what do you think of white privilege?

yankeebaby2 · May 2011

yesterday's post about forcing immigrants to speak english even though we have no national language made me think about white privilege. For the sake of argument, let's have one common definition to avoid splitting hairs or semantics. White privilege is a right, advantage or immunity granted to or enjoyed by white persons beyond the common advantage of all others; an exemption in many particular cases from certain burdens or liabilities.

Do you dispute that white privilege exists?

yankeebaby2 · May 2011

sorry, wrong board. I meant to post this on the toddler board

yankeebaby2 · May 2011

Cassie730:

yankeebaby2:
sorry, wrong board. I meant to post this on the toddler board

Are you going to DD....cause if you do I'm going to harass you with a C&P and I'll chase you down to 12-24.

That actually sounds very entertaining but no, I'll leave it up. There is not much diversity on this board, maybe because it's a smaller group. so I'd like to see what you guys think.

kayteatrudeau · May 2011

Oooah...juicy topic...I'm going to hop onto the other board to read the replies.

ashnoelle · May 2011

absolutely exists. I've had arguments with SO about the extent to which I "enjoyed" the benefits of it since I grew up poor. I argued that I experienced it a lot less than a middle class white kid would have.

yankeebaby2 · May 2011

ashnoelle:
absolutely exists. I've had arguments with SO about the extent to which I "enjoyed" the benefits of it since I grew up poor. I argued that I experienced it a lot less than a middle class white kid would have.

Is your So white?

yankeebaby2 · May 2011

kayteatrudeau:

Oooah...juicy topic...I'm going to hop onto the other board to read the replies.

Not juicy yet:) I was on a private board where the group was smaller and everyone was white and the racism was very apparent. They also refused to acknowledge white privelege. Now if those girls replied it would be juicy

ashnoelle · May 2011

yankeebaby2:

ashnoelle:
absolutely exists. I've had arguments with SO about the extent to which I "enjoyed" the benefits of it since I grew up poor. I argued that I experienced it a lot less than a middle class white kid would have.

Is your So white?

yep. So of course I got a bit defensive since white men have it even better. oh, and middle class white men.

yankeebaby2 · May 2011

laura_belle:

Yes. It exists. And I will take it a step further and say there is a white male privelege. History and literature are steeped in Dead White Guys.

the average middle aged white guy has the world in the palm of his hand. especially if he commits a crime.

ashnoelle · May 2011

I keep getting stuck on the class issue.

yankeebaby2 · May 2011

ashnoelle:
I keep getting stuck on the class issue.

I agree it has an impact but you still benefitted from being white. I can guarantee being poor but white has never gotten you pulled over because you fit the profile

ashnoelle · May 2011

yankeebaby2:

ashnoelle:
I keep getting stuck on the class issue.

I agree it has an impact but you still benefitted from being white. I can guarantee being poor but white has never gotten you pulled over because you fit the profile

oh, I can agree with that.

I had a much longer thought process and response, but only posted that one sentence. I just think that generally it is nearly impossible to seperate issues of race and class.

I also believe the "color line" still exists.

Unknown · May 2011

This content has been removed.

Roxpup · May 2011

laura_belle:

Yes. It exists. And I will take it a step further and say there is a white male privelege. History and literature are steeped in Dead White Guys.

I agree with this.

Heather R · May 2011

I absolutely believe it exists. Easy current example: birthers. When McCain's birth on a foreign military base was questioned as to whether it legally constituted natural born, it was accepted easily. (of course, I have no problem with this, as it is logical and proper). But in Obama's case, OMG HE IS LYING ABOUT HIS ENTIRE IDENTITY NO ONE EVEN KNOWS WHO HE REALLY IS. It was easy to accept the truth from a nice Anglo-looking and sounding guy. That is white privelege at work for him.

However-- and I don't know if this thought makes total sense-- I don't think that many people / perpetrators of it do it on purpose.

bancbev · May 2011

It absolutely exists. I have also personally benefited from it. I live in a downtown area. Because I live on a one way street, I have no choice but drive through a very lower class, mostly black neighborhood to get to my house. There are drug dealers and prostitues on the street corners. I drive a black luxury SUV, with dark tinted windows and chrome rims.

I cannot tell you how many times I have been followed into the bad neighborhood by law inforcement. When it happens, I immediately put down my windows, so they can see that I am a white female, and every single time, the officer turns from following me any farther.

Speaking of crimes. Another time, many years ago, late at night I was pulled over for not stopping at a flashing red light. It was 2am, I had been drinking (horrible I know but I learned my lesson), and almost to my house. Not just one, but 3 police cars surrounded my car, blocking me in. They all got out of their cars and when I rolled down my windows, you could physically see their body language change, when they saw there were two white people in the car. I should have gotten a DUI. Instead, they mentioned nothing about drinking. Simply asked where we were coming from, where we were going, and gave me a warning to stop at the flashing light from now on.

kdello · May 2011

Heather R:
I absolutely believe it exists. Easy current example: birthers. When McCain's birth on a foreign military base was questioned as to whether it legally constituted natural born, it was accepted easily. (of course, I have no problem with this, as it is logical and proper). But in Obama's case, OMG HE IS LYING ABOUT HIS ENTIRE IDENTITY NO ONE EVEN KNOWS WHO HE REALLY IS. It was easy to accept the truth from a nice Anglo-looking and sounding guy. That is white privelege at work for him.

However-- and I don't know if this thought makes total sense-- I don't think that many people / perpetrators of it do it on purpose.

I was unaware that McCain was born on a base abroad. The birthers pissed me off before, but now, WOW. Just wow.

As for the OPs question- would you consider "white privilege" racial profiling?

[Deleted User] · May 2011

The user and all related content has been deleted.

RedWingsFan · May 2011

SookieFrackhouse68:
laura_belle:

Yes. It exists. And I will take it a step further and say there is a white male privelege. History and literature are steeped in Dead White Guys.

Agree. My vagina has stopped me from many a pay bump. Or being given the time of day. The "good ol' boys" around here are nauseating.

I agree with this - in my field especially, it is very hard to be taken seriously/respected as a woman, especially with my age (I'm about 10-15 years younger than most of the other people on my team).

I will say though that I have still "enjoyed privileges" as a white woman that I'm sure other races may not have - I don't think it's right, but I don't know what the answer is, to be honest.

barnwife · May 2011

I'll bite...even though you meant it for a different board and I usually just lurk here.

I won't dispute it. I've both seen and experienced it. While traveling, I've also been the "non-white" underprivileged (it's in quote because I am white, but have been the underprivileged in another country).

One of my favorite classes in college was entitled "Privilege, Power, and Inequality: Race, Class, and Gender in the US." It was a fascinating class.

ashnoelle · May 2011

lisajay09:

I also attended a state university which was extremely multicultural and fell into the minority in a big way. My parents did not pay a single penny for my college education (on their principle of "making your own way") so I struggled to pay for tuition/books, etc. Being white actually hindered me getting grants/financial aid/tuition assistance at this particular school because, and I quote, "if your skin was a few shades darker you would have been approved for this grant", and "your father should have saved enough money for you to go to college", said the Financial Aid Advisor. I was only able to take loans as all of the "free" money was set aside for certain students.

something about this bothers me. While the "shade" of your skin comment would be out of line, of course you only qualified for loans. You shouldn't recieve financial aid as someone from an upper middle class family. End of story. Your parents obviously could have paid for your college education, had they chosen to.

Heather R · May 2011

This is a *little* related-- a Tea Party faction is worried about white extinction (which, of course, would include the loss of white privelege).

Tea Party Nation is a major (for-profit) Tea Party organization that gained prominence after its convention last year hosted Republican leaders like Sarah Palin and Tom Tancredo, along with Religious Right figures Roy Moore and Rick Scarborough. TPN?s President Judson Phillips previously denounced the ?Marxist? Methodist Church and suggested that President Obama?s campaign was funded by Hamas and China.

This morning, Tea Party Nation sent out an email to its members with the headline ?Destroy the Family, You Destroy the Country!? from an article by Dr. Rich Swier, a contributing editor to the anti-Muslim group Family Security Matters. Writing for Tea Part Nation, Swier says that ?The title of this column is a direct quote from Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, the first leader of the former Soviet Union. Lenin's vision was for the state (Communism) to replace the family as the provider of all things necessary for life and happiness. What Lenin did not foresee was his political policies leading to the eventual extinction of Russian civilization.? Swier goes on to lament the falling birthrate of native-born Americans compared to immigrants, and warns that ?American culture? will soon perish since the ?White Anglo-Saxon Protestant (WASP) population is headed for extinction?:

Mainer-in-Texas · May 2011

Yup, it exists. And my personal experience as a white female in a male-dominated industry makes me say that females are also discriminated against, but I will not argue that I've had it worse than minorities.

ashnoelle · May 2011

lisajay09:
ashnoelle:
lisajay09:

I also attended a state university which was extremely multicultural and fell into the minority in a big way. My parents did not pay a single penny for my college education (on their principle of "making your own way") so I struggled to pay for tuition/books, etc. Being white actually hindered me getting grants/financial aid/tuition assistance at this particular school because, and I quote, "if your skin was a few shades darker you would have been approved for this grant", and "your father should have saved enough money for you to go to college", said the Financial Aid Advisor. I was only able to take loans as all of the "free" money was set aside for certain students.

something about this bothers me. While the "shade" of your skin comment would be out of line, of course you only qualified for loans. You shouldn't recieve financial aid as someone from an upper middle class family. End of story. Your parents obviously could have paid for your college education, had they chosen to.

I was just as appalled at that financial aid advisors comment! I immeidately stormed out of her office after she asid that. I should have added in my repsonse that I was 25 at the time and an independent, not under my parents' financial wing anymore. I started school later as I worked full time prior. My parents' incmome at that age is not even considered on any grant applications...this was this woman's opinion and since she had the power to approve or not approve the grant, I was denied because of her racially themed opinion.

(and I want to say that not every parent HAS to pay for their kid's college education, even if they can. Grants and scholarshps are there for a variety of reasons and with a variety of requirements to get them, say for academic reasons)

That seems like a very different scenario then. And, of couse a parent doesn't *have* to pay for their kid's eduation. My parents also paid nothing toward my education. I had a combo of grants/scholarships and loans.

jlthompson19 · May 2011

ashnoelle:
lisajay09:

I also attended a state university which was extremely multicultural and fell into the minority in a big way. My parents did not pay a single penny for my college education (on their principle of "making your own way") so I struggled to pay for tuition/books, etc. Being white actually hindered me getting grants/financial aid/tuition assistance at this particular school because, and I quote, "if your skin was a few shades darker you would have been approved for this grant", and "your father should have saved enough money for you to go to college", said the Financial Aid Advisor. I was only able to take loans as all of the "free" money was set aside for certain students.

something about this bothers me. While the "shade" of your skin comment would be out of line, of course you only qualified for loans. You shouldn't recieve financial aid as someone from an upper middle class family. End of story. Your parents obviously could have paid for your college education, had they chosen to.

How do you know that? Have you seen a copy of their tax returns and budget?

I think it's absolutely ridiculous that financial aid is based on parental income with no consideration as to what they are actually going to contribute.

(I realize it's impossible to trust people when it comes to this, so I know people would lie and say they aren't going to contribute-even though they planned to-to get the money, but I still think the "system" is flawed).

ashnoelle · May 2011

jlthompson19:
ashnoelle:
lisajay09:

I also attended a state university which was extremely multicultural and fell into the minority in a big way. My parents did not pay a single penny for my college education (on their principle of "making your own way") so I struggled to pay for tuition/books, etc. Being white actually hindered me getting grants/financial aid/tuition assistance at this particular school because, and I quote, "if your skin was a few shades darker you would have been approved for this grant", and "your father should have saved enough money for you to go to college", said the Financial Aid Advisor. I was only able to take loans as all of the "free" money was set aside for certain students.

something about this bothers me. While the "shade" of your skin comment would be out of line, of course you only qualified for loans. You shouldn't recieve financial aid as someone from an upper middle class family. End of story. Your parents obviously could have paid for your college education, had they chosen to.

How do you know that? Have you seen a copy of their tax returns and budget?

I think it's absolutely ridiculous that financial aid is based on parental income with no consideration as to what they are actually going to contribute.

(I realize it's impossible to trust people when it comes to this, so I know people would lie and say they aren't going to contribute-even though they planned to-to get the money, but I still think the "system" is flawed).

because she implied it? She said that they didin't pay because of their ideas (ideals) about making it on your own.

Heather R · May 2011

lisajay09:

I also attended a state university which was extremely multicultural and fell into the minority in a big way. My parents did not pay a single penny for my college education (on their principle of "making your own way") so I struggled to pay for tuition/books, etc. Being white actually hindered me getting grants/financial aid/tuition assistance at this particular school because, and I quote, "if your skin was a few shades darker you would have been approved for this grant", and "your father should have saved enough money for you to go to college", said the Financial Aid Advisor. I was only able to take loans as all of the "free" money was set aside for certain students.

My parents didn't, either, and yet I manage to not blame them or people of color for the fact that I paid for college myself through loans and academic scholarships.

The counselor's remarks are totally unprofessional and did what they intended to do: inflamed you and left an impression that someone took something to which you were entitled.

Your belief that being white incurred discrimination in financial aid is frankly laughable. Apparently, you have never heard of scholarships for people of Polish, Greek, Italian, Irish descent, etc.-- who all happen to be white.

Loans and grants don't discriminate against white people. Ignorant people, however, discriminate on all sides.

ashnoelle · May 2011

Heather R:
lisajay09:

I also attended a state university which was extremely multicultural and fell into the minority in a big way. My parents did not pay a single penny for my college education (on their principle of "making your own way") so I struggled to pay for tuition/books, etc. Being white actually hindered me getting grants/financial aid/tuition assistance at this particular school because, and I quote, "if your skin was a few shades darker you would have been approved for this grant", and "your father should have saved enough money for you to go to college", said the Financial Aid Advisor. I was only able to take loans as all of the "free" money was set aside for certain students.

My parents didn't, either, and yet I manage to not blame them or people of color for the fact that I paid for college myself through loans and academic scholarships.

The counselor's remarks are totally unprofessional and did what they intended to do: inflamed you and left an impression that someone took something to which you were entitled.

Your belief that being white incurred discrimination in financial aid is frankly laughable. Apparently, you have never heard of scholarships for people of Polish, Greek, Italian, Irish descent, etc.-- who all happen to be white.

Loans and grants don't discriminate against white people. Ignorant people, however, discriminate on all sides.

this is what I was really trying to say.

Summadaze · May 2011

I only got to the getting pulled over due to fitting the profile thing and it reminded me that this happened. Usually I laugh, but now not so much.

I was driving my car and bragging to my sis how I've never gotten pulled over. Sure enough I saw flashing lights (no lie right as I said this). As soon as the cop came to my window he asked "who is this car registered too" (back story- my car is registered to my "FIL" who is white and on the city council) I was like Van Turner. And he was like "okay, um do you know why I pulled you over?" Me= Indifferent "You were pulled into the cross walk a little bit. People might want to go to the park so just don't do that again okay? Have a nice day bye." Uhm I KNOW I wasn't because I hate when people do that, and I'm pretty sure you ran my plates (as cops do sometimes) saw who it was registered to and wondered why some black chick was driving his car. douche.

CTA7 · May 2011

I think it's hard to have a blanket response to this because "society" doesn't have a single coherent point of view. Do some people assume the best about someone because they're white? Absolutely. But a lot of people simply give that benefit to people who look like themselves, whatever their color. Then of course, there are affirmative action programs, designed to do just the opposite. I'm not saying it all evens out, but I do think the answer is a lot more complicated than "yes" or "no".

JerushaLyn · May 2011

Typically a lurker but I'll reply to this one I guess...

As a Black female, I can say whole-heartedly that I feel white priviledge definitely exists. A few examples..

the minumum sentence for a crack offense versus a cocaine offense (typically a black versus white drug)
Paris Hilton/Lindsey Lohan's legal treatment versus almost any black entertainer (of similar financial status)
the lady who posted earlier about being denied financial aid because she was white (there are way more outside scholarships offered to whites than any minority simply due to the number of predominantly white organizations that exist as well as Federal Pell Grants that are given regardless of color)
the fact that if Barack Obama had robbed a bank he would be identified as a black male, but because he is President he was criticized for putting "Black" on his census form rather than bi-racial
and the countless women on here who have tried to compare being a woman to being a racial minority

I think we have come great strides as a country but obviously have so much further to go.

yankeebaby2 · May 2011

CTA7:
I think it's hard to have a blanket response to this because "society" doesn't have a single coherent point of view. Do some people assume the best about someone because they're white? Absolutely. But a lot of people simply give that benefit to people who look like themselves, whatever their color. Then of course, there are affirmative action programs, designed to do just the opposite. I'm not saying it all evens out, but I do think the answer is a lot more complicated than "yes" or "no".

Are you white? I'm only asking because it's usually white people who contest that such a concept actually exists. the contestation of white privilege is inherently racists itself

yankeebaby2 · May 2011

JerushaLyn:

Typically a lurker but I'll reply to this one I guess...

As a Black female, I can say whole-heartedly that I feel white priviledge definitely exists. A few examples..

the minumum sentence for a crack offense versus a cocaine offense (typically a black versus white drug)

Paris Hilton/Lindsey Lohan's legal treatment versus almost any black entertainer (of similar financial status)

the lady who posted earlier about being denied financial aid because she was white (there are way more outside scholarships offered to whites than any minority simply due to the number of predominantly white organizations that exist as well as Federal Pell Grants that are given regardless of color)

the fact that if Barack Obama had robbed a bank he would be identified as a black male, but because he is President he was criticized for putting "Black" on his census form rather than bi-racial

and the countless women on here who have tried to compare being a woman to being a racial minority
I think we have come great strides as a country but obviously have so much further to go.

I agree 100% and regarding the paris hilton thing can anyone say wesley snipes? 3 freaking years? I'm betting he won't be released in 20 minutes because of overcrowding

JerushaLyn · May 2011

yankeebaby2:
JerushaLyn:

Typically a lurker but I'll reply to this one I guess...

As a Black female, I can say whole-heartedly that I feel white priviledge definitely exists. A few examples..

the minumum sentence for a crack offense versus a cocaine offense (typically a black versus white drug)

Paris Hilton/Lindsey Lohan's legal treatment versus almost any black entertainer (of similar financial status)

the lady who posted earlier about being denied financial aid because she was white (there are way more outside scholarships offered to whites than any minority simply due to the number of predominantly white organizations that exist as well as Federal Pell Grants that are given regardless of color)

the fact that if Barack Obama had robbed a bank he would be identified as a black male, but because he is President he was criticized for putting "Black" on his census form rather than bi-racial

and the countless women on here who have tried to compare being a woman to being a racial minority
I think we have come great strides as a country but obviously have so much further to go.

I agree 100% and regarding the paris hilton thing can anyone say wesley snipes? 3 freaking years? I'm betting he won't be released in 20 minutes because of overcrowding

And to put that last point in perspective...being a white woman in the workplace is only slightly worse than being a white male, slightly better than being a black male, and tons better than being a black female...IMHO

DreadLoc · May 2011

White privilege does exist. Found that out when DH (black) was pulled over with three friends in his car (two black, one white). The cop asked nicely to search the car and since DH wasn't hiding anything, he agreed, then the cop asked the white guy to step aside while the he forced the others to lie on the ground face down and searched the car.

When the cop didn't find anything he told them that they shouldn't drive around neighborhoods that they didn't belong in. The cop failed to notice on DH's drivers license that we lived in the neighborhood.

CTA7 · May 2011

yankeebaby2:
CTA7:
I think it's hard to have a blanket response to this because "society" doesn't have a single coherent point of view. Do some people assume the best about someone because they're white? Absolutely. But a lot of people simply give that benefit to people who look like themselves, whatever their color. Then of course, there are affirmative action programs, designed to do just the opposite. I'm not saying it all evens out, but I do think the answer is a lot more complicated than "yes" or "no".
Are you white? I'm only asking because it's usually white people who contest that such a concept actually exists. the contestation of white privilege is inherently racists itself

Is this serious or sarcasm? Because if your answer to anyone who tries to have a meaningful discussion about your topic is to cry 'racist' you have some real issues... Why don't you just tell me what part of what I said is wrong? *crickets*

KingRay09 · May 2011

laura_belle:
Yes. It exists. And I will take it a step further and say there is a white male privelege. History and literature are steeped in Dead White Guys.

This. I agree 100%

yourfaceyourface · May 2011

CTA7:
yankeebaby2:
Are you white? I'm only asking because it's usually white people who contest that such a concept actually exists. the contestation of white privilege is inherently racists itself
Is this serious or sarcasm? Because if your answer to anyone who tries to have a meaningful discussion about your topic is to cry 'racist' you have some real issues... Why don't you just tell me what part of what I said is wrong? *crickets*

haha, of course she's serious.

yankeebaby2 · May 2011

CTA7:
yankeebaby2:

CTA7:
I think it's hard to have a blanket response to this because "society" doesn't have a single coherent point of view. Do some people assume the best about someone because they're white? Absolutely. But a lot of people simply give that benefit to people who look like themselves, whatever their color. Then of course, there are affirmative action programs, designed to do just the opposite. I'm not saying it all evens out, but I do think the answer is a lot more complicated than "yes" or "no".

Are you white? I'm only asking because it's usually white people who contest that such a concept actually exists. the contestation of white privilege is inherently racists itself

Is this serious or sarcasm? Because if your answer to anyone who tries to have a meaningful discussion about your topic is to cry 'racist' you have some real issues... Why don't you just tell me what part of what I said is wrong? *crickets*

Of course I'm serious. I didn't realize you were trying for meaningful discussion. Anyone that thinks affirmative action evens out the benefits of white privilege or anyone who thinks that white privilege could occur in any minority group is not someone I would take seriously anyway. *crickets*

yankeebaby2 · May 2011

yourfaceyourface:
CTA7:
yankeebaby2:

Are you white? I'm only asking because it's usually white people who contest that such a concept actually exists. the contestation of white privilege is inherently racists itself

Is this serious or sarcasm? Because if your answer to anyone who tries to have a meaningful discussion about your topic is to cry 'racist' you have some real issues... Why don't you just tell me what part of what I said is wrong? *crickets*

haha, of course she's serious.

as serious as I can be under my own SN

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