POWER AND PRIVILEGE May 28, 2014 PSYC 3570

Overview How language hides privilege Normalization of privilege Choosing whether to act against oppression Systems of privilege Intersecting privilege Exercise and Discussion

Privilege American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: a special advantage, immunity, permission, right, or benefit grated to or enjoyed by an individual, class, or caste

Language Contributes to invisibility and regeneration of privilege Places people into categories Words mask system of privilege

Normalization Characteristics and attributes of privileged members are defined as societal norms Affiliation with powerful group is transformed into and presented as individual merit

Choosing to act against oppression Can choose which struggles to engage in Privilege may be exercised by silence

Systems of Privilege Male privilege White privilege Heterosexual privilege Ability privilege

Intersecting Privilege Can intersect with subordination or other systems with privilege No purely privileged or unprivileged person Presence of privilege and subordination obscures privilege

Exercise and Discussion For each statement that applies to you add 1 point. After you have tallied your score, discuss with your small group: Feelings about the exercise, Thoughts about your privilege, and How the exercise helped you think about privilege broadly.