Definitions
What is the academic definition of privilege in critical social justice, and how does it differ from everyday usage?
Privilege is systemically conferred dominance and unearned institutional advantages, unlike the everyday usage which often means "lucky" or "fortunate."
Give two examples of physical structures that illustrate ableism.
Inaccessible building entrances (lack of ramps) and the historical absence of curb cuts or tactile paving on sidewalks.
What is "Internalized Superiority"?
The unconscious belief among dominant group members that their group is naturally better, more normal, or more entitled to power.
Define the ideology of Meritocracy.
The belief that success is based solely on individual effort and ability, ignoring systemic advantages.
Name an example
What is Intersectionality?
The study of how different social identities (race, gender, ability, class) overlap and interact to shape unique experiences of privilege and oppression.
How does the "swimming" metaphor explain the experience of privilege?
Privilege is like a current moving with you; it propels you forward effortlessly, often making you unaware of its power until you have to swim against it.
How does school segregation demonstrate structural privilege?
Separating students with disabilities into "special" classes often serves the convenience of the dominant group and reinforces the idea that the "normal" group has nothing to learn from them.
Why are "inspiration stories" about people with disabilities sometimes considered ableist?
They often use the disabled person as a prop to make nondisabled people feel good or represent disability as a "tragedy" to be overcome.
How does the ideology of "Equal Opportunity" obscure privilege?
It assumes that since laws have changed, the "playing field" is now perfectly level and everyone has the same chances.
Can a person be both privileged and oppressed at the same time?
Yes; for example, a White woman is oppressed by sexism but privileged by her race and ability.
What is Cultural Deficit Theory?
The false explanation that minoritized groups fail because they lack appropriate cultural values or attitudes, rather than because of systemic barriers.
What landmark 1990 legislation mandated structural changes for accessibility in the US?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
What is "Willful Ignorance" or "White Ignorance"?
A phenomenon where dominant group members resist information about injustice to maintain a sense of innocence or avoid feeling responsible.
What is the danger of the "Individualism" ideology in social justice -(group socialization context)?
It suggests we are all unique individuals unaffected by group socialization, making it hard to see how group-based privilege operates.
How do racism and ableism intersect in the history of "intelligence testing"?
Intelligence tests were often used to construct ideas of genetic inferiority for both people with disabilities, people of Color, and MLLs.
Why is privilege described as "socially constructed" rather than natural?
Because it is built into the arbitrary norms, values, and structures of a society designed to benefit the dominant group.
Why are dominant group norms often "invisible" to those within that group?
Because the world is designed to accommodate their bodies and needs, allowing them to take access for granted.
Name a common defensive reaction when privilege is pointed out.
Demanding more data/statistics, giving "counter-examples" of successful minoritized individuals, or becoming emotionally fragile.
How is the ideology of "Human Nature" used to justify privilege?
By arguing that "someone has to be on top" and that hierarchies are a natural, unavoidable part of being human.
Name an example
Who is Leroy Moore Jr., and what does his work highlight?
A writer and activist whose work explores the intersections of disability, race, and sexuality, particularly regarding police brutality.
Explain the distinction between rank and status.
Rank is a permanent social membership (race, ability) that impacts all life aspects; status is a temporary or contextual position (a job title) that does not erase the effects of rank.
How does the design of a city represent a set of social values?
It reflects who was "at the table" during planning; historically, the absence of disabled people meant their needs were not integrated into the city’s physical layout.
How does internalized dominance affect a person's "default mode" of interaction?
It leads members of dominant groups to automatically assume they are qualified to speak for or represent the interests of minoritized groups.
Why is it difficult to separate "nature" from "culture" in these ideologies?
Because dominant groups often present cultural preferences or social constructs as if they are biological or natural facts to justify their position.
Why is a "single-axis" analysis (looking at only one identity) insufficient?
Because it ignores how multiple identities compound or change the experience of oppression, such as the specific barriers faced by a woman of Color with a disability.