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"Privilege" as a framework centres the consciousness of the oppressor; "oppression" as a framework centres the consciousness of the oppressed.
Think about the verbs associated with "privilege": you recognise your privilege, you check your privilege.
"Privilege" doesn't give the oppressed anything to fight for (you don't *want* privilege), but rather it gives the oppressor something to feel good about doing.
"Privilege" doesn't give the oppressed anything to fight for (you don't *want* privilege), but rather it gives the oppressor something to feel good about doing.
Think about the verbs associated with "oppression": you fight it, you liberate yourself from it.
"Oppression" gives the oppressed a tool for understanding what's happening to them, and something to actively struggle against, and for. It makes no concessions to the oppressor.
"Oppression" gives the oppressed a tool for understanding what's happening to them, and something to actively struggle against, and for. It makes no concessions to the oppressor.
I am not saying that privilege doesn't exist, or that nothing useful has ever been done under that framework.
I am saying that a central political focus on privilege systematically disempowers liberation struggles against oppression, which is why it has become central.
I am saying that a central political focus on privilege systematically disempowers liberation struggles against oppression, which is why it has become central.
