What is Privilege? What is white privilege?

Question 0

Privilege is the idea that some individuals receive unearned advantages in life solely based on being a member of certain social identity groups.

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Question 1

To understand white privilege, we need to first understand the working definition of privilege.

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Question 2

Often in our society, the term privilege is met with strong resistance. Frequent reactions include, “I’m not privileged, I just work hard for what I have,” or “I’m not going to feel guilty for the things I was born with.”

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Question 3

Certainly though, no one is denying one’s hard work or asking others to feel guilty about their birthright.

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Question 4

Acknowledging privilege is simply the acceptance that some group members will receive benefits that other group members will not.

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Question 5

For example, Dr. Jones writes about the privileges associated with being right handed. The extra benefits that come along with being right handed include most social norms like shaking hands and greeting others, pledging allegiance to the flag of the U.S, a right handed norm, saluting, and making legal and governmental oaths, all right handed norms.

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Question 6

Other benefits include school binders, and school desks accommodating right handed individuals, cars set up to accommodate right handed individuals, appliances, sporting equipment, guns, etc. all accommodate right handed individuals.

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Question 7

Ok, so I think you guys understand that the idea of privilege is meant to describe the unearned benefits that some groups will enjoy, while other group members will not.

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Question 8

In turning to the concept of white privilege now, the same idea exists that there are unearned privileges granted to those who have a white skin color.

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Question 9

In an article, Peggy McIntosh exemplifies white privilege as an invisible backpack. Inside of this backpack are the unearned assets that only those who are white can cash in on each day. She explains that these are the extras given to the white majority. These include the road maps, code books, tools, bank checks etc. that are oblivious to the white majority, but are very apparent to minority groups.

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Question 10

There are so many unearned privileges that come along with being a white individual. Im going to give you 5 examples I thought you might best relate to.

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Question 11

1. I can turn on the television or open a magazine and see people of my race widely represented.

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Question 12

2. I can easily buy posters, postcards, picture books, greeting cards, dolls, toys, etc. featuring people of my race.

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Question 13

3. I can, if I wish to arrange, to be in the company of people of my race most of the time.

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Question 14

4. I can go shopping alone most of the time, pretty well assured that I will not be followed or harassed.

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Question 15

5. I am never asked to speak for all the people of my racial group

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Question 16

Are there any other examples you guys can think of where you see white privilege in your life?

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Question 17

These examples, from McIntosh, illustrate the advantages enjoyed by the majority population. Unfortunately, These are advantages most of us have been taught not to recognize.

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Question 18

Although, difficult to swallow at first, knowledge of this information and its existence is important. If any of us care about the inequities of other people, then we will all need to remove the shades from our eyes and to acknowledge the truth.

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Question 19

I’d like to end this section on white privilege, by asking you guys about possible solutions to this problem might be. Do you think it is the white majority’s responsibility to relinquish these unearned extra privileges?

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