Using sociological perspectives and terminology, students will discuss how their background (including, race/ethnicity, sex/gender, sexuality, social class, ability status, etc.) and experiences have shaped the way they view the world. Students should explain how their personal connections to systems of power and oppression influence their ability to understand and critically analyze contemporary social problems.
There are two parts to this assignment: All components must be completed for full credit.
Part 1: Your Story – Exploring Power, Privilege, and Oppression
In a written 2 to 2.5 page APA formatted paper, students are asked to explore their personal connections to systems of power and oppression, and how these connections influence their understanding and critical analysis of contemporary social issues.
Students should include the following within their paper:
Identification of Social Identities: Students should first identify 2-4 social identities that they consider significant to their lived experiences. These identities could include race, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, ability, religion, nationality, or others. These identities form the lens through which individuals navigate society and experience both privilege and oppression.
Connection to Systems of Power: Next, students should explain how their identified social identities intersect with larger systems of power in society. This involves recognizing the advantages (privileges) and challenges (oppressions) associated with each identity. To demonstrate these connections, students are encouraged to include personal experiences, feelings, and thoughts to support their explanations. Students should exercise their agency in determining which personal and real-life experiences they want to share.
For example, a student might talk about how their race affected how police treated them, showing how racial profiling and systemic racism are bigger problems.
Exploring Personal Perspectives: Think about how your own life experiences have influenced your views on social issues. Consider areas where you feel the most knowledgeable, passionate, or uncertain due to lack of awareness. In your response, explore how your background has shaped your perspectives, and identify any biases you may need to confront.
If you come from a privileged background, how might this affect your understanding of poverty and inequality?
If you have always had access to quality healthcare, how might this privilege influence your perception of healthcare disparities faced by marginalized communities?
If you grew up in a predominantly homogenous community, how might this lack of diversity impact your awareness of racial diversity and discrimination?
If you were born in a country where citizenship is easily obtained, how might this privilege affect your understanding of immigration policies and the experiences of undocumented immigrants? Reflect on how your citizenship status shapes your perspectives on issues of borders, migration, and belonging within society.
Think about how your sexual orientation or identity influences your understanding of LGBTQ+ rights and discrimination. Reflect on personal experiences of acceptance or prejudice based on your sexuality, and consider how these experiences inform your views on equality and LGBTQ+ advocacy.
For example:
Part 2: Application of Positionality to Art Form
After articulating their positionality in written form, students will be asked to demonstrate their positionality through an art form to be shared with the class. Creativity is highly encouraged. The final art form should be directly related to the written positionality paper in Part 1. Students should be prepared to share their art form with the rest of the class.
NOTE: Students can create a separate document or file for Part 2 and attach multiple files to the assignment submission. Or the images/text and the 1 paragraph description can be attached to the paper in Part 1.
1. Students are to select one of the following options to communicate their positionality include:
Music – Make a playlist of 8-10 songs. List the name of the song, artist, and released year for each song.
Paintings or sculptures – Take a picture or screenshot and attach the image for your submission.
Collages or Posters – Take a picture or screenshot and attach the image for your submission.
Literature – Poems, short story, etc.
Videos – Download your video onto YouTube and submit the link.
If you have an idea not listed, let me know.
2. Paragraph Description:
After creating an art form, students will write a 1 paragraph written response describing why they chose this art form and how it connects to their positionality.
Why did you choose a certain song? What part of your positionality does it speak to? Does it represent a social identity of yours? Explain.
Why did you include certain colors, textures, or imagery in your art form? What part of your positionality does it speak to? Does it represent a social identity of yours? Explain.
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APA 7 Formatting
Your citations should follow the APA 7 (American Psychological Association) formatting. You will receive credit as part of your assignment for following these instructions, and therefore any deviations will result in a deduction.
I recommend using:
Streefkerk, R. (2022, September 30). Beginner’s guide to APA in-text citation. Scribbr. https://www.scribbr.com/apa-style/in-text-citation/Links to an external site.
Streefkerk, R. (2024, January 17). APA format for academic papers and essays. Scribbr. https://www.scribbr.com/apa-style/format/Links to an external site.
