Essay On White Privilege

Essay On Privilege
What is privilege? Privilege is the advantages that you are given. Privilege is often taken for
granted by the people who have it because they didn't necessarily ask for it. Privilege is given to
you depending on where you live, what you look like, how much money you have, what gender you
are, or even your last name. Yourrace and ethnicity have a lot to do with how you are treated in
society.
Race and ethnicity can get confusing and people often use them interchangeably. They are alike
because race and ethnicity share common ancestry. But, they differ because race is a persons'
physical characteristics; race can be seen in skin, hair, and eye color. Whereas ethnicity is the
culture; ethnicity is ancestry, religion, and nationality. When majority of people look the same, it
can cause problems for the people who are different, the minority.
The majority usually has preset opinions on how the minority should act, talk, or look. These
opinions are called prejudices and are not fact based. Prejudices thoughts are also sometimes called
stereotypes. Prejudice and stereotypes are different from each other because a prejudice is a feeling
about a group of people, where a...show more content...
Being a white male in America, you're basically the golden egg. Men have privileges such as
making more money compared to women – especially women of color. A persons' last name could
also have a lot to do with how much privilege you have. For example, I'm a waitress at Roma's
Pizza in Bethalto, Illinois I've had people come into Roma's and before tipping, they ask me what
my last name is. When I tell them, I usually get a bigger tip; my grandpa is currently on the
Madison County Board for Godfrey and Alton, my other grandpa is a union leader, my mom is a
teacher, and my dad is a lawyer. My family has lived in Bethalto and the surrounding towns their
entire lives – everyone knows
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White Privilege Sociology
White privilege is a form of structural racism where whites are routinely advantaged while
producing adverse outcomes for people of color such as Blacks and Hispanics. White privilege is a
historically based system which still exists in the United States (US). In my view, white privilege
system marked the beginning of racial inequality in the US. White privilege exists in the United
States and is one of the contributing factors to the injustices people with color are facing in the US.
White privilege is a unique form of racism given its fascinating characteristic of not involving
hostility. Therefore, it cannot be directly blamed on someone (Pludo, 2015). The lack of blame does
not cause any discomfort on the white persons enjoying the privileges....show more content...
For instance, in a scenario when an injustice occurs when a white is favored against a nonwhite
who is in a similar situation as the white person (same social class, same education or same job
skills). Neoliberalism has partly contributed to racial inequality in the US. The concept that the free
market is the best way to organize a society greatly favors the white (Pludo, 2015). However, the
social formation needs not to be considered racist.
Although efforts have been made to fight white supremacy, nonwhites continue to face injustices
based on their color. The US has made efforts towards liberal multicultural era whereby white
supremacy is obscured by certain events. The election of President Obama was a step towards
liberal multicultural era (Melamed, 2011). Obama's government made efforts to empower people
with color in the US.
Whites are less likely to encounter with the police compared to African Americans. African
Americans are twice likely to be arrested and almost four times likely to experience the use of force
during police encounters (Costly, 2011). As stated earlier, other sociological factors need to be
eliminated to attribute the high number of Black arrests to race. Poverty is known to be a
predisposing factor for criminal acts according to the strain theory of

Reflection on White Privilege Essay
Reflective Analysis #2 Peddy McIntosh highlighted various unearned white privileges in her
autobiographical article "White Privilege, Color and Crime: A Personal Account." She illustrated the
white privilege as an invisible package of unearned assets that one white person could count on
cashing in each day. White people have these privileges given to them by the society in which they
live in. The same society taught them to be ignorant and unawareness of these privileges. This
system of unearned privileges established by white individuals made people of color feel oppressed.
In this system being white is a norm and dominant power. Caucasians, who benefit most from the
white privilege system in the United States, are more likely to...show more content...
It is easier for a white person to fit in any community because majority of the communities are
dominated by their race. For example, if a white person moves in a new house, they are pretty sure
greater parts of their neighbors are same race as them. When I moved in the United States many
years back, I felt left out and it was difficult for me to fit in because I was a minority. I was
mocked by mostly white students about the way I dressed and teased about being different from
them. White students don't encounter these problems when they transfer from one school to
another because they figured majority of the students they'll be surrounded by will be same skin
color as them. Another difficulty I had was shopping at a supermarket was finding my cultural
food. It won't be difficult for a white person to fit in a community and find similar food to their
culture. A person doesn't realize these privileges until they image themselves in color individuals'
shoes. In conclusion, Peggy McIntosh pointed in her article, white privileges don't come from an
individual person or flaw of a person. White privileges arise from the flaw of the system placed in a
society. Therefore, if we want to change the society and equalize the privilege amongst whites and
colors, then change must happen within the system. It is the system that influences individuals to
act upon in the society. A great way, we can demise

White Privilege Research Paper
"I think whites are carefully taught not to recognize white privilege, as males are taught not to
recognize male privilege." This statement took me for a loop. I defiantly have no idea where this
author is coming up with these ideas. I had to read a few lines down from this sentence to
understand that this is her own feelings and seems to have no facts backing her claim. To be
honest, I don't even understand this statement "white privilege" or the statement "male privilege." I
have heard the terms before but really have never taken it seriously. So what is white privilege?
"White privilege is the ability for Whites to maintain an elevated status in society that masks racial
inequality." (Wikipedia) So the same goes with male privilege. I

White Privilege in America Essay
What is privilege? What does it mean? Is privilege inherited or is it earned? As an American
resident of color I've learned that privilege in this country is something that is innate and inherited.
The privilege that I speak of is that of White privilege.
There are two prominent writer/scholars who have taken the issue of white privilege to heart and
have shared their expert analysis on the subject; these authors/writer–scholars are Peggy McIntosh, a
white feminist, and Beverly Tatum, an African AmericanPsychologist. McIntosh, in her article
"Coming to See Correspondences," makes excellent observations about the privilege that she has
experienced just by being a white female in America. The two most significant points made by
McIntosh...show more content...
The concept of white privilege helps to highlight the hypocritical nature of the American ideologies
of democracy and meritocracy. Ask yourself: Do we live truly in a democratic system if the voices
of our nation's disenfranchised people are not heard? Or are we truly a nation that functions on a
meritocratic system if every person–– regardless of socioeconomic background or race–– is not
given the same opportunities for development? The concepts of white privilege and male privilege,
as used by McIntosh, are meant to unveil the hidden schemes of American ideology.
Beverly Tatum incorporates the concept of White privilege into her writing to address the
fundamental issues surrounding racism. In "Defining Racism," a chapter in Why Are All the Black
Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria, Tatum defines racism as "a system of advantage based on
race" (P.6) In an accurate and inoffensive way she illustrates racism and extends it beyond the
individual, placing blame on the greater American social structure. Throughout the development of
her definition she places great emphasis on the fact that racism, like sexism, is something exhibited
by the dominant group (whites/men) upon the subordinate group (people of color/women). She does
this to demonstrate the structured aspect of racism as an institutional norm and not necessarily
something that is actively practiced by individuals. This approach is less offensive to whites and
creates a context for self awareness

Speech On White Privilege
"Privilege is a set of unearned benefits given to people who fit into a specific social group".
"Any system of privilege–be it a family, a workplace, or a society–is organized around three basic
principles: dominance, identification, and centeredness".(1)
For example, "a system of white privilege, is white–dominated. which means the default is for white
people to occupy positions of power". White–dominance does not mean that ALL white people are
powerful and it also does not guarantee only success for them or only failure for everybody else.
But – the powerful tend to almost always be white, and when a member of a 'non–dominant' group
occupies a position of power, it will be the exception to the rule, such as Barack Obama being called
'the black...show more content...
These different overlapping structures make it impossible to draw a distinct line between black
and white, oppressed and privileged. Someone is not simply oppressed or privileged: we are all
simultaneously both by different aspects of our identities. I for example, am privileged as a
caucasian, but oppressed as a woman.
I am standing here today talking to you about this issue because I consider myself to be a very
privileged person. I have received an internationally acclaimed education, am of full physical and
mental health and i have never had to worry for my safety because of my skin colour or religious
beliefs. I have been exposed to a multitude of cultures and ethnicities throughout my life which is
why privilege is something that I have always been very conscious of.
Now, unfortunately, in the current world, somehow, because somebody once said so, I have more
opportunities in life than someone who is much smarter and much more talented, but was born with
a physical disability? Or born with a pigment in their skin? I, for one, do not see the logic behind

White Privilege Essay
White privilege as I see it is an endowment bestowed to white people affording them unearned perks
and benefits based solely on their ethnicity and race. Moreover, these perks and benefits are not a
privilege yielded to minorities.
For example: According to Peggy McIntosh (1988), there were privileges that that she enjoyed due
to White privilege.
"* I can be pretty sure that my neighbors in such a location will be neutral or pleasant to me.
* I can be sure that my children will be given curricular materials that testify to the existence of their
race.
* If a traffic cop pulls me over or if the IRS audits my tax return, I can be sure I haven't been singled
out because of my race.
*Whether I use checks, credit cards or cash, I can count on my skin color not to work against the
appearance of financial reliability. * I can go into a music shop and count on finding the music of
my race represented, into a supermarket and find the staple foods which fit with my cultural
traditions, into a hair dresser's shop and find someone who can cut my hair".
As an African American female I have been the subject of all of the above, however, it was not
based on white privilege it was based on me being African American and...show more content...
Shopping in an upscale store my credit limit has been questioned; a visit to a white salon would not
afford me services. Most often white stylist are unable to style or treat African American hair due to
their lack of knowledge. In the event a white client visits an African American they can receive
services due to the African American stylist having the knowledge to style and treat all hair. White
privilege is a subject that all might not agree on, however through intelligent discussion from both an
African American and white perspective an understanding and clear definition of white privilege can
be

White Privilege Essay Examples
I am a white cisgendered, heterosexual male. I come from a middle to upper class family and live
in a safe suburb with an excellent school system. My parents both have college degrees and
raising my sister and me and providing us with all the opportunities they could provide has always
been a high priority. Therefore, when I read Peggy McIntosh's White Privilege: Unpacking the
Invisible Knapsack in one of my freshman English classes, I could agree with the vast majority of
conditions she lays out as conditions of white privilege. Additionally, my parents and many of my
classmates do not quite understand why I want to pursue a career studying the stereotypes and
prejudice and the answer is not simple. It started early. In third grade, I...show more content...
We shot hoops, played some video games, and our mothers met when Mrs. Smith came to pick him
up. They chatted for a while and it was clear that despite her initial hesitation, my mother seemed to
like Peyton and his mother. Over the years, Peyton and I stayed friends, spent a good amount of
time together, and that first conversation was the last thing I heard from my mother about his
race. Two years later, Peyton and I were taking a science class together. We were both strong
students and enjoyed competing against each other in classes, finding that we were very rarely
more than a few points off one another. After we both aced the first test, however, she accused
Peyton of cheating off of me. Again, I was confused. Peyton and I were equally strong students, if
anything he had the edge on me in science. Why did the teacher assume he was cheating off of
me? I had no guesses, but Peyton did. After defending ourselves, we were both asked to retake the
test in separate locations and both scored equally well yet again. Throughout my friendship with
Peyton, we continued to have similar experiences. Despite it, he was successful. He was captain of
the basketball team, made excellent grades, is now pre–med at Princeton University, and in all
likelihood will go to graduate school to pursue his goal of becoming a medical doctor. But I
recognize that Peyton is incredibly lucky. Compared to many others, the prejudice he has faced has
been minimal. His parents are both

Essay On White Privilege
In the mid 1960's the term "white privilege" was used to describe the legalized prejudice that
favored whites. Around the same time, when prejudice against race was made illegal, the term
"white privilege" was extended to the extralegal prejudice that was still going on. This extralegal
prejudice can be defined as "conscious social efforts to separate whites from blacks in order to
preserve the old legal world of white supremacy." (Bennet) Today the term "white privilege" has
morphed, and is often used without considering all aspects of a situation.
Today the term "white privilege" assumes that people only look at skin color. This concept does not
look at the whole picture but maligns people without intending because they are bitter about what
they don't understand....show more content...
They are labels that only make up half of the person. These are also labels that are not usually called
to account for the things that their privileges allows them. Here are some examples.
Pretty Privilege–
The ability to get jobs simply because you're beautiful.
Being seen as the person to be around, for social status.
To exist without being judged as ugly and not worth anything because of it.
Male Privilege–
You can be at the top of a business without the assumption you slept your way to the top.
Your decisions capabilities in general will never be questioned depending on what time of the month
it is.
Heterosexuality Privilege–
Being able to be sure that your roommate, hall mates and classmates will be comfortable with your
sexual orientation.
My sexual orientation is not assumed to be a product of abuse, warped or psychological confusion.
My masculinity/femininity is not challenged because of my sexual orientation
Ableist Privilege–
Being able to be a pedestrian with about being perpetually worried you might not see the stop

White Privilege Analysis
Unwanted Truths behind White Privilege
We live in a country that feels the urge to label every individual, group, or race however;
sometimes that label does not truly represent that individual. For instance, the U.S. Census Bureau,
during the 1940s classified Hispanics/ Latinos as white. In this case being labeled, as White did not
benefit Hispanics/Latinos because they did not enjoy the same privileges as a White person.
However, it was not until 1970 during Nixon's administration that the academia term Hispanic was
created, but it was not included in the Census until 1980. Regardless of how long it took to be
included within the Census, the Hispanic/ Latino race will always live under the oppression of the
superior race due to the phenomenon...show more content...
Daily, law enforcement will stop a Hispanic/Latino for doing something "suspicious" when it is
consider the norm for another ethnicity. For example, in Arizona, Hispanics/ Latinos were targets
of racial profiling; they were being stopped by law enforcement to verify their legal status. In this
it is necessary to point out that not a single white person lives under the constant fear of being a
suspect for being at the wrong place at the wrong time because minorities such as Hispanics
/ Latinos or Blacks will consider accountable of it according to Latino Policy and Issues Brief by
Abel Valenzuela, Hispanic score of 0.77 under of the sub–index of criminal justice. This sub–index
is composed of measuring "equality before the law and arrest" (Valenzuela). This demonstrates the
inequality among the system that is meant to protect

Essay On White Privilege

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