Peggy McIntosh's White Privilege And Male Privilege

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Privileges are things that a person receives that gives them an advantage over most people (Merriam-Webster). These are benefits that only certain people receive for being in a certain group or discourse. Peggy McIntosh, director of the Wellesley College Center for Research on Women, wrote “White Privilege and Male Privilege” and states “I think whites are carefully taught not to recognize white privileges, as males are taught not to recognize male privilege” (605). She argues that whites and males receive certain privileges, yet they do not even notice them. This shows that different races and women are still put at a disadvantage, but the people who receive the benefits are blind to the problem. Many people will argue that she is correct while some others will explain why this not is the case. The main point that McIntosh is pushing forward is that both whites and males have certain advantages. McIntosh says that “white privilege as an invisible package of unearned assets” (605). White privilege are these advantages that white people receive just for being white. They didn’t earn any of the privilege other than being born with the right skin tone. She also recognizes them as being “invisible”. They don’t realize that they have this advantage over everyone else. Even though the majority of text is about white privilege, she does also reference male privilege. She states that “… I saw parallels here with… male privilege” (605). The same problem that plague white privilege, also affect male privilege. Men have certain advantage that put them over women. McIntosh also seems to be aware of “… several types of layers of denial… protecting and preventing awareness about… male privilege” (606). She claims that men deny the fact that ... ... middle of paper ... ..., 33.4 (2005): 243 -255. Web. 28 Sept. 2013. Dowd, Nancy E. The Man Question: Male Subordination and Privilege. New York: New York University Press, 2010. Print. Landsman, Julie G., and Chance W. Lewis. White Teachers / Diverse Classrooms: Creating Inclusive Schools, Building on Students' Diversity, and Providing True Educational Equity. Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing, 2011. Print. Lynes, Tony. "Female Privilege." New Statesman & Society, 2.70 (1989): 24. Web. 28 Sept. 2013. Rossenwasser, David and Jill Stephen. “White Privilege and Male Privilege.” Writing Analytically with Readings. 2nd ed. Ed. Peggy McIntosh. Boston: Cengage, 2012.Print. Sullivan, Shannon. Revealing Whiteness: The Unconscious Habits of Racial Privilege. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2006. Print. “privilege.” Merriam-Webster.com. 2013. http://www.merriarm-webster.com. Web. 25 Sept. 2013

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