Privilege, Power, and Difference
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Privilege, Power, and Difference
Sociologists have been engaged for a long time in a series of debate concerning the social, economic and political framework of the society. This is evident in the several books that attempt to highlight key concepts in the social structure of any community. From time immemorial, humanity stands out unique among other animals in terms of ability to interact and make informed decisions. The decades old racism and other culture based alienations and oppressions experienced in USA due to its diverse social structure are under focus in this case. It is critical to understand the underlying complex structure of the society in terms of governing authorities and the subjects. The battle for social, political and political supremacy is part and parcel of humanity, and this draws the line between it and other animals. In reference to Allan Johnson’s book Privilege, Power, and Difference a lot of lessons can be learnt on the internal network of interrelation among people. A common question that many people fail to understand at the onset of this work includes the difference between terms. Such basic concepts like power, privilege and difference, needs critical evaluation to bring out the real cause effect relationship that defines various positions of people in the society (Johnson 56). The author of this great book gives a comprehensive coverage of the source of the American social apartheid, ethnicity and hierarchies of power that characterize this great nation. It is apparent that the power is only possible when there are subjects to command. In that respect, human beings derive their social position within the society from the standpoint of who they are, what they can do and how much they can influence people and mobilize events.
The ideas raised by Johnson unveil the truth behind the longstanding racial discrimination and ethnic caste practiced in US. In-depth analysis of this book explains clearly that the privilege has consequences and equally requires a gap in terms of social class and economic endowment. Demographic description of the entire American populations indicates a clear cut socio-economic disparity where the white community takes the lion share and the blacks remain oppressed and sidelined. The current beliefs and ideas against the experienced racism in US focus on limited understanding of the deep-rooted concept of power and its connection with privileges. In the context of economics, resources are fixed in supply and therefore only ownership changes hands. This relationship applies even in a society where the privileged assume power and exploit the economically inferior. In essence, Johnson’s assertion indicates that the hierarchy of authority defines the overall structure and functionality of the society(Johnson 67). In the Case of America, some ethnic identities are less privileged, and this translates to limited access to resources like education and other basic social amenities. Having access to resources disproportionately translates to the wide gap in overall influence in the social order. Take the example of political composition of US, the voices of some ethnic groups are inadequately represented, and this continues to dictate the privileged and the powerful. The theory of social stratification is brought out clearly by Johnson in this book as the fundamental force behind power and privilege. The two concepts are different but closely associated with a general point in social recognition within the social hierarchy in the society.
The ideas spelled out in this discussion serves to shape the thinking of people about structure of the society. However it exposes the weak points of the ruling class and their guiding principle which is reflected in unending segregation in the American society. This work is a real picture of daily experiences in the world of humanity in terms of socio-economic and political pattern in America and world at large.
Work cited
Johnson, Allan G. Privilege, Power, and Difference. Boston, Mass: McGraw-Hill, 2005. Print.
