Entry #5 "Differences, Privileges and Oppression"

Brian Gerker
ETHN 101
Reading Journal Entry #5
9-9-2007

Johnson, A PPD Chapter 2 “Privilege, Oppression and Difference”

In “Privilege, Oppression and Difference” Johnson’s thesis is based around people’s differences and privileges associated with them. Johnson states that “The trouble that surrounds difference is really about privilege and power.” Johnson seems to believe that people with higher ranks on the social pyramid have more privileges and power in society, specifically in America. Johnson also brings about that oppression is conceived in the same manner. People that are “normal” force people that are different into oppression because they believe they deserve greater power.
Johnson begins in “Privilege, Oppression and Difference” by promoting the idea that differences are created through people’s fear. He says it is “. . . inevitable that you’ll fear and distrust people who aren’t like you and, in spite your good intentions, you’ll find it all but impossible to get along with them.” Johnson thinks that people are afraid of strange things that are new. Johnson then presents the Diversity Wheel. The wheel presents categories in which people discriminate others such as race, gender, age, ethnicity, and sexuality. He then later uses the categories and gives examples of differences between people who are male or female, white or colored, older or younger, and heterosexual or homosexual. These examples Johnson uses are how he shows how privileges are given to people that are more prestigious, or are dominant. McIntosh in Johnson’s writing believes there are two types of privileges known as “unearned entitlements” and “conferred dominance.” Johnson then presents real life examples of privileges that exist such as how people that are male or white can get cars for cheaper, or that heterosexuals can display pictures of their partners without being harassed. All of these privileges also relates to unfair treatment of people in acquiring jobs, wealth, and income. “To have privilege is to be allowed to move through your life without being marked in ways that identify you as an outsider, as exceptional or ‘other’ to be excluded, or to be included but always with conditions.”
A consequence for our world in today’s society, from Johnson’s view could be that privileges and oppression could become worse. Some people may read “Privilege, Oppression and Difference” and think that these differences are okay. Specifically, white males could realize the privileges they receive in society, and they will therefore always expect preferential treatment. This document shows some very important things about differences and their relationship to privileges and oppression that people face in the real world.
Personally, I already was aware of differences in society, but Johnson provided more details of some things that I was not aware of before. After the reading I thought that the privileges that people have just because of their race, gender, age, or ethnicity are not really fair to others in society. Ones who are disabled, celebrities, farmers, whites, blacks and anyone who is different in any way should have the same privileges as everyone else.