Oppression

A women who frequently posts on feminspire is a heterosexual, middle class, woman. But she is also a person of color. She states, "I am sick of being told that I am not allowed to define if someone is being racist or sexist toward me. I, as being a woman of color who has consistently been treated differently or looked down upon, am allowed to define the oppression that I face. I have the ability to define whether or not something happened to me because of my race or gender, as opposed to just something happening to me. And people without certain privileges have those abilities too. Too many discussions in our world are dominated by the oppressor. Our conversations, the ones about how institutions block certain people from attaining privileges, should not be dominated by the institutions. They should be dominated by the people who experience these injustices themselves.

This might sound like common sense but it is not exacted in our communities or world."

Full article can be read below. http://feminspire.com/i-define-my-own-oppression/

How many of you are afraid to speak up about your oppression? Never let anyone tell your story, or their version of your story. Own your life, and take charge of how you believe you should be treated. Do not let society norms change who you are or who you want to be. Better yourself by being yourself.  Sojourner Truth spike to a gathering of feminists in 1851, "Ain't I a Women?" She was dealing with oppression from being a person of color, and also a woman.
I am 19 years old, and a victim of domestic violence. I am from a middle eastern household. I am completely broke. I am a heterosexual. I am a woman. I am a college student. I am a double major. I am the first of my parents, my brothers, and my cousins to go to a four year university. And I never let someone talk down to me. So many people can look down upon me because I am different. So many people have blamed me for the abuse I have gone through. And so many people have tried to tear me down. But speak your truth and fight to gain your power. No one is ever going to just hand it to you, and most will try to take it away from you. But you need to define yourself and let no one else define you.