Discrimination Vs Discrimination

In the article titled “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Backpack” Peggy McIntosh defines white privilege as an invisible backpack that holds advantages unknowingly utilized by white individuals (McIntosh 1). McIntosh also compares male privilege with white privilege and draw upon the similarity of obliviousness by each participating party (i.e. males or white individuals). McIntosh summarized this on page 5 stating, “[i]t seems to me that obliviousness about white advantage, like obliviousness about male advantage, is kept strongly enculturated in the United States so as to maintain the myth of meritocracy the myth that democratic choice is equally available to all” (5). The end of the quote speaks to the invisibility of white privilege as a way to uphold the belief that everyone is equally capable of making his or her own choices. Confirming this, McIntosh explains that society educates and trains white individuals to accept their advantage as normal. Thus, white individuals become unaware of their advantages in everyday life. McIntosh gives 26 examples of these advantages experienced in her everyday life as seen by friends, acquaintances and an African American co-worker (2). Finally, McIntosh

When asked about white privilege, many whites believe that it is a myth while other deny the existence of white privilege entirely. However, white privilege is not a myth. White privilege is very prevalent in society and uniquely effects many different groups. Peggy McIntosh discusses white privilege in her article “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack.” McIntosh states, “I have come to see while privilege as an invisible package of unearned assets which I can count on cashing in each day, but about which I was, "meant" to remain oblivious” (par. 3).

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,

In Peggy McIntosh’s, “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” she introduces the topic of privilege from the point of view of a women in a world designed to favor men. She sees that men acknowledge the fact that women are disadvantaged but are unable to admit that they themselves have higher power. This denial of power is what creates the gap between men and women and is a clear stepping stone to her primary point of white privilege. The problem does not lie in the existence of white privilege but more so in the validation that is given to it. To be oblivious to this privilege is what gives it power to aid the white population, while simultaneously crippling other minority groups. She goes on to state that realizing there is hierarchy is the first step to systematically taking it down. This however has to start by finding where the problem originates.

As I read the required read "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack" I noticed myself reflecting on it in a sense of sorrow. The sorrow I felt reading it was reflecting towards the realness in McIntosh words. In todays society it seems that "white privilege" is something that is assigned not entirely earned. As I say assigned I mean by the color of ones skin. I feel the article/journal I read illustrates that "white" receive and can say a lot of things that people of "color" can not. I got this impression when McIntosh stated things like "I can turn on the television or open to the front page of the paper and see people of my race widely represented." It seems that people think "whites" have a more advantage and get greater treatment

In “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” by Peggy McIntosh, the message that the author is trying to get across is that white men have privilege they have the freedom to do more than women without being coitized or judged by society. Women, and men of color are often judged as a race, an action of an individual of a different ethnicity or race whether it be positive or negative is reflected onto others of the same ethnicity. Individuals of color are constantly faced with racism and discrimination. This article connects to gender and women’s study, because we strive for equality. Only with equality can the society be fair, without privilege everyone would have the same opportunities and resources available. Women and men will be

White privilege is a new term that has been classified by academia, but has been experienced for millennia. The course of history is told through the eyes of European Caucasian white males, whilst capturing, infecting or enslaving many ethnicities. Laws in the United States were at some point designed to limit the number of people that were granted freedom, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Even though they have been abolished, in current society, major companies and workplaces have found loopholes to still discriminate as much as possible. To be a white male in this society can be compared to winning the “genetic lottery”, because they have little obstacles in the real world.

Interwoven through history are the have and have nots. Those who come from privilege tend not to recognize those privileges, while those who fall into the marginalized groups have an uphill battle. White privilege is a set of institutional beliefs granted to those based on their skin color. These individuals have better access to privilege and resources. Much of these privileges are seen through types of employment, amount of compensation, quality of schools, and racial profiling. Among these few privileges one can see daily how the people of color are affect with basic needs as well.

In Peggy McIntosh’s White Privilege and Male Privilege, she as a white woman herself was one of the first people to acknowledge that white privilege is a phenomenon that is commonly overlooked in the white race and made a point to think of many instances where white privilege was prominent. Peggy McIntosh defines 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, codebooks, visas, clothes, tools, and blank checks”. To interpret this, she is saying that white privilege is an unacknowledged idea with so many different parts and pieces to it, it is hard to classify it as just one thing. When she goes on in the article listing situations where because of white privilege she would not have to be concerned about the outcome; example 41 stated, “I can be sure that if I need legal or medical help, my race will not work against me” (McIntosh). This example can be related to Brock Turners case given the situation of him having legal trouble and having more things go for him during his trial rather than having people working against him. It seems that the white race lives focusing on normalcy and convenience, that when they are in a situation to help others they aim to make them more like themselves (McIntosh). It only makes me wonder, how do they act when a more serious situation such as rape is introduced, how it affects them. It seems that in tough situations, white privilege itself works to show dominance and power over certain groups.

“White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Backpack” by Peggy McIntosh is about the dominant white race having societal advantages over the minority race. White privileges are known for having favorable advancements to white people and particularly men in that category. For those who receive benefits due to their origins of the white race refuse to acknowledge the power they have over the minority race. Instead, whites see all races having the same opportunity to become successful. Due to their obliviousness individuals categorized in the dominant race does not intentionally allow racism to play a role in their society. Peggy discusses her own life experiences to show instances where she herself has been oblivious to this unearned

This week’s readings, podcast, and videos were very interesting to learn about white privilege. The term white privilege means the systematic advantages of being white (Tatum Racism: Can We Talk?). The topic white privilege is an exceptionally difficult to discuss for the reason that many white people don’t feel influential or identify they have privileges compared to other individuals in society may not feel differently about white privilege. For example in the article White Privilege Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack Peggy McIntosh, a white feminist scholar identified of society privileges that she received simply because she is White (Tatum Racism: Can We Talk? p 8). Therefore when each individual learns about his or her own privileges there

In the article Unpacking the Invisible Backpack, McIntosh states “I think whites are carefully taught not to recognize white privilege, as males are taught not to recognize male privilege” I think that statement is true since people can become a part of situations related to privilege unintentionally and cannot help how they were born. I believe McIntosh explore of white privilege is all about and how power is established in the everyday life of all people in America. She says "White privilege" is stated to consist of an "invisible weightless knapsack" of useful goodies. A list of these goodies includes "special provisions, maps, passports, codebooks, visas, clothes, tools and blank checks." I think her take on that would be the ability to go through society as a white person without having the disadvantages of another racial group such as African Americans however she questions on how she is going to use this advantage of having white privilege, will she use her white privilege as a means of power to benefit only herself or will she change and transfer the way of how her power is different from others. Jensen also has some of the same questions as McIntosh, in the excerpt White Privilege Shapes the U.S. Jensen askes a student “if we live in a world of white privilege--unearned white privilege--how does that affect your notion of a level playing field” the student responds by saying it doesn’t really matter, acknowledging he has an unearned white privilege but ignores

In White Privilege and male privilege by Peggy McIntosh, the author compares male privilege to white privilege. It is often difficult for some to recognize this type of privilege as an advantage instead of a disadvantage of the other race. While the person may have whole-hearted intentions, not recognizing your own privilege can sometimes be frustrating for the person on the other end, as McIntosh points out: "At the very least, obliviousness of one's privileged state can make a person or group irritating to be with." (McIntosh, 2010) while it can be difficult to see racism, it is imperative that we do all we can when recognized.

This statement took me for a loop. I defiantly have no idea where this author is coming up with these ideas. I had to read a few lines down from this sentence to understand that this is her own feelings and seems to have no facts backing her claim. To be honest, I don’t even understand this statement “white privilege” or the statement “male privilege.” I have heard the terms before but really have never taken it seriously. So what is white privilege? "White privilege is the ability for Whites to maintain an elevated status in society that masks racial inequality." (Wikipedia) So the same goes with male privilege. I

Although not all white people are rich and face disadvantages, they still face a specific systematic privilege that minorities will never have. Whites are better-protected from negative outcomes due to their constant allowance for opportunity. Therefore, to allow a system of white privilege to prevail, white members of society are afforded advantages over their colored