Privilege, Power and Difference, Allan G. Johnson

Talking Point #1:

Looking at the diversity wheel, as developed by Marilyn Loden and Judy Rosener, the six main attributes are: age, race, ethnicity, gender, physical ability/quality and sexual orientation.  Here is where I fall on the diversity wheel:  I am female, well educated;  I am fifty-one years old and I am Italian-Lebanese American.  I am right-handed, 5'2" and average in weight.  The outer characteristics of the diversity wheel include religion, marital status, education level, occupation, and income.  For this, my personal attributes are as follows:  I am Roman Catholic, although I take significant issue with a number of stands by the hierarchy of the church.  I am well educated and will complete my M.Ed in December 2018.  Having worked with children in various capacities for well over thirty years, I am most proud of my ten years teaching.  I am married with two adult children' they are my greatest legacy. In terms of income, I am on the high end of middle class, at least on paper!

Question #1:

How does my perspective as to where I am on the diversity wheel affect my teaching, especially my other than Caucasian students from middle class, traditional family units? 

Talking Point #2:

Within the first three paragraphs of the reading, Johnson makes the statement, "We are all a part of the problem" in reference to the issues and obstacles in our society with regards to 'gender and race, sexual orientation, ethnicity, and social class. He goes on to also state that since we are all a part of the problem, Johnson goes on to state that we could also be a part of the solution.  

Question #2:

As a white, middle-class, well educated professional, how can I truly put myself in the position of KNOWING what it is like to be a part of a group, within our society, that marginalized at best and oppressed and suppressed, at worst?  What steps do I need to take to be a part of the solution?

Talking Point #3:

As defined by Peggy McIntosh, privilege "exists when one group has something of value that is denied to others simply because of the groups they belong to, rather than because of something they have done or failed to do". She goes on to discuss two types  of privilege: "unearned entitlements".  These 'entitlements are what ALL people should have.  Some examples of such entitlements are feeling safe in a working or public space.  The other type of privilege, defined by McIntosh, is 'conferred dominance' which means to give one group POWER over another (group).

Question #3:

How do I begin to affect the attitude that, while I was born in to the race, I do not share the prevalent mind set that I am "better"? How do we begin the conversation that being Caucasian opens doors that are closed to others because they are not?  I will never know what it is like to be Black or a member of a marginalized group so how does my perspective help raise others up?

Argument Statement:

This author, Allan G. Johnson, argues that until and if we talk about and acknowledge real life troubles, using sensitive and often ugly words, then we will continue to be a part of the problem that permeates our society.  Until we are willing to admit that we are part of the problem, then the problems will continue to be.