Swamped with your writing assignments? Take the weight off your shoulder!
Submit your assignment instructions
1.) Nigel Berry (BEHS220)
Identify one part of your identity where you may have privilege relative to others. How is your privilege demonstrated? Using terms from this week’s resources, why is it important to understand that you have privilege in this area?
Identify one part of your identity where you are at a disadvantage relative to others. How is your lack of privilege demonstrated? Using terms from this week’s resources, what does this reveal about our society?
Do you have equal privilege (or lack of privilege) in all situations? Why or why not?
Being an African American male in today’s society can have its pros and cons. While many may not see it this way one of the advantages of just being born the way that I was, is the ability to relate to any minority regardless or ethnicity. In today’s society there are still some individuals of the African American culture that don’t understand that we are not the only minority that deals with unfairness on a day-to-day basis. The privilege of this is shown by being the source of venting and reporting certain actions that put some minorities in an uncomfortable position.
The social identity that I possess as a young African American male make me compatible with all minority races.
On the other hand, my identity can present some disadvantages in comparison to others. For starters, I cannot undergo a routine traffic stop in the same manner as an American could. Although I have personally been into instances where I am pulled over and treated unfairly, I am still alive today to tell my story, unlike a ton of other African American males. There are still some individuals who are apart of law enforcement who still see African American males as monsters which can and does put me at a disadvantage in selected moments.
I believe I am trending more towards having equal privilege as opposed to unequal. I say that because although I have experienced instances in my past, I can say over the past 5 years or so I have actually been treated at a level that I would say is comparable to my Caucasian counterparts. ‘
https://openstax.org/books/college-success/pages/9-2-categories-of-diversity
2.) Chantyse Nickens (BEHS220)
For the purpose of this discussion, one privilege that I identified is my socioeconomic status. I am not rich by any means, but I acknowledge that I have some advantages that others may not have because of my socioeconomic status. I don’t worry about how my bills will get paid or where my next meal will come from. I also have extra income to give support to family members and causes that I may stand behind. This privilege is an earned strength. Privilege can be earned or unearned (McIntosh, 1990). I believe this privilege is earned because I don’t come from money. I grew up in a low-income household. My mother worked two and three jobs to keep our household afloat. As an adult, I worked hard to overcome some systematic barriers to be in the position I am in today. Because I don’t come from money, I am hypersensitive to the fact that this privilege can be taken away at any moment if my husband and I lose our jobs.
One area that I have a disadvantage is that I am a black woman. Being black has influenced my experience of being a woman (Kang, Lessard, Heston,2017). The intersection of race and gender has caused me to experience racism and sexism. I am at a disadvantage when I attend meetings at work and I am the only black woman in the room. I am at a disadvantage when I go to the doctors to express concerns about my health only to have it passively dismissed. There are many disadvantages I am up against as a black woman, but I don’t like to focus too much on them. I prefer to find ways to overcome them and to help put other black women in the position overcome them.
I don’t believe I have equal privileges in all situations. Even though I identified my socioeconomic status as an earned privilege, I still acknowledge that I have disadvantages compared to my white counterparts with the same socioeconomic status.
Kang, M., Lessard, D., & Heston, L. (2017). Intersectionality. Introduction to Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies. http://openbooks.library.umass.edu/introwgss/chapter/intersectionality/
McIntosh, P. (1990, Winter). White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack. Independent School, 49(2), 31-35. http://ezproxy.umgc.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f5h&AN=9604164115&site=eds-live&scope=site
3.) Cody Buckingham(PACE111B)
Hey everyone!
The area I want to talk about is planning. I think everyone has dealt with this one way or another. I find it really difficult now a days to sit down and really focus whether that’s because the TV, other people/plans or the worst of them all… your cell phone. Something that has really helped me and may help one of you is I’ve been going to restaurants and coffee shops to really get away from everything. Where the only thing I can do is get my work done. This was one of the strategies DAACS gave me! It was to find good study spots. So maybe if you guys have any issues with this try finding an area you can’t really focus on anything other than your work.
