"How Studying Privilege Systems Can Strengthen Compassion": Peggy McIntosh at TEDxTimberlaneSchools

Summary

The speaker explores the concept of 'white privilege' through a personal lens, using the metaphor of an 'invisible knapsack' filled with unearned advantages. They recount their journey from ignorance to awareness of societal systems that elevate certain groups, reflecting on how these systems impact both privileged and underprivileged individuals. The talk emphasizes the importance of recognizing and leveraging privilege to dismantle oppressive structures, advocating for a more equitable society.

Takeaways

• 📏 The concept of a 'hypothetical line of social justice' is introduced as a metaphor for fairness and the societal constructs that place individuals above or below this line.
• 🔽 Below the line, individuals face unearned disadvantages such as bullying, prejudice, and being scapegoated, which are systemic and not a result of personal merit.
• 🔼 Above the line, individuals experience unearned privileges, such as being trusted with responsibility and money, often due to societal biases and projections.
• 🌱 The speaker was raised with the belief in meritocracy, which was later challenged by the realization of systemic privileges and disadvantages.
• 👥 Both men and women, as well as people of different races, experience a mix of privileges and disadvantages, highlighting the universality of these social constructs.
• 🔍 The speaker's personal journey of recognizing white privilege began with noticing male privilege and the inherent biases in academic and societal structures.
• 🎓 In educational settings, the resistance to incorporating women's studies into foundational courses revealed the deeply ingrained belief in male as the norm and women as 'extras'.
• 🤔 The realization of one's own oppressive behavior, even with good intentions, challenges the assumption that 'niceness' precludes one from being part of oppressive systems.
• 🧠 The internalization of racial and gender biases is shown through the speaker's own experiences, such as doubting colleagues of color despite their competence.
• 💼 The speaker acknowledges the unearned advantages of white privilege in professional settings, including easier access to grants and institutional trust.
• 📋 The 'invisible knapsack' metaphor is used to describe the intangible yet significant benefits that come with white privilege, which are often overlooked.
• 🏦 The 'bank account' of white privilege is another metaphor introduced to convey the idea that while one cannot be blamed for being born into privilege, one can choose to use it to dismantle such systems.
• 🌟 The transformative power of using one's privilege to challenge and change oppressive systems is emphasized, promoting a sense of responsibility and action.

Q & A

What is the hypothetical line of social justice described in the script?

The hypothetical line of social justice is an imaginary concept that represents a level where things feel fair. Below this line, individuals or groups may be disadvantaged through various forms of oppression, while above it, they may be advantaged by unearned privilege.

What does the speaker study in relation to the hypothetical line of social justice?

The speaker studies what happens above the hypothetical line of social justice, focusing on the concept of privilege and how it affects individuals in society.

What is the speaker's view on the myth of meritocracy?

The speaker rejects the myth of meritocracy, arguing that it is not true that an individual's achievements at death are solely the result of their own efforts, as privilege systems can influence one's position in society.

How did the speaker come to notice privilege, specifically male privilege?

The speaker came to notice privilege by observing patterns in her seminars at Wellesley College, where male participants consistently opposed including women's studies in introductory courses, revealing an underlying assumption of male superiority in knowledge.

What is the significance of the phrase 'soft stuff' in the script?

The phrase 'soft stuff' is used by one of the men in the seminar to describe the study of women, suggesting that it is not as rigorous or important as other subjects. This highlights the gender bias in academia.

What realization did the speaker have about her own racial superiority assumption?

The speaker realized that her niceness did not negate her basic racial superiority assumption, acknowledging that she had been oppressive to work with due to her unearned white privilege.

How does the speaker describe the concept of white privilege?

The speaker describes white privilege as an unearned advantage that comes from one's racial or ethnic status, which can manifest in various aspects of life, such as access to knowledge, money, and trust.

What is the SEED project mentioned in the script?

The SEED project is the speaker's major project, which has a core staff of nine people of color and five whites. It serves as a platform for her to confront and challenge her own white privilege.

What metaphor does the speaker use to describe white privilege?

The speaker uses two metaphors: white privilege as an 'invisible knapsack' filled with assets that she can cash in daily, and as a 'bank account' that she can use to weaken the system of white privilege.

What transformative realization does the speaker come to regarding her white privilege?

The speaker realizes that using her white privilege to challenge and weaken the system of white privilege has been transformative for her life, leading to a more compassionate and fair existence for everyone.

How does the speaker address the issue of white guilt in the script?

The speaker believes that guilt, shame, or blame are not relevant to the arbitrariness of one's placement in privilege systems. Instead, she focuses on using her privilege to work towards a more equitable society.