...Homework 1: Privilege & Power Due in D2L no later than Sept. 18, 2012 at 11 AM Instructions: Using Johnson’s Power, Privilege and Difference text as your primary source …Answer the three (3) questions below. Assessment criteria: a. Critical argument – In addition to making a substantive statement; have you made sure to include the evidence (citations) supporting the statement? b. Soundness of argument - Is your line of thought logical and complete? c. Clarity of writing - Can a reader easily follows and comprehend the meaning conveyed in the response? d. Quality of writing – Is the writing clear of distractions such as poor grammar and spelling? 1. In his book, Johnson explains the construct of privilege; explain what privilege means in relation to being a professional working with people with disabilities. Include an example, using a professional setup which illustrates your response. Remember to cite from the book. Answer: “This is also true of people with disabilities. Nondisabled people often assume that people with disabilities lack intelligence and are little more than needy, helpless victims who can’t take care of themselves and whose achievements and situation in life depend solely on their physical or attitudinal obstacles that placed in their way. “Privilege, Power and Difference by Johnson (pg. 22) The privilege that the society’s view for “white” privilege. The society concentrates on the white male and the straight. They control government...
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...Name: Institution: Subject: Date: Difference between a Right and a Privilege Rights can generally be described as legal, ethical or social principles of entitlement or freedom. In other words, rights are essential normative rules that describe what is owed to people or allowed to people, following some legal system, ethical theory or social convention. Rights are of crucial importance in disciplines such as ethics and law, especially theories of deontology and justice. On the other side, privileges can generally be described as an exclusive entitlement to the exception granted an authority or the state to a particular person or a restricted group either on a conditional basis or by birth. However, these privileges can be revoked in relation to certain circumstances. Additionally, any right owned by the government turns to be a privilege. In discussing the differences between privileges and rights one can start by mentioning that a right is an irrevocable, inherent entitlement held by all human beings or citizens from the moment of birth. However, the main difference between a privilege and a right is that when a right being enjoyed by a person is revoked, then this will be injustice while on the other hand, a privilege given to a person can be revoked without necessary being taken as an injustice case but as unfair. Additionally, a person’s rights are essential for that person’s freedom while privileges are mostly essential for the safety of that particular person. ...
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...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...
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...were not always the first to step up and claim “ain’t racist” but they would when pressed. They enjoyed a good joke or two or twenty and stereotypes a-plenty. It was when I went to college straight out of high school, and let a racist slang term slip amongst a group of my multicultural friends that I realized how much my parents tainted my worldview. That was my first realization and my first step towards being anti-racist. The purpose of this reflective paper is to examine what confrontations are experienced in recognizing institutionalized racism and white privilege. In order to understand today’s institutional racism, we must define. That is a difficult task and we were unable to fully define it amongst a group of my peers and that I turn to an authority such as Enid Lee. According to Enid Lee in the article titled Anti-Racist Education: Pulling Together to Close the Gaps, racism is defined as “the use of institutional power to deny or grant people and groups of people rights, respect, representation, and resources based on their skin color” (Enid, Deborah, and Margo, p27). Let’s take a moment to dissect this powerful definition. “The use...
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...Privilege and power are aspects of society that effects every individual who participates in the popular culture. These two aspects will either benefit an individual or group or cause an individual or group to undergo oppression. Privilege is defined as something an individual or group with power possesses that is denied to others simply based on groups individuals belong to (Johnson, 2006). Privilege has become a loaded word that often causes individuals or groups who belong to privileged groups to feel uncomfortable and defensive. It is common for privileged individuals and groups to deny the existence of privilege as long as the benefits of privilege continue (Johnson, 2006). By ignoring privilege, the denial protects the advantages privilege...
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...privileged to come here to start a new a new beginning with my family, and being here in America has granted me that freedom. Since the Declaration of Independence was established we have been given the right of power and privilege. In this paper i will talk about the conflicts associated with power and privilege and how it influences with interpersonal communication. For starters what is power and privilege? Power has many...
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...Privilege is the Greatest Enemy of Equality Educators most often consider multicultural education as teaching their pupils about Blacks, Latinos, Asians, Native Americans, and other descendants of color. However, multicultural education is not complete if it doesn’t challenge the root of structural racism and racial oppression: the matter of white privilege. It’s vital to understand white privilege and the role it plays in affecting society. In essence, white privilege is an unwilling and non-owned racism that has been ingrained into our mindset throughout history, and it affects how we interact with each other and how those who don’t share such advantages are affected. It’s a permeating factor responsible for many inequalities faced among races, widening the social gap between white and nonwhite Americans. Accessibility to education, jobs, and housing are all directly affected by societal inconsistencies of privilege and power. Ultimately, racism isn’t caused by white privilege; white privilege is caused by racism. Yet racism isn't a problem that resides in the minds of individuals; it lies rooted deep in our social institutions. It is necessary we reconstruct the societal ideologies of race and class to expel this self-perpetuating cycle. In this essay I will address these racial struggles for power and privilege, the role it plays in education, and my personal experience towards racism and how it has affected me as a person. Privilege, as defined by Websters Dictionary...
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...The term “white” in modern day society means privilege, education, and social status. If someone was defining a person based upon the characteristics of an ideal white individual they will be white. Yet if they are “white” based upon skin color the qualifications automatically disappear and they purely judge based upon skin color. "Whiteness" is a term that depicts the belief system of the individuals who have been racially distinguished as white. Whiteness, as with race, is a socially developed reality. As such, the importance of one's skin color and how it shapes a man's perspective and lived experience is not inborn in an individual but rather controlled by society. The definition of the white race has changed over time and has been determined by the people in power. Neil Foley states in 1980 U.S Bureau of the Census created two new ethnic categories of Whites: Hispanic and non Hispanic”.(p. 87) This for example shows how the government constructed a new idea of “white” because they have the power to. They have the power to label and create new labels, these labels were not given to these people...
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...Governor-Attorney Client Privilege I. The Office of the Governor should not invoke government attorney-client privilege to prevent testimony by a government lawyer when the lawyer is subpoenaed in a federal grand jury investigation for possible federal criminal violations. This decision is up to the courts in a case by case basis. a. Attorney Client Privilege is subject to the common law by courts “in the light of reason and experience.” FRE 501. i. FRE 501 can be relied on over FRE 503 at the discretion of the Court. 1. FRE 503(a)(1) only makes “broad propositions that a governmental body may be a client for purposes of the attorney-client privilege” (In Re Duces Tecum, 8th circuit, 916). a. “We are instructed by Rule 501 to interpret the attorney-client privilege via common law ‘in light of reason and experience’ and not solely in light of the rule promulgated by the Supreme Ct. in 1972” (Id). ii. Necessity of Granting Potentially Relevant Info to Fed. Grand Jury as a matter of Constitution and Criminal Justice. 2. It is up to the federal grand jury to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to justify a formal accusation against a person for a crime (US Constitution, 5th amendment). 3. The rule of law should reign supreme and should be considered natural that every step be taken to ensure that justice be served promptly. b. “Supreme Ct. recognizes that the principle...
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...social class, , race, age. Differences among members are attributable in part to hierarchical structures that motivate members to act in ways that advance or protect their interests Assumptions • Members differ in their interest, motivations, and preferences • Differences are based on hierarchy • Hierarchy depends on age and gender • Power, authority and privilege is hierarchical • Zero sum structure…gains for one may mean loss for another • Competitive structures create behaviors of confrontation, threats, promises, and appeasement • Families are willing to compromise on differences because of symbiotic relationships Solutions which all can agree upon must be found for conflict to end • Negotiation, bargaining,, compromise, and persuasion are utilized to end conflict • Rules are needed for boundaries CONCEPTS • Conflict and competition – members differences in values, attitudes, goals, and interests; behaviors over conflict can range from mild disagreements to physical abuse • Conflict resolution – Symbiosis reduces competition in a family; one compromises so another can gain. Need to win at another's expense is reduced if whole group is considered in winning and losing • Persuasion, negotiation and bargaining, coercion, and constraint Focused on maintaining/restoring order Attempt to influence the direction of outcomes of contested decisions and issues. Power, Authority, and Privilege Family is set up with unequal power; structure is age and gender...
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...interactions with one another on two levels, micro and macro. The theory not seen as a race being concrete, however race based on our upbringing, but race measured fluid meaning there is a racial order organized. Other paradigms in history have shown that someone’s race associates with their socioeconomic status. However, we learned earlier that that is not true. Our social interactions with other people from other backgrounds, challenges our minds to work together to create a difference. Some individuals are still stuck in their ways of the white race having dominance within the country. However, racism is not only a “white problem”. Minorities have gained some power and has definitely demonstrated racism. When it comes to race and racism in...
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...Privilege, Power, and Oppression Name Institution Privilege, Power, and Oppression I am not merely an individual; I am a product of a system of privilege. This is Tim Wise's position about how the community participates in constructing an individual. His primary concern is social privilege. Maybe the privilege never favored him, and privilege made him work hard. The system of privilege shaped the direction of his life. The hardships caused by lack of privilege and the real life brought by privilege is his construction: a product of the system of privilege. He is conscious about the power and legacy of privilege in the society (Tisdell, 1993). He says that Politicians often talk about issues like housing, poverty, healthcare and education, but they rarely link them to the role that racism plays in the United States. He adds that the media often reports personal crimes while under-reporting organized and traditional discrimination. In the country, Black and Latino males are most prospective to have their cars stopped and searched for drugs. Tim’s argument regarding the color-blind perspective relates completely to the issue of the privilege system. In the system, color-blindness is treated like an inability. Talking about the realities race, oppression and white privilege make people uncomfortable. There are races that feel superior and their position oppresses the minorities. Institutional privilege and inequality exist in every society, including...
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...in the United States, the difference between the upper class and middle to lower class is astonishing. The upper class receives, which is 10% of the population, more than 2/3rd of the wealth generated. This leaves less than a quarter to distribute between the middle to lower class (Johnson 43-44). The biggest inequality is with the money in America itself....
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...Male privilege…In black and white Dorrell Anthony Alexander Western Washington University What is “Privilege”? When we speak of privilege, what exactly are we speaking of? Many find it easy to get the basic fundamentals of a “right” and a “privilege” confused, so for foundational purposes, I would like to lay out how they differ. First, let’s talk about two of the different kinds of rights; “natural” and “legal”. According to Merriam-Webster (2013) Natural rights are “rights which are "natural" in the sense of "not artificial, not man-made”; “as in rights deriving from logic, from human nature, or from the edicts of a god”. They are ”universal”, (they apply to all people, and do not derive from the laws of any specific society),”They exist necessarily, inhere in every individual, and can't be taken away” ( Merriam-Webster, 2013). For example, it has been argued that humans have a natural right to life. They're sometimes called inalienable rights. Legal rights, in contrast, are “rights based on a society's customs, laws, statutes or actions by legislatures” (Merriam-Webster, 2013). An example of a legal right is the right to vote of citizens. “Citizenship, itself, is often considered as the basis for having legal rights, and has been defined as the "right to have rights"(Broidy and Agnew, 1997), Legal rights are sometimes called civil rights or statutory rights which Broidy and Agnew (1997) believe are “culturally and politically relative”, since they depend on a specific...
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...Since the abolishment of apartheid in 1994 South Africa has been in era of attempting to rectify racial inequality. White anti-racism is one of the issues that has presented itself in this attempt at achieving equality posing both possibilities and challenges. The issues of whiteness and white privilege have emerged as one of the greatest challenges in this proves of restoration. This essay will first provide a brief historical background to white anti-racism in post apartheid South Africa as well as introducing the concept of whiteness and white privilege. In order to demonstrate the challenges and possibilities relating to whiteness a few ideological discourses will be discussed. The findings of the research done by Wale and Foster will also...
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