McIntosh lists as examples that she’s noted of her own white privilege, to really see just how much of an impact it has. She lists 26 examples, and I’m sure that there could be many more. Whiteness is protection, and the sooner people come to terms with this, we can take bigger steps towards amplifying non-white voices and centering non-white struggles.