Talk:Whiteness theory

Pseudoscientific Racism

Why is this even a thing on wikipedia? The purveyors of this trash should be brought up on human rights charges, or at a minimum expelled.

Literally no reference to other part of the world outside us. I doubt "whiteness" is a thing in china.

Literally no reference to other part of the world outside us. I doubt "whiteness" is a thing in china. Byulwwe (talk) 23:28, 7 October 2019 (UTC)

...Actually, that kinda proves that this concept is a thing. Having taught in China two years and living in Japan now, I've seen a lot of white foreigners face additional culture shock from not being the default racial center, which a lot of non-white foreigners react to with "gee, that sounds a lot like how white people made me feel in the west."

There's still a variety of white privilege, though. Seen some of the ugliest dudes get attention from a lot of girls, shops would dedicate more employees to helping me, guards would let me wander into areas wouldn't let citizens even look at for too long... Ian.thomson (talk) 23:08, 11 October 2019 (UTC)

I think to describe situations around the world you'd have to think in terms of 'majority privilege'. So in China, there is a majority profile that is non-white, non-Uyghur (sp?), etc. Also, the extra attention a Western visitor gets in a shop is the result of a stereotype that she will have money and be looking to spend it. It is not non-discrimination; it is exceptional deference in order to make financial gains, and that makes it different from white privilege. (--Other Person) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 172.13.61.51 (talk) 19:21, 26 January 2021 (UTC)

Yes, I agree, I worked in Singapore and Fiji for a few years (enjoyed the last one much more but I was older then). Being the only white person on a university payroll makes you very racially aware. Other ethnic groups identify with their culture and religion so you think: "where does that leave me?" Seeing historic colonial-era buildings in Singapore, but very few white people (I wasn't in the central business district), made me feel lost, as in losing my identity, I started to feel haunted by the ghosts of the past (Imagining 19th century Europeans in the streets) and had major identity issues. I want to write an academic article on this, but how to avoid the racism accusations? So I agree with the guy above who worked in China. Sometimes I wished just to be accepted as a person, but few could or wanted to view me outside a racial classification. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2A00:23C8:9C32:F001:B070:6C19:519:B353 (talk) 18:41, 11 May 2022 (UTC)

Are There STUDIES on it? I thought Wikipedia as not about Personal experience

. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Byulwwe (talk • contribs) 02:12, 16 October 2019 (UTC)

Scholarly article: "An Empirical Assessment of Whiteness Theory: Hidden from How Many"

"This paper employs data from a recent national survey to offer an empirical assessment of core theoretical tenets of whiteness studies. Using survey items developed explicitly for this purpose, we analyze three specific propositions relating to whites' awareness and conception of their own racial status: the invisibility of white identity ; the understanding (or lack thereof) of racial privileges; and adherence to individualistic, color-blind ideals. Consistent with whiteness theories, we find that white Americans are less aware of privilege than individuals from racial minority groups and consistently adopt color-blind, individualist ideologies. However, we also find that whites are both more connected to white identity and culture as well as more aware of the advantages of their race than many theoretical discussions suggest. We then combine these results to estimate that 15 percent of white Americans exhibit what we call " categorical whiteness, " a consistent and uniform adherence to the theoretical tenets that are the focus of this body of theory. We conclude by suggesting that these findings provide the basis for a more nuanced, contextualized understanding of whiteness as a social phenomenon.'[1] downloadable at [2]. 17:08, 29 October 2019 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Doug Weller (talk • contribs)

Whose interests are served by this topic?

In true postmodernist fashion, an unqualified, unconfirmed opinion is dressed up as a legitimate academic perspective that reduces everything to a power relationship. In the meantime, postindustrial society ambles along and evolves on a trajectory that has delivered tangible improvements in finally recognising the value of long-oppressed groups- women, people or colour and people of other sexual orientations and/or identities. We no longer live in a time where sexism, racism and homophobia are acceptable to the overwhelming majority of the very people that this mistaken concept of “whiteness” is applied to, and rationally arguing against it with reason cannot be dismissed as “fragility” (Aren’t reason and rational thought the human evolutionary response to overcoming our short-sighted, reductive emotional reactions?). The human story is one of struggle- and we will continue to struggle for a better world, as is our nature. Race, gender, orientation and economic equality are aspects of our experience that we need to recognise and continue to discuss, debate and work towards a consensus on. We only delay that goal by forming tribal groupthink that exists in self-referential bubbles that cannot tolerate any challenge. 70.53.201.191 (talk) 02:57, 16 April 2023 (UTC)

looks like you may never return to this talk page, Mr. IP address, but the answer to your concern is to dress down the topic. I have addressed this here in a pretty ideologically-neutral way. Wikipedia style guidance and quality standards need not suffer just because the subject matter is more esoteric & academic. There's always room to investigate what those working in a field say & characterize the field itself accurately on wikip. but it does take a little work sometimes. skakEL 13:57, 27 July 2023 (UTC)