Reflection 2 - Research Paper Example

Download file to see previous pages The author chooses an interesting form of White people basic privileges summing up. It is a list of 24 points of white people’s privileges in the society. Actually, in the initial form of the essay, there were 54 points found. In such a way, McIntosh underlines invisible and subconscious principles of white people, which make their live easier. These people put no efforts, but color of their skin is able to do everything for them. Moreover, the author claims that these privileges are invented in the society and are obtruded on other people by the society. There is no such kind of privileges in the reality. Thesis: “White privilege” should be reconceptualized in the modern global society. Currently, diversity issues are natural and it is better to focus on social interactions among people with various self-identities and not among people of different race-based identities. The reconceptualized “white privilege” There is no doubt that this article is a perfect source for further discussion of racism. It is interesting, that McIntosh positions white people as unaware of their privileges and thus she is not an antagonist of white people discrimination against black people. It is necessary to understand that there is no individual’s fault in his privileged positioning above other people of color. Thus, we can draw parallels between McIntosh suggestions and phenomenological field theory. In accordance with social group development theories, it is relevant to consider main characteristic of a group (Hays et al, 2004). A group of people is “a unified interactive whole”. Dynamics of a social group implies interaction in space and time and every member of a group is able to influence on other members and their ideas about different phenomena. It is more appropriate to correlate McIntosh definitions of white people privileges with the main characteristics of core group: members of a group fulfill are positioned as embodiment of power, drive and energy and members of other groups must fulfill their needs and desires; individual’s power is extended within a core group; members of core group define what things are right to do and what things are not good (Hays et al, 2008). In these terms, white people belong to a core group and very often their actions are predicted to be successful. Seorgivanni (1999) has mentioned a core group privilege in his book “Building Community in Schools” (as it was mentioned by Kollman, 2009). In accordance with Seorgivanni’s claim, a core group intends to separate from other social groups in the name of their privileges and easier way of living. The same characteristics may be applied for a male group. This group has been perceived as a leading social group for years. Consequently, the members of this group have the same underpinnings for further success, as representatives of white group. A group, in accordance with McIntosh and with regards to external sources, is an influential organism, able to create a system of privileges for members, who are perceived to be the strongest ones. The system of the society has been recently marked up by misinterpretation of human ...Download file to see next pagesRead More