General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: "Let's work to end racial discrimination" is a better approach than "whites are so privileged". [View all]LittleBlue
(10,362 posts)Racism is a harmful wrong done to certain ethnic groups, right? Whether it's conscious or not, intended or not, that group is wronged by racism. Constantly, because racism is both an active form of bigotry and it's also institutionalized. When you try to recharacterize a "harm to x group" into "privilege for non-x group", then every group is by definition privileged.
Victims of sexual abuse are harmed, but suddenly everyone who hasn't experienced sexual abuse is privileged to have avoided that tremendous harm. They are privileged to have intimate relationships with others without the psychological impact of sexual abuse. Is that a privilege? If you accept the term "white privilege" then you must also accept this form of privilege.
The same is true for any group who have been unlucky, wronged or suffer from an injury that has a long-term impact. People who don't suffer from mental illness are privileged not to have such a burden (and let's face it, an unfair stigma). People who weren't abused as children are privileged. People who aren't disabled are privileged. Unless you've suffered every possible misfortune and malady of life, then you're privileged. What use then is the word "privileged"? It's really not. It loses all meaning at that point. To call a white disabled person who is confined to a wheelchair "privileged" is ludicrous.
That is the logical downfall of the term "white privilege". The problem really isn't about anyone's privilege, it's that another group is wronged by bigotry. Our struggle is not about taking away privileges, it's really about extending equal treatment to everyone. Those who have had very bad luck in life will naturally be offended by the idea that even though they are in a wheel chair, or homeless, that they are somehow privileged.