Privilege
About Sofia Monteiro
If you're looking for Sofia Monteiro, look for a volleyball court full of players. Accompanied by a schnauzer, a guitar full of written songs, she'll be playing with companions all year. She is a teenager with privileges that might come across as unexpected. Therefore she is willing to fight for equal rights.
As you're still learning in school, has discrimination become a part of it?
"I [Sofia] am very aware that I am very privileged in a sense since I am Caucasian [from Portugal,] and going to a private school; therefore, I have access to a great education. I don't suffer much discrimination because I'm a woman in Europe, so I am able to achieve [opportunities]. For instance, in America, women don't gain as much as men."
If you met an American female, would you have more privileges?
"Well, in a way, yes, since I have the possibility of saying the same thing as a man in the same position…therefore yes, I do feel a bit luckier [than others]. It's a bit tragic that I feel that way."
Do you have any Traditions in your family?
"Traditions with my family, well, of course, we have Christmas at my grandma's house with the bacalhau [a Portuguese specialty] and with the great desserts… we eat Turkey as well. When I think of festivities, I would think more into the Christmas Eve time of the year because we don't celebrate Thanksgiving where in other places people do."
Does your perspective change due to the ways you see other's Identities?
"No, I see everyone as equal. I don't see a difference between religion, gender, or anything. I think that everyone should be able to achieve what they want to achieve in life, and there's no difference between ethnicities. In my opinion, of course, that is the right opinion that everyone should be equal."
Is discrimination unreasonable?
"Of course, discrimination in all senses is unreasonable. Why would you discriminate against the person who has the same rights to be there as you. I don't see it [another way], but I believe it's unreasonable."
“Why discriminate against a person who has the same rights to be there as you”
-Sofia Monteiro
Have you ever witnessed anything similar to discrimination?
"We have all heard of such incidents. For example, the ones that led to black lives matter protests. In school, I have heard [discrimination] due to bullying or, in this case, cyberbullying. I have heard people that have been discriminated against because they are African-Americans. A girl [who’s African-American] that I have in my class, which I found very revolting…because she has every right to be there and the fact that she has to deal with it [discrimination]. She dealt with it by saying, "yeah, you know I just have to go on with my life; it's not something that I can change." I was against what she said, you can always change by going to the principal, or you can always go to superiors. I have seen people that deal with discrimination, and that's why it has made it more impactful in a way for me."
Will discrimination end in the future?
"Well, I hope it does, but that might be a very positive outlook on life. Of course, in Portugal, it's not even one of the highest discriminating countries. For instance, in America or China, there is more discrimination [against civilians]. Someday perhaps I believe that if we fight enough if we get there to a point where everybody can be able to achieve [anything]. If it's possible, we don't know, but in the future, I believe that it will be possible."
““ If we fight enough, if we can get there to a point where everybody can be able to achieve.””
