Short Response 9/23

Although I found all three essays interesting, I found Peggy McIntosh's article extremely important and insightful. The analysis of white and male privilege highlights the prevailing inequalities and injustices in American society. The danger of any form of privilege is that it is often times unacknowledged. Many people like to give themselves credit for their success, instead of realizing that their achievements may be due to the advantages awarded to them because of their skin color or gender. McIntosh's realization that one group's disadvantage leads to another group's advantage is fascinating. She notes that men are willing to admit that women are disadvantaged, but become defensive when their status and privilege is called into question. It is predominantly white men who run our country and thus being white and/or a man is seen as the norm ( of course there are some exceptions.) As we mentioned in class, no label or marking is given to white people when we read a list of names, because to be white is to be normal / ideal. Being white means that you do not have to question events and interactions the same way that a minority does. However, as Frye previously discussed, in an oppressive relationship, both parties suffer, even if it is subconsciously. Thus, our society is quite sick.

Both Lorde and Miles seem to touch on the same theme in their work- female division and the need for unity. There are an innumerable amount of differences between women - class, marital status, education levels etc. These differences, for the most part, have sought to put a wedge in the feminist movement. As we read in the Feminist Mystique, white housewives wanted to get out of their homes and away from household duties. Whereas, black women saw it as a privilege to own their own home and not have to work. Many women view these differences as justification for separation, instead of the the catalyst for creative change. As a gender group, it is crucial for women to take a step back and realize that our differences do not have to drive us apart, but instead can actually bring us together.