Denial of Injustice, Minimization & Blaming

• Nobody wants to acknowledge their connection to injustice or the suffering of others and seek ways to distance themselves

Denial and Minimization

• A common way to avoid responsibility is to deny the existence of injustice.
• Examples include: "Racism and sexism aren't problems anymore," and "There is no such thing as privilege."
• Minimizing involves acknowledging the issue but claiming it's not significant
• Dismissing concerns is a way, dominant groups invalidate other people's experiences.
• Denial can manifest as seeing subordinate groups as better off, which deflects from white privilege and implies resentment.

Attacking the Messenger

• When the message is undeniable, the focus shifts to discrediting the person delivering the message.
• Accusations range from hating specific groups or being a traitor, stemming from a belief that only one viewpoint can be valid.

Blaming the Victim

• Responsibility is deflected by blaming those affected by injustice.
• Examples include blaming women for sexual harassment or people of color for their struggles.
• This defense is common and effective in maintaining privilege by assuming the victim is the problem and must adapt. Dominant groups use their authority to blame those least able to challenge it

Call it Something Else

• A subtle form of denial is to reframe an unpleasant reality with a different name.
• Issues like gender and race are often softened through euphemisms, distorting the true nature of privilege and oppression.
• Male privilege is minimized as a battle of the sexes, and rape is dismissed as "bad sex." This avoids confronting the reality of male privilege

It’s Better this way

• The result of denial and calling it something else culminates in rationalizing the status quo as preferred by everyone.
• The ideology around male privilege suggests "women prefer strong men"
• Segregation is attributed to a natural preference among people of color to live with their own kind

It Doesn't Count If You Meant It

• There is a tendency to excuse harmful actions by claiming lack of intent
• The effects and consequences of actions matter more than intentions.
• The professor who calls only on white students is still harming minority students
• It prevents meaningful discussion when lack of intent is used as a shield.
• In a patriarchal society, actions can perpetuate inequality, regardless of intention.

I’m One of the Good Ones

• People distance themselves from the problem by asserting they are not like "those" bad people.
• This involves expressing compassion for the affected, but avoids recognizing own role in the system.
• The truth is inaction and passive acceptance of privilege makes one complicit.
• Refusing to acknowledge complicity maintains social inequality

Not My Job

• Organizations deflect responsibility by assigning it to a "Diversity" position.
• This isolates the issue and prevents systemic challenge.
• "It's not my job" makes a problem that concerns everyone into the problem of a few: freeing people from responsibility.

Sick and Tired

• Dominant groups express weariness of discussions about privilege and oppression.
• Saying "It's always in your face," is more about feeling imposed upon.
• The defensiveness of privileged groups avoids the reality and consequences of inequality.

Getting Off the Hook by Getting On

• Escaping feelings of guilt shifts the focus to commitment, obligation, and involvement.
• Being on the hook is an opportunity to take responsibility, connect with others, and make a difference.
• There is no neutral ground and we are either apart of the problem or part of the solution
• Rejecting the hook leads to isolation
• Embracing the hook is an acknowledgement of reality