Privilege Hazard is a concept introduced by Catherine D'Ignazio and Lauren Klein in their book Data Feminism[1],referring to the phenomenon where individuals in privileged positions remain unaware of their inherent advantages. This lack of awareness perpetuates societal inequalities and obstructs efforts to advocate for marginalized groups. Authors such as Felicia Pratto, Andrew Stewart, Peggy McIntosh and Taylor Phillips have contributed to this discourse by examining various forms of privilege hazards, including group dominance, white, male and class privilege. This exploration sheds light on how privilege manifests in different societal spheres and its implications for marginalized communities.

Background

In their exploration of Data Feminism,[1] Catherine D'Ignazio and Lauren Klein define "privilege hazard" as the potential risks arising when privileged individuals, equipped with access to resources and data, attempt to address issues faced by marginalized groups. Relying solely on data may reinforce existing power dynamics, further marginalizing disadvantaged communities. To counter this, they advocate for an inclusive approach to data practices that centers on marginalized voices, aiming for a more equitable and just data ecosystem.

Existence of privilege hazard

The continuous presence of privilege hazard is evident in the concept of group dominance, wherein one social group holds significant advantages over others, leading to the consolidation of power and resources. Pratto and Stewart's research emphasizes that dominant groups often lack awareness of their privileged identities, viewing them as normal rather than as privileges.[2] Kaidi Wu and David Dunning delve into hypocognition[3] within group dominance privilege, highlighting how individuals from dominant groups may struggle to grasp the difficulties faced by minorities due to lack of exposure.

Types of privileges

White privilege

Peggy McIntosh and scholars like Brian Lowery and Taylor Phillips discuss white privilege, highlighting the unseen benefits white individuals enjoy due to their race. McIntosh describes it as an invisible knapsack of unearned advantages, leading to limited perspectives and empathy towards marginalized groups.[4] Taylor Phillips and Brian Lowery's research further elaborates on how whites tend to hide their privilege from themselves, maintaining the status quo and hindering progress toward equity.

Male privilege

Male privilege encompasses the advantages men experience solely due to their gender. Peggy McIntosh notes that males are conditioned not to recognize their privilege, leading to obliviousness and perpetuation of the privilege hazard.[4] Real-life examples, such as unequal distribution of household chores, illustrate how male privilege remains invisible to men due to societal norms.Tal Peretz expands on McIntosh’s concept, questioning if men tend to overlook or critically examine their privilege.[5]

Class privilege

Class privilege refers to the benefits individuals enjoy based on their social or economic status. Taylor Phillips and Brian Lowery's study[6] reveals that when confronted with their privilege, individuals tend to defend themselves, attributing success to personal efforts rather than acknowledging systemic advantages. This defensive response shields individuals from accepting their unearned advantages, representing a form of privilege hazard. Shai Davaidai and Jacklyn Stein's works delve into perceptions of wealth and poverty, highlighting the impact of environments on individuals' views of their circumstances.[7][8]

Criticism

The existence of privilege across various categories leads to variation in experiences within specific privileged groups, raising concerns about the legitimacy of privilege hazard. Jamie Abrams' article[9] challenges the notion of privilege, discussing how efforts solely focused on highlighting male privilege may inadvertently reinforce existing cultural norms and fail to foster inclusivity. This perspective underscores the complexity of addressing systemic privilege, emphasizing the need to reshape societal norms and institutional structures. Herb Goldberg's book sheds light on how the idea of male privilege and power has hurt men's personal self-realization.[10]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Klein, Lauren; D'Ignazio, Catherine (2020-03-17). Data Feminism (1st ed.). The MIT Press. pp. 28–29. ISBN 978-0262044004.
  2. ↑ Pratto, Felicia; Stewart, Andrew L. (2012-03-19). "Group Dominance and the Half‐Blindness of Privilege". Journal of Social Issues. 68 (1): 28–45. doi:10.1111/j.1540-4560.2011.01734.x. ISSN 0022-4537.
  3. ↑ Wu, Kaidi; Dunning, David Alan (2020-02-16). "Hypocognition and the Invisibility of Social Privilege". dx.doi.org. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  4. 1 2 McIntosh, Peggy (2019-07-04), "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack (1989) 1", On Privilege, Fraudulence, and Teaching As Learning, Routledge, pp. 29–34, ISBN 978-1-351-13379-1, retrieved 2023-11-29
  5. ↑ Peretz, Tal (2018-07-08). "Seeing the Invisible Knapsack: Feminist Men's Strategic Responses to the Continuation of Male Privilege in Feminist Spaces". Men and Masculinities. 23 (3–4): 447–475. doi:10.1177/1097184x18784990. ISSN 1097-184X.
  6. ↑ Phillips, L Taylor (2015-02-25). "I Ain't No Fortunate One: On the Motivated Denial of Class and Race Privilege". Academy of Management Proceedings. 2015 (1): 19158. doi:10.5465/ambpp.2015.19158abstract. ISSN 0065-0668.
  7. ↑ Davidai, Shai (2022-02-01). "How do people make sense of wealth and poverty?". Current Opinion in Psychology. 43: 42–47. doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.06.010. ISSN 2352-250X.
  8. ↑ Stein, Jacklyn (2021-10-01). American Understandings of U.S. Economic Inequality: Redistribution and Resistance. University of Massechusetts Amherst.
  9. ↑ Abrams, Jamie (2016). "Debunking the Myth of Universal Male Privilege". University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform (49.2): 303. doi:10.36646/mjlr.49.2.debunking. ISSN 2688-4933.
  10. ↑ Goldberg, Herb (2009-07-15). The Hazards of Being Male: Surviving the Myth of Masculine Privilege (2009th ed.). Iconoclassic. p. 352. ISBN 978-0965762878.
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