Peggy McIntosh is the current director of the Wesley Collage Center for Research on Women. In her article, “White Privilege and Male Privilege:” is a very interesting article. Within the article, Peggy reflects her opinion on topics such as white people (mainly white men) are not faced with racism as a threat, but rather is seen as the “socially accepted” lifestyle. She gave 25 main reasons why she believed that whites in general are at a much higher status in reflection to social acceptance that other races have to try and meet on a daily basis. Peggy also started the article out by describing how white men do not face racism/sexism as white women do. She continued to give her opinion on why she thinks his happens on a regular basis as well as why there is sexism still prevalent in today’s society.
One of Peggy’s colleagues Elizabeth Minnich gave a firm stance on her thoughts of an unfairly advantaged person when she expressed that… “Whites are taught to think that their lives as morally neutral, normative, and average, and also ideal…this is seen as work which will allow them to be more like us” .I agree with this opinion on several different levels. I agree with Elizabeth on that the White race is seen as the most widely accepted race throughout the United States. I understand see on a regular basis that other people with different ethnic backgrounds are totally living in a society that try’s and suppresses the individual to become “Americanized” if they wish to be fully socially accepted.
When trying to relate this dominance of White power issue to the spread and treatment of HIV/AIDS issue, I find how it can truly correlates with racism, and sexism. One example that comes to mind is if an individual that is clearly not of White skin comes into the doctor’s office to get treated for HIV, but is turned away for no apparent reason. Could this be an example of racism, or even sexism? My question is why should the color of a person skin reflect how much “respect” they are shown? If as a nation we are to continue with “White Privilege” according to Preggy, in my opinion, we are only setting ourselves up for failure. The United States has a reputation of “open arms” stance to diversity in general. Whether that be by race, religion, or whatever the issue.
I don’t agree with Peggy on her opinion on how she believes racism and sexism all can be the “White Privilege” fault. I think that skin color may have an effect, but rather it has to do with the unstable acceptance s of various walks of life that the United States has chosen to accept in previous years. It is one thing to be a culture that accepts diversity, but another that accepts diversity as long as other ethnic backgrounds will be “Americanized”. That is messed up.