Psychology week 6 assignment | COUN 6220 - Psychology of Personality

FLOWERPOWER.docx

POWER FLOWER EXERCISE

The terms “power” and “privilege” are frequently heard in today’s social and political discourse, but what do these terms actually mean in the context of one’s social identity? Having power and privilege means that you have benefited from unearned advantages as a result of being a member of a particular dominant group in society. Each person has many social identities, some that may be part of dominant groups and others that may be part of non-dominant groups. Non-dominant groups are more likely to experience discrimination, disenfranchisement, and oppression.

One of the most important goals of developing cultural humility is to address power imbalances. In order to do so, you must first be aware of the power and privilege in your own life. Gaining this awareness is no easy task. When you acknowledge that you have power and privilege, you might feel defensive or experience anxiety, guilt, or disorientation about your sense of self. On the other hand, when you are reminded that you are a member of a non-dominant group, you may experience anger, sadness, or grief. Keep in mind that it is normal to experience these feelings and that acknowledging your own power and privilege (or lack thereof) is an important step in addressing social justice issues.

For this Journal, you will complete the Power Flower exercise, which will help you determine the degree to which your social identities afford you power and privilege. You will also consider how your level of power and privilege affects your perceptions, experiences, and decision-making processes.

Resources

Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity. Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.

WEEKLY RESOURCES

To Prepare

· Review the Learning Resources on power and privilege.

· Review the “Power Flower” article and complete the Power Flower exercise. Reflect on how your social identities affect your level of power and privilege. Then, think about how your level of power and privilege affects how you perceive and experience the world and influences how you make decisions.

By Day 7

Submit a 2- to 3-page journal entry, along with your completed Power Flower diagram, that addresses the following:

· Identify your social identities. Explain how your social identities affect your level of power and privilege.

· Explain how your level of power and privilege affects how you perceive and experience the world. Use at least three specific examples to support your explanation.

· Explain how your level of power and privilege may have influenced your ethical decision-making in this week’s Discussion. Be specific.

POWERFLOWER.docx

🌸 Power Flower Journal Entry

Understanding My Social Identities and Privilege

Through the Power Flower exercise, I took time to reflect on the social identities that shape my life experiences and influence my access to power and privilege. I am a Black woman, fluent in English, raised in a Christian (Baptist) family within a two-parent household in an urban area of Alabama. I have attained a college education, and I identify as heterosexual.

Many of my identities place me within marginalized groups, especially my race and gender. Being Black in the United States means navigating a society shaped by systemic racism and historical inequities that affect opportunities, social treatment, and representation. As a woman, I also encounter challenges stemming from gender biases, especially in professional and social spheres.

On the other hand, being raised in a two-parent household provided me with a stable family structure and support system that many in marginalized communities may lack due to systemic factors. This family environment afforded me certain privileges such as economic stability, emotional support, and access to resources. My college education further contributed to my access to opportunities and social mobility.

How Privilege and Marginalization Shape My Perception and Experience

My intersecting social identities influence the way I perceive the world and experience daily life. Here are three examples that highlight this interaction:

1. Race and Navigating Systemic Inequality As a Black woman, I am acutely aware of how systemic racism impacts education, employment, and interactions with institutions like law enforcement. For example, in predominantly white professional settings, I have experienced moments where implicit bias or stereotyping challenged my sense of belonging and authority. This awareness shapes how I advocate for myself and others in such environments.

2. Gender and Social Expectations Gender expectations influence how I am perceived and how I navigate the world. Sometimes, I feel pressure to overperform in the workplace to counteract stereotypes that question my competence. This double marginalization—being both Black and female—requires resilience and conscious navigation of social spaces.

3. Family Stability and Resource Access Growing up in a two-parent household provided me with a strong support system, both emotionally and financially. This stability affected my worldview, instilling a sense of security and confidence. It also means that some challenges faced by those from single-parent or less economically stable homes are less familiar to me, which impacts how I understand social inequities related to family structure.

These examples illustrate how privilege and marginalization coexist and how they shape my unique lens on society.

Influence on Ethical Decision-Making

During this week’s Discussion on equitable access to healthcare, I reflected on how my intersecting identities influence my ethical views. My experiences as a Black woman made me sensitive to the ways systemic racism and gender bias limit healthcare accessibility and trust among marginalized groups.

Coming from a stable, two-parent family with access to education, I initially emphasized policy-level solutions like funding and insurance reform. However, reflecting on my background helped me recognize that ethical decision-making must also account for cultural competence and the historical mistrust many Black communities have towards healthcare systems.

This reflection broadened my perspective, reminding me that effective ethical decisions require centering the lived experiences of marginalized groups, not just relying on systemic fixes. My privilege in education and family stability provides me with tools to advocate effectively, but it also compels me to remain mindful of the nuances faced by others.

Final Reflection

The Power Flower exercise was a meaningful process of self-examination. It highlighted the layers of privilege and marginalization that define my life experience. While I face barriers linked to race and gender, I also recognize the advantages I have, including the support of a two-parent household and higher education.

Acknowledging these aspects encourages me to embrace cultural humility, using my privileges responsibly to advocate for social justice and equity. This ongoing journey calls for honest reflection, continued learning, and a commitment to challenging inequities in all forms.

References

Crenshaw, K. (2016, October). The urgency of intersectionality [Video]. TED Conferences. https://www.ted.com/talks/kimberle_crenshaw_the_urgency_of_intersectionality#t-2017

Diller, J. V. (2019). Cultural diversity: A primer for the human services (6th ed.). Cengage Learning.

LGBTQ2S Toolkit. (n.d.). Power flower [Diagram]. EVA’s Network. https://www.evas.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Power-Flower-1200x1553.png

McIntosh, P. (2012, October). How to recognize your White privilege—and use it to fight inequality [Video]. TED Conferences. https://www.ted.com/talks/peggy_mcintosh_how_to_recognize_your_white_privilege_and_use_it_to_fight_inequality

Warner, G. (Host). (2020, June 24). So long, Black Pete [Audio podcast episode]. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2020/06/24/882816031/so-long-black-pete