Alex Hoggan

E-portfolio
The reading I have chosen to write about is Privilege 101; A Quick and Dirty Guide by Sian
Ferguson
The main message in this reading is about identifying social privileges and what it means to be
privileged. In our power system almost everyone has a privilege and oppressed identity and they
interact on a daily basis. (I.e. a wealthy African American straight woman) She has some
oppressed identities and some that are privileged. Even though she did nothing to receive either
the oppression or privilege they are just assigned to those specific identities. The privileges she
has are not earned but, they dont mean she had an easy way of life. The meaning of privilege is
that its an experience that some people receive and some do not it is beneficial to those who do
receive it and creates a social hierarchy.
Privilege is something that plays in all aspects of society it is created by a cultural structure but,
influences political and historical issues as well. It is not unknown that most people holding
public office or who are in involved in the government all are culturally privileged for the most
part. They are mostly white, male, straight, and Christian for the most part which influences the
government obviously as they are not getting a lot of diversity. Historically privilege has
influenced lives dramatically for the good or bad. Oppressed groups have fought for rights for
over a hundred years just to be considered close to the same level as privileged groups.
I agree with this completely and I loved this reading. I would say it is my favorite one in the
whole book. The argument made by Ferguson is effective and not in way that is attacking as
most people when learning about privileges feel like they are being attacked or should feel guilty.

Alex Hoggan

I think this does a good job of identifying the privilege but, also not blaming it on the reader
more informing them.
A counter-argument for the reading could be that this reading is not very deep. It is just brushing
over the topics of oppression and privilege so it could be seen as ineffective.