Undoing privilege : unearned advantage in a divided world /

Pease (Deakin Univ.) is an Australian social work educator whose commitment to social justice has led him to study privilege and those who benefit from the oppression of others. The white, male, heterosexual college professor is aware of his own privilege; through his earlier profeminist work, Pease developed a "traitorous identity," and this book applies the same reflexivity to a wider range of issues. Drawing on critical sociological theory, the main chapters cover western global dominance/Eurocentrism, class elitism, gender/the "patriarchal dividend," race/white supremacy, heteroprivilege, and ableist relations. Each chapter discusses the intersections--how all of these factors reinforce or temper the effects of others--while providing a coherent discussion of the main topic. Although comprehensive and clearly written, the book has few concrete examples to ground it and does not fill the self-identified need of showing how privilege is reproduced in daily life. Chapters do not have shared headings to facilitate systematic study. Still, the admirable self-reflection and command of the literature make this modestly sized volume an important contribution for both those starting to explore privilege and knowledgeable about the field. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above. P. S. Leighton Eastern Michigan University