Title: How is Race, Class and Gender Interconnected In Understanding Oppression? – CUNY Leadership Fellows
Headings: How is Race, Class and Gender Interconnected In Understanding Oppression?
How is Race, Class and Gender Interconnected In Understanding Oppression?
Content: When Collins mentions that ideologies like “America is a land of equal opportunity,” are often used to conceal institutional dimensions of oppression. We are taught from a young age, that if we work hard, we can achieve the American dream. However, that is not the case because oppression happens to us by institutions, symbolism, or by individuals. We see that “Asian-American women, Native American women, White men, African-American women and other groups on distinct traditional niches with varying degrees of penalty and privilege” (1993:137). I agree with Collins, sometimes our own identity can either provide opportunities that help us succeed and sometimes it hinders our success. Here is an example from my life, when I was high school, I qualified for a scholarship who is first generation American but I was not qualified for the scholarship of being of African American or Native American descent. Universal gender symbolism is how masculinity and femininity are perceived. Symbolic images of race, class and gender-specific are certain stereotypes are reinforced through having the power to constantly bombard that image. An example is Fox News regard Muslims as “the enemy” or “all terrorists who are a threat to our national security.” Collins shows a list on page 138 of masculine and feminine characteristics that most people would characterize male and female.