Privilege, Power, And Difference Summary

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In the chapters from the book Privilege, Power, and Difference the author Allan Johnson discusses the importance of not only in our society talking about differences such as racism, sexism, or privilege but also ways in which to eliminate barriers that keep us from having long term conversations across differences. Johnson (2006) states that he wants to provide tools for understanding without what he stated as “individuals being swallowed up in a sea of guilt and blame or rushing into denial and angry self-defense” (p.11) which is often the case today in society. The trouble around difference is about the existence of privilege and the unequal distribution of power that feeds it (Johnson, 2006). This has been going on for centuries and now …show more content…
This section reminded me of an activity that I participated in during a staff training at my undergraduate school two years ago. The office of Lesbian Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) services and the Multicultural Center came together to participate in a privilege walk. This activity helped my peers and I recognize how power and privilege can affect our lives even in ways we may not be aware of. All of us stood to form a straight line across the room where we then read off statements that addresses a small privilege. By the end of the activity everyone had been divided up into different locations in the room similar to how we might be divided into different places in society. Something that was interesting to see when the activity was over was how some identities are more invisible then others therefor breaking many assumptions or stereotypes of who we thought would be farther up in the line of the room. Like Johnson (2006) mentioned how many of us make these assumptions without thinking, and rely on them in order to see the world as a much more predictable place then it truly is