Race & Whiteness

1243 Words5 Pages
Race and whiteness are left unnoticed when there is a lack of attention, knowledge and effort put in place by the predominant individuals in a society. Society cannot be aware of a situation that is neglected. The lack of attention it receives, allows it to be overlooked. In order for a problem to be considered an issue, it is important that it is addressed and brought to the rest of societies’ attention. Along with attention, knowledge of the issue is of high importance. Without a thorough understanding of the problem, it is difficult to understand the severity of the predicament. Take for example the concern of race, an individual may understand race as an issue, but without further knowledge of this situation they will be unaware of who it affects and the extent of its severity to those individuals it affects. Knowledge is key in accepting what the problem is, and how one can go about resolving the situation. Besides attention and knowledge another important factor in dealing with a problem is the amount of effort put into solving it. Being aware of the problem is not enough to eradicate the issue at hand. Effective measures must be taken in order to eliminate a problem. In the case of race and whiteness action should be taken to remove the alienation and discomfort placed on those affected by race and whiteness. Ruth Frankenberg, the author of White Women, Race Matters: The Social Construction of Whiteness, argues that similar to the way gender shapes the different experiences in men and women’s lives, race is what shapes the experiences in white women’s lives (Frankenberg 1). Frankenberg claims that there is an importance in analytically reflecting on the social position of supremacy that white people inhabit in a given society (Frankenberg 1). Frankenberg is determined to promote the creation of a more equitable and unprejudiced society through her research

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