Question

Define the phrase “white privilege.” Give at least 3 examples

Answer 1

White privilege is a critical social theory term used to define the social, economic, and political benefits which are made more readily accessible to people whom society identifies as white in some countries, beyond what is commonly experienced by non-white people such as the Hispanics, African Americans and Asians under the same social circumstances. The term is used for an umbrella of instances where the White population which is often the mainstream community may draw more benefits from the society by sheer force of racial differences even without masking any deliberate actions pertaining to racism or having an insight about their privileged position. Thus for instance, White students are more likely to get access to higher education because White families in the United States and The United Kingdom are more economically well and the parents can afford the tutuition fee for their children better. Furthermore, Executive profiles in the corporate jobs are more likely to be handed over to White males than African Americans because of their educational qualifications which however on the hindsight are due to their privileged position in society as an economically advanced class. A third example of White privilege can be seen in the response of the law enforcement agencies as Police personnel are less likely to hold White citizens as prime suspects than African American citizens in matters of a criminal offence.