Power, Privilege and Oppression

My social position reflects a mix of privilege, power, and oppression.

Power: In my home, I have held power as a stay-at-home mother. I enjoy the freedom to influence the rhythms of my household and guide the growth of my children without outside control. I choose what to feed my children, where they attend school, and which religious beliefs I teach them in the home. I have been entrusted to mother my bonus son, Zack, whose birth mother allowed me space to step in when her circumstances were limiting. While caregiving roles are sometimes undervalued in society, my experience has been one of support and encouragement in this important work I have chosen to pursue.

Privilege: I am privileged because of the color of my skin. I have never experienced discrimination or lost opportunities based on my physical appearance. I am also privileged by financial stability. My ability to remain home with my children is directly tied to economic resources, and I am grateful for that priviledge every day. In addition, I am privileged in educational opportunities. My husband’s position as a college professor provides me with a tuition benefit, making continued education much more accessible.

Oppression: I have experienced oppression related to my gender. As a woman, I recognize that my opinions are often not valued as highly as those of my male counterparts, and I am frequently labeled as overly emotional. However, being supported in my role as a stay-at-home mother by my husband, family, and friends has greatly reduced the impact this oppression might otherwise have on my life.

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Who Am I?

Hello! My name is Courtenay South I was born in Canada in 1979 to Ronald and Susan Carter Growing up, my family was middle-class. We didn't have an abundance of money, but we always had enough. We felt loved, seen, and safe. My parents raised me, my sister, and two brothers in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I can't remember a time when I didn't believe in Jesus Christ. I also can't remember a time when I wasn't teased for my beliefs. I was teased as a child. I was teased as a teen. I was teased by my peers at school, and I was teased by my extended family. Being teased for my religious beliefs was the first time I remember being labeled as different. The first time I remember noticing I was part of a minority social identity group. In 1997, at the age of eighteen, I moved to the United States to attend Brigham Young University. Once at BYU, it didn't take long for the Canada jokes to start. Being labeled as 'other' because of my...

Critical Incedents

I have experienced several Critical Incidents that have broadened my awareness of culture and diversity. When I was young, my family and I served Christmas Dinner to unhoused individuals in Calgary, Alberta. This is where my desire to serve underprivileged populations began. A few years ago, I volunteered at The Refuge Utah, a domestic violence shelter. This experience opened my eyes to cycles of abuse and the complex difficulties victims face when seeking help. In the fall of 2024, I started an MSW program at BYU. Shortly into the program, my cohort attended the local Utah Islamic Center and the Kol Ami Synagogue. I appreciated how these experiences strengthened unity between different religious groups in our community. Additionaly, during our social justice class, we were challenged to complete a Proximity Project. This project required selecting a population with which I had limited experience and getting to know them better. I chose to learn more about and sp...

Multicultural Positionally - Courtenay South

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