Reading W.P.'s "She Shall Not Be Moved", I think it provided a strong example of the privileged oppressed. Despite being put on a pedestal, Asian Americans, especially women, are certainly not exempt from discrimination. When the author tries to stand up for herself, it is met with scorn and resentment. I think the privileged oppressed shows its true colors when Asian Americans don't act in obedience to the ones in charge. Once W.P. goes against the grain, she is labeled as a "challenge" who cannot control her tantrums. This belittling occurs because Asian Americans are only put on the pedestal when it is convenient, and can be forced off whenever the oppressors choose to. W.P. mentions that she used to be the "Poster Babe" and that her work greatly helped her boss. But this effort does not materialize to fair treatment because of the privileged oppressed.
In our podcast assignment, our group mentioned the privileged oppressed many times. Its occurrence is not coincidental and was deliberately set up with social engineering. Its purpose would be to use a community as a wedge against other minority groups by giving them accolades, dubbed the model minority. For example after Japanese Internment, the gov't praised Japanese Americans. By painting them as heroes, it encouraged Japanese Americans to follow along as a model group instead of stand up and protest. But this is all done to enhance control over marginalized groups. As W.P.'s story shows, when "shit hits the fan"(as Professor Valverde likes to say), Asian Americans will be just as dispensable as any other group. W.P., despite her accolades, is labeled an angry troublemaker once she gets on her boss's bad side.
References:
Backman, Marjorie, and Michael Gonchar. “Teaching Japanese-American Internment Using Primary Resources.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 8 Dec. 2017, www.nytimes.com/2017/12/07/learning/lesson-plans/teaching-japanese-american-internment-using-primary-resources.html.
Valverde, K.L.C (2013). Fight The Tower: Asian American Women Scholars Resistance and Renewal in the Academy. Rutgers University Press
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