Entry 4

Sean Guntvedt
A02

            Until I read this article, I had never really possessed the thought to challenge the concept that racism and sexism operated like a one-way road—that is to say that only minorities and females are the only ones involved and being disenfranchised. The road to discrimination, as Peggy McIntosh explains, is not one-way but two-way through which minorities and females are disadvantaged while Caucasians and males receive a distinct advantage. Apparently, this is the position that society attempts to instill in people, teaching them that it is okay to admit these groups receive discrimination but not that other groups benefit from this harm. McIntosh does a superior job of describing how she has realized that the white privilege does indeed exist in her own life. Being relatively new to the concept, I have chosen in this week’s reflection to elaborate on the author’s observations and how they are prevalent in my own life.

             

            Taking an African American studies class, I am very well aware that observation 6 is present these days. A caricature recently developed by the media, the “hilarious black neighbor” depicts African Americans as being buffoonish and overdramatic in their testimonies; examples include the viral video sensations, like the “Bed Intruder” and Charles Ramsey. Caucasians, on the other hand, are often seen as model eyewitnesses who are composed.

            Observation 20 is one of the most relevant to Asian Americans. I have a 10-year-old brother, half Caucasian and half Chinese like me, who has already adopted the belief that Asian Americans are supposed to excel in school. He believes that his ability to perform well on his STAR tests are attributed to his Chinese heritage, as opposed based on his merit.

            Lastly, I find observation 46 the most interesting, perhaps, because many individuals do not realize that standard bandages have a pink color for a reason. I certainly did not, but now I wonder why companies do not produce “brown” color bandages. The answer likely lies in the fact that different colored bandages would not receive enough interest. Nevertheless, I have seen an effort by some companies to produce a clear gauze, which blends well with any skin color.

Question: What are some examples in your life where you might have witnessed white/male privilege?