I almost grew up with no privileges. For a year of my life I lacked the food that would have helped me grow strong, I shared a crib with three or more babies, and I lived in a building where large rodents would have been very common. For all I know, I may have been put up for adoption because of the sexist culture of China. When I was put up for adoption there were no records or reasoning for it, I was simply another baby in the orphanage. If I hadn’t been adopted I would have been left to struggle in the sexist culture of China where “female infanticide, domestic slavery, and sexual bondage were commonplace” (Spurling, 2011).
Instead, I was adopted one day before my first birthday and grew up with a much more privileged life than I would have had in China. I have had the privilege of living in Germany, Oregon, South Korea, and Japan. I have the privilege of having sufficient food, water, and shelter. I have the privilege of being an able-bodied young adult. But most importantly, I have had the privilege of gaining an education and having civil liberties that I wouldn’t have had in China.
My parents both work in education: my mother as a teacher and my father as a principal. Because they work in education they both know how important a good education is. I was privileged because I grew up being encouraged to learn more and keep an open mind. In order to stay focused on education while I grew up, I didn’t hold a steady job as many teenagers have. Instead of work I took several AP classes, was involved heavily in community service, and was involved in sports.
Although there are not many women in the inner circle of power in the U.S., there are at least some women. In China however, “there is no woman in the inner circle of power” (Tatlow, 2012). This is an example of how many more civil liberties I have in the U.S. compared to China. I have the right to vote, I am able to speak my mind about what I believe is right, and grew up feeling that I can do, say, or be anything that a guy can.
Unfortunately, there are instances in which I do not benefit. Although there are many more women’s rights in the U.S. than in China, there is still much progress to be made. Women are entering all kinds of careers, however, it is still unevenly distributed. For example, while there are women entering the engineering field, there are still not many women in mechanical, industrial, and manufacturing engineering (MIME), nor in civil, or construction management engineering (CCE). When divided into subsections of which engineering women are in, the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) provides information that shows that the average percentage of women in MIME and CCE is only 17.16% whereas the average percentage of women in chemical, biological, and environmental engineering (CBEE) is 37.1%.
People who don’t have the benefit of parents who so strongly encourage education most likely would think that I was spoiled. They may see me as a girl who simply gets what I want from my parents without having to work for it (as they may be having to do). On the other hand, children who are still in China, waiting to be adopted, would probably see my civil liberties as I do: as a privilege. Although there are many other privileges I don’t have, I am glad to have the privileges that I do.
Instead, I was adopted one day before my first birthday and grew up with a much more privileged life than I would have had in China. I have had the privilege of living in Germany, Oregon, South Korea, and Japan. I have the privilege of having sufficient food, water, and shelter. I have the privilege of being an able-bodied young adult. But most importantly, I have had the privilege of gaining an education and having civil liberties that I wouldn’t have had in China.
My parents both work in education: my mother as a teacher and my father as a principal. Because they work in education they both know how important a good education is. I was privileged because I grew up being encouraged to learn more and keep an open mind. In order to stay focused on education while I grew up, I didn’t hold a steady job as many teenagers have. Instead of work I took several AP classes, was involved heavily in community service, and was involved in sports.
Although there are not many women in the inner circle of power in the U.S., there are at least some women. In China however, “there is no woman in the inner circle of power” (Tatlow, 2012). This is an example of how many more civil liberties I have in the U.S. compared to China. I have the right to vote, I am able to speak my mind about what I believe is right, and grew up feeling that I can do, say, or be anything that a guy can.
Unfortunately, there are instances in which I do not benefit. Although there are many more women’s rights in the U.S. than in China, there is still much progress to be made. Women are entering all kinds of careers, however, it is still unevenly distributed. For example, while there are women entering the engineering field, there are still not many women in mechanical, industrial, and manufacturing engineering (MIME), nor in civil, or construction management engineering (CCE). When divided into subsections of which engineering women are in, the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) provides information that shows that the average percentage of women in MIME and CCE is only 17.16% whereas the average percentage of women in chemical, biological, and environmental engineering (CBEE) is 37.1%.
People who don’t have the benefit of parents who so strongly encourage education most likely would think that I was spoiled. They may see me as a girl who simply gets what I want from my parents without having to work for it (as they may be having to do). On the other hand, children who are still in China, waiting to be adopted, would probably see my civil liberties as I do: as a privilege. Although there are many other privileges I don’t have, I am glad to have the privileges that I do.