Author: Jack Straton

Questions to Provoke Thought

(1) One of the privileges White People have is the right to name.   What are some of the other privileges?
(2) How does guilt influence our willingness to hear about others’ oppression?  
(3) What positive role does guilt play in our lives?  Are there any other responses that provide the same benefits guilt does, but with less social cost?
(4) How did you learn what you believe about race relations?
(5) If we were to change the headings above these two tables from “men” to “wealthy,” and “women” to “poor or working class” what would change in the content of the tables, if anything?  How about if we were to change the headings above these two tables from “men” to “heterosexuals,” and “women” to “gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, or transgender persons”? 
(6) What are the effects of the existence of sexism on men?  In what ways do men benefit from the oppression of women, and in what ways does this system harm men?
(7) What are the emotional and physical effects of discussing sexism on women?
(8) What, if anything, would be changed about your conclusions regarding the social responsibility of educators if lists generated from either (6) or (7), above, were used instead of the original lists generated in this chapter?    
(9) Why is sexist violence a vivid reality for many women who have not personally experienced sexist violence?  Why is it not one for many men?
(10) What do men lose out on when they are not in touch with women’s realities?