In this era of racial reckoning, words such as ‘white privilege’ have played a significant role in defining social problems plaguing America. But those words also have a downside.
One thing I’ve found about academic discourse is that academics are frankly dreadful at marketing. Same with left Twitter. Conservatives are terrifyingly good at branding, like reframing estate taxes as “death taxes”. Privilege was quite simply a dreadful choice of wording for any but the most receptive audiences. It implies the spoiled rich kid who has had success in life handed to them by their parents. Tell that to a poor white person or a white person who had to put in long, hard hours to get to where they are and you can see how maybe you’re going to breed more resentment than understanding.
The problem isn’t calling out privilege. Privileges exist. The problem is stating that white privilege is the ultimate privilege, when it isn’t.
Funny you should say this is coming from academics. I think it is coming from all of those in power really, to distract from the very real privileges which they themselves enjoy.
There’s academic privilege, ivy league privilege, family privilege, wealth privilege, political privilege. All of these are far more powerful and determinative than white privilege.
I mean more where the terminology came from. But I would have to agree with you about too much focus on white privilege and male privilege. There are so, so many types of privileges. Sending a message that only a handful are important is bad, especially when it involves people who already feel looked down on.
One thing I’ve found about academic discourse is that academics are frankly dreadful at marketing. Same with left Twitter. Conservatives are terrifyingly good at branding, like reframing estate taxes as “death taxes”. Privilege was quite simply a dreadful choice of wording for any but the most receptive audiences. It implies the spoiled rich kid who has had success in life handed to them by their parents. Tell that to a poor white person or a white person who had to put in long, hard hours to get to where they are and you can see how maybe you’re going to breed more resentment than understanding.
The problem isn’t calling out privilege. Privileges exist. The problem is stating that white privilege is the ultimate privilege, when it isn’t.
Funny you should say this is coming from academics. I think it is coming from all of those in power really, to distract from the very real privileges which they themselves enjoy.
There’s academic privilege, ivy league privilege, family privilege, wealth privilege, political privilege. All of these are far more powerful and determinative than white privilege.
I mean more where the terminology came from. But I would have to agree with you about too much focus on white privilege and male privilege. There are so, so many types of privileges. Sending a message that only a handful are important is bad, especially when it involves people who already feel looked down on.
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