This week I was assigned two readings, "Unpacking the Knapsack of Privilege" by Peggy McIntosh and "Who Am I" by Beverly Daniel Tatum. McIntosh accounts the inequality, that is prevalent in todays society, on the innate privileges people have and are unaware of. Tatum touches on the complexity of identity and how the role the "dominate" groups effect subordinate groups when identifying themselves.
After reading both readings, I had to do a little self-reflection. Being a female hispanic, I don't have white or male privileges that put me at an advantage, yet this doesn't mean I don't have any privileges. If you think about it I have many "privileges". I contain the able-bodied privilege, christian privilege, heterosexual privilege, etc. Acknowledging these different privileges allows me to see the world from different perspectives. Knowing these privileges, allows room for change. It allows me to change the way I communicate with people and the way I think. If everyone were to acknowledge their privileges, we may be able to redesign social systems and reconstruct power systems just as McIntosh states.
Finding out that race is a modern idea, makes the idea of redesigning the social system more attainable. Since we as a society created "race", we as a society can get rid of that idea. Yes it is going to be difficult, but I believe we, as a society, can make it happen.
Being a hispanic female, I agree with you. Even though we do not have white or male privilege there is so much more that we are privileged in. People can be oppressed by any category they are able to be a part of such as religion, sexuality, even what their major is.
ReplyDeleteFiguring out what one is privileged in makes one appreciate everything so much more. This would help in redesigning social systems. We all have to appreciate our differences and learn from them not put each other down.
I had a similar reaction to you when reading Beverly Tatum's article Initially I approached it with the mindset that, as an Asian female, I am in the minority. But then I realized how complex the question "Who am I?" really is. It is more than just gender and race and extends to the items you touched on, such as being able-bodied, heterosexual, and more. I hope that we can not only acknowledge each other's privileges but also embrace and even celebrate them as we make our society a more equal and welcoming place.
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