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I was taught to see racism only in individual acts of meanness, not in invisible systems conferring dominance on my group – Peggy McIntosh
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I was taught to see racism only in individual acts of meanness, not in invisible systems conferring dominance on my group – Peggy McIntosh3
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Through work to bring materials from women’s studies into the rest of the curriculum, I have often noticed men’s unwillingness to grant that they are over privileged, even though they may grant that women are disadvantaged. They may say they will work to women’s status, in the society, the university, or the curriculum, but they can’t or won’t support the idea of lessening men’s. Denials that amount to taboos surround the subject of advantages that men gain from women’s disadvantages. These denials protect male privilege from being fully acknowledged, lessened, or ended.
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Through work to bring materials from women’s studies into the rest of the curriculum, I have often noticed men’s unwillingness to grant that they are over privileged, even though they may grant that women are disadvantaged. They may say they will work to women’s status, in the society, the university, or the curriculum, but they can’t or won’t support the idea of lessening men’s. Denials that amount to taboos surround the subject of advantages that men gain from women’s disadvantages. These denials protect male privilege from being fully acknowledged, lessened, or ended.4
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Thinking through unacknowledged male privilege as a phenomenon, I realized that, since hierarchies in our society are interlocking, there is most likely a phenomenon of white privilege that was similarly denied and protected. As a white person, I realized I had been taught about racism as something that puts others at a disadvantage, but had been taught not to see one of its corollary aspects, white privilege, which puts me at an advantage.
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Thinking through unacknowledged male privilege as a phenomenon, I realized that, since hierarchies in our society are interlocking, there is most likely a phenomenon of white privilege that was similarly denied and protected. As a white person, I realized I had been taught about racism as something that puts others at a disadvantage, but had been taught not to see one of its corollary aspects, white privilege, which puts me at an advantage.5
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I think whites are carefully taught not to recognize white privilege, as males are taught not to recognize male privilege. So I have begun in an untutored way to ask what it is like to have white privilege. I have come to see white privilege as an invisible package of unearned assets that I can count on cashing in each day, but about which I was “meant” to remain oblivious. White privilege is like an invisible weightless knapsack of special provisions, maps, passports, code books, visas, clothes, tools and blank checks. Describing white privilege makes one newly accountable. As we in women’s studies work to reveal male privilege and ask men to give up some of their power, so one who writes about having white privilege must ask, “having described it, what will I do to lessen or end it?”
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I think whites are carefully taught not to recognize white privilege, as males are taught not to recognize male privilege. So I have begun in an untutored way to ask what it is like to have white privilege. I have come to see white privilege as an invisible package of unearned assets that I can count on cashing in each day, but about which I was “meant” to remain oblivious. White privilege is like an invisible weightless knapsack of special provisions, maps, passports, code books, visas, clothes, tools and blank checks. Describing white privilege makes one newly accountable. As we in women’s studies work to reveal male privilege and ask men to give up some of their power, so one who writes about having white privilege must ask, “having described it, what will I do to lessen or end it?”6
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After I realized the extent to which men work from a base of unacknowledged privilege, I understood that much of their oppressiveness was unconscious. Then I remembered the frequent charges from women of color that white women whom they encounter are oppressive. I began to understand why we are justly seen as oppressive, even when we don’t see ourselves that way. I began to count the ways in which I enjoy unearned skin privilege and have been conditioned into oblivion about its existence.
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After I realized the extent to which men work from a base of unacknowledged privilege, I understood that much of their oppressiveness was unconscious. Then I remembered the frequent charges from women of color that white women whom they encounter are oppressive. I began to understand why we are justly seen as oppressive, even when we don’t see ourselves that way. I began to count the ways in which I enjoy unearned skin privilege and have been conditioned into oblivion about its existence.7
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My schooling gave me no training in seeing myself as an oppressor, as an unfairly advantaged person, or as a participant in a damaged culture. I was taught to see myself as an individual whose moral state depended on her individual moral will. My schooling followed the pattern my colleague Elizabeth Minnich has pointed out: whites are taught to think of their lives as morally neutral, normative, and average, and also ideal, so that when we work to benefit others, this is seen as work that will allow “them” to be more like “us”.
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My schooling gave me no training in seeing myself as an oppressor, as an unfairly advantaged person, or as a participant in a damaged culture. I was taught to see myself as an individual whose moral state depended on her individual moral will. My schooling followed the pattern my colleague Elizabeth Minnich has pointed out: whites are taught to think of their lives as morally neutral, normative, and average, and also ideal, so that when we work to benefit others, this is seen as work that will allow “them” to be more like “us”.8
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I decided to try to work on myself at least by identifying some of the daily effects of white privilege in my life. I have chosen those conditions that I think in my case attach somewhat more to skin-color privilege than to class, religion, ethnic status, or geographic location, though of course all these other factors are intricately intertwined. As far as I can tell, my African American coworkers, friends, and acquaintances with whom I come into daily or frequent contact in this particular time, place and line of work cannot count on most of these conditions.
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I decided to try to work on myself at least by identifying some of the daily effects of white privilege in my life. I have chosen those conditions that I think in my case attach somewhat more to skin-color privilege than to class, religion, ethnic status, or geographic location, though of course all these other factors are intricately intertwined. As far as I can tell, my African American coworkers, friends, and acquaintances with whom I come into daily or frequent contact in this particular time, place and line of work cannot count on most of these conditions.10
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2. If I should need to move, I can be pretty sure of renting or purchasing housing in an area that I can afford and in which I would want to live.
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2. If I should need to move, I can be pretty sure of renting or purchasing housing in an area that I can afford and in which I would want to live.11
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3. I can be pretty sure that my neighbors in such a location will be neutral or pleasant to me.
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3. I can be pretty sure that my neighbors in such a location will be neutral or pleasant to me.12
4. I can go shopping alone most of the time, pretty well assured that I will not be followed or harassed.
4. I can go shopping alone most of the time, pretty well assured that I will not be followed or harassed.13
5. I can turn on the television or open to the front page of the paper and see people of my race widely represented.
5. I can turn on the television or open to the front page of the paper and see people of my race widely represented.14
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6. When I am told about our national heritage or about “civilization”, I am shown that people of my color made it what it is.
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6. When I am told about our national heritage or about “civilization”, I am shown that people of my color made it what it is.15
7. I can be sure that my children will be given curricular materials that testify to the existence of their race.
7. I can be sure that my children will be given curricular materials that testify to the existence of their race.17
9. I can go into a music shop and count on finding the music of my race represented, into a supermarket and find the staple foods that fit with my cultural traditions, into a hairdresser’s shop and find someone who can deal with my hair.
9. I can go into a music shop and count on finding the music of my race represented, into a supermarket and find the staple foods that fit with my cultural traditions, into a hairdresser’s shop and find someone who can deal with my hair.18
10. Whether I use checks, credit cards, or cash, I can count on my skin color not to work against the appearance of financial reliability.
10. Whether I use checks, credit cards, or cash, I can count on my skin color not to work against the appearance of financial reliability.20
12. I can swear, or dress in second-hand clothes or not answer letters without having people attribute these choices to the bad morals, the poverty, or the illiteracy of my race.
12. I can swear, or dress in second-hand clothes or not answer letters without having people attribute these choices to the bad morals, the poverty, or the illiteracy of my race.21
13. I can speak in public to a powerful male group without putting my race on trial. 14. I can do well in a challenging situation without being called a credit to my race.
13. I can speak in public to a powerful male group without putting my race on trial. 14. I can do well in a challenging situation without being called a credit to my race.23
16. I can remain oblivious of the language and customs of persons of color, who constitute the worlds’ majority, without feeling in my culture any penalty for such oblivion.
16. I can remain oblivious of the language and customs of persons of color, who constitute the worlds’ majority, without feeling in my culture any penalty for such oblivion.24
17. I can criticize our government and talk about how much I fear its policies and behavior without being seen as a cultural outsider.
17. I can criticize our government and talk about how much I fear its policies and behavior without being seen as a cultural outsider.25
18. I can be sure that if I ask to talk to “the person in charge” I will be facing a person of my race.
18. I can be sure that if I ask to talk to “the person in charge” I will be facing a person of my race.26
19. If a traffic cop pulls me over, or if the IRS audits my tax return, I can be sure I haven’t been singled out because of my race.
19. If a traffic cop pulls me over, or if the IRS audits my tax return, I can be sure I haven’t been singled out because of my race.27
20. I can easily buy posters, postcards, picture books, greeting cards, dolls, toys, and children’s magazines featuring people of my race.
20. I can easily buy posters, postcards, picture books, greeting cards, dolls, toys, and children’s magazines featuring people of my race.28
21. I can go home from most meetings or organizations I belong to feeling somewhat tied in rather than isolated, out of place, outnumbered, unheard, held at a distance, or feared.
21. I can go home from most meetings or organizations I belong to feeling somewhat tied in rather than isolated, out of place, outnumbered, unheard, held at a distance, or feared.29
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22. I can take a job with an affirmative action employer without having coworkers on the job suspect that I got it because of race.
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22. I can take a job with an affirmative action employer without having coworkers on the job suspect that I got it because of race.30
23. I can choose public accommodations without fearing that people of my race cannot get in or will be mistreated in the places I have chosen.
23. I can choose public accommodations without fearing that people of my race cannot get in or will be mistreated in the places I have chosen.32
25. If my day, week, or year is going badly, I need not ask of each negative episode or situation whether it has racial overtones.
25. If my day, week, or year is going badly, I need not ask of each negative episode or situation whether it has racial overtones.35
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I repeatedly forgot each of the realizations on this list until I wrote it down. For me white privilege has turned out to be an elusive and fugitive subject. The pressure to avoid it is great, for in facing it I must give up the myth of meritocracy. If these things are true, this is not such a free country; ones’ life is not what one makes it; many doors open for certain people through no virtues of their own.
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I repeatedly forgot each of the realizations on this list until I wrote it down. For me white privilege has turned out to be an elusive and fugitive subject. The pressure to avoid it is great, for in facing it I must give up the myth of meritocracy. If these things are true, this is not such a free country; ones’ life is not what one makes it; many doors open for certain people through no virtues of their own.36
In unpacking this invisible knapsack of white privilege, I have listed conditions of daily experience that I once took for granted. Nor did I think of any of these perquisites as bad for the holder. I now think that we need a more finely differentiated taxonomy of privilege, for some of these varieties are only what one would want for everyone in a just society, and others give license to be ignorant, oblivious, arrogant, and destructive.
In unpacking this invisible knapsack of white privilege, I have listed conditions of daily experience that I once took for granted. Nor did I think of any of these perquisites as bad for the holder. I now think that we need a more finely differentiated taxonomy of privilege, for some of these varieties are only what one would want for everyone in a just society, and others give license to be ignorant, oblivious, arrogant, and destructive.37
I see a pattern running through the matrix of white privilege, a pattern of assumptions that were passed on to me as a white person. There was one main piece of cultural turf; it was my own turn, and I was among those who could control the turf. My skin color was an asset for any move I was educated to want to make. I could think of myself as belonging in major ways and of making social systems work for me. I could freely disparage, fear, neglect, or be oblivious to anything outside of the dominant cultural forms. Being of the main culture, I could also criticize it fairly freely.
I see a pattern running through the matrix of white privilege, a pattern of assumptions that were passed on to me as a white person. There was one main piece of cultural turf; it was my own turn, and I was among those who could control the turf. My skin color was an asset for any move I was educated to want to make. I could think of myself as belonging in major ways and of making social systems work for me. I could freely disparage, fear, neglect, or be oblivious to anything outside of the dominant cultural forms. Being of the main culture, I could also criticize it fairly freely.38
In proportion as my racial group was being made confident, comfortable, and oblivious, other groups were likely being made unconfident, uncomfortable, and alienated. Whiteness protected me from many kinds of hostility, distress, and violence, which I was being subtly trained to visit, in turn, upon people of color.
In proportion as my racial group was being made confident, comfortable, and oblivious, other groups were likely being made unconfident, uncomfortable, and alienated. Whiteness protected me from many kinds of hostility, distress, and violence, which I was being subtly trained to visit, in turn, upon people of color.39
For this reason, the word “privilege” now seems to me misleading. We usually think of privilege as being a favored state, whether earned or conferred by birth or luck. Yet some of the conditions I have described here work systematically to over empower certain groups. Such privilege simply confers dominance because of one’s race or sex.
For this reason, the word “privilege” now seems to me misleading. We usually think of privilege as being a favored state, whether earned or conferred by birth or luck. Yet some of the conditions I have described here work systematically to over empower certain groups. Such privilege simply confers dominance because of one’s race or sex.41
I want, then, to distinguish between earned strength and unearned power conferred systematically. Privilege can look like strength when it is in fact permission to escape or to dominate. Power from unearned privilege can look like strength when it is in fact permission to escape or to dominate. But not all of the privileges on my list are inevitably damaging. Some, like the expectation that neighbors will be decent to you, or that your race will not count against you in court, should be the norm in a just society. Others, like the privilege to ignore less powerful people, distort the humanity of the holders as well as the ignored groups.
I want, then, to distinguish between earned strength and unearned power conferred systematically. Privilege can look like strength when it is in fact permission to escape or to dominate. Power from unearned privilege can look like strength when it is in fact permission to escape or to dominate. But not all of the privileges on my list are inevitably damaging. Some, like the expectation that neighbors will be decent to you, or that your race will not count against you in court, should be the norm in a just society. Others, like the privilege to ignore less powerful people, distort the humanity of the holders as well as the ignored groups.42
We might at least start by distinguishing between positive advantages, which we can work to spread, and negative types of advantage, which unless rejected will always reinforce our present hierarchies. For example, the feeling that one belongs within the human circle, as Native Americans say, should not be seen as privilege for a few. Ideally it is an unearned entitlement. At present, since only a few have it, it is an unearned advantage for them. This paper results from a process of coming to see that some of the power that I originally say as attendant on being a human being in the United States consisted in unearned advantage and conferred dominance.
We might at least start by distinguishing between positive advantages, which we can work to spread, and negative types of advantage, which unless rejected will always reinforce our present hierarchies. For example, the feeling that one belongs within the human circle, as Native Americans say, should not be seen as privilege for a few. Ideally it is an unearned entitlement. At present, since only a few have it, it is an unearned advantage for them. This paper results from a process of coming to see that some of the power that I originally say as attendant on being a human being in the United States consisted in unearned advantage and conferred dominance.43
I have met very few men who truly distressed about systemic, unearned male advantage and conferred dominance. And so one question for me and others like me is whether we will be like them, or whether we will get truly distressed, even outraged, about unearned race advantage and conferred dominance, and, if so, what we will do to lessen them. In any case, we need to do more work in identifying how they actually affect our daily lives. Many, perhaps most, of our white students in the United States think that racism doesn’t affect them because they are not people of color; they do not see “whiteness” as a racial identity. In addition, since race and sex are not the only advantaging systems at work, we need similarly to examine the daily experience of having age advantage, or ethnic advantage, or physical ability, or advantage related to nationality, religion, or sexual orientation.
I have met very few men who truly distressed about systemic, unearned male advantage and conferred dominance. And so one question for me and others like me is whether we will be like them, or whether we will get truly distressed, even outraged, about unearned race advantage and conferred dominance, and, if so, what we will do to lessen them. In any case, we need to do more work in identifying how they actually affect our daily lives. Many, perhaps most, of our white students in the United States think that racism doesn’t affect them because they are not people of color; they do not see “whiteness” as a racial identity. In addition, since race and sex are not the only advantaging systems at work, we need similarly to examine the daily experience of having age advantage, or ethnic advantage, or physical ability, or advantage related to nationality, religion, or sexual orientation.44
Difficulties and angers surrounding the task of finding parallels are many. Since racism, sexism, and heterosexism are not the same, the advantages associated with them should not be seen as the same. In addition, it is hard to disentangle aspects of unearned advantage that rest more on social class, economic class, race, religion, sex, and ethnic identity than on other factors. Still, all of the oppressions are interlocking, as the members of the Combahee River Collective pointed out in their “Black Feminist Statement of 1977.
Difficulties and angers surrounding the task of finding parallels are many. Since racism, sexism, and heterosexism are not the same, the advantages associated with them should not be seen as the same. In addition, it is hard to disentangle aspects of unearned advantage that rest more on social class, economic class, race, religion, sex, and ethnic identity than on other factors. Still, all of the oppressions are interlocking, as the members of the Combahee River Collective pointed out in their “Black Feminist Statement of 1977.45
One factor seems clear about all of the interlocking oppressions. They take both active forms, which we can see, and embedded forms, which as a member of the dominant groups one is taught not to see. In my class and place, I did not see myself as a racist because I was taught to recognize racism only in individual acts of meanness by members of my group, never in invisible systems conferring unsought racial dominance on my group from birth.
One factor seems clear about all of the interlocking oppressions. They take both active forms, which we can see, and embedded forms, which as a member of the dominant groups one is taught not to see. In my class and place, I did not see myself as a racist because I was taught to recognize racism only in individual acts of meanness by members of my group, never in invisible systems conferring unsought racial dominance on my group from birth.46
Disapproving of the system won’t be enough to change them. I was taught to think that racism could end if white individuals changed their attitude. But a “white” skin in the United States opens many doors for whites whether or not we approve of the way dominance has been conferred on us. Individual acts can palliate but cannot end these problems.
Disapproving of the system won’t be enough to change them. I was taught to think that racism could end if white individuals changed their attitude. But a “white” skin in the United States opens many doors for whites whether or not we approve of the way dominance has been conferred on us. Individual acts can palliate but cannot end these problems.47
To redesign social systems we need first to acknowledge their colossal unseen dimensions. The silences and denials surrounding privilege are the key political tool here. They keep the thinking about equality or equity incomplete, protecting unearned advantage and conferred dominance by making these subjects taboo. Most talk by whites about equal opportunity seems to me now to be about equal opportunity to try to get into a position of dominance while denying that systems of dominance exist.
To redesign social systems we need first to acknowledge their colossal unseen dimensions. The silences and denials surrounding privilege are the key political tool here. They keep the thinking about equality or equity incomplete, protecting unearned advantage and conferred dominance by making these subjects taboo. Most talk by whites about equal opportunity seems to me now to be about equal opportunity to try to get into a position of dominance while denying that systems of dominance exist.48
It seems to me that obliviousness about white advantage, like obliviousness about male advantage, is kept strongly inculturated in the United States so as to maintain the myth of meritocracy, the myth that democratic choice is equally available to all. Keeping most people unaware that freedom of confident action is there for just a small number of people props up those in power and serves to keep power in the hands of the same groups that have most of it already.
It seems to me that obliviousness about white advantage, like obliviousness about male advantage, is kept strongly inculturated in the United States so as to maintain the myth of meritocracy, the myth that democratic choice is equally available to all. Keeping most people unaware that freedom of confident action is there for just a small number of people props up those in power and serves to keep power in the hands of the same groups that have most of it already.49
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Although systemic change takes many decades, there are pressing questions for me and, I imagine, for some others like me if we raise our daily consciousness on the perquisites of being light-skinned. What will we do with such knowledge? As we know from watching men, it is an open question whether we will choose to use unearned advantage to weaken hidden system of advantage, and whether we will use any of our arbitrarily awarded power to try to reconstruct power systems on a broader base.
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Although systemic change takes many decades, there are pressing questions for me and, I imagine, for some others like me if we raise our daily consciousness on the perquisites of being light-skinned. What will we do with such knowledge? As we know from watching men, it is an open question whether we will choose to use unearned advantage to weaken hidden system of advantage, and whether we will use any of our arbitrarily awarded power to try to reconstruct power systems on a broader base.50
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Some of the items in this list are arguably dated, but probably not as many as you might think.
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I guess maybe this essay was relevant 21 years ago when it was written, but I think that articles like this fuel racism from both sides. I am not saying that we should turn a blind eye to it, but if it continues to be focused on this critically, how will we ever move on? There are always advantages and disadvantages to different situations. There are people that are going to hire the skinny girl instead of the fat man. There are people that are going to hire the graduate instead of the non-graduate. There are people that are going to hire the man instead of the woman. There are people that are going to hire the young man instead of the old man. I could go on and on.
I will agree that on some level this “privilege” that the author speaks of is there, but to lump every white person into this category is a mistake. At the end of the day, I think most white people sincerely want everyone to be treated equally and fairly regardless of race.
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Hopeful Reply:
December 19th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
I truly wish you were right about privilege not being as prolific now as it was when this article was written. I wish you were right, but you’re not.
Even the ways in which you formulated your disagreement with Ms. McIntosh have proven her point. She is not saying that white people “want” to be empowered. She is indicating to us that we are already unfairly empowered. The power itself is not the problem. Rather, the inequality of the distribution of the power. There is nothing wrong with a white person having power. The problem is with a system that gives power arbitrarily to people who happen to be white at the expense of people who are not.
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I’m not so sure that I agree with Sheila. As I was reading this article I realized that I could see many of these “advantages” that McIntosh mentions. Although some of these advantages are outdated, as Dr. Gray mentioned, I would say that white people still experience a suprisingly large amount of these privileges. What I found most shocking was that I have never thought of racism in this way, however, I strongly agreed with many of McIntosh’s points. This in itself shows some truth in what McIntosh says. However, I do not believe that this problem will ever be truly solved; I do not think true racial or sexual equality can ever exist simply because we are human. However, I think this loss of “white privilege” is something we can strive for and which would better our society greatly. Take Christianity for example. Christianity teaches us that we are supposed to strive to be like Christ, but that we will never be able to truly reach this point because we are human. However, we Christians do not simply give up the task as impossible but instead strive for our best. We should do the same to rid ourselves of our unearned “white privilege.”
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This is so true. I have noticed that often times when something bad happens either financial or what-not or the way someone dresses or speaks in a certain race, particularly African Americans, we classify them all alike, when clearly they are not- just like white men and women. White people have stereotypes as well, but I don’t think that they are brought forth as much as ones against African Americans.
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I think that this essay contains a lot of points that are true and at the same time a lot that are not. Some of these things, I have found, can be seen as racism towards white people. For instance, there are times when jobs are given to people because of the fact that they are African American or some other race or ethnicity because they are the “minority” and employers fear that if they don’t give them the job, it could be seen as discrimination. So, many of these points, in my opinion, could go either way. She does make valid points.
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Like some people i disagree with most of the things that McIntosh points out. Yea bout 20 or so years ago this was so true that white people had a better advantage than most races in the world, but from a 21 year old college student trying to build my career with a daughter (11months), a fiance, & who owns her own newly built brick home , i say it shows that sociey itself has totally change. True enough i come in contact with a lot of successful white people whom and I know & respect for many reasons; but they’re not the only ones that have “ADVANTAGES”. There was one point in life where the typical doctor or lawyer was a middle aged white male……sorry thats not the case now there are middle aged japanese woman doctors, old black male school teachers, & young bi-racial woman lawyers! Oh and for her to say that every time she opens a magazine that she’ll just see her race on the front page………it seems like every other magazine i’ve opened recently has a pic of the president (who happens to be African American) so honestly and truely the things that she is sayin is just not true. P.S. I love all races black white or japanese….my mom (African American & Caucasian) my daughter (looks bi-racial but is African American) my cousin is happily married to a Japanese man w/ a son and another one on the way….So inconclusion Peggy needs to wake up to reality and broadin her horizons!
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I also believe that this is an outdated piece of material. The times have changed greatly over the past 20 years. People are definately given more equal opportunities than before.
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[...] self-doubt, and my aching desire to seem cool. Reading helped a lot — Peggy McIntosh’s “Unpacking the White Knapsack” blew my mind — and so did finding safer spaces to talk about privilege and the pain and anger [...]
I am not racist when i say this, but there is a thing such as white privilege. I learned about it all semester in my Education in a diverse society class. It is the norm for whites to have privileges and it has been that way for a very long time. I dont like it, but that is just life. white privilege is the norm in life these days. and it is not as easy to see now as it was back in the day but it is still there for sure.
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Really? White guilt AND radical feminism? This type of victim mentality will keep you as a victim. The truth is, women are only as disadvantaged as they allow themselves to be. And being white is not a goddamned sin. Stop playing the victim card. No one is impressed.
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I really enjoyed Avatar for alot of different reasons, as did many many people from a huge range of cultures and races. Men and women and children too! It appealed to a universal something in all of us. Love is universal whether in the fairy book ideal or the true sense of the word. Power being checked and defeated when abuse speaks to our hearts and heads(Big Corporation greed abuses). Science connecting and spirituality combining and appreciating each other. Strong woman role models. Military showing the futile attempts of going to war to gain economically versus the purest reasons put out on the streets. Rebellion by a woman who gave up her life for what seemed right at the time. Leadership by a man and by a woman in their own ways. The white man choosing to become a
“blue monkey” (the humanoids)—transcending white privilege. I will stop, as I will refuse to let the politics of radical feminists taint this awesome, unique experience in all of my 63 yrs. I have fought for change and achieved it for woman causes, but like all causes they usually go to far at some point and become self destructive. I am for allowing good things to come in time or, if rebellion breaks out to move change along, then so be it. Change will happen given enough time. Okay, that’s it for now. Oh, thrive and live long
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What is an invisible system as defined by Peggy Mc?
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Yes, your assumptions can be false! ie
“over privileged”? “Denials”? “lessening men’s” I can see where a radical feminist would adopt these assumptions.
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assumptions made 20 yrs+ ago and then to start with conclusions based on them leads to invalid conclusions, if you don’t buy into the assumptions
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I see that this a means to an end. If you can’t earn control/power for whatever reasons, then another option is to pursuade those in power to give up theirs. This is an understandable liberal intellectual approach to gain power without truly earning it. Sort of by default. Definitely, a victim’s mentality. I have seen many women earn their salt in many different arenas and they have not needed to undermine existing power bases, but rose to power the same way that men competing with men and now, more so, women too. The evolution should be encouraging to women. I have mentored women and helped them rise to power. I hope that is a form of lessening my power. My mom mentored me in ways that helped me rise to power. My dad too. Male bashing and bashing of gender and race is just not a winning way for the good of the all. Raising ones consciousness is good, but not at the expense of false assumptions that lead to false conclusions.
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Every human being has privilege in many different ways. We are all unique and bring to the table that privilege that goes with our special creation.
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“Birds of a feather flock together”? We do have the herd instinct. Maybe, the affluent have this privilege from their earned economic situation which does not mean just “whites” or “males”.
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Why should a school propagandize one with the idea that they are “oppressive”?
lunacy at best This whole topic seems like BS at best.
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If you have enough money! not what your race, gender, or sexual orientation is all about, but money!!! And more, but hey, not worth going on and on here about the factors that make this possible beyond a simple stated assumption.
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More assumptions! Loosey goosey.
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Reverse discrimination?
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Yes, being in the right place at the right time is a reality, but earning ones salt has a high degree of reliability too. It is not all one way or the other. Not black or white. Not male or female. ad infinitum with numerous other similar ideas to make the point
“If these things are true” is a phrase that bears a lot of responsibility. And who believes that we are 100% free in this country or anywhere. I do not believe it and, yet, we have a big world to seek what “freedom” works for us. It is a choice.
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Men are not your enemy. Being white is not your enemy. If you want change, then you must change from within and you will affect change in the most profound way/s. Having said that, I do agree time is a huge factor and patience may be wearing thin for those who truly see things the way you espouse. I appreciate your journey and hope it gets there for all of us someday although we may not agree on the path most efficient and effective. I hate to think that impressionable ones who read this just buy into it carte blance for personal reasons versus a true academic rigourous journey to find truth and flaws in your work/s.
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