Power Privilege and Difference

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Ethics and Values Module Power, Privilege and Difference According to (Blommaert 2005 p1-2) “ Power is not a bad thing-those who are in power will confirm it....” however “The deepest effect of power everywhere is inequality, as power differentiates and selects, includes and excludes” This assignment will discuss my experiences of power, privilege and difference including how my understanding of which has changed and developed throughout the Ethics and Values Module. At 18 after qualifying as a Nursery Nurse, I gained my first live-in nanny position for a family who had re-located from Israel. The family were Jewish, and there was an expectation that I would participate in the Sabbath each week despite informing that I felt uncomfortable doing so as an agnostic not sharing their beliefs. They told me they regarded me as a ‘family member’ and therefore insisted I take part. As time passed, further demands materialised. For example, I was never allowed time off if unwell, and was expected to continue working wearing a surgical mask. I recall feeling angry both with myself and the parents for the situation I was in. Being new to the vocation, I felt I had no choice but to do as I had been told, after-all, not only was I the employee, but I also lived with the family. Whenever demands were made of me or if I had a query, the mother was always unwilling to make a decision alone. After experiencing the fathers forcefulness when I discussed my reluctance to partake in religious observances, I felt intimidated and unable to refuse any further demands made. My awareness of power associated with the male gender has not changed greatly over the course of the module. Furthermore what 1 strikes me as being unusual within this family is that the father dominated all aspects of the family and household, whereas nowadays it is at least more often the case that

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