Document Type
Blog Post
Publication Date
2-2-2016
Department 1
Center for Public Service
Abstract
Question: I’ve always wondered about this: as a white, heterosexual male person who cares about the way minorities and marginalized populations are treated, what gives me the right to feel offended or call someone out on something they say that’s a definite gray area when I don’t belong to that group? I believe that as a privileged individual it is my responsibility to advocate as an ally but it would conversely be an exercise of my privilege if I were to be the one to decide what is and isn’t offensive to a whole group of people I don’t belong to. So my question is: what is the moral implication and the power dynamic of a privileged person being offended on a minority’s behalf? Is it right? Is privileged? Is it audacious? I need to know! [excerpt]
Copyright Note
This is the author's version of the work. This publication appears in Gettysburg College's institutional repository by permission of the copyright owner for personal use, not for redistribution.
Recommended Citation
Anonymous, "Q&A: Privilege and Allyship" (2016). SURGE. 261.
https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/surge/261
Included in
Civic and Community Engagement Commons, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies Commons, Women's Studies Commons
Comments
Surge is a student blog at Gettysburg College where systemic issues of justice matter. Posts are originally published at surgegettysburg.wordpress.com Through stories and reflection, these blog entries relate personal experiences to larger issues of equity, demonstrating that –isms are structural problems, not actions defined by individual prejudice. We intend to popularize justice, helping each other to recognize our biases and unlearn the untruths.