AIM: WHAT DOES ALLAN JOHNSONS ARTICLE TEACH US ABOUT PRIVILEGE?

The U.S. is a racist society that privileges whites over other racial groups Allan Johnson

a right or immunity granted as a peculiar benefit, advantage, or favor ; especially : such a right or immunity attached specifically to a position or an office http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/privilege

Which people are privileged in American society?Why is the issue of privilege so touchy?WHAT IS PRIVILEGE?

People are made to feel evil if they are privilegedPeople become stuck in cycles of guilt, blame, and defensivenessEx. Racism - whites often dont say anything, or react angrily and defensivelyMen often react the same way about sexism

PRIVILEGE

WHAT DOES THE EXPRESSION MEAN: SEEING THE FOREST FOR THE TREES?

PEOPLE TEND TO LOOK AT INDIVIDUALS RATHER THAN SOCIETYThis affects how we see the worldPeople often think social problems come down to individual character flawsi.e. that poor man should just try harder to find a good job or that poor woman should have tried harder in school.

DIFFERENCE MEANS MORE THAN VARIETYit is a basis for inclusion/exclusionrewarding some more and some lesstreating some with respect and others notdifference is a basis for privilege

A sociologist says that society is more than just individual peopleA FOREST IS MORE THAN INDIVIDUAL TREES

We are always participating in something larger than ourselvesWe need to understand what it is we are participating in, and how we participate in itThis is what sociology isTHE 1 THING

Ex. Schools,corporations,families,societiesWE PARTICIPATE IN SOCIAL SYSTEMS

MONOPOLY - GAME AS A SOCIAL SYSTEMhas positions,a material reality - board, dice, properties, and ideas and sets of relationshipsGoal is to win - get the most money

system is external, it is not ours to shapeThats the way the game is playedGREEDY BEHAVIOR IS PRESENTED AS THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE

statement describes the U.S as a systemNot a personal attack on anyonesocial system defines your experienceyou have choices about how to participate in the systemTHE U.S. IS A RACIST SOCIETY THAT PRIVILEGES WHITES OVER OTHER RACIAL GROUPS ALLAN JOHNSON

SYSTEMS AFFECT HOW WEthinkfeeland behave

However, systems narrow the range of possibilitiesPeople follow the path of least resistance given their positionEx. Laughing at a racist joke

YOU CAN BEHAVE IN A NEARLY INFINITE NUMBER OF WAYS

SOCIAL SYSTEMS AND SOCIAL LIFE CAN BE HORRIBLE OR WONDERFULbut the people who participate in these might be neitherEx. Sweatshops, migrant workers

NOT TAMIKA

NOT FUNNY

PRIORITIES

Exit Slips write and shareCONCLUSION:

WHY PRACTICE SOCIOLOGY?To understand the worldTo understand why suffering occursTo be part of the solutionTo understand connections between things

He thinks about social lifeHe writesHe works with people trying to figure out what is going on in the worldHe works as a consultant in corporations to help solve problems sometimes created by diversityHe observes the world and tries to make sense of itJOHNSON PRACTICES SOCIOLOGY WHEN: