Born Identity.....

This just in,

In yet another week of learning about leadership my class and I learned about identity, oppression, and privilege. These concepts break down into our society and though we may not even think for a second about these, they are there. What can you indentify yourself as? An athlete, cat or dog person, out doors, science, book worm, and so on? A common term is ascribed identity which according to our lecture: how others see you or what society may impose on you (this may or may not match with self identity). This concept plays into leadership by the simply fact of it showing others who you are as a person if you are the ‘head of the pack’. I’d like to identify myself as an athlete, conscientious, humble, outdoor person, studious, and the list can go on from there. I take pride in my identity because, and this is the same with all of you reading this, no one has the same identity as you. Though we may envy others from different aspects in this field, but regardless you are you and no one can change that.

Looking at oppression it can be simply stated as “disadvantages or barriers used subtly or by force to keep someone or group in a particular place in society”. Its target is those who do not have a privilege or social power. This social aspect is constructed upon institutions and systems in which this is formed by people and persists beyond the everyday that shapes how people live, grow, and learn, and keeps a community going. Systems within institutions include sexism, racism, ableism, heterosexism, classism, etc…Some of the effects of oppression and in relation to privilege can by categorized by:

 Family
 Societal Norms
 Crime
 Geography
 Media
 Health
 Business
 Government
 Education

Within an article we read the author explained how people of color fit into all of these very categories yet today we feel as though this doesn’t exist. IT does, and soon maybe we will all come to realize this. Everyone is oppressed but some more than others. I feel, myself, is oppressed considering I do not come from an upper- middle class family. I am still blessed nonetheless for being alive, but working harder than those with money ‘always’ in their pockets is a must.

Turning to privilege, this concept grabbed my attention because I have never thought of it this way before. Coming from a different view point privilege is inherent in dominant groups in society. If you are in a dominant group, you get privilege whether you want it or not. If you appear to be in a dominant group (passing), you get some privilege associated with that group. Though having privilege doesn’t make you a bad person. Take for example right handed people; if you walk into a classroom what type of handed scissors are readily available? I personally feel privileged being able to even walk! Or where does the left handed person always have to sit when eating with other friends? It is examples like these that make those feel a little more ‘special’ about themselves.