Over the past week we have been reading and discussing several ideas connected to privilege. Most notably we read Peggy McIntosh's "Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack," which described white privilege and gave a number of examples that we discussed in class last week. The concept of privilege clearly can be applied to many areas beyond race, including gender, geography, ability, religion, and class. Recently the topic of privilege has made the news based, in part, on the increasingly common use of the phrase: "Check your privilege." The use of this phrase and various reactions to it have spun into many different dialogues weaving their way through the blogosphere, social media, and cable television (including this argument rejecting the concept by Ben Shapiro).
For this week's blog I would like you to focus on the debate emanating from Princeton University a couple of years ago centered on this phrase. First read the post that started much of the recent uproar written by a Princeton freshman here. Next read the public response to the first argument written by another Princeton student and printed in TIME Magazine here (you may also want to check out the I Too Am Princeton Tumblr here).
Much of the debate centers on whether there is, in fact, privilege and whether this supports or harms meritocracy. I would like to hear your thoughts now after reading these arguments.
- To what extent does meritocracy exist in America?
- What do you think about the use of the phrase "check your privilege," and other attempts by some to make privilege more visible?
The fact that children gain- in many cases, even before birth- from the social status of their parents weakens the case for the existence of meritocracy in the United States. The student author even notes himself that "When we similarly sacrifice for our descendants by caring for the planet, it’s called 'environmentalism,' and is applauded. But when we do it by passing along property and a set of values, it’s called 'privilege.'" Of course the latter is called privilege: it is an unearned advantage afforded to you (and necessarily- not others) by no other factor than you being born to a certain family. If we lived in a true meritocracy, the decisions and success of parents would have no bearing on the success of children. Of course, this is certainly unrealistic, and thus, a functioning meritocracy does not exist in the United States, as least as far as student success and educational/occupational outcomes are concerned.
ReplyDeleteBased off reading Tal Fortgang and Briana Payton's posts on privilege and meritocracy, I think I believe meritocracy exists in America to the extent that it is very uncommon. I personally believe that regardless of the job or school you apply to, the first thing they will look at is your race which ties into the point Payton was making against Fortgang, that he needs to check his privilege. No one is quite discrediting the work he has done, but him being a white male does give him an advantage in life. The phrase “check your privilege” is something that I feel like people should recognize more often. I work in a work space where almost all of my coworkers are white and they say the most privileged things without them realizing it. A couple of days ago, I brought up the news about Gina Rodriguez singing the N word to one of my coworkers, I asked her what she thought about it. She then said that she feels as if people are making it a big deal, that it is just a word. I was utterly shocked but I figured that she does the same and that is why she was so defensive. I told her that I believe Gina shouldn’t have sang the N word, that it can easily avoid (just like when you do not curse in front of children) My coworker then said “well if black people didn’t want us to say that word, then they shouldn’t have put it in the song in the first place!” I told her she was ignorant and that a black person shouldn’t have to satisfy her simply because she doesn’t know how to censor herself.
ReplyDeleteThe extent to which meritocracy exists in America, is, as the student responding to the first letters stated, where “hard work meets opportunity.” One may very well be offered countless opportunities at success, and due to a lack of work ethic or a lack of merit, never achieve it. But one may also exhibit an astounding work ethic and astounding intellect, and yet still never achieve success. With that said, hard work and intellect often pay off when opportunity arises. But when this opportunity never comes, how can we expect people to achieve success in any realm, let alone achieve competitive positions of power within society? In terms of using the phrase “check your privilege,” I think that perhaps it should be re-worded. When a phrase which comes off as a command, such as one that begins with “check your,” it can absolutely seem as though it denotes some sort of attack on a person. However, as the author of the second article responding to the first made clear, if we are knowledgeable about the term privilege, we will understand that this is in no way an attack on a person’s character or achievements.
ReplyDeleteThe definition of meritocracy is “a system in which the talented are chosen and moved ahead based on their achievement.” That system is prevalent in American society today. In the Time article, the authors pointed out that white men are the only ones who have had social and political rights since the country was founded. With these foundational rights assumes a privilege. While women and minorities do not get this privilege of foundational rights, they have had to fight for equality to this day. With this, meritocracy exists in America today because women and minorities are still fighting for social, economic, and political equality. I think the use of the phrase “check your privilege” is a very blunt way of bringing about the issue. I think bluntness is a good thing when addressing privilege and making it more visible. Privilege is a topic many people have not wanted to talk about, and we need to change that by having this conversation and getting to the point.
ReplyDeleteAs a person that wishes to look for the good in society over the bad, I would like to think that meritocracy isn't a myth. However, I know that I also need to acknowledge the reality that it isn't as prevalent as people think/ want it to be. Our entire society is founded on social constructions and hierarchies. Even though Americans value the idea that hard work breeds success, it doesn't take away from the fact that social and institutional advantages are given to certain groups of people. I'm sure that meritocracy exists to a certain extent in our country, but I also think that it's not the main system that runs our society.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to the articles about "checking your privilege", my main issue with the guy's argument, and others that make the same one is that there's no empathy. The author jumped right to being defensive about his own history and accomplishments without attempting to understand the other side and the hardships of the people calling him out. I think what's most important when someone is on the receiving end of this phrase is that instead of immediately becoming defensive about themselves, they should take a moment to try to acknowledge the long-standing inequalities of our society that have led up to this check.
Meritocracy is a wonderful idea in concept, and though it is the promise of America (that anyone who works hard can succeed), that is not how our country actually functions. It is the unfortunate truth that because of oppressive systems that are in place, there are countless groups of people who are marginalized. People of color, low-income folks, LGBTQIA+, immigrants, etc. are way less likely to be able to succeed because everything is working against them, even if they are doing everything right. The fact remains that privileged folks have an easier time at success, even when they put in way less work. I've never thought that there was anything wrong with the phrase "check your privilege" - it's a simple, effective phrase that helps people realize when they might have been acting in an ignorant or offensive way. Privilege is so real, and it has to be acknowledged if people are ever going to be able to reckon with how much privilege (or a lack thereof) has affected their lives. Saying "check your privilege" is a simple way to start those conversations, which is a great starting point for some real change.
ReplyDelete(also I just really really love Payton's response essay - you go girl)
DeleteI fully agree with you that the idea of meritocracy seems to be intertwined with the notion of the American dream or promise. Though we do have an economic, social, and political system that does recognize and celebrate merit and achievement, that doesn't mean we truly have a meritocracy. Because people are marginalized and face more strife than others when aiming for these lofty achievement, success is subjective. When people cannot equal access resources to get ahead, despite abundant talent and drive, that is not a system based solely on individuals merit.
DeleteAlly, I think your comment on the connection between the meritocracy ideal and the American dream sheds important light on how both are founded on the idea that the US and systems in place treat everyone equally. I think that the whole "pull yourself up by the bootstraps" idea is used to make people who fall outside most of the privileged groups feel as though they aren't working hard enough, studying enough, etc. which can take a very real emotional toll on them.
DeleteIf an individual proves themselves to stand out among the rest, then yes, meritocracy exists in America, especially for entrepreneurs. Pushing individuals who exceed and raise our state higher than other states in the international system seems to be a way for us to have Meritocracy exist within America.
ReplyDeleteOn an educational level, you can see schools pushing students in certain directions in K-12 based on their level of interpretation of information.
The use of the phrase "check your privilege" is important to use. I think at this point, knowledge of how our country was founded and who it benefitted is apparent. Ignorance on the part of white males to not accept that they benefit in ways that they may not be aware of is the biggest issue.
I agree with how meritocracy exists for a certain group of individuals and that privilege is important so that it keeps the sense of privilege in check on our society.
DeleteI believe that meritocracy, as argued in the Time article, is simply a myth in American society- yet a popular myth indeed. People like the Princeton freshman, Tal Fortgang, like to believe in ideals such as meritocracy because it allows them a sense of achievement without any acknowledgement where they started. Fortgang poses the argument that privilege assumes someone’s narrative, but that is simply not the case. Rather, checking one’s privilege is necessary in understanding that the starting line is not in the same place for everyone. Saying that Fortgang is a privileged individual for being a white male is not negating any struggle in his story or that of his ancestors, but instead simply suggests that his race and gender were not an inhibitor. I think that attempts to make privilege more visible are absolutely necessary because of rhetoric like Fortgang’s, which is fairly recent and seemingly popular. Many Americans seem to have a misconception that privileged means without strife, and this incorrect interpretation of what it means to have privilege (or disadvantage) in the United States needs to be a starting point for the conversation.
ReplyDeleteReading the post by Tal Fortgang reminded me that so many have a lack of understanding what privilege really means. Privilege is something that inherently comes with whiteness in America: it’s a fact of life here. Checking privilege isn’t meant to diminish accomplishments made by white people, it is simply acknowledging that white people are socially and systematically put in a place where the opportunity to succeed is closer in reach. It doesn’t mean that it’s not hard for us to say, get into an Ivy League college like Princeton, but often times people of color have to work twice as hard to get that spot. White privilege bleeds into every aspect of our society, and the idea of meritocracy is a fallacy to cover up the fact of privilege. White privilege extends past the ideas of “merit”, it is present in everyday life. I can walk down the street without any fears of danger as a result of my white skin. I don’t even have to think about perceptions others may have about me, because I will not be affected. The fact that I don’t have to be conscious about my skin color is a privilege. The scope of white privilege is so large, I could keep going on.
ReplyDeleteWhite people need to do a much better job at acknowledging their privilege, or at least acknowledging that it exists. Phrases like “check your privilege” can definitely serve to make the problem more visible. However, we’re so quick to perceive anything as an attack, as an attempt to diminish our status. Like Tal Fortgang, a lot of white people take “check your privilege” as some sort of attack. I think this is major BS! The sooner we begin to unpack our privilege, the sooner we might be able to dismantle it. It’s time for us to acknowledge our place in society, and to do something about it.
The profound existence of meritocracy in the United States is a form of fuel for Americans to strive forward through their education knowing that their hard work would payoff. It serves as a motive to exceed forward. Reading Tal Fortgang's post reminded me that many individuals in our society have a false sense of privilege or what the word really means. As a minority, I see the benefits American-born citizens get or the special treatment whites receive in the United States. I believe that the phrase "check your privilege" is crucial because I have used that phrase before. I see it as a way to mark it as an ongoing social issue. The others should be aware of how society sees it and provide privilege to a certain group of individuals.
ReplyDeleteAlthough the concept of meritocracy could be beneficial for a society, I believe that for it to be just, it is of the utmost importance that there is equal opportunity. In the United States, we are very far from equal opportunity for all individual. Systemic structures of oppression have led to an increasing gap between different races and classes. Therefore, we are far from a level playing field within our society. Certain individuals are able to succeed due to the family they were born into. They are often given a variety of opportunities or tools that will allow for their success that many of their peers may not have had. Thus, the extent of meritocracy does not reach very far.
ReplyDeleteI strongly believe that there needs to be an increase in attempts that try and make privilege more visible. Due to the fact that many Americans are unaware of their privilege, they do not understand how these structures have advantages them over others. In order to develop a society that is rid of ignorance, we must discuss the reality of privilege of inform as any people as possible of its existence.
I agree with the term "check your privilege". After reading the first article written by Tal Fortgang, he is the perfect example of the kind of person being targeted when people say check your privilege. when someone is checked they're not being belittled or blamed for systemic and societal hierarchical standards of superiority- they are simply being told to recognize that they happen to be born into a group of people that are more favored in many areas of society. I am extremely pleased with the rebuttal to Foltganags article by Briana Payton. She clearly understands that this is a bigger issue that does not fall on one individual person like Foltgang seems to think. HIs entire article was him using his grandparents struggles and diversity to try to portray himself as a victim. what he fails to understand is that this issue is not about him. It is more bait the fact that he doesn't realize, he has an easier way of life, simply by the way he looks, simply by the way he us perceived before people even realize his back story. Telling someone to check their privilege does not mean that they are guilty of racism for instance, it is just a reminder that some people are not as favored as they are and they should not act in insensitive ways. it is definitely not something they should be taking personally and is quite immature and in fact insensitive to think it is all about them.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate Emerald’s statement that “checking one’s privilege” is not about the individual but a comment about societal structure as a whole. This hierarchical system is not Fortgang’s fault, but rather a function of white male identity. I understand checking one’s privilege as acknowledging that because of circumstances out of my control, I have been afforded opportunities that others have not. Furthermore, I think that recognizing these advantages is the first step to dismantling this kind of institutional discrimination. Meritocracy does exist in America, for white men. People of marginalized identities are expected to work twice as hard to get half as far as their white counterparts. If meritocracy were truly afforded to every single American, then why is it that so many successful people and leaders fall into one demographic category? That being said, having privilege does not make someone a bad person, as long as they can recognize that it has been a factor to their success. Payton summed up this sentiment in her rebuttal: “while Fortgang is not responsible for white male dominance in society, he should at least recognize that this social hierarchy is not a mere coincidence, nor is it a testament to the power of hard work.” This is similar to a quote of Dr. Martin Luther King regarding the bootstrap mentality. I’m paraphrasing here: the man who tells the black man he ought to pull himself up by the bootstraps fails to realize that he has no boots at all.
DeleteI agree with Briana Payton completely; meritocracy is a myth in America. While it is true that hard work can get you a lot of places, the same effort put in by a person of privilege compared to a person without that advantage oftentimes get them in very different positions in life. Due to this inequality, I do not think meritocracy exists in this country. One quote that has stuck with me was said by MLK Jr., “It’s all right to tell a man to lift himself by his own bootstraps, but it is cruel jest to say to a bootless man that he ought to lift himself by his own bootstraps”. Fortgang speaks about the American Dream in his piece, but he fails to realize that even though his ancestors did put in a lot of work to get to where they did, being white automatically put them at an advantage. The phrase “check your privilege” does not undermine hard work- it brings to light the multiple groups who do not have that same level of entitlement.
ReplyDeleteWhat struck me the most of the Fortgang article is that he seems to play victim as someone who is under attack, when in reality he is not. In fact, I’ve noticed when I have these conversations with both my family and white friends, they seem to become a bit defensive when I say that we have privilege, citing their family backgrounds too. But the reality is that acknowledging your privilege is not going to harm you in any way nor is it some kind of scarlet letter. Doing so allows you to help understand the ways we live in a “meritocracy” that in the long term, as we’ve seen in many of the readings this week, doesn’t uplift marginalized voices as much as it does white ones. There is a meritocracy in America, but only for those who have the means to achieve that, which almost always correlates to race and sex.
ReplyDeleteA lot of other responses have touched on the defensiveness that surrounds privilege and meritocracy, which I think is very interesting. I have noticed that when any sense of "privilege" is brought up, it can become a contentious topic that may cause some to feel the need to defend themselves. I am guessing that many people feel as if they need to defend themselves against being labeled as "privileged" because they feel like it discounts achievements made in the face of various types of adversity. There are many privileged people who tend to ignore the inherent advantages that they may have and it is extremely important for everyone to be aware of the privilege that they carry, but there are also various types of privilege that should be recognized and the general use of the word can be dangerous because of the different uses of the word. People like Tal Fortgang may have racial privilege, but perhaps do not have religious privilege. He may have economic privilege, but be disadvantaged in some other way. I think that it is notable to think about these things because different types of privilege definitely affect people differently, but regardless of what type of privilege a person holds, it is necessary to understand it. I would disagree with Fortgang generally stating that he is not privileged at all, most people have faced some sort of hardship, but that does not necessarily mean that most people are not privileged. A large problem with not recognizing privilege or interpreting this word as an insult, is that the problems that occur as a result of ignoring privilege will continue to occur and will never be able to be mended.
ReplyDeleteAll three of these articles written by Princeton students hold some levels of truth. First of all, I do believe meritocracy does exist. To an extent. Hard work and determintion do lead to success. That is the truth. But America does not opperate on meritocracy alone. While those who work harder than others and subsequently acheive more are, in some cases, rewarded, there is so much more that goes into success. The mindset that being privilaged is the worst thing in the world needs to be amended. Privilage is not a bad thing. Those of us who are privilaged because of our skin color or our socioeconomic background should not feel guilty about our privilage or deny it completely and instead attest our success to our hard work, and our hard work alone. We must acknowledge our privilage, and ask ourselves "how can I use my privilage to make the world better for those who are not as privilaged as I am?" Maybe this comes in the form of applauding our successful classmates who do not look like us or come from the same wealth as us. Maybe this comes in the form of agreeing when someone tells us to "check our privilage" and being thankful for where we are. Yes, privilage exists. We must stop being offended when someone tells us we are privilaged, and instead work to use it for the betterment of others.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Briana Payton that meritocracy does not exist. We do not all begin on the same playing field when born, we do not all have the same tools in our tool boxes, ergo meritocracy cannot exist. Additionally, the structures that allow for privilege, the ones that also cause oppression, have been around since the beginning of human civilization in different forms. Therefore, Fortgang’s argument that his ancestors stories make him not privileged, is false. It actually supports the idea that he is priveleged because he has been benefiting of the structures of racial supremacy in America since his ancestors seeked refuge here after the Holocaust. However, I would like to point out that this is not something to apologize for!
ReplyDeleteMore importantly, I agree that it is dangerous to use privilege as an insult, to use it to attack people, and to assign it a negative connotation. Privilege is not something you must atone for, you were born with it and peace has to be made with its existence. However, people must recognize that a lot of people do not have that privilege and, thus, have a much harder life. Using privilege as an insult and assigning a negative connotation makes people less inclined to recognize it. Privilege comes from structural systems of oppression, thus without recognizes that privilege exists those structures cannot be undone.
I think that within a discussion of privilege and oppression, one must also be had about intersectionality. It is not important who is more oppressed and whose life is harder, but simply that you may have benefitted from a structure connected to one of your many identities. In most cases, everyone has some privilege, however, it can also be said that we all face some oppression. It is about recognition that creates a space for empathy, not about winning and losing.
I agree with Maggie, those with privilege do not have to apologize personally for their privileges, but I do think that attaching a negative connotation to privilege can work to dismantle the systems that uphold privilege. I think that privilege shouldn't be handled neutrally considering most privileges do not impact people neutrally. That being said I think that although there shouldn't be a sense of atonement in recognizing privilege, there should be an understanding of how the privileges one has benefits them actively. In terms of white privilege in the US, white americans should recognize the ways they have benefitted from racism and actively work to change systems that uphold it- by this I mean supporting spaces for POC, actively working to understand how racism works in its most small and subliminal forms. This isn't exactly atonement but more of a responsibility to not be neutral in times of injustice.
DeleteI agree with Brianna Payton meritocracy is a myth in America. She mentioned that Tal Fortgang must acknowledged that “...the ground he tilled was more fertile than the ground others tilled.” Not all citizens living here in the U.S. are given the same opportunity to succeed despite their hard work. For instance, the federal program DACA is under the threat of being ended by the Supreme Court. This program gives Dreamers the opportunity to study and work in this country to achieve upward mobility. Before the existence of the program, Dreamers were living in the shadows of society, which deprived them from achieving the American Dream. Minorities living her in the U.S. face social issues such as discrimination by having black students attend schools that are not equally funded compared to white schools. This is very crucial since education opens more doors in life. Meritocracy does not exist in the American society due to the obstacles in life presented to certain people. Asking someone to “check their privilege should not be viewed as offensive since helps remind someone that their background allowed them to accomplish certain things other people could not do.
ReplyDeletePrivilege is very real and while I think the phrase “check your privilege” is corny, it starts a conversation that is long overdue about how our society’s structures reward certain traits and punish others. A more constructive way of putting the concept would be to acknowledge the struggles of others because of their identity. I think it is hard for a lot of straight white men like Shapiro to understand this concept because besides being Jewish, he doesn’t have a marginalized identity. I hear a lot of straight white men talk about privilege in the way Shapiro talks about it because they do not understand that while they themselves might have struggled in their life, it was not because of their identity.
ReplyDeleteThe Ben Shapiro argument against “checking privilege” is really dumb and honestly should not have even been included because it doesn’t respond to the philosophical argument of privilege, which is that the systemic structures of racism, claccism, sexism and homophobia create certain privileges for some while creating disadvantages for others. Shapiro’s argument that “everyone” is privileged now because we live in a technologically advanced society ignores the systemic inequalities in our society, so it is not really a “response” to the first definition of privilege but a pivot to a different conception of privilege backed up with anecdotes but zero factual evidence. In high school debate you learn that if someone does not respond to an argument in their rebuttal, then they concede defeat.
Meritocracy is a word thrown around a lot to detract from the fact that America is in fact a corporate aristocracy which is evidenced by pretty much everyone in power. Working class Americans, although much greater in number, do not have the same political clout as the richest Americans simply because they do not have the funds to throw at political campaigns and superPACs that protect their interests. What I think is a clear example of this is the Trump family, as well as the fact that a lot of universities (including all Ivy League universities) still use the legacy system when admitting students. The most elite universities literally privilege applicants with family members who went to the university solely for that reason, and because the most elite universities in America had racially restricted admissions processes up until the civil rights movement, that means a majority of those who are advantaged by the legacy system are white and probably upper class.
I was able to see the argument being made in both articles. I do think Tal Fortgang may have personalized the issue of being told to “check his privilege” a little bit too much, but without being present to understand the context in which it was used I can’t say that with certainty. I also think Briana Payton made a great point when she said “Privilege is not an idea aimed at muting opinion or understating the worth of accomplishments. “ People try to establish moral high ground in arguments by appearing to be victimized to some extent by dissenting opinions, and I think that was what Tal Fortgang was trying to do. As a white male I have seen first-hand my privilege benefit me in ways that I know it wouldn’t have others, and I think were Tal is making a mistake is by thinking people want him to repent for that privilege rather than simply acknowledging it. I do believe there is a meritocracy in our country and while it may not be perfect by any stretch of the imagination, when compared to other countries throughout the world it is arguably the best. I do think making privilege more apparent is a good thing as long as it is not used as a means for censoring free speech.
ReplyDeleteI believe that meritocracy is a myth. Many times to succeed in the world, it is not what you know, but who you know and there are very talented, smart people who due to their race, gender, and socio-economic status are not as successful because they have not been awarded or have access to the same opportunities as others who exhibit more privilege than them. The only way, I believe, that meritocracy will stop existing in America is through people acknowledging that they have privilege and advocating for those that don’t have the same privilege that they do. In this sense, I believe that Tan Fortang doesn’t understand how much he has benefitted from being white and I applaud Briana Payton for having the courage to call her classmate out. Moreover, even though Chelsea Handler has gotten away with questionable comments due to her white privilege, she has a documentary on Netflix in which she admits that she has benefitted from her white privilege. As part of her documentary, she explains how a boyfriend of hers and her both got caught with drugs, but she was let off easy and faced no consequences while her boyfriend had to serve jail time. In a way, Chelsea Handler is checking her privilege to make her white privilege and others’ privilege visible. I think that by first being aware of white privilege is, allows us to take a step towards reforming institutions and social structures that will one day hopefully treat people equally.
ReplyDeleteIntelligence and merit are not central historical tenets of society in the US, I think it would be a bit simplistic to assume that the US is a meritocracy. Assuming that the US is a meritocracy would be presupposing that the elite and those who hold power are the smartest and most talented- which very obviously isn’t the case in this country. It would also be assuming that everyone has equal access to what we deem as “success”. Meritocracy may be an ideal in this country but it certainly has never been a true foundation on which this country was built. I think that meritocracy does not exist in the US because the systems that are supposed to help people achieve “success” often don’t assist people equally. The lack of equity within higher education is one example of this. I feel like the phrase “check your privilege” can be received as brash, blunt or hostile if the one receiving this suggestion feels as though they have already done the checking or do not want to come to terms with their privilege. I think that Fortgang feels that this phrase is attacking him because he wants to “own” his success and sees himself as someone outside of the system. Perhaps he sees this phrase as assertive because he simply does not want to come to terms with the fact that even knowing his ancestry is a privilege in and of itself. I find that his writing seems to ignore so many facts that it almost comes off as comedic. I also think that the fact that some may find the phrase as hostile has to do with the comfort they are accustomed to. However, I think that this comfort is way less valuable than actually growing and actively dismantling systems that people have become passive to. To me, the phrase is a little cheesy and kind of used too trivially, I don’t know if it’s actually used in common speech but I think the notion behind it is prevalent and will continue to be prevalent until the US moves in a more equitable direction.
ReplyDeleteI think that the concept of meritocracy is a wonderful one. In many ways it represents what is often associated with the American spirit or the American Dream. In that the idea is that no matter what your background is, everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed if they work hard enough from it. It supports that idea that we champion that if you work hard enough, you can make it and become a millionaire. The unfortunate truth to it I feel is that that equal opportunity to succeed simply doesn’t exist. Many groups are still marginalized and do not have the same opportunities that others do. Regarding this people of color, people born into low-income families, and even immigrants come to mind.
ReplyDelete-Aditya Alapati
ReplyDeleteWithout a doubt, meritocracy still exists in our country. People are automatically born into a society where privilege is given without any additional work. This privilege is not equally distributed among all the people. There is no doubt that when a person is granted this privilege, there are amazing results. Take for instance the famous case of Jose vs. Joe. This case comes to highlight that a white-sounding name is more likely to obtain an invitation for an interview. This may seem like a minor thing, yet, these are the things that make a difference in the life of a person. A job creates an opportunity for a person to get an income and afford a comfortable living.
The phrase "check your privileges" does, in fact, call upon those who have their privilege and don’t understand that their journey is different from a minority person. This privilege does not give equal access to education or job opportunities. A person of color will need to work endlessly to obtain such an opportunity based on his or her abilities and not a family connection or race. Personally, I believed that the phrase, "check your privilege" is a friendly reminder that people should be thankful and use their privilege to help others. However, I do not believe that every white person is cruel and is not thankful. Like with everything, there are outliers. The author wants the people to take responsibility when receive their privilege
Meritocracy does exists in America but to a certain extent. I personally did not find anything wrong with Tal's piece. He can feel the way he feels. It is incorrect to tell people you are "privileged, apologize," when they really don't need to. I am not denying that the color of your skin does not matter or that there is no such thing about being privileged. But, Tal does not need to explain himself or owe anyone an apology. I think the term "check your privilege" is okay, but it comes off as bitter. The reality is, that people will hold your skin color against you and say "your privileged" for almost anything. Those that are "privileged" can take advantage of that-I guess. But "privileged" in what sense? On income? On a day-to-day basis? On education? It really depends. I feel that the opposing TIME article was a bit aggressive towards Whites. Not all whites are privileged, the same as not all minorities are unprivileged.
ReplyDeleteMeritocracy is real. The myth is when rich kids think they deserve it. Meritocracy is so engrained in society, in some parts of the country as deep as what summer camp you go to, what your parents do, which high/middle/elementary school you go to. There are levels and intricacies to this too of course, all white people benefit from living in a society that prioritizes whiteness, but that doesn't mean that they always escape poverty. That's where the perniciousness of meritocracy arises, it keeps the luckiest afloat and concentrated amongst the smallest group, who enjoys the greatest security made possible by the myth that they deserve it. Hard work is important and rightfully championed in America, but it is not genetic. It is a learned behavior and Payton articulates it perfectly: it is not a burden, but you do have to do something with it. Check your privilege, give it away. The system sits on your shoulders, but you're not Atlas unless you choose to be.
ReplyDeleteAlso let me plug the fam real quick: My cousin wrote another great article about this--
https://www.columbiaspectator.com/opinion/2018/11/08/meritocracy-is-a-lie/
Meritocracy assumes that, within in a given society, efforts uphold the means of achievement towards prosperity. However, in a capitalist-run economy, wealth and socio-economic status will always permeate the talent pool. In Fortgang's portrayal, his emotional resentment towards himself for being white, something out of his control, pushes him to argue in the light of his family ancestral hardships to destigmatize "white privilege." Albeit, his insight has some validity (he de-conflates whiteness associated to Jews, but identity politics always pushes a basis for ones own analysis of race. Payton's counter claims redefine privilege by showing Fortgang's hard work that "the ground he tilled was more fertile than the ground others tilled" This analogy quickly puts his situation on a broader sociological analysis to other races rather than keeping it compact to ethnically light skinned individuals. Meritocracy can only flourish when systematization and barriers towards racial preference never existed. The seeds already planted by our country's white founding ancestry (such as Payton mentioning women and individuals of color continuing to battle for equality such as in pay and through the justice system) do not compel our current state of democracy to label itself as meritocratic. After all, merit does not discriminate on any physical or social barriers but currently, our government system does and this must be combated in order to actual give aim to forming a true and valid meritocracy. Sorry Fortgang, your misconstrued interpretation of whiteness only favors your unconscious bias, not the conscious sentiment and realization of privelage around you. -Olivia Piotrowski
ReplyDelete