Oppression Obsesson and Why We Must

A students mind goes through fickle times in school. Middle School is especially a hard time growing up. We all have differences and live uniquely but how do we address these differences. Individually is not an option, there is too many differences between us to cover justly cover them all. The author suggests four approaches to combat oppression in schools. The first two the author does not suggest but the second two seem to be a little more effective. The third approach I am a little more familiar with and happen to feel is the most effective. Learning about others in an overly structured way (like having an Asian Awareness day or a day about LGBT culture). This isn't natural or feasible. I like how the author says that having learning sessions like this might give students the belief that they understand all the facets or the intricacies of another culture from there own. The better option is to attack oppression and stereotypes as a whole. No one likes being stereotyped. This is something tangible that everyone can understand. When you then put it in perspective for them and make it real it means something more. I am fortunate enough to work for an employer who requires extensive diversity training every year. This year our speaker and facilitator was Jonathan Poullard, the Dean of Students at UC-Berkeley. An important exercise he had us do was to think deep down what groups we have trouble dealing with/understanding/sympathizing with. We wrote them down. Some people shared out loud. Some of the groups included were old people, white liberals, frat boys, Christians, Muslims, rich people, and fat people. Even though we as a society might afford certain privileges to rich white men that doesn't mean that being a rich white man doesn't come with unwanted baggage. The author talks about Asian people as being referred to as the model minority. Certainly being a model minority sounds like a positive thing but it is still baggage by which a person has to create their personality around. We can never stop stereotyping. It is human to create groups in our heads. Our brains would explode if we didn't. But if we are aware we do and are aware that we do so unfairly then we have possess the tools to look at people with a larger lens and see the person more as a video and less as a picture.