White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack

Reading Check and Short Answer questions on key points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

Reading Check

1. How did McIntosh’s work in women’s studies lead her to recognize the phenomenon of white privilege?

2. How does McIntosh describe the concept of white privilege?

3. Name two examples McIntosh provides to illustrate how white privilege affects her life.

4. What does McIntosh suggest as a way to address white privilege?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. How does McIntosh use personal experiences to illustrate her points about white privilege?

2. Why, according to McIntosh, is white privilege often invisible to those who possess it?

3. Explain the two categories into which McIntosh divides the items in her list of privileges.

4. How does the idea of white privilege challenge the idea of a meritocracy in American society?

Paired Resource

“What Is White Privilege, Really?”

• This article from the Southern Poverty Law Center provides a clear explanation of privilege, particularly white privilege, and offers resources for teaching about this concept.
• Shared topics include white privilege, its invisibility to those who possess it, and its impact on society.
• How does the explanation of white privilege in this article compare to McIntosh’s description in her essay? What new insights or perspectives does it offer?