Students were required to address ‘whiteness’ and describe what the term ‘white’ means, as well as explain how they ‘navigate race’ in their daily lives.
Students were required to address ‘whiteness’ and describe what the term ‘white’ means, as well as explain how they ‘navigate race’ in their daily lives.
I navigate my “whiteness” by covering it in clothes… then getting treated dismissively by doctors because I “have plenty of resources”, “have your family help you”, “just change your whole life or you’ll be dead in 5 years”, and “have you already stopped with those silly ideas?”.
Thanks for the privilege, by the way.
I think this is a good example of how people can be oppressed in multiple ways (medical gaslighting, ableism, financial class, fatphobia, low wages, etc) without one of those ways being racism. The world is still garbage for many white people, but not because of racism. Talking about privilege is not a way to say that all white people are doing perfectly fine, just a recognition of the ways that being white protects one from racism specifically, and from the economic or other social effects of racism. (And what a big difference that make even if we don’t realize that) But not from all isms, and not from all difficulties. Saying someone has a certain privilege is not meant as a way to dismiss their other problems, it’s just supposed to be a neutral way to talk about how different people get treated differently on a sociological level for different reasons. People can have white privilege but not economic privilege, or straight privilege but be sick, or any combination of traits that affect their life and how they are treated. I really hope that you can find a more respectful doctor.
It’s not just being oppressed in different ways (I’ve got my dose of xenophobia, fatphobia and ableism), but getting oppressed because of being “too privileged”. It’s no longer a privilege when you get it thrown at you at every step, when no matter who, they use this or that of your “privileges” to put you down.
And ironically, racism is also a problem for white people, but because some people seem to assume that being white means you must be racist, so they discriminate you for that.
As for doctors, I forgot about the neurologist who kept repeating “It’s all in your head” and dismissed me by saying I should get some therapy. When I complained to my GP, she pulled up my history, and it turned out he wrote that he examined me and found nothing wrong. If by “examined” he meant that he saw me sit in front of him while he kept insulting me, then sure.
I’ve also been told several times that I “have many resources”, which seems to be code for “you’re so privileged already, you don’t need anything”.
I understand and don’t doubt that this is really painful. And it’s awkward as hell to navigate assumptions some people might make because of certain privileges you have - that’s shitty. But it’s not racism, or similar to racism. It’s not oppression (related to a power structure that is woven into societal institutions), it’s mean behavior. People are being assholes to you, and some of them might (? Did they say that, or did you assume?) be claiming inaccurate watered down interpretation of the sociological concept of privilege as an excuse, but this is very different than racism, which comes with a whole mess of legal, historical, legislative, state backed, institutionally sanctioned, violence and does not really depend on interpersonal interactions. It’s not to take away from the things that happened to you, it’s just a different thing. The structure of society’s institutions in many countries is oriented to favor white people, even as individual interactions that white people have in the world can easily be cruel or negligent. I’m sorry that people have been dismissing your needs and that you haven’t been able to get good medical care without being gaslit or talked down to (me too!). But that is not anti whiteness. (Though it might be misogyny or ableism) It’s a failed medical system making excuses to hide its own lack of resources. People kind of suck, many institutions suck. Racism, though, is a very very specific form of oppression that white people just do not experience. This is also true with money. Oppression goes far beyond being condescended to by professionals or having people make sarcastic comments about your finances. Rudeness is not oppression. Your problems are very real and you deserve help and compassion for them. But they are not caused by your whiteness or your privilege.
I see where you’re coming from, and I thank you for your words, but after reflecting on this whole thread, I’ve come to realize that, with very few exceptions, the people I’ve met in life have been one or more of:
It suddenly explains all the interactions that left me baffled at the time, and it makes me sick. Maybe I’ve been just unlucky, or bad at seeking out people who don’t fit any of those, but at this point it makes me want, more than ever, to leave and not look back.
I’m healthy, fit, educated, and kinda rich. I’m also a man.
Do you believe those circumstances grant me with privilege?
The answer is obviously yes, so I’ll acknowledge it, rather than try to change the subject to ways in which I’m not privileged. Bringing up ways that white people may not be so privileged doesn’t actually address whiteness as privilege.
And privilege isn’t even something to feel guilty about. It’s just worth acknowledging in a “know thyself” kind of way.
What about ways in which “being privileged”, turns out to actually be a hindrance?
I used to be a healthy, fit, educated, not poor, not homeless, white, tall, man, blonde, with blue eyes… oh, and high IQ.
Wait, did I just describe the Aryan ideal? Ultra-privileged, right?
What pisses me off, is that after being aware of those privileges from relatively early, and being really careful to never abuse any of them, when it turns out that I need help, instead I get my privileges thrown in my face.
It’s not a privilege to get mocked and laughed off by doctors, to get failed by teachers, to get your work destroyed, to not get believed about family problems, all because “you’re privileged”.
Heck, I once almost got run over by a car, because I nodded at a black girl to let her pass first, and she went off her way to hit me with the stroller with her baby inside, pushing me off the curb into traffic. Like, seriously?
So what, did I live my life wrong? Should have joined some neo-Nazi group? Should have used my privileges to abuse and scam everyone left and right? Should have kicked the baby…? The fuck.
Do take a look at the following video. You will find answers, if that’s what you are looking for.
How to recognize your white privilege — and use it to fight inequality [18:26]
That seems to say you should use all your privileges all you can, “but for the good”… while trying not to use them, striving for actual meritocracy, is the wrong way?
Yeah, in retrospect those might be wise words, in a “when among wolves, bite first then be good later” sense, but I find it kind of shitty as a goal for society. Oh well.
You are talking about the introductory text of the video. If you read it once more, you will see that what you mention in your comment is not relevant. Anyways, the important stuff are in the video.
I suggested the Ted talk because one can see her process, since she came to these conclusions thanks to self-reflection and thoughtfulness.
If you prefer reading, here is the text:
White privilege: unpacking the invisible knapsack - Peggy McIntosh
@FZDC
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hello,_Privilege._It%27s_Me,_Chelsea