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Privilege, Power, and Difference
by
Allan G. Johnson (Goodreads Author)
This brief book is a groundbreaking tool for students and non-students alike to examine systems of privilege and difference in our society. Written in an accessible, conversational style, Johnson links theory with engaging examples in ways that enable readers to see the underlying nature and consequences of privilege and their connection to it. This extraordinarily success...more
Paperback, 184 pages
Published
February 11th 2005
by McGraw-Hill Companies
(first published 2001)
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It's a book on privilege written by a privileged man for a privileged audience.
Johnson is very upfront about his position to the subject he's writing about, yet this position does rob him of some credibility which is only partially made up by his credentials. While he doesn't explicitly states it, this book is fairly obviously written for a middle class, heterosexual, white audience, one that has likely never had to think about the subject matter before. Read in this light, the book does a good...more
Johnson is very upfront about his position to the subject he's writing about, yet this position does rob him of some credibility which is only partially made up by his credentials. While he doesn't explicitly states it, this book is fairly obviously written for a middle class, heterosexual, white audience, one that has likely never had to think about the subject matter before. Read in this light, the book does a good...more
Ever present in the 2nd edition of Privilege, Power, and Difference are the ways that structural inequalities impact individual experiences/thoughts. Johnson explores race, gender, sexual orientation, and disability status with language that is easy to understand for those new to the field of work around privilege and oppression in this compact tome. Capitalism's oppressive power & contributions to inequality are also interwoven throughout this book, which ultimately helps to cement Johnson'...more
Somehow books I need to read have a way of randomly appearing in my life. I found out about Privilege, Power, and Difference from a church visitor and, thanks to the awesome San Francisco Library interlibrary loan service, started reading it as a summer project. While this book is denser and less readable than Tim Wise’s book White Like Me about white privilege, Allan Johnson’s theories provide an excellent foundation for thinking about all types of privilege (the flip side of oppression.) He d...more
Allan G. Johnson has written a very accessible introduction to the concept of privilege: the notion that certain members of society benefit from institutionalized assumptions and beliefs about what is normal. Conversely, attention is also given to various groups that are harmed by these same institutionalized assumptions. People of color, women, homosexuals, and those with disabilities are all included in his discussion; however, one group that I noticed was not addressed was the growing and inc
...more
Allan Johnson uses this short book to explain something that's probably not new to anyone who's taken more than an intro class in sociology: what systems of privilege are, how to recognize them, and how to deal with them. I found it incredibly thought-provoking, especially having not read much on these topics yet.
As someone who hasn't studied sociology, I found his descriptions of social norms helpful, simply in articulating the power that social norms have in shaping behavior better than I have...more
As someone who hasn't studied sociology, I found his descriptions of social norms helpful, simply in articulating the power that social norms have in shaping behavior better than I have...more
Johnson gives a clear exposition of privilege: how it's the unseen flip-side of oppression, how it works in social systems, how to recognise and interrupt it. He also makes a strong case for understanding that privilege/oppression are two sides of the same coin, and shows how 'working for social justice' cannot possibly work if it focuses only on the experience of the oppressed: it must necessarily also speak about ending privilege. A difficult idea that makes a lot of sense when you think about...more
Fantastic book. Brings to light systems of privilege and oppression that are often so ingrained in our society that we do not notice them. This is a very easy-to-read book and is probably something that everybody should read.
It also makes the point that while individuals do have privilege, it is the system that bestows that privilege. Our society has an individualistic framework by which it views everything, one which tends to keep us from taking societal influences into account. He uses several...more
It also makes the point that while individuals do have privilege, it is the system that bestows that privilege. Our society has an individualistic framework by which it views everything, one which tends to keep us from taking societal influences into account. He uses several...more
Johnson clearly and thoughtfully explains privilege and power. He describes how many of us are benefiting from privilege, but don't realize it. He points out how we can change the systems that have created the differences. I found it easy to read, but as the title states, this book serves as a useful introduction to issues regarding privilege and oppression within society and specifically the United States.
Being an advocate for social justice and being well aware of the issues he has discussed...more
Being an advocate for social justice and being well aware of the issues he has discussed...more
I really liked this book because of the way it delves into the depths of American society and the problems that are integrated yet denied but most of the public. Being able to freely speak about the issues that haunt society without being reprimanded for speaking about a taboo topic is what we all need to accept and we all need to realize that just because we don't like it, it doesn't mean that what has been said isn't true. The truth hurts, but as a man said the other day, the truth will set yo...more
An excellent place to start a discussion of societal privilege and disadvantage. Well written explanations along with anecdotes make the book easier to read about this sensitive topic. I do wish that the book was better cited, as some of the ideas mentioned can not easily be traced to a specific author or work in the footnotes. Otherwise, a worthwhile read, especially for those in privileged groups who want to understand what societal privilege really means. This should be required reading in an...more
Great basic info and language around some ambiguous and ferocious topics. I felt like I gained better ways of communicating my feelings about racism and sexism as I read this book. For many this could be a review, but I think that some of the connections and simplicity make it worthwhile for anyone.
"If someone confronts you with your own behavior that supports privilege, step off the path of least resistance that encourages you to defend and deny. Don't tell them they're too sensitive or need a...more
"If someone confronts you with your own behavior that supports privilege, step off the path of least resistance that encourages you to defend and deny. Don't tell them they're too sensitive or need a...more
Mar 27, 2010
Meen
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Everyone who is a member of some privileged social group
Recommended to Meen by:
Nicole Carr (Mille remercies!)
Fairly early in my recovery I began to process my own racism, but I was never able to move very far beyond the discomfort of white guilt until my professor/mentor (Nicole Carr) recommended this book. It's a very simple instruction manual for revisioning our individual selves as social entities, for being able to admit where we have benefitted from a racist, sexist, heterosexist, classist, etc. social system which distributes privilege to some while denying it to others WITHOUT condemning ourselv...more
Johnson has written the definitive treatise on race / racism. This book is at once, thought-provoking and action-inducing. And the best part is that it's written in a style that is impressively comprehensible. I would recommend this book to ANYONE seeking clarity on why we continue to struggle with issues of race/racism today. There is so much real work to be one. This book helps define the issues and illuminate the obstacles.
Everyone seems to have loved the book. I didn't think it was that amazing. Yeah, he is a white male heterosexual who sees the inequalities around him and he raised some really good points, but I just thought that the book was extremely repetitive. If you read the first 2 chapters, you don't even have to read the rest of the book because it's the exact same ideas in more or less the exact same words. It's a nice easy read if you're interested in it, but not one I would read again. Really glad I d...more
Amazing book to read if you like to broaden your horizon on which races are more privilege over others. Had to read this in my education class as the discussion leader and I actually really enjoyed reading it. A lot of the statistics and examples were so realistic that it made me actually step back and analyze my perception of privilege and power in this country.
Required for my "Diverse Perspectives in Education" class. Very accurately points out the problems with White Privilege and does create debates in classrooms. Very repetitive, the same ideas are brought up constantly through the 9 chapters and there doesn't seem to be any resolve. Lot's of finger pointing but very thought provoking as well.
Oct 02, 2009
Thomas DeWolf
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
everyone
Shelves:
non-fiction,
social-justice
This is a powerful tool for readers to understand systems of privilege and the impact those systems have on power and difference in society today. Please read my review at my blog: http://inheritingthetrade.com/blog/?p....
This is an important book that should be read by everyone who believes in justice and equality.
This is an important book that should be read by everyone who believes in justice and equality.
This was a life-changing book for me in my first year of college and it sparked an interest in the study of isms' that carried me through college and continues to impact my work and life everyday. A must read book for self and for society.
Currently reading this book because the Youth Ministry Advisory Committee is reading it. It's very comprehensive and I'd recommend it to anyone who is seeking to develop a "common vocabulary" around issues of privilege systemic oppression.
I found the book very readable. The author does a thorough job of wrestling with the issues inherent in diversity as a social concern, without preaching a solution. Sometimes I think that's ok, and this is one of those times.
Ugh. I'm so White! Thank God I'm female!
Seriously, a great primer for those learning about social inequities and how they show themselves within our culture(s). A starting point, don't let it be the ending point.
Seriously, a great primer for those learning about social inequities and how they show themselves within our culture(s). A starting point, don't let it be the ending point.
I would rate this a 4.5 if I could. I like that he shows that almost anyone can be part of a privilege society. I also like what he wrote about taking the path of the greater resistance. That was powerful.
An introduction to social power structures, privilege (systemically, not on a personal level), the implications thereof for both the privileged and the oppressed, and what we can do to ameliorate the problem.
A great book about socities and how privilage can impact every person within a community. A must read to see how those unpriviliged might be seeing you, and how a person can help his/her community by understanding all concepts in this book.
Read this book for a graduate level counseling course. After reading it, I bought extra copies for friends.
Incredibly powerful and eye-opening. Important reading especially for those of us who benefit from white privilege.
allan g. johnson presents "duh, racism is real: the anti-oppression primer for straight white cis dudes"
This isn't just a book for students. I read this for a class but I think everyone should read it. The book is easy to read and makes you take a good look at your life. I don't agree with everything but I do agree with most. People need to be aware of their effect on others.
Suggested by Zuska:http://scienceblogs.com/thusspa...
Mar 22, 2008
Sunshine Jeremiah
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anti-oppression trainers and folks new to anti-oppression work.
This is a great beginner book for folks learning about privilege and anti-oppression work. Johnson gives a great overview and provides lots of ways for folks new to this work to understand anti-oppression work in a way that is hearable for folks concerned about being made to feel guilty.
It is by no means a perfect book. Johnson is a good ally who clearly has gaps in understanding on some points of oppression. That said, he does try to note many different types of oppression and the complexities...more
It is by no means a perfect book. Johnson is a good ally who clearly has gaps in understanding on some points of oppression. That said, he does try to note many different types of oppression and the complexities...more
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Allan G. Johnson is a novelist, nonfiction writer, sociologist, teacher, and public speaker who has spent much of his life trying to understand the human condition, especially as shaped by issues of gender, race, and social class. His nonfiction books have been translated into several languages, and his first novel, The First Thing and the Last, was recognized in 2010 by Publishers Weekly as a not...more
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“People are tagged with other labels that point to the lowest-status group they belong to, as in "woman doctor" or "black writer," but never "white lawyer" or male senator". Any category that lowers our status relative to others' can be used to mark us; to be privileged is to go through life with the relative ease of being unmarked.”
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“One way to see the constructed nature of reality is to notice how the definitions of different "races" change historically, by including groups at one time that were excluded in another. The Irish, for example, were long considered by the dominant white Anglo-Saxon Protestants of England and the United States to be members of a nonwhite "race", as were Italians, Jews, and people from a number of Eastern European countries. As such, immigrants from these groups to England and the United States were excluded and subjugated and exploited in much the same way that blacks were.”
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1 person liked it
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Mar 03, 2013 08:02am