WhitePrivilege:UnpackingtheInvisibleKnapsackPeggyMcIntosh
"Iwastaughttoseeracismonlyinindividualactsofmeanness,notininvisiblesystemsconferringdominanceonmygroup"
Throughworktobringmaterialsfromwomen'sstudiesintotherestofthecurriculum,Ihaveoftennoticedmen'sunwillingnesstograntthattheyareoverprivileged,eventhoughtheymaygrantthatwomenaredisadvantaged.Theymaysaytheywillworktowomen'sstatues,inthesociety,theuniversity,orthecurriculum,buttheycan'torwon'tsupporttheideaoflesseningmen's.Denialsthatamounttotaboossurroundthesubjectofadvantagesthatmengainfromwomen'sdisadvantages.Thesedenialsprotectmaleprivilegefrombeingfullyacknowledged,lessened,orended.
Thinkingthroughunacknowledgedmaleprivilegeasaphenomenon,Irealizedthat,sincehierarchiesinoursocietyareinterlocking,therearemostlikelyaphenomenon,Irealizedthat,sincehierarchiesinoursocietyareinterlocking,therewasmostlikelyaphenomenonofwhileprivilegethatwassimilarly deniedandprotected.Asawhiteperson,IrealizedIhadbeentaughtaboutracismassomethingthatputsothersatadisadvantage,buthadbeentaughtnottoseeoneofitscorollaryaspects,whiteprivilege,whichputsmeatanadvantage.
Ithinkwhitesarecarefullytaughtnottorecognizewhiteprivilege,asmalesaretaughtnottorecognizemaleprivilege.SoIhavebeguninanuntutoredwaytoaskwhatitisliketohavewhiteprivilege.IhavecometoseewhiteprivilegeasaninvisiblepackageofunearnedassetsthatIcancountoncashingineachday,butaboutwhichIwas"meant"toremainoblivious.Whiteprivilegeislikeaninvisibleweightlessknapsackofspecialprovisions,maps,passports,codebooks,visas,clothes,tools,andblankchecks.
Describingwhiteprivilegemakesonenewlyaccountable.Asweinwomen'sstudiesworktorevealmaleprivilegeandaskmentogiveupsomeoftheirpower,soonewhowritesabouthavingwhiteprivilegemustask,"havingdescribedit,whatwillIdotolessenorendit?"
AfterIrealizedtheextenttowhichmenworkfromabaseofunacknowledgedprivilege,Iunderstoodthatmuchoftheiroppressivenesswasunconscious.ThenIrememberedthefrequentchargesfromwomenofcolorthatwhitewomenwhomtheyencounterareoppressive.Ibegantounderstandwhywearejustseenasoppressive,evenwhenwedon'tseeourselvesthatway.IbegantocountthewaysinwhichIenjoyunearnedskinprivilegeandhavebeenconditionedintooblivionaboutitsexistence.
Myschoolinggavemenotraininginseeingmyselfasanoppressor,asanunfairlyadvantagedperson,orasaparticipantinadamagedculture.Iwastaughttoseemyselfasanindividualwhosemoralstatedependedonherindividualmoralwill.MyschoolingfollowedthepatternmycolleagueElizabethMinnichhaspointedout:whitesaretaughttothinkoftheirlivesasmorallyneutral,normative,andaverage,andalsoideal,sothatwhenweworktobenefitothers,thisisseenasworkthatwillallow"them"tobemorelike"us."
Dailyeffectsofwhiteprivilege
Idecidedtotrytoworkonmyselfatleastbyidentifyingsomeofthedailyeffectsofwhiteprivilegeinmylife.IhavechosenthoseconditionsthatIthinkinmycaseattachsomewhatmoretoskin-colorprivilegethantoclass,religion,ethnicstatus,orgeographiclocation,thoughofcoursealltheseotherfactorsareintricatelyintertwined.AsfarasIcantell,myAfricanAmericancoworkers,friends,andacquaintanceswithwhomIcomeintodailyorfrequentcontactinthisparticulartime,placeandtimeofworkcannotcountonmostoftheseconditions.
1.IcanifIwisharrangetobeinthecompanyofpeopleofmyracemostofthetime.
2.IcanavoidspendingtimewithpeoplewhomIwastrainedtomistrustandwhohavelearnedtomistrustmykindorme.
3.IfIshouldneedtomove,IcanbeprettysureofrentingorpurchasinghousinginanareawhichIcanaffordandinwhichIwouldwanttolive.
4.Icanbeprettysurethatmyneighborsinsuchalocationwillbeneutralorpleasanttome.
5.Icangoshoppingalonemostofthetime,prettywellassuredthatIwillnotbefollowedorharassed.
6.Icanturnonthetelevisionoropentothefrontpageofthepaperandseepeopleofmyracewidelyrepresented.
7.WhenIamtoldaboutournationalheritageorabout"civilization,"Iamshownthatpeopleofmycolormadeitwhatitis.
8.Icanbesurethatmychildrenwillbegivencurricularmaterialsthattestifytotheexistenceoftheirrace.
9.IfIwantto,Icanbeprettysureoffindingapublisherforthispieceonwhiteprivilege.
10.IcanbeprettysureofhavingmyvoiceheardinagroupinwhichIamtheonlymemberofmyrace.
11.Icanbecasualaboutwhetherornottolistentoanotherperson'svoiceinagroupinwhichs/heistheonlymemberofhis/herrace.
12.Icangointoamusicshopandcountonfindingthemusicofmyracerepresented,intoasupermarketandfindthestaplefoodswhichfitwithmyculturaltraditions,intoahairdresser'sshopandfind someonewhocancutmyhair.
13.WhetherIusechecks,creditcardsorcash,Icancountonmyskincolornottoworkagainsttheappearanceoffinancialreliability.
14.Icanarrangetoprotectmychildrenmostofthetimefrompeoplewhomightnotlikethem.
15.Idonothavetoeducatemychildrentobeawareofsystemicracismfortheirowndailyphysicalprotection.
16.Icanbeprettysurethatmychildren'steachersandemployerswilltoleratethemiftheyfitschoolandworkplacenorms;mychiefworriesaboutthemdonotconcernothers'attitudestowardtheirrace.
17.Icantalkwithmymouthfullandnothavepeopleputthisdowntomycolor.
18.Icanswear,ordressinsecondhandclothes,ornotanswerletters,withouthavingpeopleattributethesechoicestothebadmorals,thepovertyortheilliteracyofmyrace.
19.Icanspeakinpublictoapowerfulmalegroupwithoutputtingmyraceontrial.
20.Icandowellinachallengingsituationwithoutbeingcalledacredittomyrace.
21.Iamneveraskedtospeakforallthepeopleofmyracialgroup.
22.Icanremainobliviousofthelanguageandcustomsofpersonsofcolorwhoconstitutetheworld'smajoritywithoutfeelinginmycultureanypenaltyforsuchoblivion.
23.IcancriticizeourgovernmentandtalkabouthowmuchIfearitspoliciesandbehaviorwithoutbeingseenasaculturaloutsider.
24.IcanbeprettysurethatifIasktotalktothe"personincharge",Iwillbefacingapersonofmyrace.
25.IfatrafficcoppullsmeoveroriftheIRSauditsmytaxreturn,IcanbesureIhaven'tbeensingledoutbecauseofmyrace.
26.Icaneasilybuyposters,post-cards,picturebooks,greetingcards,dolls,toysandchildren'smagazinesfeaturingpeopleofmyrace.
27.IcangohomefrommostmeetingsoforganizationsIbelongtofeelingsomewhattiedin,ratherthanisolated,out-of-place,outnumbered,unheard,heldatadistanceorfeared.
28.Icanbeprettysurethatanargumentwithacolleagueofanotherraceismorelikelytojeopardizeher/hischancesforadvancementthantojeopardizemine.
29.IcanbeprettysurethatifIargueforthepromotionofapersonofanotherrace,oraprogramcenteringonrace,thisisnotlikelytocostmeheavilywithinmypresentsetting,evenifmycolleaguesdisagreewithme.
30.IfIdeclarethereisaracialissueathand,orthereisn'taracialissueathand,myracewilllendmemorecredibilityforeitherpositionthanapersonofcolorwillhave.
31.Icanchoosetoignoredevelopmentsinminoritywritingandminorityactivistprograms,ordisparagethem,orlearnfromthem,butinanycase,Icanfindwaystobemoreorlessprotectedfromnegativeconsequencesofanyofthesechoices.
32.Myculturegivesmelittlefearaboutignoringtheperspectivesandpowersofpeopleofotherraces.
33.Iamnotmadeacutelyawarethatmyshape,bearingorbodyodorwillbetakenasareflectiononmyrace.
34.Icanworryaboutracismwithoutbeingseenasself-interestedorself-seeking.
35.Icantakeajobwithanaffirmativeactionemployerwithouthavingmyco-workersonthejobsuspectthatIgotitbecauseofmyrace.
36.Ifmyday,weekoryearisgoingbadly,Ineednotaskofeachnegativeepisodeorsituationwhetherithadracialovertones.
37.Icanbeprettysureoffindingpeoplewhowouldbewillingtotalkwithmeandadvisemeaboutmynextsteps,professionally.
38.Icanthinkovermanyoptions,social,political,imaginativeorprofessional,withoutaskingwhetherapersonofmyracewouldbeacceptedorallowedtodowhatIwanttodo.
39.Icanbelatetoameetingwithouthavingthelatenessreflectonmyrace.
40.IcanchoosepublicaccommodationwithoutfearingthatpeopleofmyracecannotgetinorwillbemistreatedintheplacesIhavechosen.
41.IcanbesurethatifIneedlegalormedicalhelp,myracewillnotworkagainstme.
42.IcanarrangemyactivitiessothatIwillneverhavetoexperiencefeelingsofrejectionowingtomyrace.
43.IfIhavelowcredibilityasaleaderIcanbesurethatmyraceisnottheproblem.
44.Icaneasilyfindacademiccoursesandinstitutionswhichgiveattentiononlytopeopleofmyrace.
45.Icanexpectfigurativelanguageandimageryinalloftheartstotestifytoexperiencesofmyrace.
46.Icanchoseblemishcoverorbandagesin"flesh"colorandhavethemmoreorlessmatchmyskin.
47.Icantravelaloneorwithmyspousewithoutexpectingembarrassmentorhostilityinthosewhodealwithus.
48.Ihavenodifficultyfindingneighborhoodswherepeopleapproveofourhousehold.
49.Mychildrenaregiventextsandclasseswhichimplicitlysupportourkindoffamilyunitanddonotturnthemagainstmychoiceofdomesticpartnership.
50.Iwillfeelwelcomedand"normal"intheusualwalksofpubliclife,institutionalandsocial.
Elusiveandfugitive
IrepeatedlyforgoteachoftherealizationsonthislistuntilIwroteitdown.Formewhiteprivilegehasturnedouttobeanelusiveandfugitivesubject.Thepressuretoavoiditisgreat,forinfacingitImustgiveupthemythofmeritocracy.Ifthesethingsaretrue,thisisnotsuchafreecountry;one'slifeisnotwhatonemakesit;manydoorsopenforcertainpeoplethroughnovirtuesoftheirown.
Inunpackingthisinvisibleknapsackofwhiteprivilege,Ihavelistedconditionsofdailyexperiencethat Ioncetookforgranted.NordidIthinkofanyoftheseperquisitesasbadfortheholder.Inowthinkthatweneedamorefinelydifferentiatedtaxonomyofprivilege,forsomeofthesevarietiesareonlywhat onewouldwantforeveryoneinajustsociety,andothersgivelicensetobeignorant,oblivious,arrogant,anddestructive.
Iseeapatternrunningthroughthematrixofwhiteprivilege,apatterofassumptionsthatwerepassedontomeasawhiteperson.Therewasonemainpieceofculturalturf;itwasmyownturn,andIwasamongthosewhocouldcontroltheturf.MyskincolorwasanassetforanymoveIwaseducatedtowanttomake.Icouldthinkofmyselfasbelonginginmajorwaysandofmakingsocialsystemsworkforme.Icouldfreelydisparage,fear,neglect,orbeoblivioustoanythingoutsideofthedominantculturalforms. Beingofthemainculture,Icouldalsocriticizeitfairlyfreely.
Inproportionasmyracialgroupwasbeingmadeconfident,comfortable,andoblivious,othergroupswerelikelybeingmadeunconfident,uncomfortable,andalienated.Whitenessprotectedmefrommanykindsofhostility,distress,andviolence,whichIwasbeingsubtlytrainedtovisit,inturn,uponpeopleofcolor.
Forthisreason,theword"privilege"nowseemstomemisleading.Weusuallythinkofprivilegeasbeingafavoredstate,whetherearnedorconferredbybirthorluck.YetsomeoftheconditionsIhavedescribedhereworksystematicallytooverempowercertaingroups.Suchprivilegesimplyconfersdominancebecauseofone'sraceorsex.
Earnedstrength,unearnedpower
Iwant,then,todistinguishbetweenearnedstrengthandunearnedpowerconferredprivilegecanlooklikestrengthwhenitisinfactpermissiontoescapeortodominate.Butnotalloftheprivilegesonmylist areinevitablydamaging.Some,liketheexpectationthatneighborswillbedecenttoyou,orthatyourracewillnotcountagainstyouincourt,shouldbethenorminajustsociety.Others,liketheprivilegetoignorelesspowerfulpeople,distortthehumanityoftheholdersaswellastheignoredgroups.
Wemightatleaststartbydistinguishingbetweenpositiveadvantages,whichwecanworktospread,andnegativetypesofadvantage,whichunlessrejectedwillalwaysreinforceourpresenthierarchies.Forexample,thefeelingthatonebelongswithinthehumancircle,asNativeAmericanssay,shouldnotbeseenasprivilegeforafew.Ideallyitisanunearnedentitlement.Atpresent,sinceonlyafewhaveit,itisanunearnedadvantageforthem.ThispaperresultsfromaprocessofcomingtoseethatsomeofthepowerthatIoriginallysayasattendantonbeingahumanbeingintheUnitedStatesconsistedinunearnedadvantageandconferreddominance.
Ihavemetveryfewmenwhotrulydistressedaboutsystemic,unearnedmaleadvantageandconferreddominance.Andsoonequestionformeandotherslikemeiswhetherwewillbelikethem,orwhetherwewillgettrulydistressed,evenoutraged,aboutunearnedraceadvantageandconferreddominance,and,ifso,whatwewilldotolessenthem.Inanycase,weneedtodomoreworkinidentifyinghowtheyactuallyaffectourdailylives.Many,perhapsmost,ofourwhitestudentsintheUnitedStatesthinkthatracismdoesn'taffectthembecausetheyarenotpeopleofcolor;theydonotsee"whiteness"asaracialidentity.Inaddition,sinceraceandsexarenottheonlyadvantagingsystemsatwork,weneedsimilarlytoexaminethedailyexperienceofhavingageadvantage,orethnicadvantage,orphysicalability,or advantagerelatedtonationality,religion,orsexualorientation.
Difficultiesandangerssurroundingthetaskoffindingparallelsaremany.Sinceracism,sexism,andheterosexismarenotthesame,theadvantagesassociatedwiththemshouldnotbeseenasthesame.Inaddition,itishardtodisentangleaspectsofunearnedadvantagethatrestmoreonsocialclass,economicclass,race,religion,sex,andethnicidentitythatonotherfactors.Still,alloftheoppressionsareinterlocking,asthemembersoftheCombaheeRiverCollectivepointedoutintheir"BlackFeministStatement"of1977.
Onefactorseemsclearaboutalloftheinterlockingoppressions.Theytakebothactiveforms,whichwecansee,andembeddedforms,whichasamemberofthedominantgroupsoneistaughtnottosee.Inmyclassandplace,IdidnotseemyselfasaracistbecauseIwastaughttorecognizeracismonlyinindividualactsofmeannessbymembersofmygroup,neverininvisiblesystemsconferringunsoughtracialdominanceonmygroupfrombirth.
Disapprovingofthesystemwon'tbeenoughtochangethem.Iwastaughttothinkthatracismcouldendifwhiteindividualschangedtheirattitude.Buta"white"skinintheUnitedStatesopensmanydoorsforwhiteswhetherornotweapproveofthewaydominancehasbeenconferredonus.Individualactscanpalliatebutcannotend,theseproblems.
Toredesignsocialsystemsweneedfirsttoacknowledgetheircolossalunseendimensions.Thesilencesanddenialssurroundingprivilegearethekeypoliticalsurroundingprivilegearethekeypoliticaltoolhere.Theykeepthethinkingaboutequalityorequityincomplete,protectingunearnedadvantageandconferreddominancebymakingthesesubjecttaboo.Mosttalkbywhitesaboutequalopportunityseemstomenowtobeaboutequalopportunitytotrytogetintoapositionofdominancewhiledenyingthatsystemsofdominanceexist.
Itseemstomethatobliviousnessaboutwhiteadvantage,likeobliviousnessaboutmaleadvantage,iskeptstronglyinculturatedintheUnitedStatessoastomaintainthemythofmeritocracy,themyththat
democraticchoiceisequallyavailabletoall.Keepingmostpeopleunawarethatfreedomofconfidentactionisthereforjustasmallnumberofpeoplepropsupthoseinpowerandservestokeeppowerinthehandsofthesamegroupsthathavemostofitalready.
Althoughsystemicchangetakesmanydecades,therearepressingquestionsformeand,Iimagine,forsomeotherslikemeifweraiseourdailyconsciousnessontheperquisitesofbeinglight-skinned.Whatwillwedowithsuchknowledge?Asweknowfromwatchingmen,itisanopenquestionwhetherwewillchoosetouseunearnedadvantage,andwhetherwewilluseanyofourarbitrarilyawardedpowertotrytoreconstructpowersystemsonabroaderbase.
PeggyMcIntoshisassociatedirectoroftheWellesleyCollageCenterforResearchonWomen.ThisessayisexcerptedfromWorkingPaper189."WhitePrivilegeandMalePrivilege:APersonalAccountofComingToSeeCorrespondencesthroughWorkinWomen'sStudies"(1988),byPeggyMcIntosh;availablefor$4.00fromtheWellesleyCollegeCenterforResearchonWomen,WellesleyMA02181 Theworkingpapercontainsalongerlistofprivileges.ThisexcerptedessayisreprintedfromtheWinter1990issueofIndependentSchool.