White Privilege

There is no question that the advantages inherent in “whiteness” have been socially and historically constructed. Our country is shaped by the concept that whiteness is the ‘norm,’ but in reality it is a system designed to or, at a minimum, that has evolved to maintain gender and racial divisions. Although most people understand that there are obvious problems in our society that put people of color at a disadvantage, very few people notice the inherent advantages that favor white people, even though whites are generally unaware of most of these inherent advantages. And even more to the point, if most white people are not even aware of the advantages our society affords them, how can we move toward a more equal society?

The idea known as white privilege is a consciousness-raising idea that shows how the unearned privilege of being white in America can dramatically shape ones life. Most white people are not even aware of the advantages our society confers on them because of their whiteness. Perhaps this is why the system works so effectively to maintain white privilege.

As Peggy McIntosh discusses in her essay, “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Backpack,” that most men do not realize the full extent of their privileges based on their sex. Similarly, many white people might are unaware of the advantages of their race and, basically do not even think of themselves as having a racial identity. As a white woman, I know that racism and sexism exist. But I do not get too distressed about it, especially about the race aspect, because I know it does not always affect me first hand. I do not know what it feels like to be oppressed by my race. I do, however, understand the disadvantages that stem from being a woman in society so, by extension; I can attempt to relate my gender-based disadvantages to the disadvantages others endure due to race.

In my opinion, white women have an advantage over white men in understanding the subtle, even unconscious, advantages white people enjoy precisely because they are similar to some of the advantages men have over women. Whether we like it or not, we live in a socially constructed society that is centered on patriarchal capitalism. Although gender equality, like racial equality, has made a lot of progress since the beginning of our country, women obviously are still not seen as equal. Women are often disadvantaged in the workplace. Again, the lack of awareness white people have regarding their racial advantage is similar to the lack of awareness most men have concerning their gender-based advantages.

This lack of awareness has resulted in men continuing to maintain their unearned privilege as evidenced in part by their roles in the workplace. Men control most of the high-ranking jobs including all but 10 of 500 CEO positions in the top corporations. Only 20 percent of the professors at the UW are women and only 17% of law firm’s are women. Part of a man’s “invisible backpack” is the comfort of knowing that most of their co–workers, at least those with real authority, will also be male. Moreover, they know that they will not be put in a position where they have to choose a career over family and they generally know that their gender will not cause them to be not taken seriously on a job. We as a society are so used to seeing men in professionally higher positions that we do not even notice the constructed dimensions surrounding their success.

The subtleness of male privilege is similar to that explaining racial privilege. Everyone always says girls can do whatever boys can do and this is empowering but, in reality, women have to work extremely hard to earn the same respect that men do solely for being born male. This is the same for minorities having to work hard to be seen in the same way as whites. White’s reap benefits daily that minorities do not enjoy due to socially constructed ideals that are ignored because we are trained to think we, white people, are just the ‘norm.’ The real problem is that part of my ‘disadvantage” as a woman relates to subtle, unconsciously enjoyed, advantages enjoyed by men. This is the same deal on the racial front as far as I can tell.

The real question is what do we do to level the gender and racial playing field when most men and white people are generally unaware of their advantages? Some of the “daily effects of white privilege” that McIntosh identifies can be addressed by affirmative effort. For example, a white person (or a male) “can count on my skin color [or gender] not to work against the appearance of financial reliability.” We now have laws that prevent discrimination and even though there are people who can sidestep these laws, these types of situations can be approved by direct intervention of our society setting norms through legislation.

Other types of white privilege are far less amenable to such direct intervention. For example, as a white woman, I can be reasonably sure of having my voice “heard in a group in which I am the only member of my race” whereas a minority might not feel that way. Can we do anything that would help minorities to feel this way as well? Obviously, “legislating” this would not work. But we can individually do our best to listen to others, and to affirmatively draw others out as well.

I could go on with dozens of examples. But what does everyone else think? How can we move forward?