Humanities Learning and Reflection
This project taught me several important events about how power and privilege are apparent in society and how they can give people an advantage or disadvantage. Through the documentaries, reports, and articles, I learned how people can (and will) use their power or influence to help themselves, no matter how it effects others. Throughout history, there have always been people who hold more power or privilege in society, and they have the opportunity to choose how to use it. I learned that not everyone holds power and everyone is entitled to different privileges, but what matters most is the way that people use what they are given. Misuse of power can be incredibly destructive, and privilege can effect how people succeed (or don't succeed) in life.
Throughout "Power, Privilege, & the Purse", I learned about inequities in the U.S. and how people are effected by them daily. In class, we researched education and wealth inequality, the criminal justice system, and immigrant labor. I studied immigrant workers and minimum wage specifically and learned more about wage gaps and wealth inequality. I found that inequities are inevitable, but the best step in solving problems is to address them and encourage conversation. In nearly all of the research that I found, people stated that respectful discourse and recognition of societal issues was one of the best ways to begin solving them. If we continue to deny the issues that are present in our society such as racism, discrimination, and inequality, they will never truly be solved.
My perspective on the American Dream, privilege, and equality changed greatly during this project. I learned that the American Dream is different for everyone, and while some may consider it to be millions of dollars and influence, others see it as food on their table and financial stability. Additionally, I learned that everyone is entitled to some form of privilege, and there will always be people who are are more or less powerful and influential than others. People have proven that power and privilege can be used to help others, but it can also be used to tear them down and make them weak. True equality is impossible in our society, and we need different social classes in order to motivate people towards upward mobility, but if the country uses the resources that it has to give people access to more opportunities, the "American Dream", whatever it may be for any individual, will be possible.