The Personal Side of Oppression

The memory that I have of oppression is experiencing how my mother sacraficed to provide a better life for her children. She struggled not by choice, but because she was not priviliged at all. She worked several jobs to break the cycle of poverty that she experienced as she raised her children in a low income envrironment. She was able to overcome this oppression because of her will power and ability to avoid the self-hate that often follows oppression. I believe that in this situation equity was diminished because as a child she did not have the same experiences as others because she grew up in poverty. She did not have an equal opportunity for education and she was also a teen mother. This incident brought feelings of sadness to me, but it also made me realize that I would have to work hard to have a better life. I know that nothing will be handed to me and knowing this has allowed me to work hard to earn the things that I desire. Because of my mother's experience I believe that she has turned her past situation into something positive and has influenced her children and grandchildren  to work hard. She also pursued her education and maintained great work ethics throughout her life.