White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack [Not-a-Parody-Unintentional-Humor]

Education Policy Analysis Archives ^ | Peggy McIntosh

[governsleastgovernsbest]

White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack

Through work to bring materials from women's studies into the rest of the curriculum, I have often noticed men's unwillingness to grant that they are overprivileged, even though they may grant that women are disadvantaged. They may say they will work to women's statues, in the society, the university, or the curriculum, but they can't or won't support the idea of lessening men's. Denials that amount to taboos surround the subject of advantages that men gain from women's disadvantages. These denials protect male privilege from being fully acknowledged, lessened, or ended.

Thinking through unacknowledged male privilege as a phenomenon, I realized that, since hierarchies in our society are interlocking, there are most likely a phenomenon, I realized that, since hierarchies in our society are interlocking, there was most likely a phenomenon of while privilege that was similarly denied and protected. As a white person, I realized I had been taught about racism as something that puts others at a disadvantage, but had been taught not to see one of its corollary aspects, white privilege, which puts me at an advantage.

I think whites are carefully taught not to recognize white privilege, as males are taught not to recognize male privilege. So I have begun in an untutored way to ask what it is like to have white privilege.

snip

After I realized the extent to which men work from a base of unacknowledged privilege, I understood that much of their oppressiveness was unconscious. Then I remembered the frequent charges from women of color that white women whom they encounter are oppressive. I began to understand why we are just seen as oppressive, even when we don't see ourselves that way.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

she's implying that the quality of privilege is a zero-sum game.

Truly excellent point. It reflects her socialist mind set, doesn't it? Socialists see the economy in similar terms. If an entrepreneur is getting rich, it can only be because some else is becoming poor. Imagine what destitution Bill Gates must have caused in their eyes!

[andyk]

I think she meant statures.

That does seem most likely.

[andyk]

It reflects her socialist mind set, doesn't it?

That's exactly what I was thinking. :)

[Larry Lucido]

She can't figure out why she lost out to a dude for the position of "copy editor."

[nina0113]

a far-left listserv to which I surreptiously subscribe!

How can you stand to? I subscribed to what was supposed to be a technical list, but it turned out to be an anti-Bush hippie circle jerk, so I had to bail.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Well, it's a local listserv which gives me info on the wacky doings of the wigged-out left in my town. In addition to entertaining items like this one, there are conspiracy theories a go-go. WTC was a controlled detonation, Karl Rove shot down Wellstone's plane, etc. Better than the funnies.