For those who have it, white privilege can be hard to identify, but for those who don’t, it is often the elephant in every room. “White privilege” refers to the daily advantages white people have based on the color of their skin. In essence, white privilege and racism are two sides of the same coin. If one group has a disadvantage, then the other must have an advantage. White privilege is that advantage, and manifests itself in a variety of ways, including media representation and beauty standards.
As a white person, I have the privilege of seeing people who look like me widely and positively represented in the media. Books, movies, TV shows, magazines, and even video games tend to showcase white people. Meanwhile, minorities, if present at all, are often cast as supporting characters, tokens, and villains. This perpetuates the false idea that white people are more important, capable, and competent than minorities. As a white person, I am never at a loss for images of people who look like me succeeding in the world, and if they can do it, then so can I.
Not only does the white image dominate the media, but it also creates society's ideal of beauty. Physical attributes that are considered beautiful or attractive are typically European features. For example, light skin, straight hair, and angelic eyes are what is commonly referred to as attractive. As a result, people around the world are trying to change their physical appearance to match the European beauty standard. For instance, in Jamaica, many people are bleaching their skin to try to make it lighter. In both China and South Korea, women undergo plastic surgery to make their eyes look less Asian. White privilege is having the physical attributes associated with my race match that of society’s beauty standards.
White privilege is an unearned and undeserved benefit that white people profit from on a daily basis. Our media and our beauty standards are white-focused, which directly benefits white people at the expense of all others. While it is accepted that racism and discrimination puts minorities at an disadvantage, it is often less comfortable to discuss the benefits that white people receive as a direct result. However, the two are contingent upon each other. For racism to be dismantled, white privilege needs to be dismantled as well. The elephant in the room has been there too long, and the sooner it is recognized and addressed, the sooner it can be done away with.
