The book Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire is an eye-opening experience. It explains the relationship between the oppressed and their oppressors. As well as examining the characteristics and principles of both parties. In the book, it lays out some themes/ elements that can be applied or reflected upon in your own life. The term that really spoke to me was self- depreciation.
Self-depreciation is another characteristic of the oppressed, which derives from their internalization of the opinion the oppressors hold of them. So often do they hear that they are good for nothing, know nothing and are incapable of learning anything — that they are sick, lazy, and unproductive — that in the end they become convinced of their own unfitness (63). …show more content…
Branch Academy my Sophomore year of High School; It was then that I started attending Del Mar College in the field of Criminal Justice. I was ecstatic to finally have the chance to learn things related to the career I wanted. I was thrilled that I was finally going to be in an environment filled with individuals that had the same passion as me. The night before the first day of class I prepared myself both mentally and physically. I had bought all new pens and a fresh new notebook for the special occasion. I even stood in front of the mirror and practiced how I would introduce myself to my new peers in order to achieve, at least in my head, a maximum opportunity of making friends. Now fast forward, and I’m standing in front of the Criminal Justice building on West campus, for the first day of class. As I walked in I had all of the pre-class jitters. I had waited for this day, the day where I would be in a room with like-minded individuals, the day that would essentially start the rest of my life in the career field that I love. As I approached the room a mixture of nerves and excitement filled my body from head to toe. When I walked into the room I saw a very nice older man sitting at the front of the class, who I presumed was my professor. Then I turned to look at my new classmates, and all I saw was a sea of white …show more content…
Sure enough, though, my professor called my name and told me to take a seat. It was sort of like an out of body experience as I walked to an available seat in the back. For the first time in my life, I felt all of my minority traits all at once. I felt like an animal at the zoo, with everybody watching my every move. I remember a group of boys saying things under their breath like “a girl can’t handcuff properly”, “girls can’t do the protecting like a man can”, “this is a man’s field”. I walked out of that class hoping to never go back again. I did go back though, and I kept going back even though I didn’t want to. Some days went by with just some harsh looks and under the breath comments, all of which hit my self-esteem like a bulldozer. As the days went on I started to actually believe the things they were saying. I questioned whether I made the right career choice. I felt defeated because in my head there was nothing that I could do to change their beliefs. In their minds I was a woman in a “Man's field” and I had no business being there, and the sad part was that I was actually starting to believe
Self-depreciation is another characteristic of the oppressed, which derives from their internalization of the opinion the oppressors hold of them. So often do they hear that they are good for nothing, know nothing and are incapable of learning anything — that they are sick, lazy, and unproductive — that in the end they become convinced of their own unfitness (63). …show more content…
Branch Academy my Sophomore year of High School; It was then that I started attending Del Mar College in the field of Criminal Justice. I was ecstatic to finally have the chance to learn things related to the career I wanted. I was thrilled that I was finally going to be in an environment filled with individuals that had the same passion as me. The night before the first day of class I prepared myself both mentally and physically. I had bought all new pens and a fresh new notebook for the special occasion. I even stood in front of the mirror and practiced how I would introduce myself to my new peers in order to achieve, at least in my head, a maximum opportunity of making friends. Now fast forward, and I’m standing in front of the Criminal Justice building on West campus, for the first day of class. As I walked in I had all of the pre-class jitters. I had waited for this day, the day where I would be in a room with like-minded individuals, the day that would essentially start the rest of my life in the career field that I love. As I approached the room a mixture of nerves and excitement filled my body from head to toe. When I walked into the room I saw a very nice older man sitting at the front of the class, who I presumed was my professor. Then I turned to look at my new classmates, and all I saw was a sea of white …show more content…
Sure enough, though, my professor called my name and told me to take a seat. It was sort of like an out of body experience as I walked to an available seat in the back. For the first time in my life, I felt all of my minority traits all at once. I felt like an animal at the zoo, with everybody watching my every move. I remember a group of boys saying things under their breath like “a girl can’t handcuff properly”, “girls can’t do the protecting like a man can”, “this is a man’s field”. I walked out of that class hoping to never go back again. I did go back though, and I kept going back even though I didn’t want to. Some days went by with just some harsh looks and under the breath comments, all of which hit my self-esteem like a bulldozer. As the days went on I started to actually believe the things they were saying. I questioned whether I made the right career choice. I felt defeated because in my head there was nothing that I could do to change their beliefs. In their minds I was a woman in a “Man's field” and I had no business being there, and the sad part was that I was actually starting to believe