The Complexity of Privilege and Domination

Privilege always occurs at the expense of others. Allan Johnson states, “The trouble we’re in privileges some groups at the expense of others. It creates a yawning divide in levels of income, wealth, dignity, safety, health, and quality of life” (Johnson 7). Allan Johnson states this in Chapter 1 of his book Privilege, Power and Difference and it is one of the most powerful statements in the whole book. Privilege creates a great divide between people. This can have a negative lasting effect, if not under control. Society has divided people into two groups: superior and inferior. The superior groups are the ones that are privileged in society and the inferior ones are ones that are underprivileged; however, there is a certain complexity that comes with privilege.

There are so many different combinations of race, gender, class, sexual orientation or disability status that can occur so finding a person who fits all of the above is difficult. Ideally, it would be a white, wealthy, heterosexual male who is not disabled. Majority of people in the world do not fit that description. It is much more likely that an individual would be privileged in one or two of those categories. The complexity of privilege lies in the fact that individuals who are seen as superior and therefore privileged are entitled to have more opportunities than those who are underprivileged and inferior; however, this is not guaranteed.

Allan Johnson’s Privileged, Power, and Difference provides a background to the complexities of privilege. Johnson defines privilege by saying “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” (33). In simple terms this is saying that a person who is privileged will be accepted. Privilege becomes complex when “people can belong to a privileged category and not feel privileged. There is more than one set of categories, which means a person can belong to the privileged category in one set and an unprivileged category in another” (49). The conflict is that there are so many different combinations of certain race, gender, and class that it is very likely an individual will be privileged in all three areas.

This can easily be applied to the real world. Johnson provides an example of how a working-class white male would be privileged because he is white and he is male but this is not the case. The fact that he is in a working class prevents him from truly feeling privileged or superior. In this situation, “Belonging to a privileged category improves the odds in favor of certain kinds of advantages and preferential treatment, but it doesn’t guarantee anything for any given individual” (37). An individual is only truly guaranteed privileges if he or she meets all the different criteria.

Johnson discusses the term “matrix of domination” in Chapter 3 of Privileged, Power, and Difference. Not only does the matrix of domination explain oppression within racism, sexism, and classism but it also strings them together. It explains where different people in various groups stand in society. Johnson proposes that “each particular form of privilege is part of a much larger system of privilege” (52). This information inclines one to believe that the matrix of domination refers to the larger system of privilege in which all people are a part of. The matrix of domination demonstrates how all forms of privilege and domination are related and interconnected. This relationship can be demonstrated through two characters in the works of literature, “The Witness” by Ann Petry and A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry.

Ann Petry’s short story, “The Witness” focuses on the story of an African American man who becomes a teacher for seven young white boys. The main character, Charles Woodruff is a complex character who is both privileged as well as unprivileged. Woodruff is imprisoned by racism but he is privileged in sexism because he is male. Even though one would think that because Woodruff is male, he would have a lot of privileges, this is not the case. Woodruff’s race eliminates any privileges he might have, especially when faced against seven white boys. Woodruff finds himself almost powerless to the boys when he witnesses them commit a crime. Petry writes, “Woodruff thought, There are seven of them, young, strong, satanic. He ought to go home where it was quiet and safe, mind his own business—a black man’s business; leave this white man’s problem for a white man, leave it alone, don’t interfere… (2257). This statement clearly shows the racial differences and how Woodruff is aware that he should not interfere. Later in the short story Petry explains that Woodruff ended up staying silent about the crime because he feared the white boys. Petry states, “They knew he wasn’t going to the police about any matter which involved sex and a white girl, especially where there was the certainty that all seven of them would accuse him of having relations with the girl” (2263). It is clear that Woodruff’s race set him back from having any privileges. This relates to the matrix of domination because it demonstrates the complexity of privilege. It shows how same system of privilege can make one superior but at the same time make one inferior.

Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun, tells a story about an African American working class family living in Chicago. Hansberry’s play addresses many issues that were proposed problems in the 1950’s. A Raisin in the Sun explores issues such as race, poverty, gender differences, as well as identity issues. All of these issues were portrayed by the Younger family. The main character, Walter Lee is another complex character because he is both privileged and unprivileged at the same time. Walter Lee Younger is the “man” of the house and has a dream of opening up a liquor store in hopes of becoming rich. As man of the house, Walter Lee feels that he needs to provide for his family. Walter is privileged in the sense that he is a male and non-disabled but he is unprivileged in the sense that he is African American. There are many scenes in the play in which Walter Lee exerts his male dominance over both his sister and his wife. Walter Lee shows his superiority over his sister and his wife in the household but outside of the household, he does not feel superior.

In Act 1 Scene 1, Walter Lee says, “That is just what is wrong with the colored woman in this world…Don’t understand about building up their men and making em’ feel like they somebody” (34). Walter Lee is targets race as well as gender in this statement. It shows how he expects women, colored women, to build him up and make him feel superior, like a man. In that same act, Walter Lee then later says, “Who the hell told you you had to be a doctor? If you so crazy ‘bout messing’ round with sick people—then go be a nurse like other women—or just get married and be quiet…” (38). This time he is speaking to his sister Beneatha and using his male superiority to put her down. Walter Lee uses his male superiority to degrade both his wife and his sister in this scene. This connects to the Matrix of Domination because it shows the link between all privileges on a larger system.

The system of privilege and oppression is definitely a complicated one. Petry’s “The Witness” and Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun help explain how the matrix of domination works. The two characters Charles Woodruff and Walter Lee portray just how complicated the system of privilege really is. Both characters are in similar positions in society: men who are imprisoned by their own racism. This proves that just because one belongs to a privileged category, it does not guarantee any special rights or treatment. Each character also shows how each smaller privilege is a part of a bigger system of privilege. It makes no sense as to why some privileges take precedence over others in a society. Why some privileges are more important than others.

People are blind to the matrix of domination and systems of oppression because they, themselves are a part of the system. Allan Johnson proposes that “In all its forms, the problem of privilege and oppression stands between us and the kind of world in which all people have the best chance of thriving” (60). Privilege and oppression are what stand in the way of a world in which everyone has the best chance of thriving or succeeding. Society is at a disadvantage because of these systems. In this world, there is always going to be inequalities and with inequalities comes the systems of privilege and oppression. If the world truly wants to see a change, the only solution is to get rid of racism, sexism, and classism because they are all interconnected. When one becomes aware that he or she is a part of the system that created this mess, thinking of a solution is not so easy anymore. It is difficult to create a solution if everyone is part of the problem. Privilege is at the expense of others and the only way to fully combat and challenge the matrix of domination is to rid of it completely. The only way to create a fully equal society is to get rid of the whole privilege system as a whole.

Works Cited

Bullock, Richard, and Francine Weinberg. The Little Seagull Handbook. New York: W.W. Norton &, 2011. Print.

The Heath Anthology of American Literature. Lexington, Mass. [u.a.: Heath, 2006. Print.

Johnson, Allan G. Privilege, Power, and Difference. Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill, 2006. Print.

Hansberry, Lorraine, and Robert Nemiroff. A Raisin in the Sun: The Unfilmed Original Screenplay. New York, NY U.a.: Plume, 1992. Print.