Privilege, Power, and Difference - Johnson (2001)

 In reading this article, I became very defensive. In the introduction, Johnson states, "All of us are part of the problem. There is no way to avoid that as long as we live in the world." I felt like Johnson was accusing me of taking advantage of power that I may have. While continuing to read, I began to agree that if we are not the solution, then we are indeed perpetuating the problem. 

One of the lines of this text that stood out to me was on page 10. "This means privilege is always a problem for people who don't have it and for people who do, because privilege is always in relation to others. Privilege is always at someone else's expense and always exacts a cost." Even those who are underprivileged, may still be considered privilege to those who have even less of it. 

Johnson also states, "But although belonging to a privileged category costs them something that may feel oppressive, to call it oppression distorts the nature of what is happening and why." (p40) I disagree with this point. Oppression is defined as "mental pressure or distress." Does it matter where the pressure is coming from? Wouldn't it still be considered oppression even as a white, heterosexual. male if someone were feeling pressured or distress? 

Johnson argues that in order to find a solution to a world divided by privilege and oppression, everyone must acknowledge and accept that they are part of the problem and be willing to actively work towards finding a solution.