10: Knowledge hierachies

I think my White privilege works in a myriad of ways, but I want to give two examples. First, I get a lot of plaudits from working in a particular way which is to try to prioritise the voices of members of the marginalised communities that I work with. I believe that the knowledge hierarchies that exist – in universities and elsewhere – should be challenged, but I’ve noticed that when I challenge them by saying, for example – ‘actually this person can tell you about their situation rather than have me relay it’ – that it only adds to the plaudits I get. I’m then seen as even more accomplished as well as now being humble and magnanimous. My privilege is therefore sometimes only reinforced by trying to challenge the very system that creates knowledge hierarchies in the first place. Second, I think what I advocate in policy terms is quite radical but it never gets perceived as that. I think because I look like so much of the establishment – White and privileged – the assumption is that I can’t really be saying anything that advocates for serious structural change – which I am!