Blog Post #1: Privilege, Power, and Difference by Alan Johnson (Quotes)

     

  In Privilege, Power, and Difference, author Alan Johnson examines social differences, primarily race, gender, and sexual orientation, and how they have caused "trouble" in the world, for years and years. While these differences have, of course, caused a lot of hate and violence in the world, they have also created an array of barriers and stigmas that lead to difficulties in remedying these issues. Johnson asserts that “We can’t talk about it if we can’t use the words.” (Johnson 11) Many people have an instant negative reaction to words surrounding this topic, such as any word ending with ‘-ism,’ or they simply do not want to associate themselves with those words, as they are often deemed “taboo” or impolite. However, change towards oppression and its many forms cannot be tackled until you can recognize it, and once you name it, you can then think, talk about, and even reclaim it. 

        Another eye-opening quote covers the economic gender cap and general divides within the workplace, stating “The glass ceiling that lets women see the executive suite but keeps them from being promoted to it is as thick as ever…” (Johnson 3) Here, the author conveys the lack of respect for females and the ways in which they are consistently taken less seriously or treated inferiorly. Oftentimes, companies don’t trust placing a woman into a higher position, as they may adhere to a stereotypical way of thinking in which women are incapable, too emotional, too weak, and more. This goes to show that in society, at the tip of the hierarchy lies the straight, white male, and this reading explains how advantageous this role can be. 

Later on in the reading, Johnson touches on the “luxury of obliviousness,” stating that

“To be white in America means not having to think about it.” (Johnson 25) This quote

highlights an almost ‘hidden’ privilege, in the sense that just the status of being white gives us less of a reason to pay attention to other races and their potential struggles, as we are always provided with the proper resources and always

made to feel secure and comfortable, something minorities often can’t relate to. It is this “obliviousness” that should be mended into awareness– a task that requires effort and commitment. Johnson ensures that this awareness doesn’t not mean taking blame, but simply an acknowledgement of how our lives are shaped and led based on our identity and the social reality. 

Point of discussion: Johnson mentions something that I found thought-provoking, which was that “Whites don’t have to deal with the endless and exhausting stream of attention to their race.” This is true and it’s interesting how white people are so visible that they can be invisible, in a sense. Some could argue that they have no real racial identity, and therefore do not have to deal with the weight of the matter. White privilege in most cases prevents a person from moving through life being identified as “an outsider.” These situations can be prominent in schools, especially those lacking in diversity, which could affect academic performance or negative feelings towards school.    

 

The proverbial "glass ceiling"...

Link to the popular, educational book White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo