Saturday, January 28, 2017

Check Your Privilege, Bro - Taylor Williams

Privilege is created by systems of inequality that oppress people who are outside of the idealized norms. White, straight, middle-class, attractive, young, males are considered the ideal norm. People outside of this description are considered lesser than those who fit it.  People of color and members of the lgbtqia+ community suffer the most from this in American society. Disabled and poor people are also targets for discrimination based on their status. Women are the biggest group of people who are harmed by this system, making up over half of the world population, it is strange to think about how little power they are given over their own bodies and lives. Oppressed groups are encouraged to fight among themselves to distract from the real enemy, this is called horizontal hostility. For example, women are encouraged to be cruel to each other based on their appearance or choice in partner so that they will not notice they are being oppressed by society overall. This makes them want to improve themselves while pushing other women down. Being "not like the other girls" becomes a goal for many as a way to stand out among their peers. Tomboys may be sought out by male partners because of the way they present themselves as being like men and therefore unlike "other" women. Intersectional feminism is important because it aims to push past the differences between women and work towards equity for all women everywhere. This is intended to be without erasure of individual identities such as race, sexuality, nationality, or disability.

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