In comparison, she also stated that men do indeed admit to a woman’s disadvantage, yet a man will not agree to being more advantaged, because they too are oblivious to this fact. McIntosh’s colleague, named Elizabeth Minnich, pointed out a very important fact. She stated that white people have instilled in their minds that they live their “lives as morally neutral, normative, and average, and also so ideal, so that when we (whites) work to benefit others, this is seen as which will allow “them” (races not pertaining to the dominant race) to be more like “us” (whites). McIntosh defines white privileges as unearned, even if it is an unconscious reality. She re-defines it as being misleading.
Formally, racial categories appeared to be biological which contrast with the view of the current generation that impact the social status of the society. The ethical race connections that exist among people appear to be mutually exclusive. However, the situation may be overlapping without notice. This brings in the idea of invisibility of race within the community. People tend to assume the existence of race as an inferior fact yet it exists as a major problem within the community.
Based on research I understand that White racial identity is frequently depicted as an avoidance racial category, which is considered to be an indistinguishable, but advantaged identity molded by years of repression of other nationalities other than whites. Being white has become equal with privilege and opportunity. Individuals who are white can really advantage in society. As young Americans we have not all been exposed to other races. I was raised in a predominantly African American surrounding, which only allowed me to be exposed to people of my own ethnicity.
Race is often described as ethnic groups often leading to discrepancies between scientific views on race and popular usage of the term. The problem with race is that it does not have a concrete definition it will change from one person’s view to another, because of this reason we can define race as a social construct. Race clearly affects one’s life chances. There are the chances of getting
White Privilege 1 WHITE PRIVILEGE AND HOW IT RELATES TO SOCIETY AND YOU Andrea White Anthropology 270 Professor Satterlund April 28, 2013 White Privilege 2 White privilege how it relates to society and you Introduction: Define Privilege White privilege refers to the unearned benefits that some enjoy simply by having “white” skin. This privilege is at the expense of people of color but white people cannot maintain this system of privilege without losing a part of their own humanity. The characteristics of the privileged group define the societal norm, often benefiting those in the privileged group. Second, privileged group members can rely on their privilege and avoid objecting to oppression (Wildman and Davis pg. 110).
After reading the article White Privilege by Peggy McIntosh I found myself agreeing with Ms. McIntosh on some levels. It is an invisible package of unearned assets that can be counted on and cashed in each day. I also agree that it is a knapsack of special provisions, maps passports, codebooks, visas, clothes, tools, and blank checks. However, I disagree with her in the since that she seems to think White Privilege an invisible package of unearned assets. Over the years different news reports have been done on discrimination or white privilege whatever they want to call it these days.
1. What does the author mean by the concept of “white privilege”? In the article “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack”, Peggy McIntosh refers to white privilege as advantages or privileges that white people enjoy that other groups of people do not. We take for granted or do not have a conscious knowledge that there are certain things we can do in all aspects of our lives, and do not have to worry about the implications concerning our race. 2.
These factors that many think that could be adversarial are race, gender, sexual orientation, and pedigree. Those people believe that all those components will be a problem to some who think that just working hard is enough to become successful. Although many people such as Horatio Alger, the author of “Ragged Dick”, have different opinions on how an individual can accomplish something in life, everyone achieves success differently. For most citizens of America, they believe that they must work hard to achieve what they want in life. Some do not think that any other factors such as race or social economic status can affect the outcome of an individual’s life.
The Ideal Body Image Television, magazines, the internet, store window displays, and even the toys given children seem like perfectly harmless everyday things. What people don’t take into account is the influence these normal things have on the perspective of their body, otherwise known as body image. Each media may seem very different than the other, but they all promote the same ideal body image. The same types of women are hired for television shows as for magazine shoots. While some consumers take these figures as a motivation to become thinner in a healthy manner there is an overwhelmingly large group that takes this to the extreme.
Examples of Ethnocentrism Ethnocentrism is a major reason for divisions amongst members of different ethnicities, races, and religious groups in society. Ethnocentrism is the belief of superiority is one's personal ethnic group, but it can also develop from racial or religious differences. Ethnocentric individuals believe that they are better than other individuals for reasons based solely on their heritage. Clearly, this practice is related to problems of both racism and prejudice. While many people may recognize the problems, they may not realize that ethnocentrism occurs everywhere and everyday at both the local and political levels.