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
Hi Georgie,
ReplyDeleteI really liked the quotes you chose, I think that they sum up a lot of the arguments Allan Johnson was trying to make.
I really enjoyed his take on reforming the social systems that are present in today's society. I think a lot of people that are privileged sometimes get defensive when topics, especially racism is brought up. I think that some people get defensive when topics, especially racism are brought up, because they do not consider themselves to be racist. I appreciate how Johnson encourages the readers to reframe this thought, instead of pushing individuals to think it is their own fault that racism exist, but instead to acknowledge that they are part of a system that has these racist structures, and may possibly be benefiting from it. This push away from blame towards accountability is very important to get our society out of this "paralysis". He says that, if people who are privileged cannot see themselves as a part of the problem, they won't see themselves being part of the solution either.
You chose great quotes and insightful reflections! I really enjoyed reading it. I think if we can hold ourselves accountable for our parts then we can grow. I definitely learned this from my experiences.
ReplyDeleteHelloe Georgie! I greatly appreciated the way you dissected Johnson’s argument regarding privilege and perception. You perfectly demonstrated that he does not seek to label individuals as "bad," but rather draws attention to the broader social systems that shape inequality. I particularly resonate with your analysis regarding defensiveness: much of the tension surrounding conversations about race, gender, and privilege stems from the fact that people feel personally attacked, rather than recognizing the structural nature of these issues. This is precisely why these topics are so delicate to address. I am convinced that change begins with cultivating empathy and creating spaces where everyone can examine their own biases without feeling shame. When we understand that privilege often remains invisible to those who benefit from it, we can begin to move past guilt and denial, turning instead toward responsibility and action. This is what I call the "initiative phase" of the revolution—for this alone will never be enough to force the beneficiaries of these privileges, or the custodians of this system, to capitulate.
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