Mindy Chin, Period 8, 2/16/22

Mindy Chin

Pd. 8

2/16/22

Modern Mythology 2022

Socio-Political Consciousness

1. What are your thoughts and feelings about issues of inequity, oppression, and/or power?

Issues of inequity, oppression, and power are prevalent in our everyday lives - it is something that cannot be avoided in the imperfect society we live in. Just last week the Russian figure skating star - Kamila Valieva - tested positive for a banned substance, trimetazidine. As a 15-year-old, Kamila faced immense backlash from all the media posts and news stories that oftentimes contain false information. While her test was positive, it raises the question of the authorities in power (ex: coaches, medical team, etc.) that caused it to happen. Valieva is no perpetrator - in fact, many Russian athletes are forced to cheat due to Russia’s state-sponsored system. It is not known whether Valieva took the drug intentionally or unintentionally - whatever the case may be, the adults responsible should bear full responsibility, not Valieva who simply listened to them. The World Anti-Doping Agency, the International Olympic Committee, and the world governing body are the ones who collectively decide her Olympic fate - but this scandal has unfortunately tarnished her once-promising and bright career all due to the authorities who she should have been able to trust as a minor. 

2. How do you reflect critically on your own beliefs, assumptions, values, and experiences, and how these can influence your perception of self and others?

To me, critical reflection is vital in developing a more global and diversified perspective. Having a high degree of self-awareness brings conciliation to the workplace, classroom, etc. especially in a world dominated by racism, the Covid-19 pandemic, and climate change. Being aware of my privileged background makes me become more cognizant of others’ backgrounds which I may not be informed about. By sharing my background with my closest friends, classmates, members of society, I can develop a better understanding of the world and gauge what is right from what is wrong. From there, I can craft a more developed persona containing my beliefs, assumptions, values, and experiences that make up who I am and what I value. Some questions I may consider are: What effect did this conversation have on my understanding of X and my current beliefs? Were my prior assumptions confirmed or refuted? What changes can I make to my new perspective of X? Conclusively, I can identify and examine my biases, determine the core of these ideas, and form new ones to fit my new inclusive viewpoint of myself and others. With this knowledge, I can become more perceptive of the thoughts I have and the actions I will take going forward.