Johnson and S.C.W.A.A.M.P.

     We value what we perceive as the standard, and in the U.S., the standard is an American straight Christian male who is not disabled and owns a home. The book Privilege Power and Difference expounds on this standard in many ways. One way it expounds on this topic is by showing how the U.S. has shaped how we assess different races. For example, the author writes about how immigrants from other countries adjust to being put in a racial category. Both the Norwegian man and the African woman mentioned in the text didn't view themselves as part of a particular race, but when they came to the U.S., due to being put into those boxes, they had different experiences. The African woman, now labeled black, had to face the challenges that came with being black in the U.S. Her melanin became a setback. However, for the Norweigan, he learned that his skin gave him privileges, and he embraced them. In the U.S., being white is presented as a positive trait, while being black is presented as a negative. 

Another way this book explains the social characteristics valued in the U.S. is by explaining how people aren't cautious in their interactions with those possessing valued characteristics. For instance, if a hiring manager is interviewing two white men, one is from a suburb, and one is from an infamous urban neighborhood. When hiring, regardless of qualifications, they would be more likely to hire a man from a suburban neighborhood over a person from an urban neighborhood out of caution. 

Lastly, this book explains the paradox of privileges that come with certain social characteristics. For example, someone could be wealthy, but if they have a financial crisis, they will lose not only their money but also all the privileges they had as a wealthy person. Another example of the paradoxical nature of valued traits is that privilege can be handed to anyone. For example, when Italians first came to the U.S., they were not considered to be white and were treated as second-class citizens. However, when the white Americans decided to declare Italians as white, they gained all the privileges of white people. This shows that those with valued social traits are able to change who has access to privilege and who doesn't.

Through Privilege, Power, and Difference, it is clear how certain social traits are given certain privileges over others. If a person checks all the boxes, they are seen as the standard and the definition of "good," while other groups are considered "not good." In addition, since they are the standard, they aren't approached with the same level of caution as those who aren't. Lastly, because they are the standard, they are able to control who can be included or excluded from their group.