Johnson links the problems of privilege, oppression, and difference to a legacy that we all inherited. Even though it didn’t start as our problem we all take part in it and should work on fixing it. He believes that most of us are uncomfortable in dealing with these situations and that’s becoming a major downfall. In this chapter Johnson describes the two biggest problems as being power and privilege.
Privilege is described by Johnson as being something a group has of value that is denied by other groups. It is an unequal distribution of wealth and resources. Oppression is the opposite of privilege, groups are considered to be oppressed only if there is a privileged group and vise-versa. Most people become offended with these issues but Johnson argues that they we must become aware of them to create a solution.
I believe that Johnson argues some interesting points and defines the terms very well but his idea of creating a solution by becoming comfortable with the topic at hand isn’t enough. Johnson is merely stating his opinion on the beliefs of the oppressed. He seems to be looking for simple solution without searching for other factors in certain situations. By linking oppression with dominance, Johnson is disregarding the characteristics of the individual, each of us has a personality trait which can be similar or different among separate races and genders. Without taking these factors into account I find it difficult for Johnson to support his evidence in some situations.
Many of the situations in this chapter are prevalent in today’s society and it is easily noticeable. Yet without the proper justification of each situation it becomes increasingly hard to define the oppressed or dominant group.
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