Stafford- Reflection

As a white woman I experience privilege and marginalization in different ways. Being white I have advantages that other people do not have, coupled with being Roman Catholic, I have representation in government, and in community buildings everywhere. I can see myself reflected in multiple people in every setting. Although my ethnicity often makes people ask what nationality I am, my lack of an accent has it's advantages. Being female I experience marginalization because when I was in elementary school and junior high school girls were told to select a job in the customer service industry, such as nurse, librarian, secretary, hairdresser or waitress. We were encouraged to take short hand and discouraged from taking advanced classes in math and science in school and our parents often felt like higher degrees were a waste because we would end up simply raising children. Public media and social idealization regularly repeated the same messaging. These direct and subliminal messages kept us in low paying jobs, reduced our access to freedoms that our male counterparts had and jeopardized our families stabilities.  
Today I use my classroom to help students of all identities make progress and see themselves as capable and worthy. I assist them with all subjects and connect them with mentors and social workers, I cheer them on in every capacity that I am able.