,Instructor Resource Manual and Test Bank for
Race, Class and Gender: An Anthology, 9th
edition by Andersen/Hill-Collins
2025/2026
PART II: SYSTEMS OF POWER AND INEQUALITY
Margaret Andersen and Patricia Hill Collins
RACE AND RACISM
6. “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack,” Peggy McIntosh
Peggy McIntosh explores the invisibility of racial privilege. She argues that
Whites tend to be
unaware of the privilege they have as members of the dominant group. To
illustrate this point
she compares her own experiences with denied male privilege to her own limited
perception of
the privilege she enjoys because she is White. In an effort to challenge this lack
of awareness,
she lists forty-six examples of the invisible privilege she experiences in her
everyday life that
people of color do not. She points out that these daily benefits of being white
make her life
easier. For example, the ability to shop without being followed, to count on her
skin color not
causing suspicion of her financial reliability, or even the ability to find blemish
cover to match
her skin tone reflects her white privilege. She argues that for Whites these
occurrences are
largely taken for granted. They are expected, assumed to be the normal
experiences of everyday
life. For people of color, however, they are constant reminders of the struggle
involved in all
aspects of life when one’s position in society is reflected as outside of the norm.
McIntosh identifies positive and negative aspects of privilege; unearned
advantage and conferred
dominance. The advantage experienced by the privileged group can be
unearned, merely as a
consequence of their position, or it can be created through dominance yielded
,because of their
position. Both aspects challenge the notion that one’s experience in society is
based solely on
one’s merit, and recognizing this challenges the denial surrounding systems of
privilege and
oppression. McIntosh contends that once the privileged can no longer deny the
benefits intrinsic
to their position, they must then decide to either destroy or maintain the system
from which they
benefit.
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. In "White Privilege and Male Privilege: A Personal Account of Coming to See
Correspondences Through Work in Women's Studies (1988)," Peggy McIntosh:
a. is more interested in developing separate institutions for Blacks than raising
the
consciousness of Whites.
b. points out that Whites tend to be unaware of the privileges they have as
members of the dominant group.
c. challenges the belief that minority group members are as prejudiced as
members of the
dominant group.
d. points out that White privilege no longer exists.
ANS: B
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Edition Andersen
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2. McIntosh defines as an invisible package of unearned assets.
a. White privilege
b. Black privilege
c. class
d. being a woman
ANS: A
3. McIntosh argues that men:
a. accept their privileged position in relation to women.
b. accept their privileged position in relation to people of color.
c. deny their privileged position in relation to women.
, d. deny their privileged position in relation to people of color.
ANS: C
4. Peggy McIntosh argues that recognizing White privilege challenges:
a. the notion that an individual’s experience is based solely on his or her own
merit.
b. the notion that an individual’s experience is based on unearned advantage.
c. the notion that an individual’s experience is based on entitlement.
d. the idea that racism is still a problem in the U.S.
ANS: A
5. McIntosh argues that for White people:
a. sexual identity is the only area where a system of advantage can be found.
b. gender is the only area where a system of advantage can be found.
c. race is the only area where a system of advantage can be found.
d. systems of advantage can be found in several aspects of one’s life.
ANS: D
6. McIntosh acknowledges that running through a matrix of White privilege
were a pattern of
__________________ that were passed on to her as a White person.
a. assumptions
b. attitudes
c. behaviors
d. actions
ANS: A
7. The author believes Whiteness protected her from many kinds of:
a. adjustments, fears and actions
b. hostility, distress and violence
DOWNLOAD THE Test Bank for Race Class and Gender An Anthology 9th
Edition Andersen
mynursytest.store
37
c. fears, violence and adjustments
d. depression, anxieties, and self defeating behaviors
ANS: B
8. McIntosh says the word "privilege" now seems misleading. Its connotations
are too
__________________to fit the conditions and behaviors that "privilege systems"
produce.
a. negative
b. positive
Race, Class and Gender: An Anthology, 9th
edition by Andersen/Hill-Collins
2025/2026
PART II: SYSTEMS OF POWER AND INEQUALITY
Margaret Andersen and Patricia Hill Collins
RACE AND RACISM
6. “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack,” Peggy McIntosh
Peggy McIntosh explores the invisibility of racial privilege. She argues that
Whites tend to be
unaware of the privilege they have as members of the dominant group. To
illustrate this point
she compares her own experiences with denied male privilege to her own limited
perception of
the privilege she enjoys because she is White. In an effort to challenge this lack
of awareness,
she lists forty-six examples of the invisible privilege she experiences in her
everyday life that
people of color do not. She points out that these daily benefits of being white
make her life
easier. For example, the ability to shop without being followed, to count on her
skin color not
causing suspicion of her financial reliability, or even the ability to find blemish
cover to match
her skin tone reflects her white privilege. She argues that for Whites these
occurrences are
largely taken for granted. They are expected, assumed to be the normal
experiences of everyday
life. For people of color, however, they are constant reminders of the struggle
involved in all
aspects of life when one’s position in society is reflected as outside of the norm.
McIntosh identifies positive and negative aspects of privilege; unearned
advantage and conferred
dominance. The advantage experienced by the privileged group can be
unearned, merely as a
consequence of their position, or it can be created through dominance yielded
,because of their
position. Both aspects challenge the notion that one’s experience in society is
based solely on
one’s merit, and recognizing this challenges the denial surrounding systems of
privilege and
oppression. McIntosh contends that once the privileged can no longer deny the
benefits intrinsic
to their position, they must then decide to either destroy or maintain the system
from which they
benefit.
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. In "White Privilege and Male Privilege: A Personal Account of Coming to See
Correspondences Through Work in Women's Studies (1988)," Peggy McIntosh:
a. is more interested in developing separate institutions for Blacks than raising
the
consciousness of Whites.
b. points out that Whites tend to be unaware of the privileges they have as
members of the dominant group.
c. challenges the belief that minority group members are as prejudiced as
members of the
dominant group.
d. points out that White privilege no longer exists.
ANS: B
DOWNLOAD THE Test Bank for Race Class and Gender An Anthology 9th
Edition Andersen
mynursytest.store
36
2. McIntosh defines as an invisible package of unearned assets.
a. White privilege
b. Black privilege
c. class
d. being a woman
ANS: A
3. McIntosh argues that men:
a. accept their privileged position in relation to women.
b. accept their privileged position in relation to people of color.
c. deny their privileged position in relation to women.
, d. deny their privileged position in relation to people of color.
ANS: C
4. Peggy McIntosh argues that recognizing White privilege challenges:
a. the notion that an individual’s experience is based solely on his or her own
merit.
b. the notion that an individual’s experience is based on unearned advantage.
c. the notion that an individual’s experience is based on entitlement.
d. the idea that racism is still a problem in the U.S.
ANS: A
5. McIntosh argues that for White people:
a. sexual identity is the only area where a system of advantage can be found.
b. gender is the only area where a system of advantage can be found.
c. race is the only area where a system of advantage can be found.
d. systems of advantage can be found in several aspects of one’s life.
ANS: D
6. McIntosh acknowledges that running through a matrix of White privilege
were a pattern of
__________________ that were passed on to her as a White person.
a. assumptions
b. attitudes
c. behaviors
d. actions
ANS: A
7. The author believes Whiteness protected her from many kinds of:
a. adjustments, fears and actions
b. hostility, distress and violence
DOWNLOAD THE Test Bank for Race Class and Gender An Anthology 9th
Edition Andersen
mynursytest.store
37
c. fears, violence and adjustments
d. depression, anxieties, and self defeating behaviors
ANS: B
8. McIntosh says the word "privilege" now seems misleading. Its connotations
are too
__________________to fit the conditions and behaviors that "privilege systems"
produce.
a. negative
b. positive
