Johnson Chapter 6 (ex.)

Chapter 6: What It All Has to Do with Us

Thesis: Everyone is involved in our system of privilege and oppression, and we all need to talk about the trouble in our system in order to change it.

Argument/Support:
“The problem begins with how people think about things and who they are in relation to them,” (76). Johnson also states that people are less likely to cross diversity lines in order to help the less privileged, but will more likely help someone of more equal privilege. People feel that it is too risky to talk about privilege and the trouble that exists because of privilege. Especially people that receive the privilege do not want to risk losing any of their privilege. Individualism is a factor that aids our system of privilege because it is centered on the individual, but our system of privilege is actually centered around groups in which individuals are categorized in to (77). People need to see that they are part of certain groups, and these groups are all involved in our system of privilege, so therefore need to be a part of the solution to the problem. “Social life happens only as people participate in social systems,” (78). Through this, we are positioned in “ranks” compared to other people especially on a power and privilege standpoint. As individuals, we usually take a “path of least resistance” and do not violent norms. We base our actions on society, and the groups in society, and we tend to act “normally.” Not following a path of least resistance might result in drawing attention to us and we fear what else could happen. “Social life produces a variety of consequences, including privilege and oppression,” (84). “We all participate in systems of privilege and oppression and we make them happen,” (85). We are then part of the problem and we can be part of the solution. All individuals can do their small part and in a huge group effort a solution may be found. Our society can be described as a game of Monopoly: as long as people play, then the game exists like our system of privilege; everyone tries to win just like all people want privilege and want to keep any privilege they have; and the game changes how people act like our system of privilege and our society changes the way we act.

Personal Response/Question:
What does this mean in terms of today? Well, we still have the same system of privilege and we are all a part of it. Everyone has socially been categorized into groups. Some of these groups are privileged while others are oppressed. We cannot escape this system, so we must come together as a universal group and work together to obtain a goal, solution.I agree with Johnson 100%! We are all a part of this system of privilege that exists in our society, and we must not exclude ourselves. We have to see ourselves as part of the problem in order to be part of the solution. An obligation should be felt to do something about our system of privilege and the trouble that exists in it.