Final Reflection: Internalized Oppression

Final Reflection
When I registered for the Internalized Oppression (IO) course, I did not fully grasp how impactful the work would be for me personally and professionally. I thought I was fine, albeit self-conscious about my weight and occasionally my abilities. Considering my age and that I decided to change careers, I assumed this was normal. Either bravely or naively, I embraced my mid-life realization that I could follow my dreams, but did so with a head full of messages questioning my ability to achieve them.
This quarter I was also enrolled in the Abusive Relationships (AR) course. I was not wholly prepared however, for the personal discoveries or my emotional responses by taking these courses concurrently. Because of the impact on my learning and my growth, there will be occasional references to the AR course included in this reflection paper.
I chose to challenge the strong voice in my head that tells me I will never be good enough; Jerry labeled this identity as adultism. This title felt like a misnomer; perhaps “frightened inner child syndrome” would be more appropriate. Regardless of the name, this type of oppression has been the source of my life-long struggle to accept myself. This struggle impacted my romantic relationships, parenting skills, friendships, career path, and my general life choices. In an article about Internalized Racism by Lipsky (1995), I found similarities to adultism and a hopeful message that I can overcome this oppression. I have adapted what Lipsky stated in the