Addressing Oppression: Using Privilege To Fight For Social Justice

According to Patricia Hill Collins, all identities are complex and all people have interlocking identities that are subjected to power. In order to fully understand the identities of others and of ourselves, we must pay special attention to all the different aspects of our being as well as the intersecting forms of oppression that we face. The different facets of our identity, together, help make us who we are.

Being a follower of the Jewish faith, having a strong connection to the land of Israel, and being a strong supporter of the Israel has, all my life, made me feel disadvantaged in American society. It has often made me feel oppressed, targeted, and unwelcome. Although I have often times been made to feel as though I am alone in my struggle against oppression in this society, I know that I am not. People are oppressed because of their race, class, sexual orientation, and even ability. People are oppressed because a certain part of their identity appears to be an anomaly to that of mainstream society.

While many people in our society face oppression, many do still have elements in their identity which give them privilege. When I was younger, I never gave much thought to each of the aspects of my identity. I knew that the fact that I was Jewish set me apart from others; however, I had not analyzed the other parts of my identity (race, class, gender, sexual orientation, and ability included). There are so many facets to each individual and, instead of appreciating that I came from a financially stable family, that I was straight, Caucasian, and fully able, I had only chosen to focus on the fact that I was different in a religious sense. I realized that although I may not have been privileged in my religious affiliation, I was privileged in other areas.

Often times, those who hold the most privilege in America tend to focus on maintaining their position in the social hierarchy, rather than using their power to help others and advocate for equality and social justice. While many might disagree, I strongly believe it to be the duty of all those who hold privilege in our society to help in this struggle against oppression. If those who hold power in our society stand idly by and choose not to take action to help those currently suffering in our country, who will decide to help? There is much inequality that still exists in our country today. If those in power were to use their high status and wealth for good and if those in power were to find a way to change the way we think about others through the creation of new educational curriculum, media reform, and institutional change, a more equal and happier world would result.

As a future educator, I intend to advocate for those less fortunate than I, and look forward to teaching my students to do the same.