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Summary Of White Privilege Unpacking The Invisible Knapsack

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In “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack”, written by Peggy McIntosh, suggest a list of invisible privileges, which she is immune towards due to her ethical background. McIntosh names the numerous ways and examples of privileges she obtained from her white heritage. Which most other ethical race would have to think twice before attempting. People of the white heritage in the United States, are not stereotyped or live in fear of being a victim of racism like many other race. McIntosh provides a solid point; in addition she supports her arguments through observations and examples of her personal life. Like, McIntosh many people of the white heritage are consider the norm in the American society. While many other that are not white, …show more content…

Myth of Meritocracy is used to describe whites and males embedded with the idea that they are superior to others. Despite the myth of meritocracy, I do not believe that everyone has an equal opportunity, not with the back root of oppression looming over our society. As McIntosh stated herself in a Diverse Students’ Leadership Conference, “We are born into the system that preceded us. We didn’t construct this. We can’t be blamed for it. This sys, however wasn’t limited to race and can be applied similarly to gender stereotypes”. (Mandi) McIntosh has made a great example of herself, by providing real life examples of her white privilege. With the proof of McIntosh’s advantage in our society, she strongly suggest that all who hold such privileges should use it to undermine the oppressive system, we all live in. …show more content…

I have always felt discriminated against in our society, being a Chinese, transgender female. As a female in my own culture are oppressed by males and even in the American society. There are a constant battle against gender equality. Being a transgender on top of the gender equality battle, tends to lead to more inequality in my life. Although, being born in the United States, enables me to a better educational opportunity than most others. Education has always been on an easy reach for me compare to some of the other students. Understanding and considering my own privileges has facilitated me to comprehend the utmost importance in education and I should take full use of my educational advantage. Having a degree will help me get to where I want to be in life and hopefully gain more of the invisible privileges that was not offered to me. By earning these privileges through education, I can submerge oppressive experience to undermine the oppressive system in our society, as McIntosh

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As a result of her comprehensive definition on white privilege and endorsement to her academic background, McIntosh begins to persuade her audience that unearned white privilege does exist. The first couple of paragraphs of her essay she gives to define white privilege, so it is recognizable that this definition is necessary for her essay and her argument.

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For instance, point twenty-four, " I can be pretty sure that when I ask to talk to the "person in charge," I will be facing a person of my race," after reading this, gives the reader the idea that people of color or nonwhites are never in charge. Although it can be argued that this piece by McIntosh can be seen as discriminatory to white people in general, it seems as though the point she has mentioned is often true. When McIntosh states, "I have chosen these conditions that I thin I my case attach somewhat more to skin-color privileges than class, religion, ethnic status or geographic location," It is apparent that these were not made upon stereotypes, but upon her every day living. It is unfortunate that although these instances or conditions may be true, the opposing side of nonwhites has to endure this. As an example, "I do not have to educate my children to be aware of systemic racism for their own daily physical protection," having to teach a child to protect themselves because they are not of a certain skin color is profoundly absurd, but seemingly true.

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McIntosh shows the readers that people who are African Americans should be treated the same as their white counterparts. She even later goes on and says that the word “privilege” used in this sense seems to mislead and states, “We usually think of privilege as being a favored state, whether earned or conferred by birth

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The “Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack,” McIntosh begins her essay portraying the unwillingness of men to admit that they are over privileged. Even those who are willing to admit that women are at a disadvantage have a problem admitting their privilege. McIntosh realizes that this denial of privilege does not only apply to gender but to race as well. She realizes that white people including herself are thought to view racism as something that puts others at a disadvantage but have never had to considered an aspect of racism that befits them; white privilege. Although being a woman puts McIntosh at a disadvantage she realizes that by not acknowledging her privilege she is unintentionally oppressing others as well.

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