Blog 1 - Privilege Power and Difference by Alan Johnson - Quotes

 

        Throughout Johnson's writings on the intricacies of privilege, power and differences the theme of our theoretical capability for decency arises several times. One such example is included above, wherein Johnson brings up the contradictory aspect of inequality, although we are extremely social creatures we find that many struggle to respect others that differ from the preconceived "norm."

"The hard and simple truth is that the 'we' that's in trouble is all of us--not just straight white middle- and upper-class makes--and it will take all of at least most of us to get us out of it" (Alan Johnson, Privilege Power and Difference, 9).

        I find the above quote and its following sentences to be particularly important as Johnson expands on the idea that issues of inequality or prejudice or privilege are not contained within the minorities effected by them. Instead, all groups are effected by one another, where one group is privileged there must be also be another community that is being mistreated. This can also be seen in a different manner, such as the many ways sexism primarily effects individuals who are female presenting or were assigned female at birth but also breeds toxic masculinity. 

        Johnson also discusses the intricacies of our differences and how intersectionality can cause someone to have an entirely unique experience due to their background. I found the Diversity Wheel exercise to be interesting and definitely a helpful tool that can quickly put you into the shoes of someone else.

"For most people, shifting only a few parts of the diversity wheel would be enough to change their lives dramatically. Even though the characteristics in the wheel may not tell us who we as individuals are in the privacy of our hearts and souls, they matter a great deal in our society because they locate us in relation to other people and the world in ways that have huge consequences" (Johnson 19).

        The fact that minute changes within our personal diversity wheels can cause massive shifts in our societal status is a major indicator of the flaws within our society when it comes to differences. One small change that I would personally make to the diversity wheel would be to separate the "Gender" category into ones assigned gender and gender identity. This would create an added layer accurate to many situations as someone who is a cisgender man has an entirely different experience to someone who is a transgender man who was assigned female at birth. However this would or could easily lead down a rabbit hole of minute changes that would muddy the waters and ultimately overcomplicate the exercise.