Blog Post #1 - McIntosh Reading

          In "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack", Peggy McIntosh argues that one of the main reasons white privilege exists is because of white's failure to recognize its existence. McIntosh references the fact that males realize that females are at an disadvantage when it comes to several aspects: women make less, women hold less positions in political office, women are not taken as seriously as men when they express their ideas to a group, to name a few. Men will admit these problems exist, but they won't admit that their gender admits them to these privileges. McIntosh uses this example and compares it to white privilege. "As a white person, I realized I had been taught about racism as something which puts others at a disadvantage, but had been taught not to see one of its corollary aspects, white privilege which puts me at an advantage." (McIntosh 1). McIntosh argues that admitting that privilege exists is half the battle. In other words, realizing that other groups are at a disadvantage is a good start, but to fully solve the problem there must not be advantages for one group of people and not another.

          The list of advantages that McIntosh lists were interesting and eye-opening as well. Similar to the Johnston piece that dealt with white privilege, there were several privileges that I read that I had not considered before. Both pieces that dealt with white privilege made me realize that I, a white male living in a society that is dominated by white males, am subject to much advantage compared to non whites or females. One point that had an effect on me was the following: "20. I can easily buy posters, post-cards, picture books, greeting cards, dolls, toys, and children’s magazines featuring people of my race." Something like this simply had not occurred to me before. It just seemed natural to buy a poster or Hallmark card that featured a smiling white person. But to someone that is not white, it must seem very strange to buy a card for a loved one that does not feature one's own skin color or ethnicity. Most of these things I take for granted, whether it be buying a magazine at the store and seeing a white person on the cover, or buying something from a store without having several forms of ID being shown. I have lived my life through the eyes of a white male, making this reading as well as the Johnston reading eye-opening as well as putting things into perspective.

          A related link: Jon Stewart invites Bill O'Reilly onto his show to debate the subject of white privilege. Several related topics are discussed during this debate, along with putting things into perspective for white males who share O'Reilly's beliefs.

Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8raaT7SRx18

          One point I can raise in class is to cite the list that McIntosh created to display the several advantages whites have over other races in society. Several different points touch on how whites make more than other races, have the ability to criticize the government, are able to buy dolls and toys that resemble whites, and several other examples. McIntosh does a good job of explaining to the reader the concept of white privilege, and cites many examples as well.

Peggy McIntosh: