1. Making Systems of Privilege
Visible
Privilege is not visible in everyday life
Nobody talks about it
Not recognized in legal doctrine
Creates gaps in legal reasoning

2. Making Systems of Privilege
Visible
Invisibility of Privilege
Strengthens the power it creates
Silence allows status quo to exist
Cannot combat the invisible
Thus, will perpetuate, regenerate, and recreate itself

3. Making Systems of Privilege
Visible
Language Veils the Systems of Privilege
People are categorized subconsciously
Conditioned images of “normal”
Slips of the tongue re: race or gender
Language plays a role in the invisibility of the white
privilege
Causes of privilege are a power system, creating
privilege in some and disadvantages in others

4. Making Systems of Privilege
Visible
What is Privilege?
“Men only” club
“Whites only” fountain
“No colored people” at a restaurant

5. Making Systems of Privilege
Visible
Privileged Groups Define the Norms
Professional baseball for men only
Golf clubs were only for Whites
Wealthy (with more privilege) have higher positions in
society

6. Making Systems of Privilege
Visible
Struggling Against Oppression
Privileged have a choice to engage or not
Silence by privileged is their opting out of engagement

7. Making Systems of Privilege
Visible
Summary of the Systems of Privilege
Membership is the norm
Privileged have ability to choose whether to object to
the power system or not
Privilege benefits are invisible

8. Making Systems of Privilege
Visible
Summary Conclusions
White privilege from race power system of white
supremacy
Male and hetero privilege from gender hierarchy
Class privilege from economic wealth-based hierarchy

9. Making Systems of Privilege
Visible
Visualizing Privilege
Whites generally oblivious to their privilege
All Whites are racist because they've used their
privilege with or without realizing
Whites need to admit it, then try to change it

10. Privilege as a Paradox
Privilege as a Paradox
Privilege is a social arrangement
Everyone is sorted into categories by others
Treatment depends on categories we are in
Paradox when “being” privileged, as opposed to
“feeling” privileged

11. Privilege as a Paradox
White Privileges
Whiteness is privileged in this society
Only privileged if others categorize as White
Don't have to be White, if one can convince others
s/he are White
Even clearly privileged Whites can feel unprivileged
when compared to more successful Whites

12. Privilege as a Paradox
Privilege Can Be Lost
First identified as heterosexual, then informs that one
is homosexual (even if not)
Recognized to be White, but then informs that one is
married to a non-White
Assumed to be Christian, but then informs that one
belongs to another faith
Etc.

13. Privilege as a Paradox
Oppression: Flip-side of Privilege
Social forces hold people down from pursuing a good
life
While privilege opens doors of opportunity, oppression
slams them shut
Cannot be oppressed unless a group exists to
oppress
Example: A White male could be oppressed because
his religion is not Christianity, and he would not be
oppressed based on being White or male.