Privilege And Discrimination

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How do you know if you are a product of privilege? Is it the color of your skin, the contents of your pocketbook or that of your parents, or is it the social status of your family? Are you privileged because of who you are or what you are? According to Jackson, “privilege refers to any advantage that is unearned, exclusive, and socially conferred” (Johnson, What is a 'system of privilege '?, 2013). How one is viewed; what makes them different from the next person at any time is a distinction that can be discriminated against. Being privileged is more than what you are allowed or not allowed to be or do; it is not an honor or award. “Privilege exists when one group has something of value that is denied to others simply because of the groups they belong to, rather than because of anything they’ve done or failed to do.” (Johnson, Privilege, Power and Difference, 2006, p. 21) The way privilege does exist is when we place people into social classes and give superiority to a …show more content…
At times we may not realize that we generalize a group or class as good, bad, superior or inferior. Saying one is disabled, black or white, heterosexual or homosexual, or stating a specific religious following is pointing out differences or social classes; and giving precedents to a specific group is privileging them.
I have struggled with the thought that I could be considered white privilege. I live in a predominately white community, not really exposed to different colors and very few individuals of different nationalities. I have lived by the golden rule of my religion that you treat others as you would want to be treated. But through the experience of education regarding privilege, power and differences, I have realized that I may discriminate others not by conscious acts. “Many people are not aware of why they treat certain people certain ways…” (Equity

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