The Trouble Were In: Privilege, Power, and Difference Allan G. Johnson Thetroublearounddifferenceisreallyaboutprivilegeandpowertheexistenceofprivilege andthelopsideddistributionofpowerthatkeepsitgoing.Thetroubleisrootedinalegacyweall inherited,andwhilewerehere,itbelongstous.Itisntourfault.Itwasntcausedbysomethingwedid ordidntdo.Butnowitsallours,itsuptoustodecidehowweregoingtodealwithitbeforewe collectivelypassitalongtothegenerationsthatwillfollowours. Talkingaboutpowerandprivilegeisnteasy,whichiswhypeoplerarelydo.Thereasonforthis omissionseemstobeagreatfearofanythingthatmightmakewhitesormalesorheterosexuals uncomfortableorpitgroupsagainsteachother,1eventhoughgroupsarealreadypittedagainstone anotherbythestructuresofprivilegethatorganizesocietyasawhole.Thefearkeepspeoplefrom lookingatwhatsgoingonandmakesitimpossibletodoanythingabouttherealitythatliesdeeper down,sothattheycanmovetowardthekindofworldthatwouldbebetterforeveryone. Difference Is Not the Problem Ignoringprivilegekeepsusinastateofunreality,bypromotingtheillusionthedifferenceby itselfistheproblem.Insomeways,ofcourse,itcanbeaproblemwhenpeopletrytoworktogether acrossculturaldividesthatsetgroupsuptothinkanddothingstheirownway.Buthumanbeingshave beenovercomingsuchdividesforthousandsofyearsasamatterofroutine.Therealillusionconnected todifferenceisthepopularassumptionthatpeoplearenaturallyafraidofwhattheydontknowor understand.Thissupposedlymakesitinevitablethatyoullfearanddistrustpeoplewhoarentlikeyou and,inspiteofyourgoodintentions,youllfinditallbutimpossibletogetalongwiththem. Forallitspopularity,theideathateveryoneisnaturallyfrightenedbydifferenceisacultural myththat,morethananything,justifieskeepingoutsidersontheoutsideandtreatingthembadlyif theyhappentogetin.Themerefactthatsomethingisneworstrangeisntenoughtomakeusafraidof it.WhenEuropeansfirstcametoNorthAmerica,forexample,theywerentterriblyafraidofthepeople theyencountered,andthetypicalNativeAmericanresponsewastowelcometheseastonishingly differentpeoplewithopenarms(muchtotheirlaterregret).Scientists,psychotherapists,inventors, novelists(andtheirfans),explorers,philosophers,spiritualists,anthropologists,andthejustplain curiousarealldrawntothemysteryofwhattheydontknow.Evenchildrenprobablythemost vulnerableformthatpeoplecomeinseemtolovetheunknown,whichiswhyparentsarealways worryingaboutwhattheirtoddlerhasgottenintonow. Thereisnothinginherentlyfrighteningaboutwhatwedontknow.Ifwefeelafraid,itisntwhat wedontknowthatfrightensus,itswhatwethinkwedoknow.Theproblemisourideasaboutwhat wedontknowwhatmighthappennextorwhatslurkingbehindtheunopeneddoororinthemindof thestrangelookingguysittingacrossfromusonthenearlyemptytrain.Andhowwethinkabout suchthingsisntsomethingwerebornwith.Welearntodoitlikewelearntotieourshoes,talk,and justabouteverythingelse.Ifwetakedifferenceanddiversityasreasonsforfearandoccasionsfor trouble,itsbecausewevelearnedtothinkabouttheminwaysthatmakeforfearandtrouble. Mapping Difference: Who Are We?
1White,MaleandWorried,BusinessWeek,January31,1994,pp.55 Issuesofdifferencecoveralargeterritory.Ausefulwaytoputitinperspectiveiswiththe diversitywheeldevelopedbyMarilynLodenandJudyRosener.2Inthehubofthewheelaresixsocial characteristics:age,race,ethnicity,gender,physicalabilityandqualities(left/righthandedness,height, andsoon),andsexualorientation.Aroundtheouterringareseveralothers,includingreligionmarital status,whetherwereparents,andsocialǦclassindicatorssuchaseducation,occupationandincome. Anyonecandescribethemselvesbygoingaroundthewheel.Startinginthehub,Immale, EnglishǦNorwegian(asfarasIknow),white(alsoasfarasIknow),fiftyǦfouryearsold,heterosexual,and physicallyable(sofar).Intheouterring,Immarried,afather,andamiddleǦclassprofessionalwitha Ph.D.IvelivedinNewEnglandformostofmylife,butIvealsolivedinothercountries.Ihavea vaguelyChristianbackground,butifIhadtoidentifymyspirituallifewithaparticulartradition,Idlean moretowardZenBuddhismthananythingelse.IservedabriefstintintheArmyreserves. ItwouldbeusefulifyoustoppedreadingforamomentandowhatIjustdid.Goaroundthe diversitywheelandgetasenseofyourselfintermsofit.
Asyoureflectontheresultsofthisexercise,itmightoccurtoyou(asitdidtome)thatthewheel doesntsatmuchabouttheuniqueindividualyouknowyourselftobe,yourpersonalhistory,the contentofyourcharacter,whatyoudreamandfeel.Itdoes,however,sayalotaboutthesocialreality thatshapeseveryoneslifeinpowerfulways. Imagine,forexample,thatyouwokeuptomorrowmorningandfoundthatyourracewas differentfromwhatitwaswhenyouwenttobed(theplotofa1970moviecalledWatermelonMan).Or imaginethatyourgenderorsexualorientationhadchanged(ashappenedtothecentralcharacterin VirginiaWoolfsnovelOrlando).Howwouldthataffecthowpeopleperceiveyouandtreatyou?How woulditaffecthowyouseeyourself?Howwoulditchangethematerialcircumstancesofyourlife,such aswhereyouliveorhowmuchmoneyyouhave?Inwhatwayswouldthechangemakelifebetter? Worse?
2BasedonTheDiversityWheel.FromWorkforceAmericabyM.LodenandJ.Rosener,McGrawǦHill,1991. Inansweringthesequestions,trytogobeyondtheobviousconsequencestoseetheonesthat areperhapsmoresubtle.Ifyoureheterosexualnow,forexample,andwakeupgayorlesbian,your sexualfeelingsaboutwomenandmenwouldbedifferent.Butwhatabouthowpeopleperceiveyou andtreatyouinwaysunrelatedtosex?Wouldpeopletreatyoudifferentlyatschoolorwork?Would friendstreatyoudifferently?Parentsandsiblings?Wouldyoufeellessincludedamongfriends?In similarways,whatchangeswouldyouexperienceinswitchingfromfemaletomaleorfrommaleto female,fromwhitetoAfricanAmerican,fromAsianorLatino/atoAnglo,orfromphysicallyabletousing awheelchair?Again,focusonthesocialconsequences,onhowpeopleperceiveyouandtreatyouif suchathinghappenedtoyou.Whatopportunitieswouldopenorclose?Whatrewardswouldor wouldntcomeyourway? Formostpeople,shiftingonlyafewpartsofthediversitywheelwouldbeenoughtochange theirlivesdramatically.Eventhoughthecharacteristicsinthewheelmaynottelluswhoweas individualsareintheprivacyofourheartsandsouls,theymatteragreatdealinoursocietybecause theylocateusinrelationtootherpeopleandtheworldinwaysthathavehugeconsequences. Thetroublearounddiversity,then,isntjustthatpeopledifferfromoneanother.Thetroubleis producedbyaworldorganizedinwaysthatencouragepeopletousedifferencetoincludeorexclude, rewardorpunish,creditordiscredit,elevateoroppress,valueordevalue,leavealoneorharass. Thisisespeciallytrueofthecharacteristicsinthecenterofthewheel,whichhavetheadded qualityofbeingalmostimpossibletochange.ItstruethatsexǦchangesurgeryisavailableandthatits possibleforsomepeopletopassforaraceorsexualorientationthatisotherthanwhattheyknow themselvestobe.Butthisisquitedifferentfrombeingmarriedonedaydivorcedthenext,orgettinga newjobthatsuddenlyelevatesyourclassposition.Unliketheouterportionofthewheel,theinner portionconsistsofcharacteristicsthat,onewayoranother,wemustlearntolivewithregardlessof howwechoosetorevealourselvestoothers. Peoplesperceptionsaredifficulttocontrol,however,fortheytendtoassumetheycanidentify characteristicssuchasraceandgendersimplybylookingatsomeone.Weroutinelyformquick impressionsofrace,gender,age,orsexualorientation.Sometimestheseimpressionsarebasedon blanketassumptionsthateveryone,forexample,isheterosexualuntilprovenotherwise.Orifthey lookwhite,theyarewhite.Peopleusuallyformsuchimpressionswithoutthinking,andtheyrelyon theminordertoseetheworldasanorganizedandpredictableplacefromonemomenttothenext. Wemaynotrealizehowroutinelyweformsuchimpressionsuntilwerunintosomeonewho doesntfitneatlyintooneofourcategories,especiallygenderorsexualorientation.Passsomeoneon thestreetwhomyoucantidentifyasclearlymaleorfemale,forexample,anditcanjoltyourattention andnagyouuntilyouvefigureditout.Ourcultureallowsforonlytwogenders(comparedtoother culturesthatrecognizeseveral),andanyonewhodoesntfitclearlyoneortheotherisinstantly perceivedasanoutsider.Thisiswhybabiesbornwithamixtureofsexcharacteristicsareroutinely alteredsurgicallytofittheculturallydefinedcategoriesoffemaleandmale.Mostofourwaysof thinkingaboutsexualityarealsobasedonsocialconstruction.Whetherhomosexualbehavioris regardedasnormalordeviant,forexample,dependsontheculturalcontext,asdoesthelarger questionofwhethersexualorientationisperceivedasdefiningthekindofhumanbeingyouareandthe wayyouliveyourlife. Sothecharacteristicsatthecenterofthewheelareveryhardtochange,aretheobjectofquick andfirmimpressions,andcanprofoundlyaffectourlives.Clearly,diversityisntjustaboutthevariety thatthewordsuggests.Diversitycouldjustbeaboutthat,butonlyinsomeotherworld.3
3ThesectionsthatfollowareorganizedaroundtypesofbehaviorthatarediscussedintermsofracismbyJoeR.Feaginand MelvinP.Sykes,LivingwithRacism:TheBlackMiddleǦclassExperience(Boston:BeaconPress,1994)pp21Ǧ22.Iapplythem morebroadly. The Social Construction of Difference ThegayAfricanAmericannovelistJamesBaldwinoncewroteanessayinwhichheofferedthe provocativeideathatthereisnosuchthingaswhiteness,orforthatmatter,blacknessor,more generally,race.Nooneiswhitebeforehe/shecametoAmerica,hewrote,Ittookgenerationsanda vastamountofcoercion,beforethisbecameawhitecountry.4 WhatdidBaldwinmean?Inthesimplestsense,hewaspointingtoabasicaspectofsocial reality:mostofwhatweexperienceas"real"isaculturalcreation.Inotherwords,it'smadeup,even thoughwedon'texperienceitthatway. Takerace,forexample.Baldwinisntdenyingtherealitythatskinpigmentationvariesfromone persontoanother.Whatheissayingisthatunlessyouliveinaculturethatrecognizesthose differencesassignificantandmeaningful,theyaresociallyirrelevantandthereforedonotexist.A blackwomaninAfrica,therefore,whohasnotexperiencedwhiteracism,doesnotthinkofherselfas blackorexperienceherselfasblack,nordothepeoplearoundher.African,yes;awoman,yes.Butnot asablackwoman. WhenshecomestotheUnitedStates,however,whereprivilegeisorganizedaccordingtorace, suddenlyshebecomesblackbecausepeopleassignhertoasocialcategorythatbearsthatname,and theytreatherdifferentlyasaresult.Insimilarways,aNorwegianfarmerhasnoreasontothinkof himselfaswhitesolongashesinNorway.ButwhenhecomestotheUnitedStates,oneofthefirst thingshediscoversisthesignificanceofbeingconsideredwhiteandtheprivilegesthatgoalongwithit. Andsoheiseagertoadoptwhiteaspartofhisidentityandtomakesurethatothersacknowledgeit. SoBaldwinistellingusthatraceandallitscategorieshavenosignificanceoutsideofsystemsof privilegeandoppression,anditisthesesystemsthatcreatedthem.5Thisiswhatsociologistscallthe socialconstructionofreality. Onewaytoseetheconstructednatureofrealityistonoticehowthedefinitionsofdifferent raceschangehistorically,byincludinggroupsatonetimethatwereexcludedinanother.TheIrish, forexample,werelongǦconsideredbythedominantwhiteAngloǦSaxonProtestantsofEnglandandthe UnitesStatestobemembersofanonǦwhiterace,aswereItalians,Jews,andpeoplefromanumber ofEasternEuropeancountries.Assuch,ImmigrantsfromthesegroupstoEnglandandtheUnited Stateswereexcludedandsubjugatedandexploitedinmuchthesamewaytheblackswere.Thiswas especiallytrueoftheIrishinIrelandinrelationtotheBritish,whoforcenturiestreatedthemasan inferiorrace.Notehowever,thattheirskincolorwasindistinguishablefromthatofthoseconsideredto bewhite.Ifanything,theskinofmostpeopleofIrishdescentisfairerthanthatofothersof Europeanheritage.Buttheiractualcomplexiondidntmatter,becausethedominantracialgrouphas theculturalauthoritytodefinetheboundariesaroundwhiteasitchooses. Whatmakessociallyconstructedrealitysopowerfulisthatwerarely,ifever,experienceitas that.Wethinkthewayourculturedefinesraceorgenderorsexualorientationissimplythewaythings areinsomeobjectivesense.Wethinktherereallyissuchathingasraceandthatthewordsweuse simplynameanobjectiverealitythatisoutthere.Thetruthis,however,thatoncehumanbeingsgive somethinganamewhetheritbeskincolororwhomyouliketosleepwiththatthingacquiresa
4JamesBaldwin,OnBeingWhite andOtherLiesEssence,1984.ReprintedinDavidR.Roediger(ed.),BlackonWhite: BlackWritersonWhatitMeanstoBeWhite,pp.17780(NewYork:SchokenBooks,1999) 5Formoreonthesocialconstructionofwhiteness,seeTheodoreW.Allen,TheInventionoftheWhiteRace,vol.1:Racial OppressionandSocialControl(NewYork:Verso,1994);vol.2:TheOriginofRacialOppressioninAngloǦAmerica(NewYork, Verso,1997);CharlesGallagher,WhiteRacialFormation:IntotheTwentyǦFirstCentury,inRichardDelgadoandJean Stefancic(eds.)CriticalWhiteStudies(Philadelphia:TempleUniversityPress,1997),pp.6Ǧ11;ReginaldHorsman,Raceand ManifestDestiny:TheOriginsofAmericanRacialAngloǦSaxonism,inDelgadoandStefancic,pp.13944;andKathleenNeal Cleaver,TheAntidemocraticPowerofWhiteness,inDelgadoandStefancic,pp15763. significanceitwouldnototherwisehave.Moreimportant,thenamequicklytakesonalifeofitsownas weforgetthesocialprocessthatcreateditandstarttreatingitasrealinandofitself. Thisprocessiswhatallowsustobelievethatsomethinglikeraceactuallypointstoasetof clearandunambiguouscategoriesintowhichpeoplefall,ignoringthefactthatthedefinitionofvarious raceschangesallthetimeandisriddledwithinconsistenciesandoverlappingboundaries.Butwhenthe stakesareprivilegeandpower,dominantgroupsarequitewillingtoignoreinconsistenciessolongas theresultisacontinuationoftheirprivilege. What Is Privilege? Nomatterwhatprivilegedgroupyoubelongto,ifyouwanttounderstandtheproblemof privilegeanddifference,thefirststumblingblockisusuallytheideaofprivilegeitself.Whenpeople hearthattheybelongtoaprivilegedgrouporbenefitfromsomethinglikeraceprivilegeorgender privilege,theydontgetit,ortheyfeelangryanddefensiveaboutwhattheydoget.Privilegehas becomeoneofthoseloadedwordsweneedtoreclaimsothatwecanuseittomaneandilluminatethe truth.Denyingthatprivilegeexistsisaseriousbarriertochange.Butfornow,Itsimportanttogeta senseofwhatthewordmeansbeforewegoanyfurther. AsPeggyMcIntoshdescribesit,privilegeexistswhenonegrouphassomethingofvaluethatis deniedtootherssimplybecauseofthegroupstheybelongto,ratherthananythingtheyvedoneor failedtodo.6IfpeopletakememoreseriouslywhenIgiveaspeechthantheywouldsomeoneofcolor sayingthesamethingsinthesameway,forexample,thenImbenefittingfromwhiteprivilege.Thata heterosexualblackwomancanfeelfreetotalkaboutherlifeinwaysthatrevealthefactshesmarried toamanisaformofprivilegebecauseLesbiansandgaymencannotcasuallyrevealtheirsexual orientationwithoutputtingthemselvesatrisk. Noticethatinalltheseexamples,itsrelativelyeasyforpeopletobeunawareofhowprivilege affectsthem.WhenPeoplecomeuptomeafterIgiveaspeech,forexample,itdoesntoccurtome thattheydprobablybemorecriticalandlesspositiveifIwereLatinoorawomanorgay.Idontfeel privilegedinthatmoment.IjustfeelthatIdidagoodjob,andIenjoytherewardsthataresupposedto gowithit. TheexistenceofprivilegedoesntmeanthatIdidntdoagoodjobofcourse,orthatIdont deservecreditforit.WhatitdoesmeanisthatImalsogettingsomethingthatotherpeoplearedenied, peoplewhoarelikemeineverywayexceptforthegender,race,andsexualorientationcategoriesthey belongto.Inthissense,myprivilegedstatusdoesntdeterminemyoutcomes,butitisdefinitelyan assetthatmakesitmorelikelythatwhatevertalent,abilityandaspirationsIhavewillresultin somethinggoodforme.7Inthesameway,beingfemale,orofcolor,orhomosexualdoesntdetermine peoplesoutcomes,buttheyareturnedintoliabilitiesthatmakeitlesslikelythattheirtalent,abilityand aspirationswillberecognizedandrewarded. Theeaseofnotbeingawareofprivilegeisanaspectofprivilegeitself,whatsomecallthe luxuryofobliviousness(orwhatphilosopherscallepistemicprivilege).Awarenessrequireseffort andcommitment.BeingabletocommandtheattentionoflowerǦclassindividualswithouthavingto giveitreturnisakeyaspectofprivilege.AfricanAmericans,forexample,havetopaycloseattentionto whitesandwhitecultureandgettoknowthemwellenoughtoavoiddispleasingthem,sincewhite controljobs,schoolsthepolice,andmostotherresourcesandsourcesofpower.Raceprivilegegives whiteslittlereasontopayalotofattentiontoAfricanAmericansortohowwhiteprivilegeaffects
6Forhernowclassicstatementoftheconceptofprivilege,seePeggyMacIntosh,WhitePrivilegeandMalePrivilege:A PersonalAccountofComingtoSeeCorrespondencesThroughWorkinWomensStudieswidelyreprinted. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peggy_McIntosh 7Ibid. them.Inotherwords,TobewhiteinAmericameansnothavingtothinkaboutit.8Wecouldsaythe samethinaboutmalenessorheterosexualityoranyotherbasisforprivilege.Sostrongisthesenseof entitlementbehindthisluxurythatmales,whites,andotherscanfeelputuponinthefaceofeventhe mildestinvitationtopayattentiontoissuesofprivilege.weshouldnthavetolookatthisstuff,they seemtosay,itisntfair. Two Types of Privilege AccordingtoMacIntosh,privilegecomesintwotypes.Thefirstisbasedonwhatshecalls unearnedentitlements,whicharethingsthatallpeopleshouldhave,suchasfeelingsafeinpublic placesorworkinginaplacewheretheyfeeltheybelongandarevaluedforwhattheycancontribute. Whenanunearnedentitlementisrestrictedtocertaingroups,however,itbecomesaformofprivilege shecallsunearnedadvantage. Insomecases,itspossibletodoawaywithunearnedadvantageswithoutanyonehavingtolose out.Iftheworkplacechangessothateveryonewasvaluedforwhattheycouldcontribute,forexample, thatprivilegewoulddisappearwithoutthedominantgroupshavingtogiveuptheirownsensethat theyarevaluedfortheircontributions.Theunearnedentitlementwouldthenbeavailabletopalland, assuch,wouldnolongerbeaformofunearnedadvantage. Inmanyothercases,however,unearnedadvantagesgivedominantgroupsacompetitiveedge theyarereluctanttoevenacknowledge,muchlessgiveup.ThisisparticularlytrueoflowerǦ,workingǦ, andlowerǦmiddleǦclasswhitesandmaleswhoknowalltowellthepricetheypayforalackofclass privilegeandhowharditistoimprovetheirlivesandhangontowhattheyvemanagedtoachieve. Theirlackofclassprivilege,howevercanblindthemtothefactthattheculturalvaluingofwhitenessor malenessovercolorandfemalenessgivesthemanedgeinmostsituationsthatinvolveevaluationsof credibilityorcompetence.Togiveupthatadvantagewoulddoubleoreventripletheamountof competition.Thiswouldespeciallyaffectwhitemales,whoareashrinkingnumericalminorityoftheUS population.Alossofraceandgenderprivilegewouldleveltheplayingfieldtoadmitwhitewomenand peopleofcolor,acombinedgroupthatoutnumberswhitemalesbyalargemargin. TheotherformofprivilegewhatMacIntoshcallsconferreddominancegoesastepfurther bygivingonegrouppoweroveranother.Thecommonpatternofmencontrollingconversationswith women,forexample,isgroundedinaculturalassumptionthatmenaresupposedtodominatewomen. Anadolescentboywhoappearstoowillingtodefertohismotherrisksbeingcalledamamasboy,in thesamewaythatahusbandwhoappearsinanywaysubordinatetohiswifeisoftenlabeled henpecked(orworse).Thecounterpartforgirlscarriesnosuchstigma.Daddysgirlisnt consideredaninsultinthisculture,andthelanguagecontainsnospecificinsultingtermsforawoman whoisunderthecontrolofherhusband. Conferreddominancealsomanifestsitselfinraceprivilege.InhisbookTheRageofaPrivileged Class,forexample,theAfricanAmericanjournalistEllisCosetellsthestoryofanAfricanAmerican lawyer,apartnerinalargefirm,whogoestotheofficeearlyoneSaturdaymorningtocatchuponsome workandisconfrontedneartheelevatorbyarecentlyhiredwhiteattorney. CanIhelpyou?thewhitemansayspointedly. Thepartnershakeshisheadandtriestopass,butthewhitemanstepsinhiswayandrepeats whatisnowachallengetothemansverypresenceinthebuilding:CanIhelpyou?Onlythendoes thepartnerrevealhisidentitytotheyoungmanwhothenstepsasidetolethimpass.Theyoungwhite manhadnoreasontoassumetherighttocontroltheoldermanstandingbeforehim,exceptthereason
8RobertTerry,TheNegativeImpactofWhiteValues,inBenjaminPBowserandRaymondHunt(eds.),ImpactsofRacismon WhiteAmericans(NewburyPark,California:SagePublications,1981),p.120 providedbytheculturalassumptionofwhiteracialdominancethatcanoverrideanyclassadvantagea personofcolormighthave.9 Themilderformsofunearnedadvantageusuallychangefirstbecausetheyaretheeasiestfor privilegedgroupstogiveup.Overthelastseveraldecades,forexample,nationalsurveysshowasteady declineinthepercentageofwhitesintheUnitedStateswhoexpressovertlyracistattitudestoward peopleofcolor.Thistrendisreflectedindiversitytrainingprogramsthatusuallyfocusonappreciating oratleasttoleratingdifferencesinotherwords,extendingunearnedentitlementstoeveryone insteadofthedominantgroupalone. Itsmuchharder,howevertodosomethingaboutpowerandtheunequaldistributionof resourcesandrewards.Thisiswhyissuesofconferreddominanceandthestrongerformsofunearned advantagegetmuchlessattention,andwhy,whentheyareraised,theyoftenprovokehostile defensiveness,especiallyfromthosewhostrugglewithalackofclassprivilege.Perhapsmorethanany otherfactor,thisreluctancetocometotermswithmoreseriousandentrenchedformsofprivilegeis whymostdiversityprogramsproducelimitedandshortǦlivedresults. What Privilege Looks Like in Everyday Life Inonewayoranother,privilegeshowsupinthedailydetailsofpeopleslivesinalmostevery socialsetting.Considerthefollowingexamplesofraceprivilege.10 Thisisalonglistbecausethe detailsofpeopleslivesaremanyandvaried.Resistthetemptationtogothroughitquickly.Takeyour timeandtrytoidentifysituationsinwhicheachmightoccur. o Whitesarelesslikelythanblackstobearrested;oncearrested,theyarelesslikelytobe convictedand,onceconvicted,lesslikelytogotoprison,regardlessofthecrimeor circumstances.Whitesforexample,constitute90percentofthosewhouseillegaldrugs,but lessthanhalfofthoseinprisonondrugǦusechargesarewhite. o Althoughmanysuperstarprofessionalathletesareblack,ingeneralblackplayersareheldto higherstandardsthanwhites.Itiseasierforagood,butnotgreatwhiteplayertomakea professionalteamthanitisforasimilarblack. o Whitesaremorelikelythancomparableblackstohaveloanapplicationsapproved,andless likelytobegivenpoorinformationortherunaroundduringtheapplicationprocess. o Whitesarechargedlowerpricesfornewandusedcarsthanpeopleofcolorare,andbecauseof residentialsegregation,whiteshaveaccesstohigherǦqualitygoodsofallkindsatcheaperprices. o Whitescanchoosewhethertobeconsciousoftheirracialidentityortoignoreitandregard themselvesassimplyhumanbeings. o Whitesaremorelikelytocontrolconversationsandbeallowedtogetawaywithit,andtohave theirideasandcontributionstakenseriously,includingthosethatweresuggestedpreviouslyby apersonofcoloranddismissed. o Whitescangenerallyassumethatnationalheroes,successmodels,andotherfiguresheldupfor generaladmirationwillbeoftheirrace. o Whitescangenerallyassumethatwhentheyareoutinpublic,theywontbechallengedand askedtoexplainwhattheyredoing,norwilltheybeattackedbyhategroupssimplebecauseof theirrace.
9EllisCose,TheRageofaPrivilegedClass:WhyDoProsperousBlacksStillHavetheBlues?,HarperPerennial,1995 10MuchofwhatfollowsisdrawnfromJosephBarndt,DismantlingRacism:TheContinuingChallengetoWhiteAmerica (Minneapolis:Augsburg,1991);Cose,TheRageofaPrivilegedClass;FeaginandSikes,LivingWithRacism;PaulKivel,Uprooting Racism:HowWhitePeopleCanWorkforRacialJustice(Philadelphia:NewSocietyPublishers,1996);McIntosh,WhitePrivilege andMalePrivilege;andDavidT.Wellman,PortraitsofWhiteRacism,2nded.,(NewYork:CambridgeUniversityPress,1993) o Whitescanassumethatwhentheygooutshopping,theyllbetreatedasseriouscustomers,not aspotentialshopliftersorpeoplewithoutmoneytomakeapurchase.Whentheytrytocasha checkoruseacreditcard,theycanassumetheywontbehassledforadditionalidentification andwillbegiventhebenefitofthedoubt. o Whiterepresentationingovernmentandtherulingcirclesofcorporations,universities,and otherorganizationsisdisproportionatelyhigh. o Mostwhitearenotsegregatedintocommunitiesthatisolatethemfromthebestjob opportunities,schoolsandcommunityservices. o Whiteshavegreateraccesstoqualityeducationandhealthcare. o Whitesaremorelikelytobegivenearlyopportunitiestoshowwhattheycandoatwork,tobe identifiedaspotentialcandidatesforpromotion,tobementored,tobegivenasecondchance whentheyfail,andtobeallowedtotreatfailureasalearningexperienceratherthanasan indicationofwhotheyareandtheshortcomingsoftheirrace. o Whitescanassumethatracewontbeusedtopredictwhethertheyllfitinatworkorwhether teammateswillfeelcomfortableworkingwiththem. o Whitescansucceedwithoutotherpeoplebeingsurprised. o Whitesdonthavetodealwithanendlessandexhaustingstreamofattentiontotheirrace. Theycansimplytaketheirraceforgrantedasunremarkabletotheextentofexperiencing themselvesasnotevenhavingarace.UnlikesomeofmyAfricanAmericanstudents,for example,IdonthavepeoplecominguptomeandtreatingmeasifIweresomeexoticother, gushingabouthowcoolordifferentIam,wantingtoknowwhereImfrom,andreaching outtotouchmyhair. o Whitesdontfindthemselvesslottedintooccupationsidentifiedwiththeirracelikeblacksare slottedintosupportpositionsorAsiansintoengineering,forexample. o Whitesarentconfusedwithotherwhites,asifallwhiteslookalike.Theyrenoticedfortheir individuality,andtheytakeoffensewhenevertheyrecharacterizedasmembersofacategory (suchaswhite)ratherthanbeingperceivedandtreatedasindividuals. o Whitescanreasonablyexpectthatiftheyworkhardandplaybytherules,theyllgetwhat theydeserve,andtheyfeeljustifiedincomplainingiftheydont.Itissomethingotherracial groupscannotrealisticallyexpect. Inthefollowinglistforgenderprivilege,notehowsomeitemsrepeatfromthelistonrace,but thatotheritemsdonot. o InmostprofessionsandupperǦleveloccupations,menareheldtoalowerstandardthan women.Itiseasierforagoodbutnotgreatmalelawyertomakepartnerthatitisfora comparablewoman. o Menarechargedlowerpricesfornewandusedcars. o Ifmendopoorlyatsomethingormakeamistakeorcommitacrime,theycangenerallyassume thatpeoplewontattributethefailuretotheirgender.Thekidswhoshootteachersand schoolmatesarealmostalwaysboys,butrarelyisthefactthatallofthisviolenceisbeingdone bymalesraisedasanimportantissue. o Mencanusuallyassumethatnationalheroes,successmodels,andotherfiguresheldupfor generaladmirationwillbemen. o Mencangenerallyassumethatwhentheygooutinpublic,theywontbesexuallyharassedor assaulted,andiftheyarevictimized,theywontbeaskedtoexplainwhattheyweredoing there. o Malerepresentationingovernmentandtherulingcirclesofcorporationsandother organizationsisdisproportionatelyhigh. o Menaremorelikelytobegivenearlyopportunitiestoshowwhattheycandoatwork,tobe identifiedatpotentialcandidatesforpromotion,tobementored,tobegivenasecondchance whentheyfail,andtobeallowedtotreatfailureasalearningexperienceratherthanas indicationofwhotheyareandtheshortcomingsoftheirgender. o Menaremorelikelythanwomentocontrolconversationsandtobeallowedtogetawaywithit, andtohavetheirideasandcontributionstakenseriously,eventhosethatweresuggested previouslybyawomananddismissedorignored. o Mostmencanassumethattheirgenderwontbeusedtodeterminewhethertheyllfitinat workorwhetherteammateswillfeelcomfortablewiththem. o Mencansucceedwithoutothersbeingsurprised. o Mendonthavetodealwithanendlessandexhaustingstreamofattentiondrawntotheir gender(forexamplehowsexuallyattractivetheyare). o Mendontfindthemselvesslottedintoanarrowrangeofoccupationsidentifiedwiththeir genderlikewomenareslottedintocommunityrelations,humanresources,socialwork, elementaryschoolteaching,librarianship,nursing,clericalandsecretarial. o Mencanreasonablyexpectthatiftheyworkhardandplaybytherules,theyllgetwhatthey deserve,andtheyfeeljustifiedincomplainingiftheydont. o Thestandardsusedtoevaluatemenasmenareconsistentwiththestandardsusedtoevaluate theminotherroles,suchasoccupations.Standardsusedtoevaluatewomenaswomenare oftendifferentfromthoseusedtoevaluatetheminotherroles.Forexample,amancanbe botharealmanandasuccessfulaggressivelawyer,whileanaggressivewomanlawyermay succeedasalawyerbutbejudgedasnotmeasuringupasawoman. Inthefollowinglistregardingsexualorientation,noteagainitemsincommonwiththeother twolistsanditemspeculiartothisformofprivilege. o Heterosexualsarefreetorevealandlivetheirintimaterelationshipsopenlybyreferringto theirpartnersbyname,recountingexperiences,goingoutinpublictogether,displayingpictures ontheirdesksatworkwithoutbeingaccusedofflauntingtheirsexualityorrisking discrimination. o Heterosexualscanrestassuredthatwhethertheyrehired,promoted,orfiredfromajobwill havenothingtodowiththeirsexualorientation,anaspectofthemselvesthattheycannot change. o Heterosexualscanmoveaboutinpublicwithoutfearofbeingharassedorphysicallyattacked becauseoftheirsexualorientation. o Heterosexualsdontruntheriskofbeingreducedtoasingleaspectoftheirlives,asifbeing heterosexualsummedupthekindofpersontheyare.Insteadtheycanbeviewedandtreated ascomplexhumanbeingswhohappentobeheterosexual. o Heterosexualscanusuallyassumethatnationalheroes,successmodels,andotherfiguresheld upforgeneraladmirationwillbeassumedtobeheterosexual. o Mostheterosexualscanassumethattheirsexualorientationwontbeusedtodetermine whethertheyllfitinatworkorwhetherteammateswillfeelcomfortableworkingwiththem. o Heterosexualscanmarrytheircompanionofchoice,andautomaticallyreceiveallofthelegal rightsandprivilegesthataccompanymarriage,forexample,filingjointtaxes,community propertyrights,medicaldecisionǦmakingrights,survivorshiprights,etc. o Heterosexualsdonthavetoworrythattheirsexualorientationwillbeusedasaweaponagainst them,tounderminetheirachievementsorpower. o Heterosexualscanturnonthetelevisionorgotothemoviesandbeassuredofseeing characters,newsreports,andstoriesthatreflecttherealityoftheirlives. o Heterosexualscanlivewheretheywantwithouthavingtoworryaboutneighborswho disapproveoftheirsexualorientation. o Heterosexualscanchooseamongawidevarietyoffamilylifestylesincludingcomplete reproductionrightsandadoption,andthelawsandsocietywillsupporttheirdecisionsas personalrights. o Heterosexualscanliveinthecomfortofknowingthatotherpeoplesassumptionsabouttheir sexualorientationarecorrect. Regardlessofwhichgroupweretalkingabout,privilegegenerallyallowspeopletoassumea certainlevelofacceptance,inclusionandrespectintheworld,tooperatewithinarelativelywide comfortzone.Privilegeincreasestheoddsofhavingthingsyourownway,ofbeingabletosetthe agendainasocialsituationanddeterminetherulesandstandardsandhowtheyreapplied.Privilege grantstheculturalauthoritytomakejudgmentsaboutothersandtohavethosejudgmentsstick.It allowspeopletodefinerealityandtohaveprevailingdefinitionsofrealityfittheirexperience.Privilege meansbeingabletodecidewhogetstakenseriously,whoreceivesattention,whoisaccountableto whomandforwhat.Anditgrantsapresumptionofsuperiorityandsocialpermissiontoactonthat presumptionwithouthavingtoworryaboutbeingchallenged. Tohaveprivilegeistobeallowedtomovethroughyourlifewithoutbeingmarkedinwaysthat identifyyouasanoutsider,asexceptionalorother,tobeexcluded,ortobeincludedbutalwayswith conditions.AsPaulKivelpointsout,IntheUnitedStates,apersonisconsideredamemberofthe loweststatusgroupfromwhichtheyhaveanyheritage.11Thismeansthatifyoucomefromseveral ethnicgroups,theonethatlowersyourstatusistheonethatlowersyourstatusistheonethatyoure mostlikelytobetaggedwith,asinShespartJewish,orHespartVietnamese,butrarely,Shes partwhite.Infacthavinganyblackancestryisstillenoughtobeclassifiesasentirelyblackinmany peopleseyes(inaccordancewiththeonedroprulethathasbeenastrikingfeatureofracerelations intheUnitedStatesforseveralcenturies).PeoplearetaggedwithotherlabelsthatpointtothelowestǦ statusgrouptheybelongto,asinwomandoctororblackwriter,butneverwhitelawyer,or malesenator.Anycategorythatlowersourstatusrelativetootherscanbeusedtomarkus;tobe privilegedistogothroughlifewiththerelativeeaseofbeingunmarked.12 Ifyouremaleorheterosexualorwhiteandyoufindyourselfshakingyourheadattheforegoing descriptionsofprivilegethisisnttrueformeitmightbeduetothecomplexandsometimes paradoxicalwaythatprivilegeworksinsociallife. Privilege as Paradox Individualsaretheoneswhoexperienceprivilegeorthelackofit,butindividualsarentwhatis actuallyprivileged.Insteadprivilegeisdefinedinrelationshiptoagrouporsocialcategory.Inother words,raceprivilegeismoreaboutwhitepeoplethanitisaboutwhitepeople.Imnotraceprivileged becauseofwhoIamasaperson.Whitenessisprivilegedinthissociety,andIhaveaccesstothat privilegeonlywhenpeopleidentifymeasbelongingtothiscategorywhite.Idoordontreceiverace privilegebasedonwhichcategorypeopleputmeinwithouttheirknowingasingleotherthingabout me. Thismeansthatyoudontactuallyhavetobewhiteormaleorheterosexualtoreceivethe privilegeattachedtothesecategories.Allyouhavetodoisconvincepeopleyoubelongtothe appropriatecategory.ThefilmShakespeareinLoveforexample,issetinElizabethanEngland,where 11PaulKivel,UprootingRacism,pp112 12SeeRuthFrankenberg,TheSocialConstructionofWhiteness:WhiteWomen,RaceMatters(Minneapolis:Universityof MinneapolisPress,1993) actingonthestagewasaprivilegereservedformen.ThecharacterViola(thewomanShakespearefalls inlovewith)wantsmorethananythingtoactonthestage,andfinallyrealizesherdreamnotby becomingaman,butbysuccessfullypresentingherselfasone.Thatsallittakes. Insimilarways,youcanloseprivilegeifpeoplethinkyoudontbelongtoaparticularcategory. Mysexualorientationisheterosexual,forexample,whichentitlesmetoheterosexualprivilege,but onlyifpeopleidentifymeasheterosexual.IfIweretoimmediatelyannouncetoeveryonethatImgay, Iwouldimmediatelylosemyaccesstoheterosexualprivilege(unlesspeoplerefusedtobelieveme), eventhoughIwouldstillbe,infact,aheterosexualperson.AsCharlotteBunchputit,ifyoudonthave asenseifwhatprivilegeis,Isuggestthatyougohomeandannouncetoeverybodythatyouknowa roommate,yourfamily,thepeopleyouworkwiththatyoureaqueer.Trybeingqueerforaweek.13 Whenitcomestoprivilege,then,itdoesntreallymatterwhowereallyare.Whatmattersiswhoother peoplethinkweare,whichistosay,thesocialcategoriestheyputusin. Severalimportantconsequencesfollowfromthisparadoxofprivilege.First,privilegeisrooted insocietiesandorganizationsasmuchasitsrootedinpeoplespersonalitiesandhowtheyperceiveand reacttooneanother.Thismeansthatdoingsomethingabouttheproblemofprivilegetakesmorethan changingindividuals.AsHarryBrodwroteaboutgenderprivilege: Weneedtobeclearthatthereisnosuchthingasgivinguponesprivilegetobeoutsidethesystem. Oneisalwaysinthesystem.Theonlyquestioniswhetheroneispartofthesysteminawaywhich challengesorstrengthensthestatusquo.PrivilegeisnotsomethingItakeandwhichIthereforehavethe optionofnottaking.Itissomethingthatsocietygivesme,andunlessIchangetheinstitutionswhichgive ittome,theywillcontinuetogiveit,andIwillcontinuetohaveit,howevernobleandegalitarianmy intentions.14 Societiesandorganizationspromoteprivilegeincomplicatedways,whichwelllookatinlater chapters.Fornow,itsimportanttobeawarethatwedonthavetobespecialorevenfeelspecialin ordertohaveaccesstoprivilege,becauseprivilegedoesntderivefromwhoweareorwhatweve done.Itisasocialarrangementthatdependsonwhichcategorywehappentobesortedintobyother peopleandhowtheytreatusasaresult. Theparadoxicalexperienceofbeingprivilegedwithoutfeelingprivilegedisasecond consequenceofthefactthatprivilegeismoreaboutsocialcategoriesthanwhopeopleare.Ithastodo primarilywiththepeopleweuseasstandardsorcomparisonwhatsociologistscallreference groups.Weusereferencegroupstoconstructasenseofhowgoodorbad,highorlowweareinthe schemeofthings.Todothis,weusuallydontlookdownwardinthesocialhierarchybuttopeoplewe identifyasbeingonthesamelevelorhigherthanourown.Sopointingouttosomeonetosomeonein theUnitedStateswholivesinpovertythattheyrebetteroffthanimpoverishedpeopleinIndiadoesnt makethemfeelmuchbetter,becausepeopleintheUnitedStatesdontuseIndiansasareference group.Instead,theywillcomparethemselveswiththosewhoseemliketheminkeyrespectsandseeif theyredoingbetterorworsethanthem. Sincebeingwhiteisvaluedinthissociety,whiteswilltendtocomparethemselveswithother whites,notwithpeopleofcolor.Inthesameway,menwilltendtocomparethemselveswithother menandnotwithwomen.Whatthismeans,however,isthatwhiteswilltendnottofeelprivilegedby theirracewhentheycomparethemselveswiththeirreferencegroup,becausetheirreferencegroupis alsowhite.Inthesameway,mendontfeelprivilegedbytheirgenderincomparisonwithothermen, becausegenderdoesntelevatethemaboveothermen.Apartialexceptiontothishierarchythatexists amongmenbetweenheterosexualsandhomosexuals:Heterosexualmenaremorelikelytoconsider 13CharlotteBunch,NotforLesbiansOnly:Quest11no2(Fall1975) 14HarryBrod,WorkClothesandLeisureSuits:TheClassBasisandBiasoftheMensMovementinMichaelKimmeland MichaelA.Messner(eds.),MensLives(NewYork:Macmillan,1989),p280.Italicsinoriginal. themselvesrealmenandthereforesociallyvaluedabovegaymen.Butevenhere,themerefactof beingmaleisntexperiencedasaformofprivilege,becausegaymenarealsomale. Anexceptiontothesepatternscanoccurforthosewhoareprivilegedbygenderorracebut findthemselvesrankedlowintermsofsocialclass.Toprotectthemselvesfromfeelingandbeingseen onthebottomoftheladder,theymaygooutoftheirwaytocomparethemselvestowomenorpeople ofcolorbyemphasizingtheirsupposedgenderorracialsuperiority.Thiscanappearasanexaggerated senseofmasculinity,forexample,orasovertattemptstoputwomenorpeopleofcolorintheir place,includingbyharassment,violence,orbehaviorthatisopenlycontemptuousordemeaning. Acorollarytobeingprivilegedwithoutknowingitistobeontheothersideofprivilegewithout necessarilyfeelingthat.Forexample,Isometimeshearawomansaysomethinglike,Iveneverbeen oppressedasawoman.Oftenthisissaidtochallengetheideathatmaleprivilegeexistsatall.Butthis confusesthatsocialpositionoffemalesandmalesassocialcategorieswithonesubjectiveexperience ofbelongingtooneofthosecategories,Theyarentthesame.ForvariousreasonsincludingsocialǦ classprivilegeorsubmissiontoareligionoranunusualfamilyexperienceorsimplybeingyoungshe mayhaveavoidedadirectconfrontationwithmanyoftheconsequencesofbeingfemaleinasociety thatprivilegesmaleness.Orshemayhavemanagestoovercomethemtoadegreethatshedoesntfeel hamperedbythem.Orshemaybeengagingindenial.Orshemaybeunawareofhowsheis discriminatedagainst(unaware,perhaps,thatbeingawomanisthereasonherprofessorsignoreherin class)ormayhaveinternalizedhersubordinatestatusthatshedoesntseeitasaproblem(thinking, perhaps,thatwomenareignoredbecausetheyarentintelligentenoughtosayanythingworthlistening to).Regardlessofwhatherexperienceisbasedon,itisjustthatherexperienceanditdoesnthave tosquarewiththelargersocialrealitythateveryone(includingher)mustdealwithonewayoranother. Itslikelivinginarainyclimateandsomehowavoidingbeingrainedonyourself.Itsstillarainyplaceto beandgettingwetissomethingmostpeoplehavetodealwith. The Paradox that Privilege Doesnt Necessarily Make You Happy Ioftenhearmendenytheexistenceofmaleprivilegebysayingtheydontfeelhappyorfulfilled intheirownlives.Theyreasonthatyoucantbebothprivilegedandmiserable,or,asonemanputit, privilegemeanshavingallthegoodies,soifyoudontfeelgood,thenyoumustnotfeelprivileged. Thisisacommonreactionthatisrelatedtothedifferencebetweenindividualsonthatonehand andsocialcategoriesontheother.Knowingthatsomeonebelongstooneormoreoftheprivileged categories,white,orheterosexual,ormale,doesntnecessarilytelluswhatlifeislikeforthem. Belongingtoaprivilegedcategoryimprovestheoddsinfavorofcertainkindsofadvantagesand preferentialtreatment,butitdoesntguaranteeanythingforanygivenindividual.Beingbornwhite, male,andupperǦclass,forexample,isapowerfulcombinationofprivilegedcategoriesthatwould certainlyputapersoninlineforallkindsofvaluedthings.Bttheycouldstillwinduplosingitallinthe stockmarketandlivingunderabridgeinacardboardbox.Nonetheless,eventhoughtheprivilege attachedtorace,gender,andsocialclassdidntworkoutforthem,theprivilegeitselfstillexistsasa factofsociallife. Anotherreasonprivilegeandhappinessoftendontgotogetheristhatprivilegecanexactacost fromthosewhohaveit.Tohaveprivilegeistoparticipateinasystemthatconfersadvantageand dominanceattheexpenseofotherpeople,andthatcancausedistresstothosewhobenefitfromit. Whiteprivilege,forexample,comesatahugecosttopeopleofcolor,andonsomelevelwhitepeople muststrugglewiththisknowledge.Thatswherealltheguiltcomesfromandthelengthstowhich whitepeoplewillgotoavoidfeelingandlookingatit.Insimilarways,maleprivilegeexactsacostas mencompetewithothermenandstrivetoprovetheirmanhoodsothattheycancontinuetobe countedamongrealmenwhoareworthyofbeingsetapartfromandabovewomen.Itshould comeasnosurprisethatmenoftenfeelunhappyandthattheyassociatetheirunhappinesswiththe factofbeingmen. Oppression: The Flip Side of Privilege Foreverysocialcategorythatisprivileged,oneormoreothercategoriesareoppressedin relationtoit.Theconceptofoppressionpointstosocialforcesthattendtopressuponpeople,and holdthemdown,tohemtheminandblocktheirpursuitofagoodlife.Justasprivilegetendstoopen doorsofopportunity,oppressiontendstoslamthemshut.15 Likeprivilege,oppressionresultsfromthesocialrelationshipbetweenprivilegedandoppressed categories,whichmakesitpossibleforindividualstovaryintheirpersonalexperienceofbeing oppressed(Iveneverbeenoppressedasawoman).Thisalsomeans,however,thatinordertohave theexperienceofbeingoppressed,itisnecessarytobelongtoanoppressedcategory.Inotherwords, mencannotbeoppressedasmen,justaswhitescannotbeoppressedaswhitesorheterosexualsas heterosexualsbecauseagroupcanbeoppressedonlyifthereexistsanothergroupthathasthepower tooppressthem. Aswesawearlier,peopleinprivilegedcategoriescancertainlyfeelbadinwaysthatresemble oppression.Men,forexample,canfeelburdenedbywhattheytaketobetheirresponsibilitytoprovide fortheirfamilies.Ortheycanfeellimitedandevendamagedbytherequirementthatrealmenmust avoidexpressingfeelingsotherthananger.Butbelongingtoaprivilegedcategorycoststhem somethingthatmayfeeloppressive,tocallitoppressiondistortsthenatureofwhatishappeningto themandwhy. Itignores,forexample,thefactthatthecostofmaleprivilegeisfaroutweighedbythebenefits, whiletheoppressivecostofbeingfemaleisnotoutǦweighedbycorrespondingbenefits.Misapplying thelabelofoppressionalsotemptsusintothefalseargumentthatifmenandwomenareboth oppressedbecauseofgender,thenoneoppressionbalancestheotherandnoprivilegecanbesaidto exist.Sowhenwetrytolabelthepainthanmenfeelbecauseofgender(orthatwhitesfeelbecauseof racism,andsoon)whetherwecallitoppressionorsimplypainmakesahugedifferenceinhowwe perceivetheworldandhowitworks. Thecomplexityofsystemsofprivilegemakesitpossible,ofcourse,formentoexperience oppressioniftheyalsohappentobepeopleofcolororqueerorinalowersocialclass,butnotbecause theyaremale.Inthesameway,whitescanexperienceoppressionaswomen,homosexuals,or membersoflowerclasses,butnotbecausetheyrewhite. Notealsothatbecauseoppressionresultsfromrelationsbetweensocialcategories,itisnot possibletobeoppressedbysocietyitself.Livinginaparticularsocietycanmakepeoplefeelmiserable, butwecantcallthatmiseryoppressionunlessitarisesfrombeingonthelosingendinasystemof privilege.Thatcanthappeninrelationtosocietyasawhole,becauseasocietyisntsomethingthatcan betherecipientofprivilege.Onlypeoplecandothisbybelongingtoprivilegedcategoriesinrelationto othercategoriesthatarent. Finally,itsimportanttopintoutthatbelongingtoaprivilegedcategorythathasanoppressive relationshipwithanotherisntthesameasbeinganoppressivepersonwhobehavesinoppressiveways. Thatwhitesasasocialcategoryoppresspeopleofcolorasasocialcategory,forexample,isasocial fact.Thatdoesnt,however,tellushowaparticularwhitepersonthinksorfeelsaboutparticular peopleofcolororbehavestowardsthem.Thiscanbeasubtledistinctiontohangonto,buthangonto itwemustifweregoingtomaintainaclearideaofwhatoppressionisandhowitworks. 15Foraclassicdiscussionofthemeaningofoppression,seeMarilynFrye,ThePoliticsofReality:EssaysinFeministTheory (Trumansburg,NY:CrossingPress,1983)pp.1ǦǦ16 Allan G. Johnson