chapter 9 johnson

The last chapter of Johnson’s book Privilege, Power and Difference concludes by providing ways to end the power battle between white, heterosexual, nondisabled, men and people who do not fit one or more of these criteria. He offers the readers a challenge to "To change patterns of exclusion, rejection, privilege, harassment, discrimination, and violence that are everywhere in this society and have existed for hundreds (or in the case of gender, thousands) of years.” He offers myths about power struggles and disproves them. He then gives ways to end this power struggle. These things you can do are to speak out at work; promote awareness and training around privilege issues; support equal pay; oppose the devaluing of omen, people of color, people of disabilities, and the work they do; don’t support businesses that are inaccessible to people with disabilities, and tell them why you don’t; become aware of how class divisions operate in social systems; and he goes on to list more that deal with violence and unions. Johnson then goes on to talk about Paul Kivel, who speaks about how to be a good ally to someone who is in a group that has less power than you. Kivel says that people should try to help the less privileged by respecting them, learning about them, not making assumptions, speaking up, and other things along the same lines.
I chose to write about this chapter because I realize that most people probably did not finish the book and in books like this one, the ending is where the main points are brought together and it is the most important part of the book. I wanted the other members of the group to notice the main point of this book so they can take the challenge offered by Johnson and help level the playing field for all people, whether they are white males, or black female lesbians with a wooden leg. This chapter helped me to rethink how I was going to help for equality. At first I thought I would just stop doing things wrongly, but after reading it, I now know that I can not take a passive approach; I have to step out and do the right thing in order to fix the problem of inequality and racism. I will offer a hand to someone in need and help and elderly woman if she needs it and not wonder why she is still living a normal life outside of a nursing home, but the real question is, will you?