Power play is seen throughout everyday life. A prime example would be when passing by a homeless person. At the moment that person is on the cold hard, ground huddling into themselves, watching as a business man walks by without a glance, the difference of power is present. Privilege is known to the business man as he has a warm bed and a full meal to get home to while the homeless man struggles to find a way to make it through another day. The homeless man writes on a piece of cardboard his message, asking for help. The business man passing is writing his message in an email to his boss to confirm his promotion. These actions have the same message; both men are trying to find a way to get ahead in life, yet one is better accommodated to do so. The disparities in their power is seen by how the homeless man has nothing to himself and is able to take in everyone passing, hoping someone will be gracious enough to spare some loose change, while the business man is only focused on his phone and trying to get to his destination without minding his surroundings.
-Sumaiyah Ali
Your observation of this power play has opened my eyes that this can be seen between several relationships and not just between two individuals that know each other well. In your observation, you describe the disparities in the homeless man’s and business man’s power. Stating that the homeless man has nothing to himself while the business man is only focused on his phone to confirm his promotion. In this, we can see that the difference is that the homeless man is not given the same liberties that the business man has, which is the shelter, food, and surroundings to even have a job. I think that my example is very similar to this because of the way that the employer and employee have different possessions. The employee wants an increase in pay but can’t get that because of what the employer wants. The employer has the power to increase pay or even fire the employee for wanting to create a union. Both of these men want a better future, but one has a better standing than the other to do so.
Alisha Alex
I’ve noticed what you’re saying when you stated that “the homeless man writes on a piece of cardboard his message, asking for help. The business man passing is writing his message in an email to his boss to confirm his promotion.” It’s even sadder because the business man is busy rushing to get to work and he ignores the homeless man’s plea. The money he could’ve given the homeless man could’ve helped the homeless man food or a blanket to keep warm during the cold weather. The business man had the power to help change the homeless man’s life.
~Damilola Babarinde~
This power play is such an unfortunate reality and also very common. I think many people who do pass by the homeless without a second look have countless justifications in their mind for why they do this. I do understand the thought some might have – that anyone can work. Sometimes there are rich people that have worked for everything they have and built themselves up from nothing. In this instance I think it is understandable why they might pass by and be frustrated with what they see. However we as a society should keep our eyes, ears, and hearts open to situations we sometimes don’t understand.
This power play is extremely common even in our own lives because I’m sure we have passed many homeless people without giving it a second thought. As you mentioned everyone has to move forward in life somehow and it all depends on our current situation. It sad that the business man ignored the homeless person’s plea for help but It’s understandable because you can’t stop to help everybody you see.
This form of power play isn’t only on the business man. I believe that this power play is the cause of our society and peer pressure. We often see homeless people not only on the streets but also on the trains either sleeping or begging for money. Now the business man is not the only one who ignore the homeless person but everyone. Peer pressure is a strong form of power play. No one is going to approach the homeless man sitting on street when they see everyone else is ignoring the situation. Our society is brought up to think about ourselves and that the fault of being homeless is on the homeless person. People use excuses to justify why they are standing at the top and the homeless man is at the bottom. Although people are not physically abusing the homeless, they use their power and authority by ignoring them.