Privilege

Privilege is a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group. In sociology, privilege is the perceived rights or advantages that are assumed to be available only to a particular person or group of people. The term is commonly used in the context of social inequality, particularly in regard to age, disability, ethnic or racial category, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion and/or social class. Two common forms of privilege are white privilege and male privilege.

Types of Privilege

Privilege can be classified into two forms: unearned advantage and conferred dominance. Unearned advantage refers to the fact that some people get benefits for belonging to a certain social group. Conferred dominance means that a person from a privileged group is visible and valued in a society more than others.

White Privilege

White privilege is the societal privilege that benefits white people over non-white people in some societies, particularly if they are otherwise under the same social, political, or economic circumstances.

Male Privilege

Male privilege is a concept within sociology for examining social, economic, and political advantages or rights that are available to men solely on the basis of their sex. A man's access to these benefits may vary depending on how closely they match their society's ideal masculine norm.

Effects of Privilege

Privilege can have varying effects on individuals, groups, and societies. Privilege promotes inequality by favoring certain groups over others. It can lead to social discrimination and lack of diversity. On the other hand, privilege can also result in individuals or groups using their privilege to challenge and combat social inequality.

See Also

• Social inequality
• Discrimination
• White privilege
• Male privilege

References

Privilege Resources
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