Privilege and Oppression — Key Concepts

Privilege: advantages granted by society to a group based on identity (race, gender, SES, ability, religion, sexuality, age, education); often present from birth and is largely invisible to those who have it.
Oppression: systemic outcomes that persist because privilege structures exist; understanding oppression requires understanding privilege.
Core idea: privilege is not about individual effort; it is a built-in societal advantage that affects access to safety, resources, and opportunities.
Common forms mentioned: white privilege, male privilege, able-bodied privilege, religious privilege, class privilege.
Privilege interacts with oppression; recognizing privilege helps explain unequal outcomes and access.
Visibility issue: privilege is usually invisible to those who hold it and becomes visible only through reflection or comparison.

Intersectionality: oppression and privilege operate across multiple, overlapping identities (e.g., Indigenous + female, disability status, sexuality).
These multiplicities shape unique experiences of advantage and disadvantage.
Week 9 discussion planned to explore intersectionality in depth.

Those with power may resist acknowledging privilege; it implicates those in power.
Easier to focus on problems of oppressed groups than to examine one’s own role in perpetuating inequality.
Even well-intentioned actions can contribute to oppression if they ignore privilege.

Bias: prejudice or unfavorable judgments about a group.
Racism: policies, practices, or attitudes that translate bias into unequal outcomes and access.
Racialization: grouping people by perceived physical differences (e.g., skin color).
Systemic racism: institutional structures that reproduce racial inequality over time.
Distinction: bias can exist without action; racism involves enacted discrimination and systemic impact.

White privilege: built-in advantages linked to whiteness; not an accusation of effort or merit, but an unearned structural benefit.
Not about denying hard work; about recognizing an ease of access and safety that others may not experience.
Examples discussed: ease of finding products that match skin tone; predictability of fair treatment; ability to remain silent in the face of injustice; perceived safety in public spaces.
Privilege can persist even when other forms of disadvantage are present.
It includes the ongoing capacity to choose when to protest or speak up.

Religious privilege (holidays and scheduling consideration).
Able-bodied privilege (accessibility as a given in many spaces).
Gender, socioeconomic, and cultural privilege shapes experiences and opportunities.

Key reading: Peggy McIntosh, "Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack" ( $1988$ ).
Purpose: reveal unearned advantages that accompany whiteness and other identities; not to shame individuals but to illuminate systemic patterns.

Change starts with self-awareness: understand how privilege influences workplace dynamics and personal interactions.
Reflexive practice: daily reflection on actions and their impact; adjust to prevent harm.
Advocacy: social work emphasizes speaking up and addressing systemic inequities; raising concerns to improve processes.

Privilege shapes who gets heard in organizations and whose careers advance.
During upheaval (e.g., strikes or changes in class formats), clear communication and accessibility are critical to minimize harm.
Silence can perpetuate oppression; active, respectful engagement is needed to reduce inequality.

Distinguish bias (prejudice) from racism (actions/structures enforcing inequality).
Recognize privilege as invisible advantage tied to identity.
Consider intersectionality when analyzing oppression.
Begin with self-reflection; advocate for inclusive practices.
In times of disruption, prioritize clear communication, empathy, and accessibility.