Peggy McIntosh is a women who is very fascinated with the idea that whites, more specifically white men are much more privileged than those around him and refuse to admit it. She is also convinced that even though men are not willing to admit that they are "over-privileged," they are more than willing to admit that a women is "under-privileged." Not only does she say that women are "under-privileged" but those of color are as well. White privileges are said to be an elusive and fugitive subject. "This is not such a free country; one's life is not what one makes it; many doors open for certain people through no virtues of their own" stated Peggy. I found another statement which shocked me; "It seems to that obliviousness about white advantage, like obliviousness about male advantage, is kept strongly acculturated in the U.S. so as to maintain the myth of meritocracy, the myth that democratic choice is equally available to all." What Peggy McIntosh doesn't understand is that we live in a society today that is, for the most part, ran by white males. This has been the case for several years, which is why it shouldn't come as a shock to her. I will go with the grain on this one and say that white men are not "over privileged" in any since, we throughout time have proven our capabilities.
The best part about living in today's age is that we recently have elected a black man for a president. This is a huge feat for our nation. I believe it will put an end to any form of racism to come in the future. Those inequalities that Peggy McIntosh speaks of are slowly dwindling away and will soon be diminished. Our children will not know of racism which shall make all of us truly equal.
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I think that it is definately true that women use to be underpriviledged, and that today, this has changed a lot. Women are offered a lot more opportunities than ever before. It would seem that men and women are truly equal. However, I don't think that racism will ever truly be irraticated. There will always be hate in the world no matter what, but I also think that it is something that has definately improved.
ReplyDeleteIt is sad to admitt that there is racis/sexism that is very previlent in otdays United States Society. Whether it be by the unpriviledged women compard to the advantaged man or if it were to be about the color of another person skin. I find it amazing how the United States has this standard of accepting diversity as a whole for the most part, but only if those indoviduals will become "Americanized" if they wish to try and be accepted culurally as well as socially.
ReplyDeleteI really like what you have to say. There are a lot of similarities between your ideas and mine. One thing that I wanted to touch upon first is that yes, in this day and age, many things are changing. Like you said we have recently voted into office a black president. what a huge step we have taken in the last 50 years. Like you said, there will always be hate in the world no matter what. what I believe is that words like racism and sexism will diminish in value as time goes on. Education is a powerful tool, and as time progresses, education has taken a more powerful role in not just everyday life but in sex and gender education. Two closely related topics. What I believe is that it is in the school systems and community to educate for good and free the world of its problems.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious as to what you mean by "we have proven our capabilities". I personally believe that there are differences between the sexes-women generally interpret body language much better than men, men are usually more physically strong, etc, etc, etc. Sure men may be over privileged in the author's eyes, but there is also female privilege.
ReplyDeleteSay, during a divorce, men usually get the business end of the stick.