Privilege, Uniqueness, and Oppression

The other day in class we talked a lot about privilege, of which we all have an inexorable amount. We read three poems and talked about how they relayed different ideas about privilege. One poem emphasized the privilege of being able to express yourself without consequence, another expressed sentiments of frustration toward over-privileged women and how they use that privilege to ignore the blaring existence of oppression and poverty; the third explored the experience of not having the privilege of being part of the status quo. Each female author was unique, which in all three instances, also meant each was oppressed. This brings up an interesting idea. Usually I associate uniqueness with something positive, and it often leads to privilege. For example, if you’re the start athlete of some sport and your unique abilities stand out ot a recruiter, you might get a full ride to a great school and be given all sorts of advantages like a free education, free sports gear, status, and opportunities, what I would consider privileges (albeit earned privileges). However uniqueness can also lead to oppression. For example, you may have tattoos all over your body, in what are considered unconventional places, that prevent you from getting the job you just applied for. Because I am not unique in relation to the status quo, and because I have faced little, if any, oppression as a female, it becomes clear why the first thing I associate uniqueness with is privilege and benefits. I’ve always been encouraged to find a way to stand out in the crowd so I’ll a) get into a good college, b)be more competitive for a job, c) catch the eye of someone’s attention, etc. I guess it’s easier not to think about how something that benefits you, could harm someone else.