Johnson Ch. 7

In Chapter 7 of PPD, Johnson addresses the issue of how systems of privilege work in our society. He takes systems in which are discriminated against and directly compares them to ones of privilege. Johnson distinctly compares the lady prime minister of Great Britain and how she was labeled as “The Iron Lady” which resembles her strength as a leader. With a strong man leader, no one would start to call him “The Iron Man” because his power would be assumed by society. For Margaret Thatcher, she was placed with more pressure to succeed in fulfilling the country than a man would. Johnson concludes with the fact that people of privilege live in a society which is normally dominated by whites, white identified, and even white centered. Johnson states that individuals are scared do attempt something different or out of the ordinary, and instead they do nothing and continue to let racism grow in our county.
Johnson includes one particular argument in this chapter which I think is one of the most shocking. Johnson creates a list of every single Academy Award winning movie for “Best Picture” from 1965-2003. Sure enough, every single one of the leading roles played in all 40 movies were white and obviously middle to upper class. Not many people would actually realize that this was a trend that has been followed since the 60’s. It was almost amazing to my eyes to actually see it in facts and on writing.
Johnson states that as a male, he feels drawn to respond to questions whether he knows the answer of not, to interrupt in conversations, avoid admitting that he is wrong, and to take up room in a public place. Why is that? How did the male dominant type start to overcome women and feel as if they were the ones in control? Slowly I am starting to see the issue of male dominancy become less. More and more we are seeing women with more successful careers and making more money than their husbands. Hopefully one day women will be treated as equal as men and greatly be respected because they are WOMEN and not be given the advantage and privilege they sometimes get.