Relative Privilege and the Seduction of Normativity

Abstract

Traditional ways of understanding relational unconscious dynamics have not always accounted for power dynamics, particularly those connected with social identity. This article explores the role of identity and introduces the idea of relative privilege. The author argues privileged identities are amplified, whereas marginalized identities are minimized because of a desire for inclusion and belonging to the norm. The norm is positioned as a dominant collective narrative that is seductive. Links are made between the relevance of the collective with the subjectivity of individuals.