andrea de leon photo elicitation project

Running head: PHOTO ELICITATION PROJECT PART 2 1

Photo Elicitation Project Part 2

Andrea De Leon

Loyola University Chicago

PHOTO ELICITATION PROJECT PART 2

Social Justice

2


This is a photo

of a sign posted in a car on the Red Line train. When I thought to take a photo of the sign, it was

because I felt that it demonstrated advocacy for those who suffer from disabilities and/or limited

mobility. I understand social justice as actions taken to create a society in which all members

have equal opportunities to live and exist in a fair and just way. This sign is advocating for

social justice. It is asking privileged (able-bodied) members of society to allow oppressed

(disabled and/or elderly) members of society to have equal access to seating on the train. The

sign displays an effort to create a socially just society.

_____________________________________________________________________________

I decided to keep this photo because I still think that it is a good representation of social justice.

In class, we talked about acts of advocacy and the things that are done to promote social justice

in our society. I think that signs like this one are important because they are subtle reminders

3


that we need to think about other identities and the steps that we can take to ensure that all

members of our society are given equal opportunities to exist in a fair and just way.

Over the course of the last few months, I have learned that one of the best representations of

social justice is someone who educates others about social justice. Vijay spoke to us early on in

the semester, and the impact that he made has not gone away. I learned a lot from him, and he

helped me realize that I have the power to be a representation of social justice myself. Through

his work at DePaul, his personal consulting, and his blog, Vijay does an excellent job of not just

educating others about social justice, but living social justice himself. He gives professional

presentations, writes about it on his blog, and even talks about social justice over coffee with

colleagues and friends. I really do think that he is a great representation of social justice, and he

has inspired me to be something similar.

4


This is a picture of the door to a local business located near Loyola’s Lake Shore Campus.

When walking past, the blue and yellow sticker caught my eye. This sticker is the official

symbol of the Human Rights Campaign, which is a civil rights organization that advocates for

members of the LGBT community. This photo represents a local business that supports the

efforts made to ensure equal opportunities for members of an oppressed group. The owners of

this business are happy to display their belief that society ought to be just, and their act of

displaying the sticker is an effort to show support for members of the oppressed group.

______________________________________________________________________________

I decided to keep this photo because I still believe that it is a great representation of social

justice. The Human Rights Campaign logo is widely recognized, and makes people think of

5


social justice. Anytime I see the equal sign, I think of the work that is being done to reach a

socially just society.

Oppression

6


I took a special trip to The Wieners

Circle just so that I could take this photo. I understand that what happens at this establishment

started as a playful way to engage customers, but what it has developed into is in no way, shape,

or form acceptable. It is hurtful, cruel, and a clear picture of what oppression in our society

looks like. What hurts the most is that many people do not see the honest pain behind what

happens here. So many people still think that it is a joke and that it can continue because it is

fun. It is not fun. It is not a joke. It is serious, deep, rooted oppression and it needs to stop. The

employees here are victimized on a regular basis and no one tries to do anything about it. If you

have not yet noticed, this really fires me up. I do not know what I can or want to do about it, but

I do know that I cannot live in the city of Chicago and do nothing.

7


I remembered seeing this sign posted at a restaurant a few weeks ago, and decided to return just

so that I could take a photo of it. This sign means oppression because it is blatantly

discriminating against a certain population. Those who do not have the means or ability to wear

“proper attire” will not be served in this restaurant. In this case, “proper attire” likely means

business casual, or dressy casual. There are many members of our society who do not have

access to “proper attire,” which means that they are automatically turned away from dining in

this establishment. This sign clearly demonstrates an act of oppression.

______________________________________________________________________________

I really liked this photo when I took it for the first part of this project, and I still think it applies

well, even after having learned more about oppression through this course. In class, we talked a

lot about microaggressions and covert acts of oppression. I think that this sign is a great example

of both, as it sends a subtle message that not all people in society have an equal and fair

opportunity to be served as this establishment.

8


As I was walking to the bus stop after taking a picture of The Wieners Circle, I passed this and

actually did a double take because I initially thought that it was a real person. After walking a

few feet past it, I turned around to take a photo because it so clearly spoke “oppression” to me. I

do not have any information about this sculpture or piece of art, but I do know that I saw it as a

human being, being chained to the ground and unable to move forward. As I learned more about

oppression in this course, I began to understand it as a deeply rooted problem that makes people

feel stuck, and hopeless. I think that this sculpture is an excellent representation of what

oppression in our society not only looks like, but also feels like for those who experience it.

9


Privilege

10


My keys speak to

the concept of “privilege” in more than one way. First of all, my Loyola student ID represents

the reality that I am a graduate student, which I consider to be a privilege. Secondly, there are

several keys that represent the privilege that I experience on a daily basis. One of the keys is to

my apartment, which means that I have a safe and comfortable place to live. The other keys

represent the reality that I have a job, as each one provides access to a different office in my

place of employment. There is also a car key on the ring. Having a car is a privilege that I

recognize every time that I drive it, especially now that I live in a city. Having a means of

transportation allows me to access things that many other members of society cannot. It is

amazing how much I can see my privilege just by looking at my keys.

______________________________________________________________________________

11


I decided to keep this photo because this course helped me to see more of my own privilege, and

I think that this photo is an excellent representation of my understanding of that privilege. I still

have the same keys, and experience the same privilege today as I did in September.

The ability to freely have access to a public restroom that meets my needs is a privilege that I

never once considered until this course. It amazes me how much I have taken something like

this for granted. What I have learned is that not having to think about whether or not a restroom

is available and suitable for me is a huge privilege that many others do not get to experience. I

think it is safe to say that many others do not realize the power of this privilege, as we are not

forced to think about it on a regular basis. For those who do not experience such opportunity,

12


though, I imagine that daily life is much more difficult. I gained a lot of perspective from

learning about this privilege that I have.

During one of the class activities that we did this semester, I realized just how much of a

privilege it is to have access to, or be in possession of books. I grew up with very few books in

my household, and it makes sense considering the reality that neither of my parents are college

educated. I decided to take a photo of some of the books that I currently own, at age 22. I am

still so young, yet I already own more books than my parents did when they were 35-years-old. I

imagine that my book collection will continue to grow as I continue to pursue further education.

It is my hope that they continue to serve as a constant reminder of just how privileged I am to

have received the education that I have.

13


When I began this course, I thought that I had a pretty firm understanding of what social

justice, oppression, and privilege meant. I was fortunate enough to take a very similar course as

an undergraduate, and I think that it prepared me well for what I experienced throughout this

class. However, there is no denying that I have learned a lot in the last few months, and my eyes

have been opened to the deeply rooted issues in our society. I have gained a better understanding

of what each of these concepts actually mean, and I am hopeful that this new understanding will

help me to become a better student affairs professional, a better educator, and ultimately, a better

citizen of our global society.

When I took my social justice photos for the first part of the Photo Elicitation project, I

focused on an understanding of social justice as a large movement. Just a few months ago, I saw

social justice as large groups of people coming together to create positive change for human

kind. I thought that social justice was represented by official organizations that had logos and

taglines, and that created campaigns and events that worked to raise awareness for various social

justice issues. I saw social justice as official signs and stickers, news stories and headlines. I do

not think that my initial understanding of social justice was wrong. In fact, I think that much of

it is still true. However, this class has helped me realize that social justice goes beyond that.

Social justice does not have to be limited to the actions of large and organized groups of people.

I have learned that social justice can be the actions and work of one single person, one ordinary

person. When we watched the “Shopping While Black” video, I was quickly reminded that acts

of social justice can occur in everyday settings, and that they can be practiced by anyone. When

14


Vijay Pendakur spoke to our class, it became very clear to me that his daily work was a mirror

for social justice. Within the last week, I have realized that anyone who has the will and

knowledge can represent social justice. An passage from Teachings for Diversity and Social

Justice says, “Social justice involves social actors who have a sense of their own agency as well

as a sense of social responsibility toward and with others, their society, and the broader world in

which we live” (Adams, Bell, & Griffin, 2007, p. 1). This course has helped me understand that

members of our society who choose to be social actors are perfect models of social justice and

what it means. I have learned that I do not need an official logo or tagline to work toward social

justice. I can simply be someone who decides to embrace the social responsibility that I have

and become an agent for myself and for others. So, while I did decide to keep two of the same

photos for the second part of the Photo Elicitation project, I very intentionally included a photo

of Vijay’s website. Ultimately, official organizations and large groups of people who work

toward social change are great examples of what social justice is. However, what often goes

unnoticed and unrealized is that ordinary individuals who are passionate about creating a better

society can serve as even more accurate representations of what social justice really is. All it

takes is a human with a heart and a dream. This course most definitely helped me to see that.

The photos that I used to represent oppression for the first part of the Photo Elicitation

project were certainly useful, but after having gained more knowledge throughout this course, I

felt that it was necessary to take some new ones. While I did keep one of them the same, the

new photos send a message that I was not aware of a few months ago. This course has taught me

two very important things about oppression. The first is that it can be incredibly painful for

those who experience it, and that it can often feel like a trap that leads to a state of hopelessness.

Secondly, oppression is deeply, deeply rooted in our society, and it cannot and will not be fixed

15


overnight. The video that we watched about The Wieners Circle will never fade from my

memory. It so clearly depicts the reality of a severely embedded problem in our society. I knew

that I could not do this project without including a photo of it. The painful reality is that when

most Chicagoans take a look at the photo that I took, they will likely have thoughts of The

Wieners Circle being a fun place to go. They may have memories of “hilarious” experiences

there, or maybe have heard about how “great” it is. What hurts is that most Chicagoans will not

look at that photo and see oppression. That is the root of the problem. Members of the

privileged groups do not see the oppression that is happening. Those who feel it, however, feel it

on a very personal level. An excerpt from On Psychological Oppression says, “To be

psychologically oppressed is to be weighed down in your mind; it is to have a harsh dominion

exercised over your self-esteem” (Bartky, 1979, p. 24). The women who work at The Wieners

Circle experience psychological oppression on a regular basis. While the oppressors see the

name-calling as a humorous game, the women behind the counter are internalizing the

stereotypes, and are psychologically damaged by the words. The photo of The Wieners Circle is

a perfect example of what oppression means, and the reality of the painful impact that it has on

members of our society. It exemplifies the truth that oppression is deeply rooted in our society,

and that it is incredibly painful and harmful to those who experience it.

The photo of the sculpture was taken as I was walking away from The Wieners Circle. I

was not looking for that sculpture, but it found me. I think that it is a very powerful piece of art

that accurately communicates what oppression feels like to those who are oppressed. This

course has taught me that oppression can lead to a feeling of defeat and utter hopelessness for

those who are oppressed. I imagine that this sculpture exemplifies what members of the

oppressed groups often feel like. They feel trapped, chained down, held back, and powerless,

16


just like the person in the sculpture. I have learned, though, that as long as the oppressed allow

themselves to be defeated, a system of oppression will be alive and well. Freire (2000) says,

”The oppressors, who oppress, exploit, and rape by virtue of their power, cannot find in this

power the strength to liberate either the oppressed or themselves. Only power that springs from

the weakness of the oppressed will be sufficiently strong to free both” (p. 6). Through class

readings and discussion, I have learned that oppression is deeply rooted and painful, but that it

will not disappear until the oppressed stand up to fight it. While members of the oppressed

group feel powerless and helpless, the ability to change our society lies primarily in their hands.

It is good to have members of the privileged groups fight for them, but a battle will not be won

until the victims themselves fight back.

I have learned more about privilege than any other topic throughout this course. I have

been given opportunities to recognize my own privilege in ways that I never thought possible.

The photos that I took the first time around were relatable and made sense, but I knew that I

would need to take new photos in order to fully explain what I have learned. The most salient

thing that I have learned is that privilege often goes unnoticed for those who have it. That is why

I decided to include photos that speak to the privilege that I have, but that I often do not notice. I

can speak for myself and say that before this course, I had never recognized my privilege to use a

public restroom with no concern as to whether or not my needs would be met. It amazes me how

something that seems so simple to me can cause so much pain, suffering, anxiety, and difficulty

for others. This has taught me that I should not take my privilege for granted, and that I need to

recognize and appreciate it while simultaneously working to ensure that others can experience it

as well. The photo of the books became an idea after a class activity that taught me that

something as simple as owning or having access to books can speak to the amount of privilege

17


that one has. I did not have many books growing up, but now that I have spent most of my life

becoming educated, I am starting to accumulate my own collection, which speaks volumes to the

amount of privilege that I experience on a daily basis. Ultimately, I have learned that I have a lot

of privilege and that I need to do a better job of recognizing it. I believe that privilege means

having the unequal ability and unequal access to experience one’s wants and needs. I know that

I have a lot of it in my life, and I am thankful for that. The process of realizing my privilege has

helped open my eyes to possibility of creating positive change because of the power and

privilege that I hold. Jan Arminio (2013) said it well in her chapter in Readings for Diversity

and Social Justice. “Knowing who I am means knowing the undesirable tendencies that I must

consciously avoid while increasing benevolent behavior” (p. 126). It is my hope that I will

continue to recognize my own privilege, and help others see theirs so that we can all continue to

fight for social justice.

I thought that I had a firm understanding of social justice, oppression, and privilege when

I began this course a few months ago. While my foundational knowledge was helpful, the last

few weeks have provided countless opportunities for me to dig past the surface level ideas and

fully digest what these terms truly mean. Additionally, I have been able to see how they apply

directly to my own life. Social justice, oppression, and privilege have become personal for me. I

have been challenged to think about them in the context of my experiences. I believe that when

something becomes personal for us, we are more inclined to become passionate about it. We are

more inclined to want to enact change because we realize that the change will affect us in some

way. This course helped me realize that oppression in our world is my problem, that privilege is

something that I have a lot of, and that social justice cannot be accomplished without someone

stepping up and taking a stand. I am hopeful for the future of our society, and I am confident

18


that because of what I have learned, I will be a positive contributor to the pursuit of social justice

for all.

References

Adams, M. J., Bell L. A., & Griffin P. (2007). Teaching for diversity and social justice (2nd ed.).

New York: Routledge.

Arminio, J. (2013). Waking up white: What it means to accept your legacy, for better and worse.

In M. Adams., W. J. Blumenfeld, R. Castañeda, H. W. Hackman, M. L. Peters, & X. Zúñiga

(Eds.), Readings for diversity and social justice (3rd ed.) (pp. 125-126). New York:

Routledge.

Bartky, S.L. (1979). On psychological oppression. In S. Bishop & M. Weinzweig (Eds.),

Philosophy and women (pp. 24-34). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Co.

Freire, P. (2000). Pedagogy of the oppressed (30th anniversary ed.) New York: Continuum

Books.

19

andrea de leon photo elicitation project

Documents

equal sign

photo elicitation project

equal opportunities

equal access

local business

oppressed group

human rights campaign

yellow sticker