Privilege, Power, and Difference by Alan Johnson
Quotes
“Racist isn’t just another word for ‘bad white people,’ just as patriarchy isn’t a bit of nasty code for ‘men’” (Alan 13).
Alan describes race, gender, class, and sexuality as categories of difference within society. Here, he is suggesting that the often-considered taboo, words such as racist, patriarchy, etc. are not actually defined by the way people largely interpret them. Instead of racist meaning that white people are all bad, it means that due to societal constructs, certain populations of people based on race, are at a disadvantage at the cost of another advantage. Then, in the segment about patriarchy, Alan is referring to the bigger picture. His intention is not to come at the individuals in these groups, white people or men. Instead, he is coming at the entire social system. He is implying that such words are not to be met with defensiveness, but that they should be used to make impactful change in society.
“People usually form impressions without thinking, and they rely on them in order to see the world as an organized and predictable place from one moment to the next” (Alan 20).
Here, Alan highlights the idea that it is only human nature that people unconsciously form opinions based on the things they already know, in a way that is clear and makes sense. An example I think of to explain this quote is the concept of implicit bias, a preconceived opinion about a certain person that is underlying. The person with implicit bias is not even aware of it. Moreover, people usually think in a way that is convenient for their mind, and it serves as an automatic reaction. It would be much more complicated for people to stop and think, as well as accept the world as unorganized and chaotic.
“Whiteness is privileged in this society, and I have access to that privilege only when people identify me as belonging to the category ‘white’” (Alan 35).
Alan is stating here that certain defining qualities within the categories of difference he talks about are privileged, such as the category of whiteness. The point he is trying to make though, is that if one is not seen as being a part of this category, the privilege does not pertain. For example, if someone is of mixed race but part white, they will not be seen as white and therefore will not receive the same privilege as those viewed as white. Beyond that, Alan is suggesting that privilege is reliant on perception which is fascinating. Perception varies based on societal constructs and from person to person.
Reflection: I found this reading by Alan to be very insightful. I think it is very important to recognize that privilege does not come without a cost to someone else, whether you see it or not. A question I have after reading this is, how do we change people's attitudes around these words and concepts, and make the shift from seeing them as taboo? How do we change the culture of society so that the initial response is not defensiveness?
Psychology Today- Changing Culture
