privilege
Last updatedWhat to know
Privilege refers to the unearned benefits and advantages accorded to certain people for belonging to, or being perceived as belonging to, a particular social identity group as compared to others who exist outside of these groups. Aspects of privilege can include any of the following, as well as intersections of these: race, ethnicity, skin color, gender, religion, ability, class, sexuality, wealth, and citizenship status (among other aspects). Privilege is reflected in power inequities across virtually all systems and structures in the United States, from education to health care to employment.
The term “white privilege” refers to race or perceptions of race. It originated in the 1980s in the United States and can refer to both obvious and subtle advantages white people (or those perceived as white) have over other racial groups. Wellesley College women’s studies scholar Peggy McIntosh generated examples of white privilege by asking herself, “On an everyday basis, what do I have that I didn’t earn?” Her examples included being able to go shopping alone without fear of harassment, never being asked to speak for one’s entire racial group, and seeing one’s racial group widely represented on the front page of a newspaper or on television.
Acknowledging privilege in news coverage can involve pointing out systemic barriers in place for non-dominant groups, and the oppression and suppression inherent in their maintenance. It can also mean, where appropriate and relevant, being transparent about one’s own positions in social structures related to an individual or population being discussed.
Additional resources
- Racial Equity Tools Glossary (Racial Equity Tools)
- Glossary of Terms: Race, Equity and Social Justice (International City/County Management Association)
- White Supremacy Culture (Dismantling Racism Works)
- Race and Ethnicity Terms & Definitions (Amherst College)
- How to Talk About Privilege to Someone Who Doesn’t Know What That Is (Everyday Feminism)
Summary
Privilege refers to the unearned benefits and advantages accorded to certain people for belonging to, or being perceived as belonging to, a particular social identity group as compared to others who exist outside of these groups. Acknowledging privilege in news coverage can involve pointing out systemic barriers in place for non-dominant groups, and the oppression and suppression inherent in their maintenance. It can also mean, where appropriate and relevant, being transparent about one’s own positions in social structures related to an individual or population being discussed.