I would like to take this opportunity to speak on something that I find is an extremely sensitive subject for most. What better place to discuss such a thing, right? I would like to talk about "white priviledge." I am a white, heterosexual, male. I am a part of the "hetero-dominant" group. The reason I'd like to write about this is because of the fact that many white people seem to find such discussions frightening. Why? I can only guess, but I'm sure that it causes them to face realities that are not quite convenient.

I have heard people say that white males, and white females, have it easier than other people. This is in terms of most types of beneficial opportunities that can be thrown a person's way. Jobs, environment, background, and social class all play into this. I have found, in my observations, that this is true. Many white people seem to run from this idea because it threatens their ego. "Have I gotten this far only because I'm white?" seems to creep into their mind. They quickly shove it out and try to point out all of the progress race relations have made. This is dishonest. This is not correct. White people try to ignore these truths because they feel they will have to admit guilt to a situation many of them didn't have a say in. This much is true; many young white people try very hard to be fair to everyone and do not think themselves racist at all. What they would realize, if they took the time to look around them, and stopped being afraid of the part they might have played in the state of things, is that guilt is not the thing they must take on. They must join the world with the task of SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. This is something everyone is subject to. I saw a video once of a man who compared this to taking a new position at a corporation that has been around for a long time. You take on the problems as well as the advantages. In other words, you can't say "I didn't do it, so I don't take responsibility for it." Whether you realize it or not, there is a burden on you to put forth an effort to make things right. One cannot allow his fellow man to be in a position of inequality to him. This is the same for all races. But, what of the privileged race? The privileged gender? Do we have an extra responsibility? I think we do.

I face this issue in this particular class. How can a straight, white male disrupt the social order? I believe that the white male needs to work to become disruptive and subversive, and come to terms with the implications of his new role. When the white male subverts, he is essentially draining his own dominance, but this is not to be seen as a bad thing. A position of Dominance is an aggressive, violent one and it is necessary to shed this role. This action is not an easy one, because white people will face aggression from other white people who do not take kindly to any form of threat to the status quo. Change draws violence and intimidation. If you feel like you are speaking up at inopportune times, then you are probably doing something right.

If our ultimate goal is equality, then our ultimate enemy is imbalance. If we find ourselves dominating others, we must undo the situation that created this dominance. If we find ourselves being dominated by others, we must work to undo that situation as well. Easier said than done? Of course. Nobody said this wasn't going to involve a lifetime of work. This sort of work is actually NEVER finished. The main mechanism of action here is acceptance of social responsibility. Those who accept this find themselves compelled to help society instead of preserve themselves at all others' cost.

Only through helping each other up to a role of equality can we forge relationships that are free from fear, torment and discrimination. If this sounds utopian, it is because a utopia is the only thing that will draw us towards improvement. The white dominant curse is one of complacency, and it is a drug that many of us seem to have trouble resisting. Consider all of the angry white people who are whining about Obamacare. Tell me what that is all about.

After reading what I have written, I am flooded with doubt. I feel that whatever I say, I'm merely paying lip-service. What can I do to shed the dominant role? Is merely having a subversive frame of mind enough? I don't think it is. I think it takes something more substantial. I need to do something. Perhaps this is the space that queerness is holding open: the unknown future that we cannot predict from our queering the state of things. Perhaps this feeling of not having done enough is what keeps us doing something. But that is not enough, is it?

As for the readings, I found Anzaldua to be quite interesting for me. I have a Mexican girlfriend and some of her ideas really resonated with me about the role of women. Machismo is not something that is just relegated to Mexican men though, it is present still in America. Its ripple effect can still be felt, and cultures still attempt to normalize sexism, racism and other forms of inequality. Cultures seem to practice something called "normative abuse" in which, in the name of a culture's traditions, they enforce severe inequality on people of that culture.

Allison was a fantastic read and made me think a lot about my family, and the effect that my surroundings have had on my politics and choices throughout my life.

Please comment on what I have said before. I am officially opening up the White Privilege discussion for anybody to comment.