#blogpost3

Privilege can be a tricky subject to grasp, as I believe there are certain privileges that affect our lives in ways we often overlook. What I mean by privilege is something that gives you an advantage over others, whether you’re aware of it or not. I am aware I am very privileged, but it’s probable that I am even more so than I realize. There are many factors regarding my privilege that I may not even consider and therefore don’t fully realize just how lucky I really am. I’m aware of my privilege in the sense that I am a caucasian, English-speaking, Canadian citizen, who’s parents have assisted in paying for my post-secondary education twice (both college and university). Growing up middle-class in southern Ontario, these are all things I ignorantly assumed were the norm for everyone else around me (for the most part). Of course, I was aware of differences between people, but not until I was older did I considered how many more differences there truly were, and how these differences could be a disadvantage for others. Not being aware of certain disadvantages is in itself a privilege. I did not learn about them until I happened to come upon them or decided I wanted to learn more. Some people do not get the luxury of ignoring certain socioeconomic issues, but I had the privilege to ignore certain issues simply because I had not personally experienced them myself. 

The more I learn, the more I realize how complex privilege really is with a greater awareness of intersectionality. With this in mind, how might privilege play a role in nature interpretation? Well, I am further privileged by the opportunity to live in a National Park within Canada. When I first moved here, I assumed most people visiting the park were aware of information I considered “common sense”. Only after interacting with more people did I start to realize how even more privileged I was. Some visitors had never seen mountains, or wildlife, or rushing rivers. Knowing that fast flowing water and approaching wildlife is dangerous, is something I assumed everyone else was aware of, but that’s not true. Some people plan their whole lives to come and visit the park, some people have older relatives that never had the opportunity to visit when they were able, and will never get the chance to travel here. That further lead me to realize that not only am I privileged to be here, I am even more privileged to be knowledgeable of the local environment, and to be physically able to experience certain things or perform activities others cannot. For instance, I am physically fit to go on a long and steep hike, while someone who uses a wheelchair would not be able to go. Although there are trails here that are accessible, they are of course limited. 

Understanding the privileges I have in my “invisible backpack” and how they provide me an advantage is essential in interpreting information to others. My invisible backpack is “filled” with things such as being physically able, financial stable etc. and these “items” allow me to potentially have an advantage over others. When interpreting knowledge about wildlife for example, I need to understand that some people may have zero knowledge on the subject, as well as consider the physical abilities of those I teach if we go out into the park to explore. In addition, perhaps my audience will be accessing my nature content online. It’s vital to make sure the information I’m presenting is done with inclusivity in mind. I’ve noticed the advertised “lifestyle” for living in places such as the National Park I live in, is one that’s focused on people who are “fit” by society’s standards, mostly caucasian, young, able-bodied etc. Even the retail stores within my town are filled with advertisements that target one demographic, and outdoor equipment that is far from inexpensive. There is little representation, for example, for visible minorities, individuals with differing body sizes or abilities, or people of colour. I am fully aware I fit into this target demographic, and most things advertised and presented to me are made for people like me. I am intending to keep all of this in mind when sharing content and interpreting, as I believe it’s important everyone feels they have a place in nature and in the things that they’re passionate about. Relating back to my first blog post, I am hoping to help provide others with a “sense of place” within nature and all it has to offer, regardless of the differences we may have. Keeping in mind that not everyone is going to have the same experience even if we’re doing the same things. 

Identifying Assumptions 

One assumption that has impacted the way I interact with other family systems is that “children who live in a single parent home tend to have behavioral issues in school.” Another assumption that has impacted the way I interact with other family systems is, “children of parents who didn’t finish high school, won’t go to college.” 

Analyzing Assumptions 

The assumption that children who live in a single parent home tend to have behavioral issues surfaces in my system of thoughts, because I was a child who grew up living with one parent, and my father didn’t graduate high school. My mother and my father separated when I was just five years old. Growing up I was self-conscious about my living situation. I always heard in school children speaking about how they would go on family vacations with their parents. I on the other hand would only go on vacation with a parent; sometimes with my mom and sometimes with my dad, but never both. One thing I do know is that I never misbehaved in school: privately with my family yes, but never in school. Because, my father didn’t graduate high school or didn’t finish, there was also a fear of me not being smart or good enough to go to college. 

My system language was changed when my parents got separated, I could no longer say, “I live with my mommy and daddy” I can only say “I live with mommy”. I also believe that if my father did live with us, my Spanish speaking would be better, why? Because my father did speak only Spanish, and my mother spoke both languages. I would always talk to my mother in English. 

My family tried their best to help me with this transition. My grandma was there for my mom. My mother’s sister, my aunt was there to help us through this difficult transition. One thing my mother always taught was to not misbehave in school because if I did, I would get punished. I never liked getting punished, so listening and respecting my mother always prevented me from misbehaving in school. She would always tell me, “No one needed to know our business and that it stays with the family”. My aunt always encouraged my mother to take us to therapy, but my mom never wanted too. She was (I’m assuming) ashamed or afraid of going. Form the article MOVING BEYOND GENERALIZATIONS…by Philip M. Genty. It states, “We should instead be taking an individualized, qualitative approach that is more nuanced and is based on actual information about the families”. (p.37). We shouldn’t be making assumptions about what families go through because we don’t know all the details and information. I for one should have not listened to any assumptions about children who don’t go to college because a parent didn’t finish high school or didn’t go to college. I am happy my mom and dad were both there to encourage me to always finish school and get a degree. 

One deficit or non-culturally relevant thinking is evident in this assumption is that not all children who live with one parent misbehaves in school. Not all children who live with one parent is Hispanic or Black. This is culturally wrong, though the percentages may be high for these communities we also shouldn’t forget that there are other group systems that go through the same thing. Another deficit thinking is, the one parent who doesn’t live with the family is bad, or doesn’t have a good relationship with the child/children. Genty states, “In some cases, children and families will be best served by preserving a relationship with a parent who is serving a long sentence for a serious crime but who nonetheless has a strong, positive relationship with her/his children.” (p.43). I am also grateful for my parents to push me to go to college. But, at one point I felt a lot of pressure to do my best, that sometimes I would forget why I wanted to go to college. It wasn’t just all for my parents or to make them proud. It was also for me and to feel proud of myself, and that I was able to accomplish something. 

I don’t believe that this assumption would be difficult to create family school community partnerships. This is a good topic to speak about with families and children and make them feel that they are not alone in this life changing transition. “Only by discarding preconceptions and simplistic approaches, can we hope to provide appropriate services and support for children and families affected by parental incarceration.” (Gently, p.44). 

Candyman, Candyman, Candyman, Candyman, Candy… You know how the saying goes. Fortunately, I like my life, so that statement will be left incomplete. 5 simple words hold so much weight. 

The 1992 version was quite problematic, with its being written by white people, lacking the authenticity of a Black voice. However, the newer version has brought that Black authenticity to the screen, setting a new tone for what Candyman means. The central message of the new Candyman (2021) was that we will forever be our own protection, and we are not forgotten. Candyman never killed Black people, and I feel that was wildly symbolic. 

McLuhan and Ulmer share similar perspectives on how media impacts not only the world of communication, but thought as well. McLuhan is known for the infamous "the media is the message/massage" where he showed us that technology is an active force that reshapes society and how we perceive things. For McLuhan the new mediums that are created daily help reshape our human experiences. This means that radio, television, and social media whether we believe it or not change how we think, learn, and relate to one another. Ulmer who agrees with McLuhan for the most part, builds on his ideas about technology and shaped it towards the age of digital communication or as we know it social media. Ulmer develops electracy which for short can be described as literacy for the digital age. Ulmers work is geared towards how society can invent new forms of rhetoric and problem-solving that fit with digital media.

After watching the instructor's lecture and the Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma, I believe that while it can be easy to get caught up in the opportunities that Big Data and algorithms present, they are not always conducive to our advancement and can occasionally pose a threat to the security of the information we collect. Big data can be dangerous if it is wrongly collected, stored, or used. Big data hazards can be broadly categorized into four primary groups: security concerns, ethical concerns, deliberate abuse of big data by bad actors (such organized crime), and unintended usage. Additionally, storing data securely becomes more expensive and challenging the more data a company collects. It's essential to have robust safety precautions in place and to make sure they are current for any large data collector. The back-door safekeeping of many businesses is one area where mistakes are made. Front ends frequently have strong security, however backup data is frequently kept in less secure testing settings or backup and restoration systems. Even while we have laws to protect people's data, many businesses don't fully adhere to them. However, avoiding the existence of private information altogether is one of the best methods to stop a data breach.