20+ Examples of the Invisible Knapsack

In our daily lives, we carry an invisible knapsack filled with unearned advantages known as white privilege. These are assets and benefits that come with being born white but remain unnoticed by those who have them. The myth of meritocracy perpetuates the idea that everyone has an equal shot, but in reality, it upholds power structures, maintaining dominance in the hands of those who already hold it. Peggy McIntosh aptly describes this as an invisible package of provisions, tools, and assurances that we’re meant to remain oblivious to. It’s a privilege that confers dominance based on race and sex, often unchallenged and unchanged.

Privilege, whether white or male, is an unearned advantage that has never been adequately acknowledged or challenged. Whites are taught to see their lives as morally neutral, ideal, and average, creating a skewed perception of their moral condition. Acknowledging and understanding this privilege is the first step towards dismantling these hierarchies.

Examining the list of privileges, simple actions like choosing bandages that match one’s skin color highlight the everyday nature of white privilege. However, recognizing this invisible system is crucial, as it opens doors automatically and contributes to the appearance of being a good citizen.

To spread privilege, it’s essential to distinguish and normalize advantages until they no longer stand out. Unfortunately, there’s also the existence of negative privilege, such as cultural permission to not take darker-skinned people as seriously. Sexism perpetuates male privilege through an invisible system that confers unsought dominance, often silenced and denied for the protection of these unearned advantages. It’s time to acknowledge, challenge, and work towards dismantling these invisible systems for a more equitable society.

20+ Examples of the Invisible Knapsack (White Priveleges in America Today)

Safety

• Walk down the street without being harassed or followed by the police.
• Enjoy the presumption of innocence and be treated with respect when interacting with law enforcement.
• Not have to worry about their children being subjected to racial profiling or discrimination in schools.
• Feel secure in their homes and neighborhoods, without fear of racial violence or intimidation.

Opportunities

• Be confident that their skin color will not negatively impact their job opportunities or salary negotiations.
• Live in neighborhoods that are considered safe and desirable, without facing discrimination in housing or rental applications.
• Benefit from a healthcare system that prioritizes their needs and provides them with equitable access to quality care.
• Have access to resources and opportunities that can help them achieve their goals and aspirations.

Social

• Feel a sense of belonging and acceptance in their communities.
• Not have to constantly explain or defend their racial identity.
• Be confident that their children will have access to quality education and opportunities for advancement.
• Have their voices heard and their perspectives considered when it comes to policy decisions and social issues.
• Form meaningful relationships with people from diverse backgrounds, without experiencing racial prejudice or discrimination.

Cultural

• Experience the world through a lens of their own culture and perspective, without feeling compelled to learn about or understand other cultures.
• Feel comfortable expressing their opinions and beliefs, without fear of being labeled as aggressive or angry.
• Be able to move through public spaces without being perceived as a threat.
• Engage in recreational activities and enjoy public spaces without experiencing racial microaggressions or subtle forms of discrimination.
• Have the freedom to express themselves creatively without fear of cultural appropriation or accusations of insensitivity.

Personal

• Not having to think about race every day.
• Being able to assume that they will be treated fairly in any situation.
• Being able to speak their minds freely without fear of being labeled as aggressive or angry.
• Being able to choose to learn about other cultures, but not having to if they don’t want to.
• Having the luxury of ignoring the realities of racism.

FAQs on White Privilege and the Invisible Knapsack

Q1: What is the Invisible Knapsack in the context of white privilege? A1: The Invisible Knapsack is a metaphor coined by Peggy McIntosh to describe the unearned assets and advantages that white individuals are born with. It represents privileges that are invisible to those who possess them because they don’t have to actively think about them.

Q2: How does white privilege affect daily life? A2: White privilege manifests in various ways in daily life. For instance, white individuals can expect neutral or pleasant treatment from neighbors, shop without fear of harassment, and see people of their race widely represented in media and heritage narratives.

Q3: What did Peggy McIntosh notice in her women’s studies research regarding men’s attitudes about gender? A3: McIntosh observed men’s unwillingness to acknowledge their overprivilege, even if they recognize women’s disadvantages. Men might express willingness to improve women’s status but resist the idea of lessening men’s privilege, protecting it from acknowledgment or reduction.

Q4: How is white privilege connected to the myth of meritocracy? A4: The myth of meritocracy suggests that a nation cannot simultaneously give unfair advantages to certain members while valuing personal merit above all. White privilege contradicts the notion of a merit-based society, as it confers dominance based on race rather than individual merit.

Q5: Why is white privilege denied and protected? A5: White privilege is denied and protected because white individuals are taught to view racism only as something disadvantaging others, not as conferring advantages upon themselves. The narrow understanding of racism prevents acknowledgment of white privilege.

Q6: How did Peggy McIntosh come to see white privilege? A6: McIntosh describes white privilege as an invisible package of unearned assets that she can count on cashing in daily. It includes special provisions, assurances, tools, maps, guides, codebooks, passports, visas, clothes, compass, emergency gear, and blank checks.

Q7: Can white privilege be spread? A7: McIntosh suggests that spreading privilege involves distinguishing advantages to the point where they are no longer exclusive but become the norm in society.

Q8: What are some examples of white privilege that McIntosh provides? A8: Examples include being in the company of people of the same race, shopping without harassment, and seeing one’s race widely represented in heritage narratives. The list highlights everyday advantages that white individuals may take for granted.

Q9: How does white privilege affect perceptions of moral condition? A9: Whites are taught to perceive their lives as morally neutral and ideal. This perception, combined with white privilege, opens doors automatically, creating an appearance of being a good citizen, largely influenced by skin color.

Q10: Why is it challenging to recognize white privilege? A10: White individuals are often unaware of their privilege because they are not trained to see themselves as oppressors or unfairly advantaged. Racism is typically recognized only in individual acts, not in the embedded systems that confer unsought racial dominance.

Q11: What does McIntosh mean by the “myth of meritocracy”? A11: The myth of meritocracy refers to the false belief that a society can simultaneously give unfair advantages to certain individuals or groups while promoting the value of personal merit above all. White privilege challenges this myth by highlighting systemic advantages based on race.

Q12: How does white privilege affect individuals’ perceptions of racism? A12: White people are often taught to think that racism could end if individuals changed their attitudes. However, the presence of white privilege means that even if individuals disapprove of racial dominance, their white skin still opens doors and confers advantages.

Q13: Can you provide an example of how white privilege distorts humanity? A13: The privilege to ignore less powerful people is an example of how white privilege distorts humanity. This privilege can lead to a distorted view of the holders as well as the groups that are ignored, perpetuating unequal power dynamics.

Q14: How does acknowledging white privilege make one newly accountable? A14: Acknowledging white privilege brings a sense of accountability. Recognizing the unearned assets one carries daily prompts an awareness of the need for change and action to dismantle systemic advantages.

Q15: What is the significance of McIntosh’s idea of spreading privilege? A15: McIntosh suggests that spreading privilege involves making certain advantages the norm in society rather than exclusive. This shift challenges the idea of privilege and works towards a more just and equal society.

Q16: Why is it important to distinguish between earned strength and conferred privilege? A16: Distinguishing between earned strength and conferred privilege helps understand that not all privileges are damaging. Some privileges, like expecting decent treatment from neighbors, should be the norm in a just society, while others may distort humane values.

Q17: How does McIntosh characterize the daily effects of white privilege? A17: Daily effects of white privilege include the assurance of neutral or pleasant treatment from neighbors, freedom from harassment while shopping alone, and widespread representation of one’s race in media and cultural narratives.

Q18: Why is whiteness considered elusive and fugitive in McIntosh’s analysis? A18: Whiteness is considered elusive and fugitive because white individuals may avoid acknowledging their privilege. The asset of white skin color was advantageous, protecting individuals from hostility and violence, leading to a distorted view of cultural forms.

Q19: How does the myth of meritocracy intersect with the concept of white privilege? A19: The myth of meritocracy and white privilege intersect as white privilege contradicts the notion that society values personal merit above all. White individuals may benefit from systemic advantages, challenging the merit-based ideal.

Q20: How does acknowledging white privilege contribute to understanding systemic oppressions? A20: Acknowledging white privilege unveils both active and embedded forms of oppressions. It helps recognize not only visible, active forms but also the unseen, embedded systems that sustain racial dominance.