Question

In what ways have you encountered power, privilege, and oppression in your own life?

Answer 1

I am a female. Born and brought up in a conservative and traditional Indian family means a family that follows patriarchy to its core. Both my parents had a good career during their lifetime, and as a child I have often observed that what my father said was done in the family. My mother did all the chores at home and took every care of us while working as a high school math teacher. I have seen the male power here, their privilege here, and oppression as being a woman my mother was experiencing. My father had the power as a patriach of the family to decide for his family, and his children. He had the privilege to be free from house hold chores and taken care of and to be the first priority in my mother's life. While my mother worked all day hard at her workplace and then in her home, she gave her opinions in family matters but never had the right to take final decision. She faced the oppression by being in second position just because she was a woman.