Johnson CH. 4: Making Privilege Happen

In chapter 4, Johnson defines privilege in a clear precise way. He brings up the point that each individual makes privilege take place in today’s society. “Although privilege is attached to social categories and not to individuals, people are the ones that make it happen through what they do and don’t do in relation to others” (54). Privilege is “something” that happens through individual’s thoughts, feelings as well as actions. This term has many different ways of being expressed in society. The reality of privilege is that it’s, in some way, involved in everyone’s lives. Johnson uses many relevant examples to explain his concepts in this chapter. Giving admissions or scholarships to students from elite, upper class schools is an act of discrimination. This allows people to believe that they are better qualified than others from middle class schools, when in fact; the students might hold the exact same qualifications.

There are different ways people show privilege daily. First is the act of discrimination. This is when one person or group of people will treat someone else or another group of people unequally simply because they belong to a different social category. This takes place depending on race, gender, sexual orientation, etc. Avoidance is also influenced by privilege. Something as small as looking away when speaking to someone else can show privilege. Another is exclusion, which is when one group doesn’t allow someone in. This socially bans this person, which makes privilege more of an issue. Johnson states, “Of all human needs, few are as powerful as the need to be seen, included and accepted by other people. This is why being shunned or banished is among the most painful punishments to endure, a social death.” This quote describes life and the way it’s always been. No one wants to be excluded or discriminated against. Avoidance might even be less hurtful than the other two acts. Privilege is also represented in the work place as well as in the community. Sometimes the way we act is intentional and on purpose.

Johnson discusses all of the talk about “racial healing” and “healing gender wounds,” but he continues to state that these issues are far from over. For a lot of people, it’s hard to even fathom the idea of privilege and how it is also seen as negative. Everyone is privileged as well as oppressed and that is how the world works. Day to day, I don’t see myself as privileged or oppressed, but I’ve learned that I am both.