Structures of Oppression in Our Culture
How would you respond to an individual who asks what you are? Many people in the United Stated would reply to this question by simply stating their nationality such as Irish, English, or German. However, if you look further into this question, it doesn’t ask what you are, but rather who you are. To this I would say that I am a twenty-one-year-old white male, upper-middle class Christian. Being white, male, and Christian I have fulfilled a spot as unmarked in basically every category according to the Matrix of Domination. Being unmarked says that I have power, privilege, and even the opportunity to choose my own destiny. Do I realize this on a daily basis? Of course not.
The notion of me having power and privilege is not something I have thought about in great depth. Perhaps it is because I am from New Hampshire, which can be easily classified as unmarked. Aside from Vermont, New Hampshire is one of the whitest, classic New England states one can experience. There are very few African Americans and even fewer Asian Americans and Hispanics. From my standpoint growing up, I had no idea that in the rest of the country blacks and Hispanics held the majority of low-income jobs. However, when coming to the University of Maryland, this fact was, in a sense, forced upon me when ordering food at the campus diner. I was unable to speak Spanish, and was therefore unable to order. In this situation in New Hampshire, I would have spoken to an individual who at most would have a thick New England accent with a few “R”s missing from words, but nonetheless still speaking English.
In the United States, the inability to speak English proficiently quite obviously leaves an individual marked. Language skills are paramount in establishing one’s power and without such skills it can become very difficult for individuals to break out of their oppression as a result of not being able to speak the native language. In the U.S. we place a strong emphasis on the ability to speak English, but does this mean that we are indirectly oppressing those who are not able to speak English by only affording them low-paying jobs that require great deals of physical labor? What I am alluding to here is the treatment of Hispanics in the United States and how our culture has forced upon them low-paying jobs that the traditional “American” does not want to do. Jobs in meat packing, agriculture, and landscaping are examples of such jobs. I would say that in many ways as an unmarked American I have a great deal of power and privilege over those who do not speak English.
In American society today, particularly in areas with high minority concentrations, we see the effects of “marking” individuals when looking at specific areas such as crime. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, in 2006 there were over 1.3 million males incarcerated in U.S. Federal and State prisons. Of these 1.3 million males, 209,500 were Hispanic and 534,200 were African Americans. This means that between just these two marked categories there are over 740,000 males of the 1.3 million males incarcerated in American prisons. There is great dispute among justice system theorists as to why these minority groups represent such a large percentage of those incarcerated in American prisons. Some argue the justice system is inherently racist. Others argue this large percentage is due to these group’s feeling that they must commit crime to get ahead. I agree with the latter argument for two reasons. The first being that there are great societal pressures for individuals at a young age. When they see individuals making a profit from illegal activities, these individuals will often follow suit resulting in a never-ending cycle of delinquency. My second reason for the overwhelming percentage of minorities in prison is due to the jobs available for those of low-income backgrounds who are not afforded the opportunity to get a proper education, which correlates with the ability to find a high-paying job.
Our readings in Chicana Art by Laura E. Perez feature one particular piece of art that points to the incarceration of Hispanics in America. The piece titled La Guadalupana by Delilah Montoya depicts a Hispanic male standing in front of his cell with his back to the camera and arms in handcuffs (Perez 137). His shirt is off displaying a mural of the Virgin of Guadalupe. As quoted in Chicana Art by the artist Montoya, “The intention was to bring back an image of colonialism’s dark side to Europe, but ultimately the piece engulfed the sacred and profane” (136). When Montoya speaks of this “dark side of colonialism” I believe she is pointing to the ways in which colonialism has caused people to move from their native lands. In this case, the Hispanic male has presumably moved from his native country and traveled North to America. We must then look at the result of his traveling to America, which is of course incarceration due to an illegal act committed on a land that is foreign to him.
The man in the picture by Montoya has created what can arguably be considered an altar on his back. Perez says, “…the prisoner has become a living altar, because he bears a sacred image on his flesh, and because his life is sacrificed for social redemption” (136). This idea of being “sacrificed for social redemption” begs us to question whether the man in this picture has committed a crime because he is inherently bad or if he has committed a crime due to societal pressures placed on him. The willingness to endure the long, painful hours of tattooing that this man has quite obviously gone through suggests that he greatly seeks redemption for the sins he has committed. Therefore, we must conclude that he is not inherently bad, but the system to which he was forced to adhere to is inherently bad causing individuals such as this Hispanic male to fall into areas of crime in order to get by.
Those in the unmarked category such as myself must question if we are at fault for the faulty system that is in use in the United States today. I understand that my needs for clothing, food, and an education cannot be accomplished without others to provide such services for me. For example, the shirt I am wearing at this current moment was made in Mexico. I can guarantee that the individuals who made this shirt, printed on its lettering, and shipped it to America do not share the same privileges I have had in my life. I would imagine that the Department of State internship I had last summer paid me an hourly rate that was over six times the hourly rate the individual who made my shirt receives.
The great pay divide between those who manage the services in our country and those who provide the services is forever expanding. We will again use the example of the shirt that was made in Mexico that I am currently wearing. I received this shirt while on Spring Break in Cancun, Mexico. It both advertises the student travel service I used to book the trip as well as the popular Mexican beer “Dos Equis.” For a matter of pennies, this shirt was printed to represent two multi-billion dollar industries. The first being Spring Break travel, which means huge amounts of money for travel agencies, airlines, hotels, and the local economy. Although these industries profit greatly, there are functions of this industry that do not. In speaking with the servers at my hotel, I discovered that they each make the equivalent of eight U.S. dollars per twelve-hour shift. Federal minimum wage in the United States is $6.55. This means an individual working in the U.S. at minimum wage would make $70.60 more in this twelve-hour shift. With the hotel being all-inclusive, these servers were lucky if they got some rich drunk college kid to tip a dollar or two.
Focusing next on just how that college kid became so drunk, is the second major industry advertised on my free shirt, alcohol. If I were to survey 1,000 college students who went to Mexico for Spring Break asking them why they went, I can safely say the overwhelming majority of these students would say, “To get drunk.” I would argue that due to our culture’s view on Spring Break I have been socialized to believe that in order to have a good time, especially on Spring Break, that this idea of getting drunk for seven days is normal for college students. In many ways, society has shielded me from the many great aspects that these vacation destinations has to offer and forced upon me this idea of binge drinking and partying instead of relaxing and enjoying the beautiful islands. For breweries and distilleries in the United States and especially Mexico in particular, Spring Break brings in millions of dollars of revenue. We must point again to who distributes this product. It is again the servers and bartenders making eight dollars a day plus minimal tips.
In good conscience I cannot however, feel as though I am doing something wrong for wearing this free T-shirt I received when I went to Spring Break in Mexico. I do not feel wrong because this is the system that is in place and is generally accepted throughout the United States and many areas around the world. To answer the question, yes I am at fault as an unmarked individual for the system that is in place, but this is not to say I would be opposed to changing such a system.
I feel that as Americans we are generally accepting of the systems in place. However, what makes us different is our ability to enact and be open to change. Throughout this course we have brought up the notion of activism. Our professor and teaching assistants have particularly been involved in activism for women’s rights and the rights of homosexuals. We commonly refer to government institutions as structures of oppression. The United States government is indeed a structure of oppression for many. However, what I would like to focus on first is the government as a system of availability. Through our Constitution and subsequent amendments to the Constitution, we are afforded the chance to enact this great change through our use of activism. Freedom of speech, press, religion, and assembly are our catalysts for change as Americans.
There are countless examples of how we have utilized our rights throughout American history. One such example that immediately comes to mind is the Civil Rights Movement. In this movement we saw a great collaboration of individuals who felt as though the treatment of African Americans post-emancipation was still not equal in accordance with the way America is portrayed as the “Land of the Free.” The use of their rights as citizens such as freedom of speech, press, and assembly enabled African Americans to be heard. The words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. were broadcast throughout America with a message that the oppression of African Americans would no longer take place in the United States of America. I have been graced with the good fortune of not experiencing first hand racism that is often associated with the South. On the other hand, due to where I am from, I am often oppressed in the form of my own ignorance on the topic of racism as I have not experienced this racism first hand and subsequently have not been exposed to the damages it causes both on a personal and societal level.
The government institution as I said cannot afford rights to all individuals and will therefore function as a structure of oppression for these individuals. For example, a topic of recent debate is the idea of gay marriage. Those who stand in opposition to gay marriage see marriage as a sacred ceremony between a man and a woman, not between two individuals of the same sex. On the other side of the debate are those who feel that marriage is more about the formality of bringing two people who care deeply for one another to be united and recognized. The United States government currently recognizes marriage only between a man and a woman. This is important due to tax breaks and other implications that the Federal government affords those who are married. For many states, including my own state of New Hampshire, the local legislatures are passing legislation associated with both Civil Unions and gay marriage, which allow gay couples to be recognized by the state as married couples and therefore have the opportunity for state benefits and tax breaks that come to those who are married. Friends of my family recently took advantage of this new bill in my state of New Hampshire, and I was able to see how such a simple ceremony could mean so much to individuals who are oppressed by the structure of government.
Before the topic of gay marriage can even come into the picture, one must first of course be gay. After experiencing the Tunnel of Oppression exhibit I was given the opportunity to learn more about the marked category of being homosexual. For this category I am an unmarked individual being straight, but for those who are gay the process of coming out is often one that is extremely difficult. According to the exhibit, those who come out as being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transsexual, a parent rejects twenty-five percent of these individuals. This means one in four people who come out are no longer accepted by one or both of their parents. This then forces us to wonder if the parents reject these individuals simply because they cannot bear that their child is not straight or if the parent rejects these individuals for fear of the social ostracism their child faces as a result of now being marked as gay. The exhibit broke this down further into whether the mother or father predicted their child was gay. For men, only seven percent of mothers suspected their child was gay while 59 percent of fathers predicted their son was gay. For women, this was 18 percent to 42 percent respectively. I found this statistic to be interesting as I feel that many of the fathers who answered this survey said they suspected their son or daughter to be gay so others would not think their so called “gaydar,” as the exhibit calls it, was not “off.”
I felt this societal form of oppression for the male need for “gaydar” during my freshman year of college. I had three roommates, one of which was gay. He came out half way through our second semester by telling our female neighbors first and then telling my other two roommates. However, he was reluctant to tell me because I was seen as the alpha male in the room. I feel his telling me was similar to his telling of his own father. When he told me, I was quite surprised and felt strange when my neighbors approached me saying, “How could you not know?” I felt as though there was this societal pressure that says I should be able to spot a gay man from a mile away. However, through this experience I found this to be completely false.
The ways in which the government functions as a structure of oppression are numerous. However, there is one particular issue that greatly affects many college women with that issue being rape and sexual assault. When a woman is raped, the action of the rape is not only traumatizing and painful, the aftermath of reporting the rape can be almost just as bad as the woman is questioned multiple times by multiple people forcing her to relive the event in her mind and the associated pain that accompanies it. The woman is then marked as a rape victim and often times looked down upon as many people share the idea that it was her fault. This leaves her completely powerless with all the power in this matrix going to the offender, as rape is a crime of power.
The University of Maryland is taking progressive steps to stomp out this problem with the multiple “Got Consent” campaign ads seen throughout campus and in the school newspaper. Programs for education about rape and sexual assault are also in place to combat this issue. I have been given the great privilege to be part of one of these programs known as VIA, which stands for Violence Intervention Assistant. I have been trained on how to seek help and offer a safe place for victims of violence and therefore I am marked as an individual who can help which I consider to be a great privilege.
Although I am marked as an individual who can help people who have been victims of rape and sexual assault, I am also marked as an individual who can potentially be an offender of these crimes. For one, I am male. For two, I am a member of a fraternity. Many see fraternity men as guys who want nothing more than to get drunk and take advantage of girls who attend their parties. This is a stereotype I, along with numerous other members of my fraternity take very seriously and seek ways to change. It takes just one person in the Greek system to ruin the progress many of us are making to change this negative stigma.
The Matrix of Domination at face value is a simple concept to understand. However, with the great variation among our population one can be marked in one category and unmarked in another which only further entangles the web of marked and unmarked individuals. For me, I am unmarked in all categories of the matrix of the domination, but this is not to say I have been without oppression in various areas of life. Yes, I have been privileged with food to eat, a place to sleep, and the availability to attend above average educational institutions. Many in marked categories do not have privileges such as this, and of course experience hardships I may experience, but to a far greater degree. The varying degrees of hardships are what separate the marked from the unmarked in our struggle for power. I have discussed the various ways in which power is distributed in our country and in foreign lands. The search for power comes in the form of crime, money, language, and various other forms that separate each of us in our endless search for the utmost power.
4 comments:
Michael Baird
WMST250
Section 0102
April 15, 2008
Power in My Everyday Life
Power plays a role in everyone’s life in one way or another. Power can have different meanings. Power can be defined as the “ability to do or act; capability of doing or accomplishing something” while it can also mean “the possession of control or command over others; authority; ascendancy” (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/power). These are clearly two very different meanings of the word power. Everyone has power, but the question is how it impacts them and its role in their daily lives. Every day in my life I have power in various ways, many of which I am not even aware of. The power that I have in my life has an impact on the choices I make, the influence that I have, the optimism in my life, and the privileges that I have. At the same time however, the absence or lack of power in my life forces me to confront constraints, limits, necessities, and sometimes oppression. A great deal of power comes from the matrix of domination and where an individual is located within the various categories.
The Matrix of Domination “is a sociological theory that explains issues of oppression that deal with race, class, and gender, though recognized as different social classifications, which are all interconnected” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matrix_of_Domination). The Matrix of Domination is also a model that “provides the conceptual space needed for each individual to see that she or he is both a member of multiple dominant groups and a member of multiple subordinate groups” (Black Feminist Thought). According to the Matrix of Domination, I fall under every single unmarked category. These categories consist of gender, race/ethnicity, religion, sexuality, class, ability, age, nationality, and language. As an unmarked individual, I am male, white, Christian, heterosexual, middle class, able, a young adult, a U.S. citizen, and speak English. As a part of this unmarked category I am described as being dominant, privileged, and powerful. Some of the marked elements that do not apply to me include female/transgendered, people of color (Asian, Latino, Black, Native American, etc.), non-Christian (sometimes catholic, Buddhist, Moslem, Jewish, etc.), homosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, working class, poor, disabled, physically challenged, child, elder, undocumented, alien, immigrant, and non English speaking (Spanish, Thai, Black English, regional dialects). Based on the matrix of domination, it would appear that I am dominant, powerful, and privileged.
I feel that with this chart, it is easier to see who has what kinds of power and how much of that power individuals have. It seems quite obvious that the unmarked category is quite powerful and dominant. Going back to the two different definitions of power, they have a great deal of both. Unmarked individuals have the ability to do or act as they please and are capable of great accomplishments, and at the same time they have control and authority over others. They also use the word ascendancy in the second definition, which means domination. I do not think of myself as a person who uses the power in my life for domination, but it may very well be a part of my life.
I may not be directly dominating someone, but I may be supporting it through my lifestyle. Several weeks back in lecture, Katie King asked us to look at the tag on the piece of clothing that we were wearing and to see where it was made. The shirt that I was wearing that day said it was made in Mexico. The shirt I was wearing may have been made in a sweatshop in Mexico, where the individuals working there face long hours and very low pay. I found out that “workers are paid between $30 and $50 per week”, “girls as young as 12 and 13 work in the factory”, “on Saturdays, people must work from 8 am until 5 pm without a lunch break”, “if you arrive 15 minutes late, you must work for 3 days without pay”, the list of the oppressive and inhumane conditions that these people face goes on and on (http://www.newint.org/easier-english/Garment/sweatmexico.html). I have no doubt that I have purchased an article of clothing that was made in a sweatshop, and therefore I have contributed to the domination of those peoples. I honestly feel guilty, that I have become a part of such an operation, but it has become more clear to me that my privileges of being a U.S. citizen who is middle class, partially comes from the result of others being oppressed.
Foreigners in the United States can often be oppressed because they cannot speak the English language. Language gives individuals the ability to communicate with others; it is essential in order to achieve success and it gives people opportunities in life. I grew up speaking English, along with almost every other child that was raised in the United States. Typically I don’t even think about my ability to speak English, it is more of just a habit and/or norm in my life that I take for granted. When I think about language more in depth I begin to see the ever so important factors and influences that it has on everyone’s life. Language is the way we interact with other human beings. Imagine trying to interact with someone, but not being able to talk with them. I feel that this would be unbelievably frustrating, and would result in little or no progress. Language is really the base or one of the key building blocks in life. When I think more about it, hardly anything could be done without language. How would we meet individuals, how would we create relationships, how would we find jobs, how could we be successful in life? Life would seem to be impossible without language, especially the English language if an individual is living in the United States of America. The more I think about language, the more I realize how it is such a great power that is a part of my everyday life.
Whenever I go to the diner, I feel as though I almost always have trouble communicating with the employees who are making/serving my meal. The employees are often Hispanic or African American. For example, when I am line to get a sandwich at The California Deli, I have to tell them what kind of sandwich I want, and what I want on my sandwich. This seems quite simple, but it can be a difficult task. I often tell them that I would like a turkey sandwich on multigrain and the confusion seems to start immediately. I often have to repeat my order several times. Then I tell them what condiments I would like on my sandwich. I tell them very clearly that I would like “just a little bit of mayonnaise” and before I know it, I have a thick layer of mayonnaise all over my sandwich. They clearly fall under the marked category for language, as they speak very little English. They often seem quite moody or frustrated whenever I go to order food. I have a feeling that many students are not kind to them and treat them as though they are their subordinates. They are acting as though they deserve dominate them because they cannot speak English. It is a privilege that we have the opportunity to be getting an education at a great university and that we can speak English, yet we are oppressing others as we gain privileges. I personally make an effort to be respectful and as friendly as possible to them. Some of the employees working at the diner have no problem speaking English, whereas others definitely struggle with the language. I feel that they are limited, and constrained by the fact they cannot speak English well. It seems as though they are not going to have a successful career or great opportunities in their lives unless they find some way to become fluent speakers of the English language.
While reading through parts of Chicana Art by Laura E. Perez there was one specific piece of art that particularly stood out to me. The piece of art is titled La Guadalupe, and it is a photo mural that shows a Hispanic man in handcuffs next to a jail cell, with many tattoos on his body, the Virgin Mary on his back being the most noticeable one. I feel that all the different photos represent how this man’s life has been broken or separated due to oppression. I do not know what he has gone through, but he may have ended up in handcuffs next to a jail because of others and the way that they oppressed him. This man may have been oppressed by those in his home country or he could have traveled to the United States in search of new opportunities or privileges, but somehow he ended up being a powerless individual in jail.
Living in the United States of America has given me a great deal of privilege throughout my life. So many parts of the world seem to be in a constant state of trouble and conflict. I do not think about it much, but living in the United States of America has given me choices, freedom, and unbelievable opportunities that I often take for granted. Looking back at my life so far, I have never been hungry, I have never been without shelter, I have always had schooling and great educational opportunities, and I have always had the freedom to pursue whatever I wish. My nationality, being a U.S. citizen, also falls as under one of the unmarked categories. My nationality has given me a tremendous deal of power in my life. There are many different definitions of power, one of which includes the “ability to do or act; capability of doing or accomplishing something” (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/power). Being a United States citizen gives me the freedom and choice to do/act as I please. I feel that I go through almost every day of my life without thinking about, or appreciating what a great privilege I have here in the United States of America.
Sexuality seems to be a more important and more controversial topic in today’s society than in the past. I am heterosexual, and therefore since I am unmarked I never experience the oppression that homosexuals, gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered often face within the marked category. Recently I saw just a glimpse of the oppression that is faced by this group. I was meeting a group of friends at the diner to get lunch the other week, and one of them is homosexual. As we are walking into the diner a group of students is out front sponsoring a blood drive. They ask us if we would like to sign up to donate blood. We kindly say no thanks, and proceed on in. My homosexual friend tells me that they do not accept gay blood. Giving blood is something is a way to give back and help out the community. It is so simple and so harmless, yet apparently the blood drives on campus are against gay blood. As I looked more into this, however, this is the standard policy of the Red Cross. He is being oppressed in this situation by the “rules” or “standards” of the blood drive.
Several weeks ago, our discussion section participated in an activity to show the differences in our lives and how that influenced the way we were impacted by oppression. Before we began, we all lined up in a straight line and we were side by side holding hands. In the exercise there were about 20 questions that we had to answer. Our answers, however, were not a simple yes or no; instead they involved a step forward or a step back. Most of the questions involved opportunities that we have had or have not had in our lives. The steps forward represented privileges and opportunities whereas the steps back had to do with missed opportunities and hardships. After thinking more about the matrix of domination, the steps forward seem to correlate with the unmarked category whereas the steps back have to do with the marked categories. I noticed how Greg, Sergio, and I were in front at the end of the exercise. We were the only three males in the class yet we were farther ahead than everyone else. Do we have more power, more opportunities, more influence, fewer constraints and fewer limits because we are males? According to the activity it would appear to be that way. Why should we have more power just because we are males rather than females? Is this fair? Did being a male really make that much of a difference in this activity? It may also be possible that our results were not very accurate because we only had a small number of people taking part in the exercise. I also feel that holding hands prevented us from seeing the actual distance between all of the individuals at the end of the exercise. Those who are unmarked are leaving the marked individuals behind.
This demonstration has opened my eyes as to how my life has been full of privileges, but I have recently experienced various frustrating and oppressing situations that have been a result of being in all unmarked categories. These situations all involve negative aspects that I have encountered. The first situation started back in the fall of 2006 beginning with when I started to fill out applications for college. My number one school that I wanted to go to was Grove City, located about an hour north of Pittsburgh. It was a small Christian school that had very high standards for admission. Throughout High school I worked very hard and earned a high GPA, and did relatively well on my SATs. Unfortunately, I was not accepted to this University. I remember hearing during my SAT prep course that as white males, we have the most competition and it is hardest for us to get into a good University. I wonder sometimes, had I been of another race/ethnicity, if I would have been accepted into Grove City. Had I been female, would I have been accepted? Was I being oppressed by the admission process because of my race? I sometimes wonder if I was oppressed because of the fact that I fall under all of the unmarked categories. Several other instances have arisen since I have been here at The University of Maryland. I did not get into any of the Gemstone, Scholars, or Honors programs here at Maryland. One student from my high school was accepted into the Honors program. He is of Hispanic descent and I know for a fact that his grades in high school were below average and he was never serious about his academics. Because he is in the marked category and is of minority, he was accepted into the Honors program when I was not. I am being limited and constrained because I am white. This is very frustrating to me because I am missing out on opportunities that are being denied to me because of my race. Another instance where I feel that I may be oppressed involves the Robert H. Smith School of Business here at Maryland. The Robert H. Smith School of Business is a limited enrollment program and as a result it is very competitive and extremely difficult to get accepted into the program. I sometimes worry that I may not be accepted, but recently I have been thinking that I may not be accepted because of my race. It seems that the majority of the time, individuals would associate white males with always having power. This is what I thought until I began to look more closely at my life.
Last year, I was working for my mom part time at her business. She owns a children’s consignment shop called Lucy’s. There were various occasions where I felt out of place, or awkward while working there. For example, every time I answered the phone and said “Hello, this is Lucy’s how may I help you”, I always got the same response from the customer on the phone, “Is this Lucy’s?” They would always assume that since it was a male answering the phone that they had called the wrong number. Sometimes customers occasionally looked at me in a funny way, as they are most likely wondering why an 18 year old guy is at this store or why he is working there. Since I am a male, I sometimes do feel out of place and even oppressed when I work for my mom.
Throughout middle school and particularly in high school, I mowed a lot of lawns. This was my job as a teenager. It takes up an incredible amount of time and energy, and it is very hard work. Often times I get the question, “did you work over the summer?” or “what experiences do you have in the working world?” and for the most part my best answer is “I mow lawns”. People often give me a funny look when I tell them this. I feel as though they do not take it seriously or they do not think that it is a real job. I sometimes feel put down by others that I do not work a typical teenage job, or that often times mowing lawns is associated with being a job that would often be performed by someone of Hispanic or Latino background. What they do not know, however, is how much I have learned from mowing lawns. I feel as though I am oppressed by others at times because I am not following the typical crowd of teenagers in the workforce.
So now I have to think more about how my privileges may very well be the effects of systematic structures in which others are oppressed. I often think that the choices, influence, optimism and privilege that I have in my life come from the person that I am. I work hard, I am motivated to do well, and I strive to live up to my own standards. I think there is more than just my work ethic that contributes to my choices, influence, optimism, and privilege that I have in my life. When I think about my life I have so much. I am going to a great university, I have a great internship lined up for the summer, and I can go and do as I please, I have a vehicle to drive, my life simply has so much to offer. When I think more about my life, however, do I have so much partly due to the oppression of others? I would like to think the answer is no, but if I am honest with myself, it is a legitimate reason. Many of the events in my life have taken place because I am white, because I am male, because I am Christian, because I am heterosexual, because I am middle class, because I am able, because I am a young adult, because I am a U.S. citizen, because I speak English.
Mandee Stewart
Sergio Orellana
WMST250, Section 0102
16 April 2008
Power Structures Through the Eyes of the Underrepresented
It is often noted that the Founding Fathers of this country were rich, land-owning men who made laws to favor themselves and others like them. It is no wonder that these men created institutions and power structures that did not favor others that were not like them. Our nation has prided itself on being a nation of democracy. This is a good term because a democracy is the government of the people yet women were only allowed to vote until 1920, and all ethnicities without discrimination were not able to vote until 1965. In the almost 200 years it took to get equality in voting political power was in the hands of the group mentioned above. Voting is one of the power structures embedded into society that discriminated against women and minorities regardless of gender. There were many other power structures that have discriminated against people in the past. Often this went overlooked by the people who lost nothing from the prejudice. Consequently, there are still many power structures that discriminate against people, and these issues are still overlooked by those who are unaffected by them.
It is clear that our society has taken steps to become more equitable. But, have these steps really made an impact on the lives of Americans? To see if the power structures and discrimination are still in American society, two college student, one a white woman and the other a Hispanic male, will compare their personal lives. The personal stories and experiences by the college students will give us a more detailed and specific outlook as to the way power structures and discrimination still occur in society.
Power Structures from Sergio’s Eyes
On a campus as diverse as the one the University of Maryland provides us it is very common to see varying sides to an issue, but none as important as the Tunnel of Oppression (TO) every year on campus. This is an exhibit is great example of power structures imposing their will on people. Although the TO tells of the harsh realities of people around the world like the Dominican women given visas to be prostitutes in the Netherlands or the horrific percentage (88%) of illiteracy numbers among women of Afghanistan , it also tells of oppression going on in this country and in the case of Sergio Orellana, in my backyard. In 2005 and 2006 there were numerous hate crimes in Montgomery County, the county I have lived in for more than 12 years. In one episode there was a hate crime in Damascus in which the perpetrators graffitied a school, they drew swastikas and wrote racial slurs along the walls of the establishment. Also in the city of Gaithersburg also of the Montgomery County vicinity there were hate crimes against Muslim-American families shortly after September 11th as well as a burning of a day labor center. Although I have never encountered the type of discrimination just talked about it is also a sobering fact that these events do occur and can affect one’s life anytime. When referring to power structures there are competing theories at looking at it, power structures can be viewed through the eyes of a Marxist, which look at the concept of power structures by looking at the economic differences of the bourgeois and the proletariat. But in the case of feminism it is about understanding how power relations work to make societal norms related to gender, race, sexuality and class.
Within the outlook of feminism on power structure my life has been impacted greatly. Having lived my life in two different countries it is important to see if power structures differ from nation to nation. For example I remember being a 6 year old kid and having my mom be the figure head in my life since my father worked overseas. One day I experienced power structures through a gender point of view. We were still living in Chile and my mom was looking to matriculate me to another semester at my elementary school. The headmaster at first denied my mom’s request to add me to the next year’s school roster because she was a single parent at the time since my father was overseas. I remember the argument they gave her was that other kids have two parent families and because of the Catholic’s school orientation I would feel left out in comparison to other kids. The truth of the matter was that my dad was still part of my family, I would talk to him everyday and see him every two months. Eventually, my father had to come back to get me into the school, but the idea that a single parent, especially a woman, is not competent enough to raise a family is an example of a power structure in Chile. It was embedded in the society back then (1995) that if a family was not composed of two parents that the child would grow up in a skewed way and would not develop as the school and as the Church thought. In retrospect looking at the Chilean society makes me shudder at the image the country was trying to portray a democracy as being. They made institutions after the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet to be democratic and equal amongst all of its citizens but at the same time kept age old traditions of the Catholic Church and its view on family as well as the role of the woman in the work place. The school refused to let me in initially because they believed that my father being absent would make my mom be the sole bread winner thereby neglecting her children but this was not the case. This case of power structures working can happen within any society that is conservative enough to believe that women are not capable of being bread- winners as well as raise a family, fortunately in my case my mother was able to do it in for a span of 7 years.
Once in the United States I never understood the concept of being a well off Hispanic, the marked differences within socio-economic ladder were greater than I ever imagined. In Chile my family was lower-middle class but because of my grandfather’s wealth I was able to have an upper class education so my friends from my neighborhood were poorer than average while my friends from school were richer than average. At birthday parties or other types of gatherings both groups treated each other well without animosity or name calling. Unfortunately, on numerous occasions in the United States I have seen and have been heard a ‘cracker’ or rich ‘beaner’, because of the socio-economic status my parents have given me. When my family lived in the Bronx, I would be ridiculed because of the brand of clothes I would wear or my sister would get mocked because her jewelry was real gold. Then in high school while at a college fair, the different socio-economic status schools would converge. In this opportunity my friend and I (from Argentina), both Hispanic, were ridiculed again for our socio-economic status, brand clothes we wore, and area where we lived. These experiences mentioned in this paragraph have made me think as to why our country I so obsessed with the socio-economic status of a person. The honest answer is that the characteristics our society boast about have brought this on; our individualistic and materialistic society. Individualism is to blame because we are all competing against one another to position ourselves better on the socio-economic ladder, so when we jump over some one we tend to believe that is because we deserve it more than others because we worked harder and they are probably lazier but this is not a rule but a misconceived myth. In this sense we do not seek to help out fellow citizen out instead we keep on competing to keep on advancing. This brings me to the point of how materialistic our culture really is. Everyone has heard that most Americans spend more time sleeping than anything else but close to that is the hours of television Americans watch and through that media people are bombarded by ads to buy things, to spend and consume. So many times we are lured to buying things because they bring us happiness. Often times buying an item brings us a sense of belonging or used as a status symbol, regardless, our over-materialistic society makes the clear distinction of those who have and those who do not. This type of mentality within our society makes it so that episodes that I have lived in the United States in which a being a well off Hispanic is an opportunity to ridicule can occur. Aside from this is it is also valuable to note that because of the taunting I received I was able to notice that all sectors of society marks a certain race and classifies them. For example, the kids who were taunting me were doing it because society and its institutions have made it so that the majority of minorities to be lower class. Lack of access to education and opportunities have contributed for blacks, Hispanics, and Native Americans to be lower in the socio-economic ladder. While throughout our history the people that have benefited the most from American living and way of life have been white people .This is why I do not blame the kids who were taunting me, it is very common for someone for example to imagine a welfare line and never think of a white person, but a minority member. This is what society has unfortunately engrained in us, but I believe there are remedial policies in place to continue to improve the way of life of all Americans. It is these types of remedial policies that will end the ridicule I endured from other Hispanics, but that could occur to African-American, Asian, Native American, and/or white kids, simply because of the marked stereotypes and differences that occur within society.
Aside from the dealing with power structures within my life, I can also relate to what happened to others dealing with similar situations. For example, all during my high school you would see the black kids in my school congregate in the cafeteria just sitting around, talking, or doing homework all of this while the rest of the student body was at their lockers or at some part of the hallways. This may seem insignificant but there is more to this story. In order to make the county more racially and economically integrated low income housing was built in Potomac. Since entire families lived in the housing complex it was only natural that the high school age children begin attending Churchill, the only problem was that the community treated them like outcasts. At first I thought it was because they were resentful to the posh life the white majority acted in school as well as the community, but talking to some of the kids I came to realize this was not the only reason. They believed that they were not wanted in the area because of the economic implications; this was in some cases true because many complained about their house values going down. In reality what the kids faced was a feeling of being left out. While the upper classmen went out to lunch in their nice SUVs the kids from the Scotland neighborhood would stay and eat lunch inside or some walk to the nearest plaza. The whole environment they were thrown into just made them stick together because they could sympathize with each other; they understood each other, so naturally they were drawn together. Although, the intentions of the county were correct in trying to integrate the county, it backfired because the culture of the area was too elitist and like any group that is excluded from daily activities decided to go off on their own instead of trying to integrate.
When dealing with power structures it is also a good idea to look at those around you and how they deal with power structures. When I was applying to college my father told me that I was almost 18 so I needed to start making my own decisions he told me that where ever I wanted to attend college if at all he would support my decision as long as I did the work and got it. I applied to Michigan, Georgetown, and Maryland got into all three and visited all three, although visiting two of the three is just a Metro trip away going to Michigan hardened me up and I began thinking that I was going to start doing things more on my own, that is the way I had been asking for and that is the way my parents wanted it as well. Then my sister came, she is two years younger than me, she as a female in my parents eyes needs to be more sheltered than I was. When deciding what universities she would apply to the furthest one was Penn State. Once admissions letters were sent my parents then began narrowing down options for her, they told her Towson, West Virginia, and Maryland were the only options for her. Noticing all this sheltering I attend school, they said she is too naïve to make such a difficult decision on her own. Once we were in a full discussion about this I talked to my sister and she said that she also felt uneasy about the prospect of deciding where to attend university. She told me a very interesting thing, she said since all of her life she had been pampered and sheltered because she was not only younger than me but was a female, this lead her to be unprepared to make such difficult decisions on her own since my parents have always been there for her. Obviously, being too sheltered is a problem, but to me it is more of a problem if it is done deliberately and because she is a girl. Society whether in Chile or the United States has always portrayed women as the weaker sex among the two and has often gone as far as portraying women as naïve. I believe my parent’s treatment of me was different than that of my sisters simply because of gender. The fact that society has inculcated to people that women are meant to be sheltered is impressive and a bit disturbing as their male counter-parts are always meant to be treated with more aggressiveness and less sheltered. What I learned was that it is one thing to love your child and provide them with as much as possible, but it’s a different story if you have two kids and you are treating them completely differently. This is an example of how power structures works within families and it is prevalent in many western nations but at the same time probably happening to unbelievable levels in nations in which equality of treatment among races is not equal.
From all of the examples I have listed, I see our general society is trying to make amends and make things as equal as possible. In the case of my family, I believe ever since the 1960’s education, liberty, and work placement has improved in the United States, much needs to be done such as the passing of the ERA, but equality is in the minds of newer generations. In dealing with the inequalities I faced and saw others face at my school, I believe will take just as long, imagine citizens only became equal in the 1960’s so it will take time for all of the people of this country to have all of it’s sectors grow socio-economically. Remedial policies are in place to assure that within race and within gender there is not an overwhelming gap. Affirmative action is a good place to start as it guarantees that university institutions beginning admitting certain number of minority students. Giving education to those who seek it in order to give those better lives is something this country should have started a long time ago but it’s never too late to begin. As more and more people become educated it will only help society as it will become more equal in a socio-economic sense. We cannot forget that there are still institutions as old as 200 years that have favored the privileged of this country so it is not sensible to expect a quick change or fix, but it very important that people realize that this country can become better and more equitable if changes in society are made to provide prosperity to all not just the already rich and educated.
Power Structures from Mandee’s Eyes
Being a white female living in the 21st century is not as easy and ideal as people make it out to be. Yes, white females are the majority race and gender in the United States come this turn of the century, but there are still a wide array of setbacks, hindrances, and other societal restrictions which hold the white woman from progressing in society among her peers. It is often misconstrued that white women “have it easiest” or are “automatically privileged,” because of this majority standing, but looking through the eyes of a teenage white woman may change the minds of those who are fooled by such assumptions.
Being a majority means that there are many groups which I cannot partake-in, nor create for my own benefited without being “racist.” The very powerful and influential National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). With that being said, this power structure does not benefit me, nor does it help my progression in society solely because I’m white. If I were black, they would want to help me. However, I’m not, and therefore they don’t acknowledge my needs as being “worthy” to those of blacks. It would be absurd to me to even think of creating a National Association for the Advancement of Non-colored People. Why? Because I’m part of the majority, therefore I have no right to want people of my same race to progress in society, although there are plenty of white people suffering in the United States. A few years back there was a segment on CNN covering a woman ostracized for trying to create a group for whites equivalent to the NAACP. Because of her skin color she was denied the right to want a better life for people of her same appearance. Yet if she were black, it wouldn’t be an issue. Personally, I believe the NAACP oppresses me in society, as it racially separates me from people that I would consider my equals.
The color of my skin isn’t the only thing that makes me feel excluded from the entirety American society. Being a natural redhead, I don’t exactly fit into the everyday appearance of a typical white American college-aged female. I get strange looks and stares from people who don’t frequently get a chance to observe someone who looks the way I do. At times I enjoy the attention, but other times I find it obnoxious and wish people would quit making me feel as if I’m any different from the rest of the world. The Bravo reality show “The Millionaire Matchmaker” sneered at a woman for having red hair. While the redhead was being interviewed, the matchmaker told her that men aren’t interested in redheads, and that “redheads are not the freshest produce on the market.” Obviously it stuck with me, as I can repeat it off of the top of my head. It is also disadvantage to me to have red hair in a society that isn’t totally familiar with it. Scientific studies have been done to prove that redheads are more sensitive to pain due to dysfunctioning genes and receptors. Legally I’m allowed double the pain medication as a blonde or brunette when having surgery or receiving a prescription from the doctor. But when I had my wisdom teeth pulled my dentist refused to give me the correct amount of pain medication, all because he was ignorant to my medical needs due to my rare appearance. I often feel oppressed by the medical power structures, because they don’t bother to look into my particular situation, and since I’m a minority I’m often faced with their lack of concern.
It isn’t always my appearance that proves to be a negative factor for me among the power structures of American society. Being female puts me at a disadvantage for being hired to jobs which some may deem fit only for a man. My boss once explained to me how her boss reluctantly hired her, because he “knows” women are more emotional than men and was afraid she wasn’t level-headed enough for the job. I believe I am more emotional than most men I know, but never has that hindered me from being competent or completing a task which I intend to complete. Being a female also sets me back in the workforce because the stereotype of the housewife who cooks, cleans, and cares for the children is still carried within society today. While there is a growing number of stay-at-home dads, it is still the woman who is categorized by the media as being no more than a homemaker. It’s like swimming against the current, trying to prove yourself although I know that I’m fully capable of anything and that nobody can make me feel a lower self-worth. It’s a burden, really, to have to prove myself to the work-world before I even have a chance to get a foot into the door. As for salary, women still earn less money per hour than do men. It’s debatable the exact cost which men earn over women, yet most finding range between $0.25 and $0.75 per hour. It may seem insignificant since it’s a matter of cents, but when you’re talking about a 40-hour work-week, the figures accumulate. To know that my gender affects my ability to earn the same amount as a man putting in the exact same work infuriates me. Not all business function this way, but the power structures of high-end corporations who do function this way oppress me by devaluing my work effort and quality, all because of a trait which I was born with, something I would never change.
In regards to my gender, power structures treat me differently when it comes to all things concerning sex. Condoms are mainly marketed toward males, although they are just as important to males as they are to females. As a basic rule to our society, and one I know most of my friends in college go by, the man is supposed to come prepared with condoms if he wants to have sex. If a woman wants to have sex, she can expect the man to have condoms. It isn’t like condoms only protect men from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and prevents pregnancy; women have the exact same benefits as men in regards to having protected sex. There isn’t a justified reason for why women shouldn’t be required to show up prepared with condoms as men are required to. On the other hand, it is the female (most often in committed relationships) who is expected to have additional contraceptive methods. A range of birth control from the pill to shots offer females multiple ways to prevent pregnancy, yet not prevent STDs. Financially speaking, birth control, regardless of the method, is much more expensive than condoms. Oral contraceptives have to be taken every day, whereas a condom only has to be worn during actual sexual intercourse. Scientists are still aiming to create a birth control pill for men to take, however it will be interesting to see how many men are actually open to using that form of contraceptive. The power structures of insurance companies also oppress me in society in regards to my gender and sexual activity. My insurance does not cover birth control, a pill only for women. However, it does cover Viagra, a pill only for men. The birth control pill is used for more than just contraception, but to also help women with irregular menstrual cycles and women dealing with pain from polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Viagra has no medical benefits other than sexual stimulation, and has been the source of blindness in many men as a horrific side effect. Still, insurance will pay for men to have better sex than for women to have better health or safer sex. Being a female isn’t ideal when it comes to paying bills that men, if they were in my shoes, would not have to pay.
During college admissions I also found that being a white female was a huge disadvantage. White females are the dominant figures in colleges across the United States, being that there are more white females enrolled in university systems than any other race or gender. If colleges were to accept me, they would be adding a fantastic student with a high grade point average and tons of extra curricular actives. However, they would also be adding to the majority race, and that’s a major downfall. The University of Maryland (UMD), for example, prides itself on being diverse within its cultural population. They aim to add people from different backgrounds to the University, often at the expense of people who should be given the right to attend UMD. Two girls I went to high school with applied to UMD, one of middle-eastern decent and parents born in Afghanistan, the other white. The white female had a higher grade point average, more extracurricular activities, and did better on the SATs than the female of middle-eastern decent. But who was accepted to Maryland? The female of middle-eastern decent, while the white female was rejected. Fortunately for me I was accepted, but it has always made me wonder if I was rejected from a few of the colleges I applied to so that someone of a more “unique” race could attend the school. It would be reverse racism, in my eyes, to know that I wasn’t accepted based upon my skin color. I don’t care if I’m the majority color. Does color still define my capability of succeeding in education? Affirmative action still exists, and race still plays a major role in admissions to college. Affirmative action today has a number of advantages and setbacks. It helps to minimize the gap for students who unfortunately were not given equal ability to excel in high school. It also aids students who would otherwise not be able to compete with those who retained an opportune education. These benefits help to insure that America is taking steps to embrace its diversity, and not let factors which children can’t control affect their ability to succeed in being educated and all other aspects of life. However, affirmative action doesn’t always prove to be beneficial. My tenth-grade history teacher went to Bowie State University with a full scholarship. The scholarship had nothing to do with academics; she was a white woman attending a historically black university. She herself said it was unfair to give her such a huge benefit because of her skin color, but not being able to afford college expenses she took whatever she could get. The same goes for many minorities attending college. As I applied for scholarships, I realized what a disadvantage it was being white. There were Latino scholarships, African-American scholarships, Asian scholarships, and so on. Where there White scholarships? No, even if I was socio-economically level with those who were other races. My friend, a black female, and I were looking through the lists together. I remember her having a handful of scholarships she could apply to versus my very few. She said, “Wow, this really sucks for you.” It is a stereotype, I believe, to assume that since I’m white I’m less deserving of scholarship opportunities than a black, Asian, or Hispanic. But do I think there will ever be scholarships that only white students can receive? No. That would be racism. It wouldn’t be acceptable to deny a black person the same scholarship opportunity as a white person. Yet other scholarship opportunities can deny white students the right to receive them. There is no doubt within my mind that this power structure that ties race into education does not work in my favor. I fully understand the need to help those who can’t help themselves, and to make advantages for those who were born with drawbacks they have no control over. But, I find it difficult to be forced to be treated differently because of something I was born with—being white. I firmly believe there is a way to make scholarships and academics fair for all colors, and I believe Americans are doing a good job at making progress for that, but I still feel that there is fine tuning to be done in order to help some without stepping on others.
I also find that my language marks me within society. This often has its benefits, but does not come without its disadvantages. As a rule, I can walk into a restaurant and order dinner without a problem. I can communicate with the majority of those around me. I can talk to a sales associate so that they can help me find what I am looking for. This ease I have often taken for granted, because I forget the difficulties that others face when it comes to the language barrier. However, I feel that people who do not speak English and live in the United States scorn me for wanting them to learn my language. I personally believe that everyone living in the United States should speak English, not because I’m ethnocentric, but because living in a world of different cultures and religions, language is the one thing that can bring America together and create a unified whole. Living in Annapolis, I see first-hand a lot of petitions outside of the buildings for legislation and other political issues. There was a petition to the bill that would require immigrants to take a language test before being able to receive a drivers license. I was walking down the street to meet a friend for lunch the day it was going on, completely oblivious to why they were petitioning. A random woman who spoke perfect English stopped and asked me if I thought people in America should speak English. I answered “of course” to her, not thinking twice about it. Suddenly I was swarmed with a mass of people screaming, not yelling, but screaming at me. I come from a family of mixed language. My brother’s wife Bianca, whom he just married this past weekend, speaks French as her first language. While in Québec for the wedding, it was very difficult to communicate since everybody speaks French. My brother and grandmother are fully bilingual, whereas Bianca has very few people in her family that speak a little English, and nobody besides her is bilingual. I was trying to order lunch, and the waitress started snickering at me. I realized that speaking English had marked me, and I was being looked down upon for not being a native Francophone. I got a wide-awakening on how it feels to be marked by language, trying your hardest, yet still unable to communicate. Society has molded people to embrace those who you can relate to. If you don’t speak the same language, this is a very difficult task. Governmental power structures which aim to make people in America speak English are in a tough position. After this weekend, I realize that making people learn the language helps break down barriers, unite people, and help stop the dejection. However, it people think it means their native language isn’t good enough, which is something that nobody should ever have to feel. I’m very lucky that the power structures in the United States favor my language because English is my native tongue, but as I travel and interact with those who do not speak English as a first language, it becomes more noticeable to me that I am marked.
Power structures in the media oppress the everyday woman based on visual appearance. I have had a subscription to Glamour Magazine as well as Cosmopolitan for the past five or so years, and I have never seen an overweight woman on the cover. The only people on the cover of the magazines are “beautiful” people, in terms of what society cherishes to be beauty. The adds in the magazines also depict only the most beautiful women. If she doesn’t have flowing hair, full lips, large breasts, long legs, and even features, you won’t see her in a magazine. As a young girl, I would be influenced by these pictures, and gradually absorbed a negative self-image of myself when comparing my looks to those of whom were shown to me. I would wonder why I couldn’t have been born so gorgeous, why my legs weren’t thinner and my cheek bones more defined. I thought that they were average women, just like me, and that I wasn’t what everyone else looked like. It wasn’t until I was older that I realized that the models sit through hours of makeup and hairstyling, just to be airbrushed before the final product is created. Body images become unrealistic, and although it’s not scientifically proven, I firmly believe that these distorted body images lead a lot of young women into eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia. As a child that was overweight, I’m quite fortunate that I learned how to eat more healthy and exercise before I went into middle school. I was never marked in society as being overweight, since I’ve been a healthy weight since the age of about 13. I never had to be discriminated against because of my size, and obesity is one of the millions of ways that Americans are marked today. As the most obese country in the world, with more people being underweight than at a healthy weight, seeing unrealistic body images doesn’t hurts the progression of Americans back into healthy lifestyles. The adds done by Dove aim to revolutionize the standards for what is “beautiful” to the eyes of Americans, and helps transform the expectations of women and their bodies. They have a movement to help raise self-esteem called “Campaign for Real Beauty.” By placing real, unaltered images of women who are a normal weight, with un-processed hair and without hours of makeup design, Dove helps to re-shape the distorted perception that women have of themselves. I love these adds, and Dove is one power structure that I feel helps to empower women in society, as opposed to the other beauty power structures which aim to make women want to be something that they aren’t, and subdue women’s self-esteem.
The world as I know it works in strange ways. I feel that some power structures have no regard for those whom they repress, while other power structures go above and beyond to help those who are repressed. I feel that as a woman, the world has worked fervently to grip the bias between gender differences. There are still inequalities between salary and so on, but these things take time and effort, and from what I’ve seen so far I’m quite pleased with the steps America has taken. As a person in society who is white, I feel that I often get blamed for the mistakes of my ancestors, and occasionally pay for this in power structures such as the institution of affirmative action. However, this isn’t a form of oppression that I can’t overcome, and as a color-blind human living in the world today I feel that I do my part in helping mold those around me to be equal unbiased to color and ancestor. I understand that somewhere someone has to give to make change, and I’m willing to do that. As a redhead, I feel that the day will come when I can go into a random doctors office and they won’t hesitate to give me the correct dosage of medication. It isn’t here yet, but based on the other things I’ve seen America advance in, I have sincere hope. When it comes to the sexual discrepancy between men and women, I figure it’s only a matter of time to even things out. Scientists are working to create oral contraceptives for men, and bills are being presented to the senate to level insurance healthcare between genders. I also believe that with time the language blockade facing America will come to a fair, intelligent agreement, and will no longer be looked upon as a hindrance but rather a beneficial part of society. And as far as the unrealistic image of women in the media, I don’t believe there will ever come a day when women aren’t hyper-sexualized and beautified to sell products. However, I believe more companies like Dove will appear, and women everywhere not feel oppressed but rather humored by the ridiculous idealizations that the media creates. All together, I believe America is a land of hopes and dreams, and a place that I can trust to make progress that insures a better quality of life for everyone without discrimination. Someday these will no longer be aspirations; they will become reality.
Sergio’s and Mandee’s Cumulative Take on Power Structures
As a whole, we believe that American society is making noticeable progress to level the playing field between men and women of all races. It hasn’t come easily, and it has been a slow-moving tedious process. But, nonetheless, it is progress. Looking at where we stand now, compared to 100 years ago, we have come above and beyond the former stereotypes and prejudice. No, the world is not solved of these issues, but the growth that our nation has made is unbelievable. We instill hope into the world we live in now to continue changing, and become an even more non-discriminatory place come the next 100 years. It is a challenge, but as Americans we have proven ourselves capable of overcoming such obstacles.
One day, hopefully sooner than later, people will be looked at as people. Power structures will stop creating stereotypes, and there will no longer be labels distracting us from seeing people for what they really are—humans. The labels will disappear, and walking next to someone on the street who is completely different than you won’t be uncomfortable, but rather unnoticed, as everyone sees everyone for the same things. Today in the world this isn’t so, but we are working towards the ideal world of equality. Gradually the barriers are coming down, and gender and heritage are becoming something to have pride for, rather to hide from fear of ridicule. We both fully believe that the power structures will get a total renovation in the future, and the United States as we know it will be a happier, healthier, safer place.
Jessica Cha
Tania Cox
Assignment 3
In my everyday life, I see the societal power structures that are intricately intertwined within not only my own life, but also the lives of other members of society. Although we are often confined to narrow societal views, we often don’t recognize how our own individual roles can lead to the oppression of other individuals. People often overlook the fact that power is located inside, and outside of them. Although the ‘person is political’, the conventional view is that something else, or someone else holds the power in relationships, never ourselves. People also tend to overlook the various forms of power that exist. Power is political, economic, gendered, personal, institutionalized, and Universal. The Universal power to which I am referring is Knowledge. Though I would hate for my analysis of power to be reduced to a cliché, the old adage, ‘Knowledge is power,’ aptly expresses my belief that Knowledge is a Universal power which influences all others.
After observing my life throughout the week, I was able to see the power that exists within the activities and structures that I am part of. My identity as a Korean-American student at the University of Maryland is an integral part of the power structures that exist in my life. Factors such as my ethnicity, socio-economic background, religion, and personal experiences have all influenced my perception of the world as well as my role in society.
Perceptions are not only things that often constitute one’s subjective reality; they are also the map by which many of us turn to guide us through the world. How we see things, or how we view them, affects how we approach them and in turn, how they approach us. It is such that a cognitive construct transcends into a physical relationship from which a mark can be left on others.
For so long the identity of an Asian-American has been stereotyped in certain ways. Growing up, I did not live in an Asian-prevalent area. The only examples of Asian-Americans that I had were the members of my own family and the Asian-Americans that were portrayed in the media. But, unfortunately, the media offered a very narrow view of Asian-Americans. They were usually martial-art fighters, like Jackie Chan or Jet Li. If they weren’t action stars, they were your stereotypical MIT nerd, who always got an ‘A’ on his or her tests. These stereotypes were not only consistent with television and movies, but also consistent with my everyday life.
Throughout all of my life, my classmates often held high expectations of me. They always expected me to “ace” an exam because I was Asian, and Asians are all supposed to be smart. Most students would be flattered by someone saying that you are smart, but for me these kinds of comments became increasingly burdensome. I could not fail or make mistakes. I had to be perfect. But as I grew older, I found myself less restricted by my ethnicity. Now in college, I have been able to see how such ideas as the matrix of domination can be related to my personal identity. Here, I have found that most people don’t try to stereotype my intelligence because I am Asian. I don’t have classmates questioning why I didn’t get an “A” on the last exam or assuming that I must be a math or science major. On campus, there are so many different Asian students. The Asian population at College Park is a microcosm of society as a whole. There is no typical Asian student. Although there are your classic bookworms who always study, there are still thousands of other Asian students on campus who like to play sports, sing, dance…do whatever they want. People often don’t recognize the differences that exist within the Asian community. There exists multiple ethnicities, which include Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Taiwanese, and Thai. Me, I am more than just Asian. I am Korean-American.
What happens when that which they say you are, is indeed, that what you say you are? Does this one concurrence make the fact that your perceptions were formed by immersion in to a culture, and theirs was formed from an armchair irrelevant? How is one to react to the inevitable strain caused from trying to fit into someone else's restricted assessments? Do you reject it and place the power of you perceptions in yourself, do you lash out, or do you just absorb it all when someone tell you they know you better than you know yourself? What is the effect on someone when someone else says they hold the key to your identity? In such a situation, who holds the power, and what does the power mean anyway? "Domination operates by seducing, pressuring, or forcing African-American women and members of subordinated groups to replace individual and cultural ways of knowing with the dominant group's specialized thought” (Collins, Matrix of Domination). So if I am to truly hold the power, I must focus on myself. I must look at why I feel the way I do regarding a situation of conflicting models for self identity. Where do these views come from, and what are their implications for me.
My role as a Korean-American can be viewed as both a privilege and a source of oppression. I have found that being both Korean and American has been difficult in a world that is often so black and white. To American people, I am not accepted as a “true” American because I don’t look the part. A girl with black hair and slanted eyes is only Asian, not American. Just last week, I was walking through my friend’s dorm with two of my other “Asian” friends and one of the people in the hallway yelled, “Asians!” as we passed by. It doesn’t matter that we have lived in America our whole lives and that we are just as much American as they are. But no, they only choose to see what is right in front of them and once again I have been oppressed by my identity. I was not judged by my actions or character. I was marked solely on my appearance. This type of marking, crudely drawn without respect to any other dimensions of self outside of phenotypical traits, leads to a distinct separation of self. The self that you are, and the self that you are perceived to be become joined in their separateness and create much internal strife. To draw reference from W.E.B DuBois, It is living in “a world which yields [one] no true self consciousness but only lets [one] see [themselves] through the revelation of the other world. It is a peculiar sensation this double consciousness this ... two ness ... two souls two thoughts two unreconciled two warring ideals in one ...body (Souls of Black Folk, W.E.B DuBois).
But I have been oppressed at the other end of the identity spectrum as well. I am judged by other Koreans because they think that I am not Korean enough. The fact that there is “-American” tied to the other end of my ethnicity makes me less Korean and thus less accepted by my own race. Because I speak Korean with an Americanized accent, I am not viewed as truly Korean. Last week while talking to one of my classmates, I was criticized for not being Korean enough. She said that not being able to speak both English and Korean fluently made me less cultured. Although I have plenty of close Korean and non-Korean friends, I can’t help but feel alienated by others who question the extent to how Korean or how American I am. Sometimes I feel like I’m fighting a losing battle. I didn’t choose my ethnicity, but yet I’m judged for not having “the right” one.
To be judged intimately on the basis of superficial traits like speech patterns, schooling, or any other only serves to support the current system of dominating power. A dislike for the mainstream can certainly come from being oppressed. But what happens when a group is oppressed so much that they would reject anything associated with the dominant culture or society? What happens when even the presentation of the stark reality that someone is indeed as oppressed as you are becomes irrelevant and you deny your own? What happens when this person is spat upon? Nasir Jones said “I can’t sound smart cause ya’ll run away” and if Jones is right, then the results of such an assessment only serves to further divide and isolate marginalized groups (Jones). Though the power has changed hands, the end result is no different, "same shit different toilet, yeah I know you heard it before" (Jay Z).
But although I have faced prejudices as a result of my ethnicity, I have deep pride in my ethnicity. Every week I attend Korean Campus Ministries, which is a group for Korean students, and even some non-Korean students, to embrace their spiritual self. We worship and fellowship together. I am also a member of the Korean Student Association which is an organization that promotes Korean culture on-campus by holding different cultural events for interested students. The organizations that I am in reflect a part of who I am. Because these organizations tend to be one-sided in terms of race, I often do get judged by other students. They think that I am close-minded or that I isolate myself within my own race by being part of such organizations. But these clubs and organizations are a part of my identity. They give me pride in my culture as well as the ability to teach others about my culture. Although these organizations may mark me by some of my peers, they are an important part of my personal growth. They give me a unique standpoint and continual acceptance of who I am.
A desire or a dedication towards enhancing ones Knowledge of self from sources outside of the dominant society are often the source of criticism from others. It is a kind of reverse psychology, a ploy, whether intentional or not, to portray the inclusion of one perspective as the exclusion of another. The point of which is to scare those in the pursuit of Knowledge away from their endeavors. The truth is, a greater knowledge of self can only benefit society and lead to a more inclusive one. It can lead to a more honest type of inclusivity, where not only a mentioning, but a true understanding of someone’s culture is integrated in the dominant ideologies. According to Linda Perez, “The Chicana artists whose spirit work I have studied here display the courage to attempt to inspire or provoke greater balance between who we appear to be (“face”) and who we long to be (“heart”). They teach us to perceive and imagine differently, and that seeing is a learned, revealed, ever-changing, and transformative process, whether we do so through the mind, they eyes, the heart, or the spirit. If we are receptive, their work contributes toward leading us to beliefs and practices of greater personal and social integrity and therefore, harmony” (Perez, 306). People who don’t share this point of view tend to be privileged in that respect. Their prominent place and visibility in society renders them ignorant to the absence of others. They often do not acknowledge that these cultural groups exist to highlight cultures that are often neglected by the mainstream and furthermore, cannot identify with being ignored on a large societal scale and the effects that this can have.
Being in college, I am relieved to be able to shed my skin. I am able to create an identity for myself that is not confined by stereotypes. For so long my race was a constant source of constraint in my life. But, I have seen how the roles that we identity with can work in cycles. One moment they can be sources of oppression, the next they can be sources of privilege. This is the matrix of domination. Using my standpoint as a source of strength, rather than a source of weakness, has allowed me to take advantage in the matrix of domination.
But what happens when you cannot shed your skin. When it's not yourself, or even someone else who defines you, it's your “race”. Not the race that you define yourself as, but the race that has been assigned to you. The color of your skin, the shade, and texture of your hair, the darkness of your eyes. What happens when you cannot shed this? No matter what kind of social setting or arena you are in, or how similar or varied the people around you are. What happens then?
I personally identify with many groups that can be seen as oppressed. I identify as a woman in gender and sex, though I wear men's clothing, of lower middle class, undefined socioeconomic status, which reflects my unstable place in society, a lesbian, an immigrant, and of African descent (or black). Thought the extent to which I can hide the fact that my sex is a woman is debatable, I can hide or disguise all other aspects of myself. Except for being black. The ability to disregard race as a point of one's oppression is a particular source of power. It has been described by many scholars, including Greg Tate, as 'everything but that burden'. 'Everything' meaning all the injustices and oppression that black people suffer, without the distinct burden of being black. This means that one is able to at least at some point in their life, make invisible all the potential sources for being a victim of oppression. In this, they remove themselves from in any shape or form being a victim. The fact is, when you are black, you can be part of all other conceivable dominant or oppressive groups, but you will never be purely an oppressor. The burden of being black in a world that is black and white, with the latter perceived as the ideal, is my permanent, inescapable truth.
Besides the cultural clubs that I am part of, another significant area of my life is found in my involvement in Gemstone. Gemstone is a four-year undergraduate honors program that I attend here at Maryland. It makes up a large part of my time as I must attend Gemstone classes everyday and I have a semester-long group project that requires that I meet up with my team members every other day and sometimes on weekends. Being a Gemstones student has once again been both a privilege and a source of oppression. It’s a privilege because I have the opportunity to work with the top students and professors at Maryland. Students in the program conduct research projects that end up becoming published in renowned journals or even patented. Being a part of the Gemstone program is considered a privilege. There are so many different opportunities, including jobs and internships that arise out of being part of the Gemstone program. But because of Women’s Studies, I have been able to look at the program and my part in the program in a whole new light. I now see it as so much more than just an academic program. Because this program is another element of my identity, it is also subject to the same systematic constraints that my ethnicity has been subjected to.
The privilege that I have found in this program has made me marked by my peers. Students who find out that I am in the Gemstone program usually look at me in a different way. Suddenly, I am not Jessica any more. I am now Jessica, the Gemstone student. Although most students would love to have Gemstone as part of their resume, for me, Gemstone has put an invisible target on my back. Although I feel fortunate to be part of the program, I don’t like the feeling of being defined by this program. I don’t want other students to view me differently simply because I am in Gemstone. Too often I have had peers who felt like I couldn’t understand their struggles because I was in Gemstone. For some reason, others thought that I didn’t know what it felt like to rush to meet a deadline or study for hours on a test that I end up still failing.
Again there is strife when the person perceived and the person actualized does not concur. The highlighting of some dimensions while simultaneously neglecting others is never an experience as positive as people make it out to be. The fact is, being subjected and having people acquaint themselves with an incomplete portrait of oneself leaves one feeling empty. The artists' rendering of the subject is simply inaccurate. Projecting labels onto someone in such a way that secondary traits become a master status is very dangerous. It often reduces to someone being defined in terms of what they do, or refrain from doing. In this way, people become commoditized as their humanness from a holistic perspective is denied. I am no longer, Tania, your female friend, or your teenage friend, I am Tania, your lesbian friend. This type of labeling can also lead to self fulfilling prophecies in which people adopt the label assigned to them, whether true or false, positive or negative. The end result is always a person who feels alienated.
I have realized that my struggles with Gemstone reach beyond my personal experiences. I remember in the beginning of the year, my best friend did not want to room with me in Ellicott, the Gemstone dorm, because she was afraid of feeling marked. She was afraid that we would end up becoming foils to one another---my involvement in Gemstone would emphasize her non-involvement in Gemstone. I have never wanted who I am to hurt or oppress someone else, but clearly, without doing anything, it already had. I had once again seen how the role of power structures in society leads to one person being privileged, and one person being, inevitably, oppressed.
But even beyond being a member of the Gemstones program, my role as just a
University of Maryland student is a part of this idea of the “Matrix of Domination”. I have been privileged to get a good education at this school. Just last week, Ms. King asked during lecture, “What abilities are we being given right now?” I have been given the ability to learn. My parents worked hard so that I can afford to get a decent education. My decision to go to class, to do my work, to even write this paper write now reflects this privilege that I have been given.
But while I have been privileged with this education, others have been oppressed as a result. Not every student makes it into the University of Maryland. Not every student was able to receive some sort of financial aid package like I was. In a sense, my actions have oppressed someone else. Because I accepted the offer to attend this school, one less student could not attend. Because I received a financial aid package, that much less money was taken away from someone else. Although it seems kind of harsh to think of a privilege in a way that means to oppress others, it is an undeniable truth. The reason that such ideas as “standpoints” and “intersectionality” exist is because such truths are often not visible. It takes a moment of oppression for us to truly understand the invisible lines that connect or de-connect us for one another.
By definition, a privilege is an opportunity extended to someone. People often confuse privileges with rights, which leads to dissension. To have privilege, you must have those who do not. There must be those who are disadvantaged, neither can exist without the other. Some people might see my acceptance into the University of Maryland as a theft. They believe that I do not rightfully belong here. They think that I am here based of off affirmative action for women and for blacks. My acceptance here had nothing to do with the fact that I was qualified, or that I had put in effort to come here, it all came down to my status as disadvantaged. The fact is, going to college to get an education is a privilege, not a right. But this privilege has been extended so consistently to certain members of society that they have come to view it as a right. My acceptance is seen as a terrible transgression in which their rights have been denied and I am to blame. They do not acknowledge how subjugated groups have been systematically denied the change to enter into academia and that affirmative action only seeks to level the playing field. They do not acknowledge that maybe my acceptance had nothing to do with affirmative action, and may be was based on merit.
But, for me, the most important part of my identity is my family. Although my experiences at College Park have been vital to my continually changing perception of the world around me, my relationship with my family has played an even bigger role. I think most people would agree that our family instills in us certain beliefs and ideals. My family is a source of trust and truth. Although many students find themselves detached from their families once they enter college, my family continues to be an important part of my day-to-day life. When I am going through any difficulties in my life, my family is the first place that I turn to. Even if I can’t physically talk with my parents, their voices still remain in my head. The lessons that they have taught me affect the way that I think and act every day.
But what If this is not the case? What if you do not have a nuclear family, what if family bonds are not that tight, or something is causing strain? What is the result when your family structure or relationships do not fit society's norm? Though my family is very important to me, I can say that I cannot look to them for comfort the way other people can. For one, my mom is a single mother who takes care of my little sister. She has 100% of the responsibilities for taking care of her family and she receives no outside assistance so I must take a lot of responsibility for myself. I do not believe that there is anything inferior about having a female headed household. But I do believe that in a place like America, the single mother, especially the single black mother, is not viewed in a respectable light. I think being different in a society that clearly values mother and fathers being present in a home takes its toll on some people. Society makes us feel like we are lesser than, or that children from households like mine will inevitably have some kind of psychological, social, or metal problem. Society tells us that the fact that our mothers run our households is the reason why our children are behaving badly, doing poorly in schools, and why teenage pregnancy is on the rise. This is an example of propaganda perpetuated by oppressive forces in society who try to spit upon our family structures, and in turn, us.
My family was always there for me whenever I found myself in a situation where I felt that my identity was burdensome. Whenever I faced prejudices because of my ethnicity or race, my family gave me a way to turn the situation into a way in which I could find pride, rather than shame. I feel as if I am able to recognize the marked and unmarked categories in my life because of my family. Without my family, I would never be able to expose the marked categories in my life. I would feel too embarrassed, but even more, I would be too ignorant. My family has been one of the main reasons why I feel it necessary to work hard and never give up. Their dedication to their own work has given me an example to develop a strong mind set. Without this kind of mentality, there would be no reason to write this paper. There would be no reason for me to actually think about conceptual maps or marked differences in my life.
Outside of societal beliefs and institutional structures that oppress families, there are also families that oppress their members. My family has not been any assets in regards to creating a positive outlook on how I identify myself. This is because I am a lesbian and our cultural background is heterosexist and homophobic. Caribbean cultures tend to have very strong taboos regarding sex. Not only who you can have sex with or love, but also how you practice these aspects of your life. I cannot go to my family and express to them the prejudices I face as a lesbian because they are often times more hostile than the people that I interact with in society. I cannot tell them how a little girl told me not to touch her because I'm gay and I might rape her. I cannot tell them about how it makes me feel when people use gay as a synonym for stupid.
If I told them that someone called me a nigger and was being overtly racist, I would get some sympathy, but if I told them about how people call me a faggot and are homophobic, I am guaranteed to get the exact opposite response. They will tell me it's my fault. Ask me 'Well what in the hell were YOU doing,' as if the problem of homophobia lies in the accosted and not the accosters. It is a distinct and undeniable feeling to be marked in a way that you know others are not. To know that most people are not marked by their heterosexuality but that I am for being homosexual is one of the ways in which I am oppressed. My marking as a lesbian is not something done to highlight a great achievement of mine. On the contrary, I feel that the purpose of marking me as a lesbian is only to further divide people and to perpetuate the notion of heteronormativity. There is an assumption that heterosexuality is the norm and that anything that deviates is not ideal. This marking is also very irksome as it now becomes something to where I am commoditized and I am asked to recount my entire lesbian life story, or a marking to show others to stay away from me. I especially get a lot of disparaging remarks from black people. People always want to know what is wrong with me, who raped me, as if this is a suitable topic for conversation when you just meet someone, and some kind of nonsense about how I am destroying the black community.
Audre Lorde’s speech “I am Your Sister: Black Women Organizing Across Sexualities,” effectively combats the misrepresentation of homosexuals in an attempt to unify the Black womanist movement. She does so by addressing the issue of Homophobia in the black community and womanist movement. This reading strongly resonated with me because it was the first time that someone spoke to me on the issue of sexuality and ethnicity simultaneously, from a perspective that was akin to mine. At first I did not understand why she chose to comment about sexuality. To be quite honest, I did not really understand the title when I first looked at it. This speech specifically talked about intersectionality and once I began reading, I understood the importance of her speech. She is not a lesbian in this part of her life, a woman over there, and Black over here. It is a shared existence, a simultaneous reality, none of which can be separated from another because all of it is her. To deny any one part, would be to deny the whole thing.
The theme of denial is one that I can easily relate to. I am an open lesbian, but I engage in self closeting if not on a daily, then on a weekly basis to combat the effects that marking has on me. Audre Lorde said it best when she “[recognized] that some of the ways in which I identify myself make it difficult for you to hear me” (25). The fact is, if I am about to engage in a particular social situation, especially one relating to something of intellectual importance, I will self closet myself. I will not necessarily hide being a lesbian, but I do not disclose, and I try to ignore it for fear of being judged on my sexual identification alone. If I’m in a group and I happen to say something that is a bit nonconformist, but none the less rational, and people know I am a lesbian, they tend to write off what I just said. The notion is that since I am a lesbian, I am weird and radical in the first place, so my unorthodox views are not a result of logical thinking or intellect, but a result of being abnormal. I also get the opposite of being totally overlooked when I decide to disclose. The wide variety of unpleasant experiences that arise when I disclose that I am a lesbian make me feel weird. I don't feel as if I wish to remove the marking, or become straight, I just wish the circumstances I'm in and the way people react would change.
These multiple identities that I possess allow me to understand the feminist theory of intersectionality. I live with multiple identities because of the social interactions and power structures that are apparent in my life. I have experienced both privilege and oppression at the same time. I have come to understand that no one is exempt from this idea of “intersectionality”. Our identities have come to expose the disadvantages that we must incur as a result of who we are. But, the culmination of my identities, such as my gender and race, affects not only the type of individual that I perceive myself to be, it also gives me a unique perspective on the people that I come into contact with on a everyday basis, including my partner on this assignment.
Working with Tania on this paper has been an eye-opening experience. To be honest, I probably would have never had the opportunity to interact with Tania had it not been for this assignment. I have never really thought about Women’s Studies in a way that goes beyond the classroom. If anything, I have always seen this class as a means to achieve a credit. I never thought I would ever learn anything that I didn’t already know. But, I have already learned so much more. Just being able to read Tania’s free-writes and talk to her about the assignment, I have learned more about her and myself.
The experience of taking this Women's Studies class has left an undeniable mark on me. This class and the experiences have taught me so much more about myself and others. It has taught me about the politics of the world I live in and has helped me to understand a bit more about my place in it. This class has taught me not only about my own experiences, but a lot the experiences of others and has led me to think about these things in a critical manner.
This collaborative project with my partner Jessica has led me to a better understanding of how the person is political and how systems of power dominate every aspect of our lives. Even though we are alike in many ways, we are still very unique and have different life experiences to represent this. Though we are different, these differences are not about separateness between oppressed people. We are all still connected, just at different levels and to varying extents.
I think in college, it is so easy to stick to one social circle. As human beings, we have a natural inclination to cling to other people so that we can obtain a sense of belonging. It is so easy for us to notice the differences among each other, rather than to embrace the similarities. I remember last week, we did an activity in Women’s Studies discussion that really left an impression on me. We were standing, hand in hand, on McKeldin mall while Maren read a statement. Depending on whether or not the statement pertained to us, we would move a step forward or a step back. I was holding hands with Tania and it seemed like after every statement, we were moving farther and farther away from each other. Because we answered so differently to each question, it was harder and harder to hold on to each other. Having the time now to reflect on all of the assignments that I have completed in Women’s Studies, thus far, including the activity on McKeldin mall, I have been able to find meaning and significance in areas of this class that I didn’t recognize at first glance.
This experience of understanding the struggles of other people has led me to a better understanding of intersectionality within myself, and my interconnectedness with others. No person exists alone. All of our actions have some kind of influence on others and I have learned that being socially responsible depends on how you use your power as a person to influence others in the world.
Tania and I have had different experiences. Like Patricia Hill explained in her discussion of the matrix of domination, “…no two individuals occupy the same social space”. Although Tania and I may fall under the same categories, to say we are the exact same because we have been categorized together is an inaccurate assumption. Tania and I are both University of Maryland students and both students taking women’s studies, but are individual experiences have come to define us, not the broad categories that we are often associated with. Our differences in ethnicity, socio-economic background, and family history have contributed to our differences in marked and unmarked experiences. We have both had our own share of privileges and moments of oppression.
Last week, I had the opportunity to discuss with the Tania the conceptual map that we wanted to use to demonstrate the power that is located in both of our everyday lives. For us, the power structures that our part of our lives can be seen through our academic, social, and personal lives. We have both seen how our personal identities have factored into our individual views, which are both similar and different from one another. We have individually seen how oppression and privilege are interconnected together. Because of the similarities and differences we have found, we decided to use a conceptual map that incorporated ideas that both of us could agree upon. In the end, we came up with the idea of using a veil for our conceptual map. The veil is almost like a social filter. We only show others what we want them to see, but at the same time others see only what they want to see. It is in this way that there are differences that arise, leaving some people marked and some people unmarked. Thus, a false hierarchy is included, simply because someone is perceived to be more power-worthy than someone else, regardless if they actually are.
We decided to use the veil because it symbolized Du Bois' journey to self actualization. "Du Bois had to come to terms with his existence on a number of levels: first as a man, second as a black man, third as a member of a community, and fourth as an American…a home grown American existential struggle to find out Who am I? born out of a need somehow to understand one's self, one's country, and one's existence" (xxxiii, Du Bois). I think this passage from the introduction of the Souls Of Black Folk is an accurate reflection of the journey that this project has taken us on. This project has allowed us to come to terms with us on the many levels where we exist.
Regardless of what you look like or what kind of experiences that you may have had, there is no one who is immune to experiences of oppression. The reason why people are “marked” or “unmarked” is because we are different. As human beings, we fear the unknown. We fear what is different and unfamiliar to us. Our lives are based on the Matrix of Domination. Whether it is believable or not, our privileges are the effects of the oppression of others and others’ oppressions are the effects of the privileges of others. The relationship is akin to the popular song from Married With Children, "love and marriage love and marriage/go together like a horse and carriage/ this, I tell ya brother/ You can't have one without the other.”
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