In the text Privilege, Power, and Difference, by Allen Johnson the author is describing the reality of the world that we live in. The society that we live in is made of individuals who have power and those who do not. Johnson recognizes that he is straight, white, and male. He cannot change this about himself, but he does however recognize that through these characteristics, he benefits from privilege. In our society, those who have privilege rarely recognize it. On the other hand, those who do not possess privilege see serious distinctions in their everyday lives. For example, Johnson tells us about the time he was talking to a black female colleague. She begins talking about various situations that she thinks about in her day to day life just to ensure that she is safe. As a black woman she describes how even though she is an executive for a major company, people unfortunately do not see her for that. She describes how people tend to be less trusting with her just because of her race and gender. Those who are black, of other minority groups, or are women experience discrimination in their lives. This unfortunate reality must be changed. Johnson urges us to have these uncomfortable conversations with one another, and as social beings it is of our utmost importance to do so. Additionally, Johnson urges us to see and recognize privilege when it reveals itself. For some, it may present itself in more ways than others. For example, this is true from my perspective. As a white, heterosexual man, privilege will find me almost anywhere I go. Therefore, it is important to reflect on this and help those around me in situations where power differences are recognized.
SCWAAMP
This is an acronym noting specific groups of people. These people tend to have the "upper hand" in our society. The first letter "S" stands for straight. People who are straight tend to have an easier time buying a house, being accepted by family, and being accepted by society (especially in public.) The next letter "C" stands for Christian. Christianity is a commonplace religion. It is so commonplace that our country founded many of its guiding principles on it. The third letter "W" stands for whiteness. Being white in our society accounts for a lot. Our country was even founded by people who were white. Unfortunately, at our countries birth, the founding fathers hadn't taken into account the freedoms of minority groups such as blacks as well as women. Next in the acronym is the letter "A". This part of the acronym stands for Americanness. I believe this term can have both positive and negative connotations. For example, Americaness can mean spending time with friends or family at a bbq during the Forth of July. On the other hand, it can also stand for injustice by noting that people who do not fit under the umbrella of "American" are different and therefore not treated equally. This of course, is not how people should be treated, however in our society, it is the reality. The next "A" in the acronym stands for Able-Bodied. People who are not included in this category often face discrimination when applying for work. Unfortunately, people with disabilities also face disrespect and other hardships in their day to day lives. The letter "M" in the acronym stands for male. In our society and many other societies around the world, males have often been the ones who possess the most power. Men dominate the work force, are paid more than women, and have often been the ones to make societal decisions. Finally, the last letter in the acronym is "P". This stands for "property owning." Those who own property have access to things that non-property owners do not. Also, those who own property tend to be a lot safer than those who do not.
Diversity Wheel
Here is a link to an article that details the importance of diversity in schools.
No comments:
Post a Comment