Customer Reviews

Privilege, Power, and Difference

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

When I first saw the title for this book, I thought it was going to be another of those books that make you feel sick and worthless once you get to the end. This couldn't have been further from the truth. Allen's book was engaging, gentle, but powerful. It was thorough in describing the impact of power and privilege in a way that can be felt and understood even by those who are not familiar with (or generally interested in) critical studies and sociology. I found this to be a text that I could engage with, but also one that I could share with those who had a hard time seeing the lines of power and how they impact all of our relationships in many different ways.

I highly recommend this book both to those who have worked with the material of oppression for a long time as well as for those who are struggling to understand what it's all about. The book is powerful and gentle at the same time - something that is very important when dealing with issues of oppression and equity.

I adopted this very readable book as one of several required books for my Multicultural Psychology class and it has had a tremendous impact on my students. Johnson explains the concept of privilege, as it applies to race, gender and sexual orientation, in ways that allow my White students and other students with privilege to hear and understand without getting defensive. He desribes why change is difficult but not impossible, what we can all do to stop supporting "the system" and why we should. I recommend it highly for both college and high school students and the general adult population.

As an instructor working in the Humanities, finding non-threatening ways to talk about privilege, whiteness, and/or racism is very challenging. As I read the negative reviews, I am even more aware of how difficult it is to get these ideas across without being accused of self-hatred, etc. In an effort to encourage positive self reflection on these complex issues, I have read many of the foundation works Dr. Johnson mentions. His recapituation of these ideas is indeed gentle. One of the best things he does is make it possible for individuals to recognize that, while they may have unearned entitlements in one area, they may not have them in another. In this way, it is possible for practically everyone to recognize the feeling of being an outsider and this can lead to a compassion and understanding that has NOTHING TO DO with guilt. This work can create a bridge. As an instructor in the area of cultural studies, I often must challenge individuals who believe feeling guilty is all they can do. It isn't. Dr. Johnson gives us actions that we as individuals can actually engage. BTW the chapter on Capitalism is elegant dynamite.
If you are open to the possibility that things can get better through a personal self-reflective understanding of our socio-economic location, read this book. If not, don't waste your time.

I read this book filled with skepticism about what could be done about the problems of prejudice and injustice in our society. Johnson answered my every question and even pointed out ways that I fall short. He writes in a witty, conversational style, using many personal examples. I would recommend this book for absolutely anyone to read. Teachers: use this book in your classes. Mine did, and it has made a huge difference in my life.

In this book, the author describes how the world works. It can all be summed up by this sentence in his book:

"The trouble that surrounds difference is really about privilege and power - the existence of privilege and the lopsided distribution of power that keeps it going."

Differences include, class, race, gender, sexual orientation, disability...and the list goes on.

If you like to educate yourself; if you crave an understanding of the way things work; if you love to read, get this book. You won't regret it. It's written beautifully; in sort of a conversation tone. I swear I was just going to take a nap, and as I lied in bed and started reading this, I couldn't fall asleep because I didn't want to stop reading. So go out there and get this book! I know you'll love it. I'm falling in love with this amazing sociologist. He's easily becoming a favorite. This book is changing my life already, and I guarantee it will change yours.

Johnson clearly and thoughtfully explains privilege and power. He describes how many of us are benefiting from privilege, but don't realize it. He points out how we can change the systems that have created the differences. I found it easy to read and the information was fascinating.

This book is powerful! Simply put this is by far the most honest book I have ever read regarding privilege and power. A definite must read for those concerned about race, sexual orientation, ethnicity, and social class issues. In his book Johnson ask each of us to deal with these difficult issues, by changing our thinking from "me" to "us", so that we can create a world that is a better place for everyone to live in.

This is a great book that will ennable you to see aspects of our culture that are so interwoven in our everyday experience that we're not even aware of them. It helped me see what we take for granted and understand what we can all do to make changes in our society so that it will become a place where people are truly equal. We all need to read this book and become more aware so things can change to become a more compassionate, just society.

This book is really a bad choice for a diversity class. This guy suffers from white gult or something and has the tendency to victimize everyone for being anthing other than being a white male. As a disabled person that teaches children disability sensitivity this guy needs to come hear me and my colleagues to learn a thing or two.
Please dont spead this kind of ignorance. He redefines things at his convience and it infuriates me to no end.

Absolutely worst book I have ever read it generalizes and throws out assertions without any content to back it up... this book has a decent rating but a massive amount of 1 star ratings because if you have more then 2 brain cells or can take more then the gentlest of words this book will try to coddle you and only insult even the most modest of intellects. If you like to think about what the author says and have spent 5 seconds studying history you will hack up a lung when the author ignores conflicts, and immigration as reasons for racial stereotypes and tries so hard to make WASP straight guys look like bigoted racist pricks and spread hatred for whites without even trying to do anything about the problems of racial discrimination in the US, as if throwing blame will fix everything.