Alan Johnson and S.C.W.A.A.M.P

Privilege, Power, and Difference ~ Alan Johnson

  Blog #1 Michelina Irons  

    In the book Privilege, Power, and Difference  written by Alan Johnson, he applies that he has written this book for one reason, and it was to represent all of the injustices and unnecessary suffering. Johnson argues that everyone is apart of the problem of injustice as nobody will ever be the same and everyone has their own faiths and beliefs. His book argues that if we uses our differences we will be able to take the injustice we caused and work with it to create a better framework with less injustice for ourselves and our peers. In his Introduction, Johnson states "As a white, male, heterosexual, middle-class professional, I know about such feelings from my own life. But as a sociologist, I also know that it's possible to understand the world and myself in relation to it in ways that get past the defensive feelings and give us all a common ground from which to work for change." He is stating that although he has a high status of privilege, he is able to see the injustice through his job. This causes Johnson to understand what the suffering individuals go through, and he can create a sort of idea to follow that can lower the amount of injustice. The concept of S.C.W.A.M.P. and Johnson's work both deal with privilege. Johnson talks about how people may become defensive when considering the idea of privilege and how his work attempts to make these conversations fruitful. The existing social norms and advantages that influence societal structures and personal experiences are clearly described in the S.C.W.A.M.P. concept. Johnson wants to transform people's attitudes and behaviors for the better, which is partially reflected in the S.C.W.A.M.P. framework's implicit criticism of the ways in which social privileges shape society. The goals of both strategies are to confront and dismantle the disparities that these prevailing norms support. 

    In the second chapter, he talks about how racial, gender, and class differences in society are caused by structural issues and societal privilege. One passage that emphasizes "Her misfortune is connected to my fortune; the reality of her having to deal with racism and sexism every day is connected to the reality that I don't." This quote highlights how privilege and oppression are intertwined. Johnson explains how one person's benefit is frequently closely related to another person's misfortune. The current societal standards and privileges that are frequently taken for granted are identified by the S.C.W.A.M.P. framework. These include being Straight, Cisgender, White, Able-bodied, Male, Propertied/Wealthy, and Straight. The fundamental idea behind S.C.W.A.M.P. is that these classifications represent social advantages that are upheld at the expense of people who don't conform to these standards. Johnson's perspective and S.C.W.A.M.P. emphasize that it is the duty of the privileged to identify and resolve these systemic problems. In the same way as S.C.W.A.M.P. emphasizes the necessity for people in privileged categories to recognize and address their societal advantages, Johnson contends that in order for individuals to contribute to systemic change, they must accept responsibility for identifying and addressing their own privilege.

    The third chapter of Allan G. Johnson's book explores the complicated subject of privilege and social identity, concentrating on how privilege is defined and how difference is socially constructed. The following quotation is pertinent and can be compared to the S.C.W.A.M.P.; "Most of what we experience as ‘real’ is a cultural creation. In otherwards, it’s made up, even though we don’t experience it that way.” Johnson emphasizes the idea that social constructs, as opposed to something that is fundamentally "real" or organic, are what give rise to society categories like race, gender, and sexual orientation. Rather than having inherent value, these constructions become significant due to cultural acceptance and enforcement. 

Point for Class Discussion:

"How can we effectively address and challenge the social constructs of privilege that perpetuate inequality, considering that these constructs are deeply ingrained in cultural and institutional norms?"

The question prompts a conversation on useful methods for identifying and eliminating privilege while realizing that these social constructions are systemic problems rather than just personal prejudices. It creates research into strategies for bringing about change in institutional and personal contexts as well as for increasing awareness and fostering inclusivity.  Building on what was covered in Chapter 3, this point emphasizes that privilege and social categories are products of culture and history rather than being innate. It also has to do with realizing how these conceptions affect everyday interactions and structural frameworks, as discussed in Chapter 2.

For reference;

S.C.W.A.M.P. is an acronym used to describe the dominant societal norms and privileges often embodied by individuals in Western societies. It stands for:

• Straight
• Cisgender
• White
• Able-bodied
• Male
• Propertied/Wealthy