"Equal opportunity?"

"A woman in poverty has an equal opportunity to rise up."

Does she really have the opportunity? Or is it just another way America tries to push this idea of "being equal" to it's citizens?

I don't believe so, and I would like to believe this idea, but I cannot anymore. Looking at how our country treats those who are in poverty stops me from actually believing in it. Our country makes it out to believe that we are all equal and have the same opportunities. But we aren't. It's the ugly truth. But that doesn’t mean Americans are trying...I think?

And the reason why, in this country, there is not equal opportunity for this woman or everyone is because of intersectionality which is the different layers in our identity that intertwine. For example, you may be a woman and oppressed by man, but you are also white which makes you privileged. This goes for sexual orientation, religious beliefs, class, able-bodied, etc. It basically means you're privileged in some aspects, but oppressed in others. Intersectionality is an aspect of feminism that is still being observed and analyzed. But this is a concept that comes to my mind when I hear politicians talk about equal opportunities for all. And then I relate this to Mohanty when she discusses how Western feminists feel like we must include every woman and that every woman is facing the same issues. But that’s not true. Every woman has her own story and problems, but that does not mean that she should be placed into a category nor be “saved” by the Western feminists. That’s not how it works. This world is not black and white (things would sure be easier...probably) rather there are a lot of gray areas.