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Essay / Privilege and Its Function in Society
Privilege would not be able to maintain its position in society if it were not heavily regulated and normalized by those who benefit from it. Privilege can be normalized by the dominant group in a variety of ways, whether by personally justifying the concept or ignoring its existence. Often the privileged argue that there must be people above and below, and that this is simply human nature. Others, denying their advantages, claim that they deserve them. This coincides more with the idea that privilege can be obtained by working for it. This rationale is inaccurate because individuals are born with different opportunities and do not all start out on an equal footing. Privilege can also become normalized to the extent that those who possess it generally do not realize or acknowledge its existence and are unaware of the impact associated with it. It is also important to consider the reasons why privilege is so easy to dismiss, as these are directly related to the reasons why oppression and privilege are present in society. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay Variables such as where an individual lives, goes to school, works, and travels can influence their understanding of privilege. This is due to the pervasive nature of oppression and inequality, which, without awareness, can alter every aspect of our lives. To give an example, most people reside in neighborhoods where the people around them are primarily members of the same race, class, religion, or status. This same individual will go to school with children who live in the same type of homes as them, then to college with students who can afford the same education as them, and later work alongside people who resemble him. Isolation in an established lifestyle from a young age can weaken the ability to accept concepts of privilege and oppression. The media is another way in which privilege is standardized in society. The media's tendency to portray different groups in contrasting ways spills over into society and how people perceive those groups compared to their own. This can happen without the individual even being aware of it, because the roles that the media assigns to specific groups become so normalized that they appear to be the truth. For example, those who are considered privileged are often presented as such, even if the circumstances are negative. Minorities would face different representation in this position, as the stereotypes surrounding them allow them to be publicly humiliated and judged. A specific demonstration of this has been proven by the recent tragedies involving school shootings across America. The shooter is statistically almost always white, middle or upper class, and considered privileged in society. Even after being guilty of such a horrific crime, they are too often portrayed by the media as the victims in some cases. Now imagine the media response if the shooter was a minority, particularly an African American. He would almost certainly be labeled dangerous, violent, destructive, and shameful, and the reason he did what he did would probably not be made public. Another concept misused by the media is the negative representation of black fathers. They are often portrayed by the media as unreliable and dysfunctional, and as being..