Varied perspectives have informed the interpretation as to what exactly is white privilege, with some even refuting the existence of such a thing as white privilege. Today, many descriptions have taken after Peggy McIntosh's definition, which was termed as groundbreaking for having made its effects personal and tangible. White privilege refers to a collection of certain societal advantages gained by the virtual of being white over others who are not white, commonly referred to as the invisible force that white people need to recognize. Over time, the idea of white privilege has taken hold to become a social phenomenon. Canada, although inherently white, the country’s population is made up of people with various complex and shifting ethnic, cultural, and radical identities; the concept of skin color has been a major challenge in the country. One’s skin color can either be a token or an under-representation. This study examines white privilege in general and the specific case of Canada where white privilege is deeply entrenched at the social level and the resulting marginalization.
In Canada, white skin color has been socially linked to subtle aspects of privilege at the expense of other racial groups. Although an unearned advantage, white privilege is highly valued at the social levels whose benefit is a unique form of dominance. In certain instances, the exclusive rights, immunity, or unique advantages arising from white privilege are passed on unconsciously. The entrenched nature of social privilege has made it easy for people to misinterpret and sometimes accept it as being okay. In present-day Canada, white people have a unique ability to influence systematic decisions resulting in the marginalization of non-white communities that do not hold as much influence owing to their skin color. Non-white people have had to endure intentional or unintended disadvantages of varying degrees, be it in decisions made at the workplace, the layout of items at the supermarket, or the content available on TV. Many of the decisions have been made to suit white people automatically. It is, however, essential to differentiate white privilege from racism, with Canada being comparatively tolerant of minority communities.
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The major problem with white privilege in Canada is that white people being the majority, think that what happens to them equally happens to everyone else. For a long time now, Canadians have cherished the idea that they are more multicultural and benevolent than Americans. While this may be true, Canadians have failed to see the entrenched benefits of being white.
White privilege and marginalization are more profound in the beauty industry. Whether intentional or unintentional, it is not a wondered to walk into a beauty shop or a supermarket and find that the main display if filled with products that favor a particular type of skin tone, or a particular type of hair. While other products commonly associated with other minority communities may still be sold in the same store, there are unwritten indications of preference all over. Although subtle, the same situation is likely to be replicated in tens of other stores. A white person who enjoys the befit of going about life without the minor disadvantages is not guilty of enjoying the ease of access; instead, those that have normalized the practice are guilty of entrenching white privilege.
To those who have it, privilege is invisible. The social privileges enjoyed by white people are not a suggestion that they don’t struggle at all. However, privilege is directly associated with the formation of perceptions and attitudes that re a constant reminder to others of the race, ethnicity, gender, class, and religion. The existence of white privilege stems from historic, enduring racism and biases.
