Privilege, Power & Privilege, Power & DifferenceDifference

Allan G. JohnsonAllan G. Johnson

Chapter 9Chapter 9

Getting off the HookGetting off the Hook

Denial and ResistanceDenial and Resistance

No one likes to see themselves as connected to No one likes to see themselves as connected to someone else’s misery, no matter how remote someone else’s misery, no matter how remote the link.the link.

So their first response is to find a way to get So their first response is to find a way to get themselves off the hook.themselves off the hook.

But we are all on the hook [ 117]But we are all on the hook [ 117]

Deny and MinimizeDeny and Minimize

““Racism and sexism used to be problems, but Racism and sexism used to be problems, but they aren’t anymore.”they aren’t anymore.”

““The American Dream is alive and well and The American Dream is alive and well and available to everyone.”available to everyone.”

There are no gays or lesbians where I work, so There are no gays or lesbians where I work, so sexual orientation isn’t an issue here.”sexual orientation isn’t an issue here.”

““Affirmative action has turned the tables…”Affirmative action has turned the tables…”

MinimizeMinimize

Acknowledge that it exists but doesn’t amount Acknowledge that it exists but doesn’t amount to much i.e.to much i.e. Women & minorities “whine”Women & minorities “whine” ““just get on with it!”just get on with it!”

Denying the reality of oppression also denies the Denying the reality of oppression also denies the reality of the privilege that underlies it, which is reality of the privilege that underlies it, which is just what it takes to GET OFF THE HOOK!just what it takes to GET OFF THE HOOK!

[118] [118]

Blame the VictimBlame the Victim

One can acknowledge that privilege and One can acknowledge that privilege and oppression exist and even that they have oppression exist and even that they have terrible consequences for people and still get terrible consequences for people and still get off the hook by blaming it all on them!off the hook by blaming it all on them! ““If blacks were smarter or worked harder or got an If blacks were smarter or worked harder or got an

education, they’d be okay.”education, they’d be okay.” ““Some women are hypersensitive”Some women are hypersensitive” ““They had no business being there.”They had no business being there.” ““They were asking for it.”They were asking for it.”

Blaming the VictimBlaming the Victim

The result of such thinking is that oppression The result of such thinking is that oppression is blamed on the people who suffer most from is blamed on the people who suffer most from it, while privilege and those who benefit it, while privilege and those who benefit remain invisible and relatively untouched. remain invisible and relatively untouched. And off the hook.And off the hook.

Call it something elseCall it something else

A more subtle way to deny oppression and A more subtle way to deny oppression and privilege:privilege: ““battle of the sexes”battle of the sexes” ““Women are from Venus and Men are from Mars” Women are from Venus and Men are from Mars”

p.120, 121p.120, 121 This is most highly developed in relation to gender This is most highly developed in relation to gender

inequality because women and men depend on one inequality because women and men depend on one another in ways that other groups do not.another in ways that other groups do not.

It’s Better This WayIt’s Better This Way

Blacks prefer to “live among other blacks”.Blacks prefer to “live among other blacks”. But really it’s whites who want to “live with But really it’s whites who want to “live with

their own kind”.their own kind”. Economics is used to justify segregation when Economics is used to justify segregation when

it is really racism.it is really racism. Our patriarchal culture promotes this kind of Our patriarchal culture promotes this kind of

privilege. [122privilege. [122

It doesn’t count if you don’t mean it.It doesn’t count if you don’t mean it.

We use an individual-guilt model to explain We use an individual-guilt model to explain just about everything that goes wrong so it’s just about everything that goes wrong so it’s easy to confuse intention with consequences. easy to confuse intention with consequences. [123][123]

If your intentions are good, then nothing bad If your intentions are good, then nothing bad can happen from them.can happen from them.

Women object to consequences they don’t like Women object to consequences they don’t like and men defend against conscious intentions and men defend against conscious intentions they didn’t feel they had.they didn’t feel they had.

Meaning comes from CultureMeaning comes from Culture

Men can Men can think think they’re just being nice guys they’re just being nice guys without realizing the patriarchal system they without realizing the patriarchal system they are promoting.are promoting.

Men may not consciously intend to put women Men may not consciously intend to put women down, and what men do often down, and what men do often doesdoes put women put women down.down.

We need to ask ourselves what we mean We need to ask ourselves what we mean whenever we say “I didn’t mean it”.[127]whenever we say “I didn’t mean it”.[127]

I’m one of the good onesI’m one of the good ones

Bad things happen because of bad peopleBad things happen because of bad people But the truth is that our silence, inaction and But the truth is that our silence, inaction and

especially our passive acceptance of the especially our passive acceptance of the everyday privilege that goes along with group everyday privilege that goes along with group membership are all it takes to make us just as membership are all it takes to make us just as much a part of the problem as any member of much a part of the problem as any member of the Klan.the Klan.

[130-1][130-1]

Sick and TiredSick and Tired

The feeling of being annoyed by something, The feeling of being annoyed by something, put upon. Thus it can seem as though it’s put upon. Thus it can seem as though it’s everywhere…everywhere…

This discussion disturbs the “luxury of This discussion disturbs the “luxury of obliviousness” that comes with privilege.obliviousness” that comes with privilege.

Life is hard for everyone, “don’t bring us your Life is hard for everyone, “don’t bring us your troubles, we got troubles of our own”troubles, we got troubles of our own”

[133] Sick & Tired is a defense [134][133] Sick & Tired is a defense [134]

Getting off the hook by getting Getting off the hook by getting onon

On the hookOn the hook also means being “committed, also means being “committed, obliged and involved” [135]obliged and involved” [135]

Off the hookOff the hook is to live in illusion and denial as is to live in illusion and denial as if one can choose whether to be involved in if one can choose whether to be involved in the life of our society and the consequences it the life of our society and the consequences it produces.produces.

What Can We Do?What Can We Do?

The challenge we face is to:The challenge we face is to: Change patterns of exclusion, rejection, privilege, Change patterns of exclusion, rejection, privilege,

harassment, discrimination and violence harassment, discrimination and violence These have existed for hundreds (or thousands) of These have existed for hundreds (or thousands) of

years.years. Think about the trouble in new and more Think about the trouble in new and more

productive ways.productive ways.

Silence & invisibility allow trouble to Silence & invisibility allow trouble to continue!continue!

Removing what silences them and stands in Removing what silences them and stands in their way can tap an enormous potential of their way can tap an enormous potential of energy for change.[137]energy for change.[137]

We have to reclaim some difficult language We have to reclaim some difficult language that names what’s gong on. Language that has that names what’s gong on. Language that has been so misused and maligned that it generates been so misused and maligned that it generates more heat than light – more heat than light – racism, sexism and racism, sexism and privilege.privilege.

The Core RealityThe Core Reality

The problem is privilege and the power that The problem is privilege and the power that maintains it. maintains it.

““Privilege exists when one group has Privilege exists when one group has something that is systematically denied to something that is systematically denied to others not because of who they are or what others not because of who they are or what they’ve done or not done, but because of the they’ve done or not done, but because of the social category they belong to.” [138]social category they belong to.” [138]

What are the ‘Tools’ we have?What are the ‘Tools’ we have?

Reclaim the languageReclaim the language Understanding the social systemUnderstanding the social system Get used to the paradox of “privileged and Get used to the paradox of “privileged and

unprivileged at the same time”unprivileged at the same time” Matrix of domination (or matrix of privilege)Matrix of domination (or matrix of privilege) Know the forms of oppression (avoidance, Know the forms of oppression (avoidance,

exclusion, rejection, unequal access to exclusion, rejection, unequal access to resources and rewards, and violence.resources and rewards, and violence.

More ToolsMore Tools

This trouble affects everybodyThis trouble affects everybody This trouble affects entire social systemsThis trouble affects entire social systems Being aware of this gives everyone a reason to Being aware of this gives everyone a reason to

include themselves in the solution, how the include themselves in the solution, how the trouble operates in the world and what we can trouble operates in the world and what we can do about it.do about it.

Privilege and oppression are not a thing of the Privilege and oppression are not a thing of the past, it’s happening right now.past, it’s happening right now.

Tools (cont.)Tools (cont.)

Organizations’ approach to changeOrganizations’ approach to change ““Tin cup” approachTin cup” approach ““business case” argument”business case” argument” Third choice: Think about the trouble as Third choice: Think about the trouble as

everyone’s responsibility – everybody’s “hook”- everyone’s responsibility – everybody’s “hook”- and nobody’s fault. and nobody’s fault. (This is especially difficult for members (This is especially difficult for members of privileged groups who have a hard time seeing themselves in of privileged groups who have a hard time seeing themselves in relation to privilege without feeling guilty.)relation to privilege without feeling guilty.)

Tools (cont.)Tools (cont.)

We tend to use the individualistic model that We tend to use the individualistic model that reduces everything to individual intentions or reduces everything to individual intentions or goodness and badness [141]goodness and badness [141]

We have to look at what we’re participating in We have to look at what we’re participating in andand how we choose to participate in relation to how we choose to participate in relation to “paths of least resistance”.“paths of least resistance”.

Understand the reality of privilege [142]Understand the reality of privilege [142]

Myth 1: “It’s Always Been this way Myth 1: “It’s Always Been this way and it always will”and it always will”

NothingNothing has always been this way or any other has always been this way or any other [143][143]

Society, and systems happen only as people Society, and systems happen only as people participate in it, it can’t help being a dynamic participate in it, it can’t help being a dynamic process of creation and re-creation from one process of creation and re-creation from one moment to the next. moment to the next.

[143][143]

Myth 2: Gandhi’s Paradox and the Myth 2: Gandhi’s Paradox and the Myth of no EffectMyth of no Effect

If we are going to be part of the solution, we If we are going to be part of the solution, we have to let go of the idea that change doesn’t have to let go of the idea that change doesn’t happen unless we’re around to see it happen.happen unless we’re around to see it happen.

We need “time constancy”[146]We need “time constancy”[146] We must live with the paradox of mattering We must live with the paradox of mattering

and not mattering.and not mattering. We must travel without knowing where we are We must travel without knowing where we are

going.going.

We may cling to the belief that there is nothing We may cling to the belief that there is nothing we can do precisely because we we can do precisely because we subconsciously know how much power we subconsciously know how much power we dodo have and are afraid to use it because people have and are afraid to use it because people may not like it.may not like it.

When we openly pass up a path of least When we openly pass up a path of least resistance, we increase resistance for other resistance, we increase resistance for other people around that path …[148]people around that path …[148]

What can we do?What can we do?

Acknowledge that the Trouble existsAcknowledge that the Trouble exists Change how we think [154]Change how we think [154] Maintaining a critical consciousness takes Maintaining a critical consciousness takes

commitment and work; awareness is something we commitment and work; awareness is something we either maintain in the moment or we don’t. either maintain in the moment or we don’t.

The only way to hang on to an awareness of The only way to hang on to an awareness of systems of privilege is to make it an ongoing part systems of privilege is to make it an ongoing part of our lives.of our lives.

Pay AttentionPay Attention

Read and make reading about privilege a part Read and make reading about privilege a part of your life.of your life.

What we think we know is, if not wrong, so What we think we know is, if not wrong, so deeply shaped by systems of privilege that it deeply shaped by systems of privilege that it misses most of the truth.misses most of the truth.

Look at yourself and the world to see if you Look at yourself and the world to see if you can identify what you’re reading aboutcan identify what you’re reading about

Little Risks: Do SomethingLittle Risks: Do Something

Make noise, be seen – Break the silence Make noise, be seen – Break the silence Find little ways to withdraw support from Find little ways to withdraw support from

paths of least resistance and people’s choices paths of least resistance and people’s choices to follow them, starting with yourself. to follow them, starting with yourself. Interrupt “business as usual”Interrupt “business as usual”

Dare to make people feel uncomfortable, Dare to make people feel uncomfortable, beginning with yourself.beginning with yourself.

Things we can doThings we can do

Openly choose and model alternative pathsOpenly choose and model alternative paths Actively promote change in how systems are Actively promote change in how systems are

organized around privilege [162]organized around privilege [162] Support the right of women and men to love Support the right of women and men to love

whomever they choose.whomever they choose. Pay attention to how different forms of Pay attention to how different forms of

oppression interact with one another.oppression interact with one another.

What we can do What we can do

Work with other people [164]Work with other people [164] Understand what people of color need from Understand what people of color need from

white allies: respect, find out about us, don’t white allies: respect, find out about us, don’t take over, provide information, etc. [165]take over, provide information, etc. [165]

Talk to other white people [166]Talk to other white people [166] Don’t keep it to yourself.Don’t keep it to yourself. Don’t let others set the standard for you.Don’t let others set the standard for you.

What’s in it for me?What’s in it for me?

When white people make a commitment to When white people make a commitment to participate in change, to be more than part of participate in change, to be more than part of the problem, the problem, they free themselves to live in the they free themselves to live in the world without feeling open to guilt simply for world without feeling open to guilt simply for being white.being white.

Acting with courage empowers in ways that Acting with courage empowers in ways that can extend to every corner of our livescan extend to every corner of our lives

What’s in it for me?What’s in it for me?

With each strand of the knot of privilege that With each strand of the knot of privilege that we help to work loose and unravel, we don’t we help to work loose and unravel, we don’t act simply for ourselves, we join a process of act simply for ourselves, we join a process of creative resistance to oppression, unfolding for creative resistance to oppression, unfolding for 1,000 of years1,000 of years

Dare to make a difference – to look at things Dare to make a difference – to look at things as they are, to imagine something better, and as they are, to imagine something better, and to plant seeds of change in yourself, in others to plant seeds of change in yourself, in others and in the world.and in the world.