This week’s readings strengthened and clarified the understanding of oppression and privilege I already had, while the video gave me a visual idea of the issues. I viewed oppression as humiliating and invalidating acts towards a certain group of people, but after reading Marilyn Frye’s article I learned that oppression is not necessarily is an act, but rather is a set of pressures that immobilize someone by reducing the options and making all of them result in penalty or deprivation. The explanation of the root of the word “oppression” gave me a clear idea of its definition. I now view it as two presses that squeeze something (read: someone) in between. After doing the second reading by Peggy McIntosh, as well as the video, I concluded that privilege is a phenomenon that gives one a benefit based on an aspect of their identity, resulting in dominance over other groups of people.

Being a white person who grew up in a country that is mainly populated by clear-cut white people, it was always hard for me to grasp the concept of white privilege. Upon moving to the US, I barely ever encountered a person of color and didn’t understand where and how it can undermine someone’s life. Neither did I know that I am privileged in some way. In fact, I felt quite the opposite as an immigrant in the first years after moving. After doing the reading, I realized how many things are available to me that may not be available to others. I can be viewed by people as a blank sheet of paper — neutral and without presumptions. I can be sure that my complexion will not affect the impression someone has about me. Neither it will affect my safety on the streets. I also have the privilege of having access to quality food, water, and being able to choose where to live. Being trilingual also gives me an employment privelege, especially in other states, where it is less common. Fortunately, I hardly notice any oppression as a female. Even if some of it existed in regards to my career or lifestyle choices, I let them pass by me to the point that I cannot remember such instances. The only thing I can think of is the societal pressure into having your body look a certain way or to be sexually active. When I mention to someone that I’m simply not interested in sex, I get labeled as a “broken” woman, who needs to see a doctor, or who doesn’t have her life together. Throughout my teen years, I have heard comments about me becoming too skinny, too chubby, having calve muscles larger than any male soccer player can have, wearing tops that accentuate breast too much, and wearing skirts that are “too long for your age.” These comments are in the past, however, and their double-sided nature helped me realize their insignificance early on. After reading the papers and analyzing my position in society, I became even more grateful for the things I have.