As reading Alan Johnsons's Intro to Privilege, Power, and Difference I began to take a look and reflect upon my own life when it comes to sexism, privilege, and power. These today as mentioned are all topics that everyone is afraid to speak about even though we live them day to day. As I read Johnson touched upon sexism and it led to think about life as a woman. Like all of you I go to school at Rhode Island College and before the semester began my dad and I did a drive through RIC where he showed me where it was safe to park and to always have my keys out and ready. I began to think I know he wants me to be safe and I am the oldest so all of this is new to my family but I also wondered will he d the same for my brother? Last Thursday as I sat in the RIC parking lot waiting to go into my night class I received a phone call from my dad reminding me to park under a light, have my keys out ready, check the back sear, and to have my pepper spry. Again will he do this with my brother popped into my head? I know we all sometimes don't even realize we do these things I don't consider my dad to be sexist just concerned for his daughters safety. I think If this wasn't something our society normalized then maybe woman wouldn't feel the need to preform these actions when walking alone at night. One of the biggest aspects or idea that I have taken away from this reading would be the use of the diversity wheel just as Johnson did I sat and thought of my differences. Im female, European white descent, middle class, daughter, sister, college student, and Greek Orthodox Christian. This exercise has made me realize that it does not speak about my individuality but it does speak upon my social status where I lay as a human in society. As I look over my responses I would say that Im privileged young adult living in todays world. For myself I think this concept is all about realizing and putting your own life and status into a much more bigger perspective.
As I read I felt as if though I really began to reflect. Take a look into my own life and where I lay in this world. I began to look at a bigger picture how we as a society do tip toe around speaking about where we lay or where we come from or stand on this universe. Once we do realize that maybe that person is not like us we begin to form ideas about that person and no thats not something we do by accident I think we all tend todo this as routinely because this idea has become so normalized in our society.
Comments: A tap on the glass I think is something we need to normalize much more in our society because the power and privilege is something thats very impactful in life.
I have had my dad tell me same thing when I was leaving the house to go to school.
ReplyDeleteI Like how they shared their own experiences to relate it to the reading like the author did throughout the story
ReplyDeleteA student last semester in my math class was followed home from campus and there was a zip tie attached to her car and since then I attached my pepper spray to my keys again.
ReplyDeleteI liked how you used a personal experience and tied it in with the reading.
ReplyDeleteI liked how you put your own personal life and perspectives into your response.
ReplyDeleteI like how you realized the reading was not talking about you directly but in fact your social status. A lot of people do not take this approach and take it as a personal attack.
ReplyDeleteLove how you see these differences. Yes.
DeleteI really liked how you used your own personal experiences and ties them with the reading
ReplyDeleteI also wrote about going to my night class last semester. My parents also used to remind of these things too and to have my keys ready etc.
ReplyDeleteI liked how you correlated the reading with your experiences of gender inequality. My mom also told me the protocols of what do if I a zip tie was attached my car and to always have my keys with me at all times too when I am at the gas station.
ReplyDeleteLove these personal reflections (about gender, power, and the diversity wheel) that stay closely connected to Johnson and his main ideas. Great job.
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