The concept of privilege in society was only made aware to me in recent years, as I have noticed the way I live compared to others. Over the years, I have taken my time to further reflect on who I am. I would say that a lot has happened in the past years, and my social identities have evolved as well as my understanding has become more complex.
I always ask myself, “ who am I?” and “Where do I fit?”. My power and privilege began with my own experience as a Hispanic person who has experienced the unfairness given to Hispanic and Latino people.
I am often placed in a position where speaking my native language wasn’t safe for me to speak outside my home because other people would not approve off it. However, I have the privile
...ge of looking white, or in other words, be among the lighter skin as well as having colored eyes. I realized that this privilege has allowed me to be accepted and easily adapt to the dominant culture. I have also been privilege of having an education and learning how to speak “properly.”
Although there is much of my culture that I have lost to be able to be where I am today, my education, as well as my family effort, has moved us from my status as a child growing up in a poor neighborhood to a middle class living a couple of minutes from the city and surrounded by great resources.
I am privileged for having a family that had the choice of selecting a good and safe neighborhood and the right school for my siblings and me to attend
and receive a higher education to have a better chance in life.
I am privilege of being capable to attend University and not having to worry much about how to pay for it because I know my parents will always make sure I have everything I need to finish my education. I remember the humiliation I felt as a child not wanting to invite friends over because of where I lived, as well embarrassed of people knowing that my parents used food stamps and what others will think of me for buying the low-cost brands.
Today, I know what is like spending an equal amount of a family’s weekly and even monthly grocery budget on one meal. I also know what is like spending money to go out on vacation with my family in which other families would save that money to pay rent or even for an emergency. I realized that my privilege has put me above other Hispanic and Latino who arent so much accepted by the dominant society.
Thinking about how these sources influence the way I engage with client systems made me realized that I can provide more guidance into helping with their problems. With my experience and the resources I have accumulated over the years by my own experience I would guide the clinet into a better and healthier path in which they feel comfortable and serve as a guide to help them succeed.
