Mayor Cries After City Council Member Denies Her ‘White Privilege’
- Thread starter canada-man
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All the guys are mum, just watching things go off the rails lol.
The concept of privilege is interesting and one that I haven't given much thought about. I think people like Jordan Peterson, Sam Harris, Ben Shapiro (all of whom I respect) and others argue against the concept but I've yet to watch or read their input on the issue. I may be wrong but, I think privilege does exist for different groups for different reasons at different times in different contexts (whether based on religion, ethnicity, gender, etc.). Perhaps part of the problem is semantics? For example, someone saying that white privilege exists, I think, is different than saying every white person comes from privileged background. A person of color born with a silver spoon obviously has more privilege and advantages than a poor white person born to a single mom. But all things equal, is there no privilege in being a poor white rather than poor black?
What if we look at gender instead. Is there any doubt that women have privilege in the dating game? They hold the sexual power and thus all the cards. Likewise, men have privileges in the corporate, sport, and STEM academic worlds.
Or am I mistaken about the whole privilege thing?
The concept of privilege is interesting and one that I haven't given much thought about. I think people like Jordan Peterson, Sam Harris, Ben Shapiro (all of whom I respect) and others argue against the concept but I've yet to watch or read their input on the issue. I may be wrong but, I think privilege does exist for different groups for different reasons at different times in different contexts (whether based on religion, ethnicity, gender, etc.). Perhaps part of the problem is semantics? For example, someone saying that white privilege exists, I think, is different than saying every white person comes from privileged background. A person of color born with a silver spoon obviously has more privilege and advantages than a poor white person born to a single mom. But all things equal, is there no privilege in being a poor white rather than poor black?
What if we look at gender instead. Is there any doubt that women have privilege in the dating game? They hold the sexual power and thus all the cards. Likewise, men have privileges in the corporate, sport, and STEM academic worlds.
Or am I mistaken about the whole privilege thing?
Sorry but you are wrong if you think it has to do with income. The concept of white privilege is that you will be treated better (or not treated worse) solely based on the fact that you are white. EVERY white person, no matter what income level, is automatically better off than other non-white people. You are correct in the confusion of privilege pertaining to wealth i.e. a person born into a rich family has more privilege than someone born into a poorer family. But the privilege has nothing to do with money.
The privilege (I believe) comes down to racism and stereotyping. A simple and relevant example is SP's and the fact that some SP's choose to not see black clients or other races. But very few SP's refuse to see white clients. So by virtue of being white, a man automatically gets a privilege that other non-whites don't get - most SP's will see him. Other simple examples are a white person won't be randomly accosted by cops (black people) or won't be interrogated for suspected terrorism (brown-skinned). A white person who commits the same crime as a non-white person will more likely get shorter sentence (or conversely the non-white gets a harsher sentence).
Part of it is systemic. Most companies, organizations, groups, etc. are composed mostly of white people. So there is generally more comfort being a white person joining these groups versus a non-white. White people are more likely to be selected for jobs/promotions, hence the need for quotas and affirmative action.
Now, I assume if you are in a some countries, being white is not a privilege. I'm sure in some Asian countries, they treat Asian people better in some regards versus non-Asians, so being white doesn't help. However, in some other countries, being white is still a good thing. I know a guy who worked in Africa and local ladies all wanted to sleep with him because he was white (they had aspirations of wealth, being taken away, etc.).
It is kind of funny seeing a council of white people talking about white privilege. Some get it, some won't acknowledge it but it does exist - the system is more favorable to a white person. The guys were smart - staying out of an argument that is unwinnable.
Words fail me. When did this happen, when people started blaming others for their lot in life? Turning things around and coining a fashionable term like, "white privilege" isn't going to solve anything and the apologists just make me sick with their drivel.
Does being rich turn your skin white? Otherwise, your statement doesn't make any sense.
Privilege to me has to do with power. Rich people hold more power than poor people; thus privilege. But if wealth dictates power, it's the Asians that should be said to have privilege. They do, after all, make more than white people on average (at least in America).
Looking beyond that, men hold more power than women in the corporate world; thus privilege. Women hold more power than men in law; thus privilege. Minorities hold more power than Whites institutionally; thus privilege. White people hold more power than minorities socially; thus privilege.
You'll note that each of these is highly individual as it pertains to race or sex. Not all men are corporate behemoths. Not all women benefit from laws that cater to women. Not all minorities are benefited by tailored programs. Not all white people are deemed paragons by society.
The idea of "privilege" is just another stupid SJW concept that keeps us from doing what we should be doing: treating everyone as equals.
The point makes sense - I think you misinterpreted what I was saying - I was just agreeing to Smallcock's notion about semantics. "Privilege" can mean wealth. However, "white privilege" has nothing to do with wealth. Based on your remaining comments you associate "white privilege" with "privilege" i.e. wealth. It's not the same thing.
A black male who is born into a rich family still faces systemic discrimination because he is black. He might be harassed more by police, he may be stared at or monitored in a store. White privilege extends to basic notions of racism/stereotyping. You are less subject to discrimination simply because you are white. The issue may be major or minor but being white carries a number of advantages, some obvious, some less obvious. A blond-haired, blue eyed white male will not face the same scrutiny as an ethnic person when crossing a border. That in itself is a form of white privilege.
Now, you have highlighted other forms of X privilege. Male privilege is what you have described in the corporate world. Historically, being born a man and entering the workforce there is more opportunity for you and higher pay because you are a man.
As mentioned, over time white privilege is slowly declining, especially in certain fields. Due to quotas, being a white male is not beneficial in some fields (e.g law enforcement or fire fighting). Male privilege may exist in teaching since there are too many females so you have a better chance at a permanent position if you are a man.
Female privilege certainly exists although it's not often. But to give an example, for something like child-care, I imagine most people would choose a female over a male, not for any other reason except the fact that she is a female.
Having lived in and around the Twin Cities for several years this video is depressingly unsurprising. Both the attitude of the mayor and her inability to articulate the rationale behind her beliefs.
KK
Privilege is intersectional and that is the part that most people don't realize. There is not just "white" privilege.
For example:
Citizenship: Simply being born in this country affords you certain privileges that non-citizens will never access.
Class: Being born into a financially stable family can help guarantee your health, happiness, safety, education, intelligence, and future opportunities.
Sexual orientation: If you were born straight, every state in this country affords you privileges that non-straight folks have to fight the Supreme Court for.
Sex: If you were born male, you can assume that you can walk through a parking garage without worrying that you’ll be raped and then have to deal with a defence attorney blaming it on what you were wearing.
Ability: If you were born able-bodied, you probably don’t have to plan your life around handicap access, braille, or other special needs.
Gender identity: If you were born cisgender (that is, your gender identity matches the sex you were assigned at birth), you don’t have to worry that using the restroom or locker room will invoke public outrage.
So belonging to one or more category of privilege, especially being a straight, white, middle-class, able-bodied male, can be like winning a lottery you didn’t even know you were playing.
And don't get me wrong, this is not to imply that any form of privilege is exactly the same as another, or that people lacking in one area of privilege understand what it’s like to be lacking in other areas. Race discrimination is not equal to sex discrimination and so forth.
Recognizing privilege doesn’t mean suffering guilt or shame for your privilege in life. Nobody’s saying that straight, white, middle-class, able-bodied males are all a bunch of assholes who don’t work hard for what they have, or at least that is not what they should be saying. Instead of recognizing privilege simply means being aware that some people have to work much harder just to experience the things you take for granted (if they ever can experience them at all).
If people would understand what privilege is, then this mayor would understand that she is indeed privileged for being white and wouldn't be offended. They both went on about racism and being racist when they didn't need to at all.
For example:
Citizenship: Simply being born in this country affords you certain privileges that non-citizens will never access.
Class: Being born into a financially stable family can help guarantee your health, happiness, safety, education, intelligence, and future opportunities.
Sexual orientation: If you were born straight, every state in this country affords you privileges that non-straight folks have to fight the Supreme Court for.
Sex: If you were born male, you can assume that you can walk through a parking garage without worrying that you’ll be raped and then have to deal with a defence attorney blaming it on what you were wearing.
Ability: If you were born able-bodied, you probably don’t have to plan your life around handicap access, braille, or other special needs.
Gender identity: If you were born cisgender (that is, your gender identity matches the sex you were assigned at birth), you don’t have to worry that using the restroom or locker room will invoke public outrage.
So belonging to one or more category of privilege, especially being a straight, white, middle-class, able-bodied male, can be like winning a lottery you didn’t even know you were playing.
And don't get me wrong, this is not to imply that any form of privilege is exactly the same as another, or that people lacking in one area of privilege understand what it’s like to be lacking in other areas. Race discrimination is not equal to sex discrimination and so forth.
Recognizing privilege doesn’t mean suffering guilt or shame for your privilege in life. Nobody’s saying that straight, white, middle-class, able-bodied males are all a bunch of assholes who don’t work hard for what they have, or at least that is not what they should be saying. Instead of recognizing privilege simply means being aware that some people have to work much harder just to experience the things you take for granted (if they ever can experience them at all).
If people would understand what privilege is, then this mayor would understand that she is indeed privileged for being white and wouldn't be offended. They both went on about racism and being racist when they didn't need to at all.
privilege and interesectionality is judging people collectively and every country treat their born citizens differently that non natives why white countries the only ones condemned for that?
well said but I think some of your examples might not be correct. Take citizenship. Yes, being born in a country affords certain privileges but those privileges are generally open/known/earned. I am Canadian and pay taxes. Therefore, I will get certain benefits that non-Canadians will not. But they don't pay taxes so they wouldn't be entitled to them. And people can become Canadians. OTOH, a non-white cannot experience white privilege because they can never become white (although some try).
The privilege of being Canadian is either when you go abroad and receive favorable treatment because people find out you are Canadian or when someone who's born in Canada is treated differently within Canada versus a Canadian who wasn't born here. Simply put, a white guy will never be asked where he's from or what's his background, followed by additional questioning if the answer is "Canadian". Every non-white person can attest to this happening. "Where are you from?" - "Canada" - "no, what's your background?" - "Canadian" - "no, where are your parents from?" - Canada - "How about your grandparents?" - "Canada" - "No, what country were they originally from?" and it goes on.
Utter nonsense.
Saying that for instance Bill Cosby hasn't received greater deference over the past 50 + years than say a white plumber in Cheltenham Township Pennsylvania is ridiculous.
Jessica Rain, puts it well above.
Saying that for instance Bill Cosby hasn't received greater deference over the past 50 + years than say a white plumber in Cheltenham Township Pennsylvania is ridiculous.
Jessica Rain, puts it well above.
It means we have NO IDEA what its like be face discrimination based on the colour of your skin. It really that simple. Since when do minorities hold more institutional power then whites? (at least in Canada). White people may not be deemed paragons, but a white person automatically gets a higher evaluation in the initial sizing up. Of course some of it is contextual. If it is IT an Indian would do better, science, chinese etc etc. But blacks do get a great deal of disadvantage. For a white person to talk about how her parents were FOBs and did not speak english and then say, from a position of govt that there is no white privilege is pretty amusing.
Shows she has no clue what white privilege is given her arguments were garbage. She thinks it has to do with wealth and monetary advantage.
A regular white guy and a regular black guy walk down the street. Who is the cop more likely to question/card/harass? You could even change the conditions and make the white guy look a little dirty (ripped clothes, smoking, etc.). Chances are the black guy will still get harassed by some officers.
Just saw an episode of Grey's anatomy and one of the sub-plots was about privilege. The white characters don't understand their advantages versus the black doctor and have no idea about what they go through. In one scene, the head of cardio and white male underling are answering questions by an old lady. The lady completely ignores anything the cardio head says and asks the white underling for answers. Male privilege + white privilege at work. The head of cardio also talks about always being mistaken for a nurse. White privilege again.
You are mixing a whole bunch of different concepts here. Natural born citizens is NOT the same as white privilege.
Correct - it's not the same. There is a certain privilege being born in a country (or looking like you are from that country). If you go to many countries, local merchants will charge you more if they think you are a tourist - simple way of identifying this is your looks. So a person that is EI or looks EI is less likely to be charged tourist prices in India and will be given the local price.
Respectfully, I think you would find that there are a great, great many of us who chafe against SJWs solely because of the path they choose toward their idea of equality.
Speaking for myself only, I don't believe in equality - simply because I've never met two people who were equal. I would put my life on the line, and have, to fight for equal opportunity as there can be no free society without it. However I do not agree with "leveling the playing field" by limiting the opportunities and freedoms of others.
When someone has an edge in getting a job, a contract, a scholarship because of the color of their skin, their gender, their religion that's just plain wrong. I would hope we could come together on that one simple point. Sadly it appears that we cannot.
KK
Clearly no two people are equal. I will say though that it's not about two people BEING equal, it's about two people being TREATED equal. The concept of privilege is that people are being treated differently based on factors that they were born with.
I would agree that merit should be the only reason someone earns something. If the playing field were equal then there wouldn't be an issue. However, in the past better candidates were passed over because they weren't white so quotas or directed hiring practices are put in place to make up for this. I don't necessarily agree with it but I can understand why it's done. Of course there is some execution that is terrible - a fellow named Trudeau is the culprit. His 50/50 male/female cabinet is a joke. IMO, the percentage of women in the cabinet should have been proportional to the number of women elected. Would it make sense if there are 20 cabinet positions, 100 MP's, and 10 women MP's, it makes sense to make all 10 women cabinet members?
