Allan G. Johnson
Final Research Paper Allan G. Johnson wrote a book called, ‘Privilege, Power, and Difference’. He 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. Furthermore, important criticisms included in this book are not only a wonderful introduction to the concept of privilege, but it also delves into how and why various systems of privilege are perpetuated in our society. Johnson is adept at shifting the focus from an individual level, where feelings of defensiveness and guilt arise, to the societal level, where the systems of privilege truly operate and are maintained. By looking at social systems and the way that individuals participate in them, he challenges his readers to act responsibly as agents of change, while suggesting that individual guilt or innocence is a debatable point when it comes to dealing with these systems of privilege. This is an important skill that Johnson wields, because American society traditionally celebrates the myth of the rugged individual. Johnson acknowledges and discusses this tendency of the U.S. citizen to think individualistically, and then redirects his discussion to the societal level, effectively re-framing the concept of individual guilt or innocence as a discussion of social systems and institutionalized biases. Hence, because of the various arguments this book poses and the level of thinking it ignites, I highly recommend reading this book.
Allan G. Johnson is a writer and public speaker who has worked on issues of privilege, oppression, and social inequality since receiving his Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Michigan in 1972. He began this work in the 1970s with a
Allan G. Johnson is a writer and public speaker who has worked on issues of privilege, oppression, and social inequality since receiving his Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Michigan in 1972. He began this work in the 1970s with a
References: Allan G. Johnson. Unraveling the Knot of Privilege, Power, and Difference, http://www.agjohnson.us/ Dictinary.com. “unsung hero” dictionary.com, http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/unsung+hero Johnson, Allan G. Privilege, Power, And Difference, Second edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005.