Understanding Power Dynamics: Why White People Must Acknowledge Privilege and Engage With Discomfort
Power dynamics are woven into the fabric of our societies, often invisibly dictating who has access to resources, opportunities, and safety—and who does not. For white people, this system of privilege can be easy to overlook. Privilege is not necessarily about wealth or an absence of struggle; it’s about the ways in which societal systems are designed to benefit some groups while disadvantaging others. Acknowledging this privilege and grappling with its implications is a necessary step toward creating a more fair world.
For many white people, myself included, this journey is neither easy nor comfortable. It’s tempting to nod along, to intellectualise the concept of privilege, or to get stuck in feelings of guilt or shame without truly engaging. Yet, to sit with the discomfort and face the grief of this reality—without turning away—is the only way to begin dismantling the power structures that perpetuate inequality.
Privilege: A System, Not an Accusation
Acknowledging white privilege doesn’t mean denying personal hardships or achievements. It’s not about saying, "You didn’t work hard" or "You don’t deserve success." Instead, it’s about recognising the advantages conferred by being white in a system designed to prioritise whiteness—often at the expense of others.
White privilege shows up in ways that might seem subtle, even invisible, if you’ve never had to think about it. It’s being able to move through the world without questioning whether your race will impact how others perceive you. It’s being represented in media, politics, and leadership as the "default" or "norm." It’s not having to think about race daily because the world is built around centering yours.
Why It's So Hard to Acknowledge
For many of us, sitting with the reality of privilege can feel like stepping into a storm of emotions. I’ve felt it myself—the discomfort, the defensiveness, the overwhelming grief. There’s a fear that acknowledging privilege means being blamed for systemic racism or carrying the weight of history. It can feel like holding a heavy ball of responsibility on behalf of ancestors or systems we didn’t directly create but still benefit from.
For a long time, I hesitated to fully engage. I understood the concept intellectually, but emotionally, I avoided the grief and guilt that came with it. I worried I’d be expected to "fix" something so vast or take on the pain of every non-white person I knew. This resistance is common, but it’s also a way privilege protects itself—by keeping us too overwhelmed or uncomfortable to act.
The Grief and Responsibility of Acknowledging Privilege
When you begin to acknowledge privilege, grief often follows. It’s the grief of realising how much harm has been done to others in the name of preserving systems that benefit people like you. It’s the grief of seeing how often silence, avoidance, or neutrality have upheld these systems. It’s the grief of understanding that you are part of a story that spans generations, with all its injustices and inequities.
This grief, however, is not something to fear or avoid. It’s a doorway to growth, humility, and action. By sitting with the grief instead of pushing it away, we can begin to move beyond guilt and into accountability. Accountability is not about self-punishment—it’s about using our privilege to support change, to show up in solidarity, and to actively work toward dismantling oppressive systems.
Power Dynamics in Society
To truly understand privilege, we must also understand the power dynamics that sustain it. Here are some of the dynamics that need to be presenced and addressed:
1. Racial Inequity in Institutions
From education and healthcare to criminal justice and housing, systemic racism is baked into the structures of society. Policies and practices have historically favoured white people, creating barriers for people of colour that persist today.
2. The Burden of Representation
For non-white people, moving through predominantly white spaces often means carrying the burden of representation. They are frequently expected to educate others, explain their experiences, or represent an entire group, while white people are rarely asked to do the same.
3. Emotional Labour
The burden of emotional labour disproportionately falls on people of colour, who are often expected to soothe white discomfort, educate about racism, or endure microaggressions silently. This dynamic perpetuates inequity by centering white comfort over the well-being of others.
4. Privilege in Activism
Even in spaces advocating for change, white privilege can dominate. White voices may be amplified over those of people of colour, or solutions may center white perspectives while sidelining those most affected by the issues.
How White People Can Engage With Privilege
1. Sit With the Discomfort
Privilege is uncomfortable to confront, but avoiding discomfort only perpetuates the problem. Allow yourself to feel the grief, guilt, or defensiveness that arises. These emotions are part of the process, but they shouldn’t be the end point.
2. Educate Yourself
It’s not the job of non-white people to educate white people about privilege or racism. Seek out books, articles, and talks by scholars and activists of colour to deepen your understanding. Some essential reading includes "Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race" by Reni Eddo-Lodge and "White Fragility" by Robin DiAngelo.
3. Listen Without Defensiveness
When people of colour share their experiences, listen without rushing to explain, justify, or defend. Their experiences are valid, even if they challenge your understanding of the world.
4. Take Action
Privilege gives you power—use it. Advocate for policies that address racial inequity, amplify the voices of people of colour, and support organisations led by marginalised communities. Your privilege can be a tool for change if wielded intentionally.
5. Accept That This Work Is Ongoing
Dismantling privilege isn’t a box to tick; it’s a lifelong commitment. Continue to educate yourself, reflect on your biases, and challenge the systems that uphold inequality.
A Shared Responsibility
Acknowledging white privilege and engaging with systemic power dynamics isn’t about carrying the weight of history alone. It’s about stepping into shared responsibility for creating a more equitable future. By owning our privilege and using it to support change, we can begin to repair the harm caused by systems that benefit some at the expense of others.
This work isn’t easy, but it’s necessary. It asks us to sit with discomfort, hold space for grief, and take action—not out of guilt, but out of a desire to be part of something greater than ourselves. It’s in this collective effort that we can begin to dismantle harmful systems and co-create a world where equity and justice are the norm.
Ready to explore how somatic practices can support you in navigating the emotions that arise in this work? Book a session today to ground yourself and deepen your capacity for meaningful engagement.