Privilege

In White Privilege: Unpacking the invisible knapsack, Peggy McIntosh explains the problem of unearned privileges that are current in American society. Being white I can highly relate as she goes on about the unearned privileges that white people obtain for no particular reason, but yet give the white community some advances just for their skin color. The more Mclntosh went on about white privilege, the more I really came to realize some privileges I have that I never really gave much thought to. Although I am not completely ignorant to the fact that race can effect certain aspects of people’s life, in some examples that she gives bring new provoking thoughts that have most people don’t talk about.

Here are some of the privileges I have just for being a white woman. 

1)      I am not followed at stores being expected of stealing

    2)      My race in highly represented in movies and television

   3)      Getting my hair done is usually an easy task and it is also easy to take care of

   4)      I have good opportunities to receive an education

    5)      There are not many racial slurs for my race

   6)      I am almost never discriminated against

   7)      I am not judged in my work environment 

   8)      I don’t get pulled over often

  9)      When I do get pulled over, I am more likely to get off with a warning

   10)  I am not rejected by society for my color

   11)  I can go about my day usually being welcomed by other people even as a stranger

   12)  If someone is mean to me, I don’t tend to have to ponder if there was some sort of racist element involved

  13)  I am likely to get people to rent me a nice apartment or house because of my skin color

  14)  I don’t have to worry about possibly living in a “bad neighborhood”

  15)  People expect me to be well-spoken and articulate