Allan Johnson: Privilege, Power, And Differences

In “Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” by Peggy McIntosh we discuss the concept of white privilege, and white male privilege and its existence in modern day society. McIntosh goes on to speak of how unacknowledged white male privilege is a phenomenon that is constantly being denied and protected. Mcintosh compares white privilege to an “invisible weightless knapsack of special provisions, maps, passports, codebooks, visas, clothes, tools and blank checks.”(175) Much of male oppressiveness is unconcious, basically, many men don’t realize that what they are doing is oppressive towards other people.

In “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack,” Peggy McIntosh starts her essay off by taking a classic feminist idea. She talks about how women often address the ways in which men hold power over them because of certain advantages they are born with, but men are often uncomfortable doing the same. She then broadens this truth and relates it to how white people hold a privilege over people of different races, and it is also something that white people have a problem acknowledging. She explains that white people, and the non pressed race, have been trained and educated in a way that makes it hard for them to see the ways in which the world is made easier for them. She acknowledges the fact that, in order to dismantle the systems of

McIntosh identified and outlined the reasons for which she believes that the privilege is too soft a word. She mentioned that the dominance is relatively more

Peggy McIntosh's "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Backpack" addresses the issue of acknowledging whites' unaware privileges, thus weakening the systems of advantage to reconstruct power systems in the society from 1989 to the present. For instance, men are unconscious about their privileges in a patriarchal society while women are oppressed in the society. White people are unaware of the privileges which they take for granted while non-white communities are discriminated against repeatedly. McIntosh identities her privileges from daily life, which she also relates the patterns of white privilege and assumptions that passed down.

Male privilege enables white males to reap more advantages than white females from jobs however, white individuals still have more privilege than non-whites. It would be pleasing to see a society where skin color does not matter to anyone and it is just a skin color. Everyone would receive an equal amount of privilege, regardless of skin color. However, the idea would be difficult as it has been embedded into the society and the culture, it is typical to see white people in positions of privilege. It may even feel abnormal if it was not a white individuals who were in positions of privilege.

This essay will critically analyze the various forms of oppression that are set out through Audrey Lorde’s concept of the “mythical norm” as discussed by Barbara Perry. Through the “mythical norm”, it can be seen that oppressions exists through the forms of racism and sexism which are exhibited through many scholarly texts and articles. Racism can be seen as a means of privilege and power that is given to individuals who coincide with the criteria of societies norm. In this case, these individuals consist of white, heterosexual, male beings who unknowingly oppress their racialized counterparts. Oppression can also be seen through the form of sexism. Sexism looks at the injustice and inequality of male dominance over female, which results to men being more privileged and advantaged in society over women who are disadvantaged. Therefore, privilege and power is obtained by those who coincide with the concept of the “mythical norm”, leaving minority groups who do not coincide with this conception oppressed through the forms of racism and sexism.

Peggy McIntosh’s “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Backpack” addresses the issue of acknowledging whites’ unaware privileges, thus weakening the systems of advantage to reconstruct power systems in the society from 1989 to the present. For instance, men are unconscious about their privileges in a patriarchal society while women are oppressed in the society. White people are unaware of the privileges which they take for granted while non-white communities are discriminated against repeatedly. McIntosh identities her privileges from daily life, which she also relates the patterns of white privilege and assumptions that passed down.

She explains that we are taught racism is something that occurs to people of color. However, white people are not taught that they have privileges that they have not earned, which they also benefit from. McIntosh explains how white privilege is “as an invisible package of unearned assets” (McIntosh, 1998, p.74). She demonstrates that these privileges can be used but she must stay oblivious to using these privileges. She uses the example of the power imbalance between men and women.

This definition is viewed as progressive ideology. He believes, to have privilege there must be someone suffering from it. In addition, oppression is often not brought up and unrecognized in social situations. In the Invisible Backpack reading, P. McIntosh (1989) thinks, “whites are carefully taught not to recognize white privilege, as males are taught not to recognize male privilege.” (P.1)

Peggy McIntosh concludes white privilege is, “an invisible package of unearned assets which I can count on cashing in each day, but about which I was meant to remain oblivious.” The writer came to this conclusion when observing male privilege initially in America. McIntosh discusses the lack of acknowledgement of men when it came to addressing their own advantages over women even if they could admit the position of disadvantage of women. This shed light on how white privilege is curtailed; In the United States, foundations of our society are interlaced with institutionalized privilege creates unethical levels of dominance; dominance of males over females, whites over people of color,

“To be white in America means not having to think about it,” declares James Baldwin. What Baldwin means by this is that white people do not have to think about how their race affects their lives on a daily basis. To take this to a further level, in American society to have privilege in any identity group is to not have to think about how being part of that group shapes your life daily and to think of what it would be like to be part of a different identity group. In fact, for most people thinking of how being part of a privileged group makes their lives easier makes people uncomfortable or annoyed for having to think about their privilege, all of this which A.G. Johnson calls “the luxury of obliviousness” (Johnson, A.G. (2006). Privilege, Oppression, and Difference. p. 12-40). Johnson paraphrases Peggy

The concept of white privilege helps to highlight the hypocritical nature of the American ideologies of democracy and meritocracy. Ask yourself: Do we live truly in a democratic system if the voices of our nation’s disenfranchised people are not heard? Or are we truly a nation that functions on a meritocratic system if every person-- regardless of socioeconomic background or race-- is not given the same opportunities for development? The concepts of white privilege and male privilege, as used by McIntosh, are meant to unveil the hidden schemes of American ideology.

Collins, L., & Barnes, S. L. (2014). Observing privilege: Examining race, class, and gender in

Sometimes dynamics of privilege are invisible to those who benefit most from them ,perhaps because they take it for granted . In addition to being structured along axes such as race, gender, and social

Quote: "If I see the world as a dangerous place, I'll feel the need to protect myself from things that haven't happened and possibly never will, while I see the world as relatively safe, I will not." (Johnson, 2018, pg.135) Discussion: In the Epilogue, of Power, Privilege, and Difference, Johnson sees worldview distinctions and differences common of social reality and norms. In fact, this included the problems of privilege and oppression. How do we respond to questions such as, why there is poverty or is sexual orientation and gender identity matters of personal choice?