Essay Example on Invisible Privileges: Unseen Power in Society

Question 1

Invisible privileges provide the best example of terms commonly used in contemporary by a wide range of people without having a detailed understanding of their meaning and implication (Smith, 2016). Various scholars tried to define invisible privileges in different ways. However, a more nuanced definition is that which views it as a typical form of unseen power usually associated with a wide range of societal aspects, such as race, gender, level of education, class, and social class (Martensson et al., 2019). Invisible privileges give people in a typical society the various forms of power, such as structural, when not only engaging but also communicating and interacting with their colleagues. For instance, invisible force in a traditional societal set-up allowed men to engage in sex with their spouses without having consent (Smith, 2016). This act contributed to a wide range of adverse effects, including cases domestic violence and sexual harassment that went unnoticed and unreported in mainstream media.

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Conversely, advances in technology, civilization, and continuous creation of awareness in communities contributed immensely to the eradication of such privileges to the extent that they have no place and space in the current society (Smith, 2016). Men in contemporary society have a wide range of invisible privileges, which are significantly different from those witnessed in the ancient era. Most of these privileges occur in various field of life and tend to give men a typical form of dominance over their female counterparts in their respective communities. The first form of invisible privilege that men have over women appears through the concept of communication. Here a plethora of men tends to dominate conversations devoid of facing any judgement as opposed to their female counterparts. Surprisingly, society views women as being more talkative when compared to their male colleagues (Martensson et al., 2019). Detailed observation and analysis of a typical conversation and engagement between men and women would reveal that men usually assume an authoritative position in discussions and may communicate using persuasive words to feel superior over women.

The second form of invisible privilege that men tend to have over women occurs in the context of adverse effects that various people in a typical community face, for instance, gender violence and sexual harassment. Comparative studies examining the experiences of men and women in multiple communities indicate men are less likely to encounter a wide range of harassments, such as rape, street-based molestations, and insults (Smith, 2016). Also, men can casually interact with strangers in a friendly way without such accomplices mistaking the conversation as a typical way to lure them into sex. Lastly, men enjoy a plethora of intrinsic privileges in the field of the economy alongside their place of work. For example, men have the right and privilege to make vital decisions about their careers and the paths they can undertake to achieve their goals in life (Martensson et al., 2019). The society also views men as people who can effectively handle their career and manage their families as opposed to the case of women.

Question 2

Steps to Undertake to Combat Homophobia and Homophobic Tendencies

Homophobia is one of the most commonly debated behaviours in the current society. This behaviour includes a wide range of negative attitudes as well as feelings that people have or develop over time toward homosexuality or people known or perceived to be gay, lesbian, transgender, and bisexual (Lytle et al., 2013). Homophobic tendencies refer to the typical inclination that people may have towards a particular attribute or type of behaviour. Such biases against people who have an attraction to colleagues of the same sex or gender are often negative. However, there are different strategies that people can to use to combat such behaviours in modern society (Morini, 2017). Controlling homophobia and homophobic tendencies is a critical strategy towards promoting diversity and inclusion in a community whose people seek to live in peace and unity.

The first strategy to combat homophobia should entail continuous collaboration between various stakeholders in the community. These stakeholders include people with homophobia, health care practitioners, policymakers, and members of the community as a whole. Collaboration is a crucial step towards communicating and interacting with people living with homophobia and its related tendencies to make them feel valued and loved members of the community. People must understand various reasons that may push their colleagues into becoming homosexuals and understanding how to integrate them into their communities for social, political, and economic prosperity (Morini, 2017). Failing to cooperate and collaborate with people living with homophobia can worsen their state and may lead to adverse effects, including stress and depression that culminates into suicidal tendencies.

Secondly, people can combat homophobia on an individual basis by identifying and talking to community members who use insensible language and uphold homophobia tendencies against potential victims. For example, it is important to teach every community member the significance of diversity and inclusion while ensuring that they not only acknowledge but also appreciate the need to coexist with a wide range of people. Community members should understand the varying needs of their colleagues and form a critical force that is ready to address them to achieve peaceful coexistence. Every person in the community should discourage others against the use of insensible words such as referring to homosexuals as gay to keep them valued and well-integrated into society. Lastly, people can combat homophobia by allowing homosexuals to express and exercise their beliefs, such as the concept of having children through adoption and artificial insemination. Community members should understand that it is not a must to have children biologically because some people cannot reproduce (Morini, 2017). Using these three strategies can be critical in addressing the stereotypes against homosexuals and ensuring that they also live a better life as they seek to achieve their goals in life.

Reasons why it is Difficult for Some People to Take Public Stance Against Homophobia

Different factors compel people not to have a public against homophobia (Lytle et al., 2013). First, people often believe that taking a stand against homophobia would be a typical way of neglecting and inflicting psychological pain to associated victims, such as homosexuals, even though the society lacks a specific place for them. Secondly, people may fail to take a public stand against homophobia because of the fear of being insulted and even abused in their communities. Thirdly, the need to strictly observe and follow people's cultural beliefs compels them from taking a public stand against this controversial issue (Morini, 2017). Lastly, the church which stresses the need to follow religious teachings strictly can also hinder its members from taking a public stand against homophobia.

References

Lytle, M. C., Foley, P. F., Aster, A. M. (2013). Adult children of gay and lesbian parents: Religion and the parent-child relationship. The Journal of Counseling Psychology, 41(4), 530-567. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4250972/.

Martensson, E., Bjorklund, F., & Backstrom, M. (2019). Privilege is invisible to those who have it: Some evidence that men underestimate the magnitude of gender differences in income. Current Research in Social Psychology 27(1), 1-8. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/336216869_Privilege_is_invisible_to_those_who_have_it_Some_evidence_that_men_underestimate_the_magnitude_of_gender_differences_in_income.

Morini, M. (2017). Same-sex marriage and other moral taboos: Cultural acceptances, change in American public opinion and the evidence from the opinion polls. European journal of American studies, 1(2), 11-3. https://journals.openedition.org/ejas/11824.

Smith, F. (2016 June). 'Privilege is invisible to those who have it': Engaging men in workplace equality. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/jun/08/workplace-gender-equality-invisible-privilege.