The terms “power” and “privilege” are frequently heard in today’s social and political discourse, but what do these terms actually mean in the context of one’s social identity? Having power and privilege means that you have benefited from unearned advantages as a result of being a member of a particular dominant group in society. Each person has many social identities, some that may be part of dominant groups and others that may be part of non-dominant groups. Non-dominant groups are more likely to experience discrimination, disenfranchisement, and oppression.
One of the most important goals of developing cultural humility is to address power imbalances. In order to do so, you must first be aware of the power and privilege in your own life. Gaining this awareness is no easy task. When you acknowledge that you have power and privilege, you might feel defensive or experience anxiety, guilt, or disorientation about your sense of self. On the other hand, when you are reminded that you are a member of a non-dominant group, you may experience anger, sadness, or grief. Keep in mind that it is normal to experience these feelings and that acknowledging your own power and privilege (or lack thereof) is an important step in addressing social justice issues.
For this Journal, you will complete the Power Flower exercise, which will help you determine the degree to which your social identities afford you power and privilege. You will also consider how your level of power and privilege affects your perceptions, experiences, and decision-making processes.
Resources
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity. Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.
WEEKLY RESOURCES
To Prepare
· Review the Learning Resources on power and privilege.
· Review the “Power Flower” article and complete the Power Flower exercise. Reflect on how your social identities affect your level of power and privilege. Then, think about how your level of power and privilege affects how you perceive and experience the world and influences how you make decisions.
By Day 7
Submit a 2- to 3-page journal entry, along with your completed Power Flower diagram, that addresses the following:
· Identify your social identities. Explain how your social identities affect your level of power and privilege.
· Explain how your level of power and privilege affects how you perceive and experience the world. Use at least three specific examples to support your explanation.
· Explain how your level of power and privilege may have influenced your ethical decision-making in this week’s Discussion. Be specific.
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