White supremacy

Definition

White supremacy is an ideology that promotes the belief that white people are superior to people of other racial backgrounds and therefore should dominate society. This ideology has deep historical roots and manifests in various forms, including systemic racism, social inequality, and cultural dominance, affecting how gender and sexuality are perceived and experienced across different racial groups.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. White supremacy has historically justified colonization, slavery, and segregation, deeply embedding itself in legal and social structures across many countries.
2. In contemporary society, white supremacy is not only seen in extremist groups but is also present in everyday interactions and institutional practices that favor whiteness.
3. The concept of 'white privilege' highlights the unearned advantages that white individuals experience in a racially stratified society.
4. The fight against white supremacy includes anti-racist movements that challenge both overt racism and subtle forms of discrimination embedded in culture and policy.
5. Understanding white supremacy requires a recognition of how it intersects with issues of gender and sexuality, where marginalized groups face compounded discrimination.

Review Questions

• How does white supremacy influence social structures related to gender and sexuality?
  • White supremacy influences social structures by perpetuating norms that privilege white individuals while marginalizing people of color, particularly in terms of gender and sexuality. For example, within this framework, notions of masculinity and femininity are often constructed around white standards, leaving little room for the diverse expressions found in other cultures. This results in a hierarchy where the experiences and identities of people of color, especially women and LGBTQ+ individuals, are devalued or ignored.
• Discuss how critical race theory examines the implications of white supremacy in global politics.
  • Critical race theory analyzes how white supremacy shapes legal systems and political frameworks globally by highlighting that laws are often created to uphold racial hierarchies. It critiques the idea that law is neutral, arguing instead that it can reinforce existing power structures favoring whiteness. This perspective allows for a deeper understanding of how international relations, trade policies, and global governance can perpetuate inequality and maintain the dominance of historically privileged nations.
• Evaluate the role of anti-racist movements in combating white supremacy and their impact on decolonial efforts worldwide.
  • Anti-racist movements play a critical role in combating white supremacy by challenging the narratives that support racial hierarchies and advocating for systemic change. They foster solidarity among diverse groups fighting against oppression and contribute to decolonial efforts by questioning the legitimacy of colonial histories that have prioritized white voices. By promoting equity and justice through activism, education, and policy reform, these movements can reshape societal structures to be more inclusive and just for all racial identities.

Related terms

Systemic Racism:

A form of racism embedded in the policies and practices of institutions, leading to unequal treatment of different racial groups.

Intersectionality: A framework for understanding how various social identities, such as race, gender, and class, overlap and interact to create unique experiences of oppression and privilege.

Racial Capitalism:

The idea that capitalism is intertwined with racial exploitation, where economic gains are often derived from the subjugation of racially marginalized groups.