Ph.D. Peggy McIntosh wrote an article in 1988 titled “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack”. In the article, McIntosh explains a certain set of privileges that come with being white and living in the United States of America. The idea for the article came to her as she was writing another article about male privilege in America. To McIntosh, racism is something which puts another at a disadvantage. She realized that this omission had to mean that if one was inherently advantaged, another would be placed at a disadvantage. In her paper, she explains that many of these perks go unnoticed unless one has experienced life from the disadvantaged side of the situation. Her paper reads from her point of view as a white women living in
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However, the article did not have any statistical data. There are numerous studies that could have been included to further prove McIntosh’s point. This data could have further illuminated the author’s point of white privilege. Also, a deeper explanation into what the term “white privilege” means, how the term was originated, and the history behind it would have given readers a better understanding of the …show more content…
I was unaware of the term and what it meant in America. I realize that it does not mean that because one is white that will automatically be successful or affluent. It simply means that there are many things that are givens for a white person that are not for many other ethnicities. The unfortunate truth is anyone of any ethnicity can have racist feeling towards another group of groups of people. I believe once one has decided they do not like a specific group solely based on their color, religion, or sexual orientation, it opens the door for more hate. Once one has allowed these feelings and ideals to fester within them, they can be easily convinced to dislike others because they are different from the person. People become racist or intolerant of others for many reasons. Some do not see a specific ethnicity or group of people as individuals. This makes it difficult to base one’s opinion of a person of how they act when one has already formed an opinion of an entire race or group of people It also depends on the type of setting one was raised in that can help mold these opinions early in
However, the article did not have any statistical data. There are numerous studies that could have been included to further prove McIntosh’s point. This data could have further illuminated the author’s point of white privilege. Also, a deeper explanation into what the term “white privilege” means, how the term was originated, and the history behind it would have given readers a better understanding of the …show more content…
I was unaware of the term and what it meant in America. I realize that it does not mean that because one is white that will automatically be successful or affluent. It simply means that there are many things that are givens for a white person that are not for many other ethnicities. The unfortunate truth is anyone of any ethnicity can have racist feeling towards another group of groups of people. I believe once one has decided they do not like a specific group solely based on their color, religion, or sexual orientation, it opens the door for more hate. Once one has allowed these feelings and ideals to fester within them, they can be easily convinced to dislike others because they are different from the person. People become racist or intolerant of others for many reasons. Some do not see a specific ethnicity or group of people as individuals. This makes it difficult to base one’s opinion of a person of how they act when one has already formed an opinion of an entire race or group of people It also depends on the type of setting one was raised in that can help mold these opinions early in