Talking Points:
- Johnson states "The trouble around difference is really about privilege and power-the existence privilege and the lopsided distribution of power that keeps it going. The trouble is rooted in the legacy we have all inherited" (pg.15). It is up to us how we continue and move forward. This is a topic that is not talked about due to fear, and this is fear is what keeps people from addressing the issues head on. Ignoring what is in front of us can create a false reality says Johnson. The diversity wheel is a way Johnson was able to put this into perspective.
- Johnson also discusses oppression, the flip slide of privilege. For every person that is privileged, there are people who are oppressed. Oppression can result from social relationships which can be caused based off personal experiences. With this being said, someone can very much so be oppressed by society. Johnson said "As we saw earlier, people in privileged categories can certaintly feel bad in ways that can resemble oppression. Men for example can feel burdened by what they take to be their responsibility to provide for their families"(pg.40). Just because these men may feel oppressed does not mean they are oppressed. This is why the definition of oppression can be distorted.
- Privilege as a paradox is discussed stating "Individuals are the ones who experience privilege or the lack of it, but individuals aren't what is actually privileged. Instead, privilege is defined as in relation to a group or social category"(pg.34). With this being said, someone does not receive "race privilege" because of who they are, it is due to whiteness being privileged in this society. Johnson also discusses here how you can lose privilege. "When it comes privilege it does not matter who we really are. What matters is what people think we are, which is to say the social categories they put us in".
Argument Statement:
The author Alan G. Johnson in the text Privilege, Power, and Difference argues that difference is not the problem. We need to acknowledge that the longer we ignore privilege, the longer we promote a false illusion. Many of us are afraid of what we don't know or understand.
Connections:
The following text connects very closely to my work as a school nurse. When I see a large variety of students with complex medical needs, I need to keep in mind the access they might not have. In this case it is important not to jump to the conclusion that a family "does not care". They might not have access to basic needs. I can help provide resources like food, clothing, and even help point parents into the direction of certain primary care physicians.
Reflections:
After reading the article I can say I learned a lot and was able to reflect on my current practices. My current elementary school where I work is very diverse. This article helped me better understand how differences among students are often shaped by larger systems of privilege and power rather than individual choices. It showed me that I can go even above and beyond of what I am already doing for my students. It is important to note that there is always room for change and improvement to better my students.
Hi Veronica, I really like your personal connection in your work as a school nurse. It is enlightening to be able to first think that a family not does care before understanding what else may be going on, including having needs that privilege provides. I can relate to this during this past week when we came back to school after being closed for 2 days due to the snow storm. My student in my 9th Advisory asked me if I still had an extra dress down pass, as she couldn't be in the school uniform that day, since her (laundry) facility was closed due to not having power due to the snow storm. She was dressed in basic black and tan colors, just not in our school's uniform. I told her I will inform the Principal directly so she doesn't have to worry about it. The Principal got back to me thanking me for having grace with this student.This reminds me that not everyone may have access to their own washing machines which is a form of privilege.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciated reading about your work as a school nurse, and how this article made your reflect on your current practices. It's often so easy to make easy smack judgments or have rapid reactions to the actions or behaviors of students, and very hard to keep the larger causes of their behavior in mind.
ReplyDeleteHi Veronica!
ReplyDeleteOne thing that really caught my eye about one of your talking points was how you said that people don't talk about privilege and power imbalances because of fear. I don't think that I had thought about the situation like that, particularly because I was noticing Johnson trying to appeal to those in denial or feeling embarrassed by their privilege. I can absolutely see how someone in a tenuous position or a position of being oppressed might not want to speak up for fear that their position might get worse or that they might lose what little they had.
I really appreciate your connection about how you often see students who have situations that could be interpreted as their families "not caring," when the situation is often one of need and inability to access or provide resources. I often encounter that with students arriving late or missing school days because of issues with transportation access, which might otherwise be seen as a family "not caring," but has nothing to do with whether or not that child is cared about. It's really nice to see that you take the time and space to notice a potential need and provide for that student.
Hi Veronica,
ReplyDeleteI had a similar reflection on my own practices, except from the point of view of a middle school teacher rather than a school nurse. The differences that students experience are built from much larger systems and show up in the classroom. Students shouldn't fear these differences but should embrace them. This growing awareness makes me wonder what ways I can strive for change not just in my classroom but in the entire system. I'm still navigating how to balancing all my student needs while also advocating for change within the system.
These kind of connections to your work are so important. I hope the things we read keep pushing you to reflect like this.
ReplyDelete